ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, September 3, 1996             TAG: 9609040058
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: B-6  EDITION: METRO 

ROANOKE REGIONAL ECONOMIC INDICATORS

The number of telephone lines in use is generally regarded as a valid indicator of the economy because the first thing a new business does is obtain a phone, and existing enterprises add lines when they expand or have more customers. And nearly every household has at least one phone line - and these days maybe a second for the children or a computer.

The number of lines in the Roanoke Valley has matched the slow but steady growth of the economy, rising 4.1 percent over the last 12 months and 7.7 percent since August 1994.

The number of lines has marched from 106,686 in June 1985, when The Roanoke Times began tracking the indicator, to 148,445 at the end of last month, a 39 percent increase.

LENGTH: Short :   24 lines
ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC:   21 charts. color.