THE ECONOMY

Manufacturing Profits Dip in 4th Quarter: As the U.S. economy grew at a sluggish 0.5% annual rate, manufacturers’ after-tax profits decreased to 5.1 cents per dollar of sales in the fourth quarter from 5.8 cents in the third quarter, the Commerce Department said. The figures are adjusted for seasonal variations. During the fourth quarter of 1994, manufacturers’ profits totaled 6.2 cents per dollar of sales. Meanwhile, retailers’ profits after taxes rose to 1.8 cents per dollar of sales in the fourth quarter from 1.6 cents during the third quarter, according to the report. For all of 1995, the economy grew at a 2% annual rate, slower than 1994 when the gross domestic product increased at a 3.5% pace--and the weakest showing since a 1% loss in 1991.