Milk Distributors’ Operations: Analysis of Growth, Sales Distribution, Costs and Profits

Beginning with the issue for July - September 1956, the U. S. Department of Agriculture has been issuing quarterly data on the costs of processing and distributing fluid milk. These data are supplied to the Department by an auditing firm under contract. The quarterly reports -- Milk Distributors' Sales and Costs -- each cover general information such as that shown in table 1 and figures 1 and 2. The October-December 1956 report and each subsequent report also include a special analysis of some phase of fluid milk processing and distributing. These special analyses make up this publication. They are arranged by subject matter rather than in chronological order. Generally, the sequence is that of an operating or income statement: Sales, cost of goods sold, gross margin, operating costs, and net margin before income taxes. The series report number (MDSC=Milk Distributors' Sales and Costs) and the month of publication are included in the title line.