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The Old GE, 1886-1986
Appendix 1: The Old GE by the Numbers

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This information is from pp. 437-440 of The Old GE, 1886-1986 by Dr. George Wise (2024). It is copyrighted by Dr. Wise and reproduced here with his permission.

GE Sales and Earnings Compared to Electric Power Use
YearGE Sales,
$-million
current $
GE Earnings,
$-million
current $
US GDP
$-billion
current $
GE ratio of
earnings/sales,
Percent
US Electric
Power Use,
billion KWH
190028621214
19107111341519
192027539891451
1930376559214102
19404115610313162
19501,9601733008353
19604,1972005424777
19706,7263261,07341,512
198024,9591,5142,85762,218
199058,4144,3035,96372,816
GE Financial Results, constant (year 2000) Dollars
(based on Consumer Price Index)
YearGE Sales,
$-million
current $
GE Earnings,
$-million
current $
US GDP
$-billion
current $
US Electric
Power Use,
billion KWH
19005921234444
19101,33020663619
19202,63033576551
19303,889567949102
19405,0406871,260162
195014,4001,2402,790353
196024,4001,1603,150777
197029,8001,4504,7601,512
198052,2003,4905,9702,218
199077,0005,6707,8602,816
Indicators of GE Performance
YearNumber of shares of GE stocks, millionsTypical share price for indicated year, $GE Market Value, $-millionGE Net Worth, $-million ("capital")GE Ratio of Earning to Capital, %GE Ratio of Share Price to Earnings per Share, %
19000.251253118284
19100.6516010446139
19202140280224188
193029752,1754031537
194030206003681811
195030411,230702226
196090857,6501,5131336
197090776,9302,7061221
19803005817,4008,200148
19909006054,00021,6801912

Company numbers are mainly from Annual Reports, but estimated pre 1925. Schenectady numbers are mainly from Buell, Bill. "Down through the years: Layoffs, retirements drastically cut GE workforce during painful period". [SCPL card required] Schenectady Gazette. 21 Sept 2017. pp. A1&A3. The year 1931 marked the lowest employment during the Great Depression.

GE Employment
YearGE TotalGE Schenectady
18906,0003,000
19002000010000
19103200016400
19206000021225
19307836825000
19314156012000
19408574622000
195018300032400
196025062125000
197031659322000
198028500024000
1986359000*15000

*includes 79,000 from just acquired RCA, most of whom worked for businesses GE soon sold off.

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