76 
BULLETIN 1317, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
form throughout, in view of the small number of concerns in each 
group. Individual instances within the groups show considerable 
variations, but in the average of groups even of moderate size rather 
definite relationships between groups appear. 
Table 41. — Gross margin, net profit or loss, and operating expenses in markets 
grouped according to comparative net profit or loss 
[Percentages calculated on basis of net sales as 100 per cent] 
Groups of markets by 
class of service and 
comparative net 
profit or loss 
Carry stores: 
Highest one-fourth 
of all groups 
Second one-fourth 
of all groups 
Third one-fourth of 
all groups 
Lowest one-fourth of 
all groups 
Delivery stores: 
Highest one-fourth 
of all groups 
Second one-fourth 
of all groups 
Third one-fourth of 
all groups 
Lowest one-fourth of 
all groups 
Both carry and deliv- 
ery stores: 
Highest one-fourth 
of all groups 
Second one-fourth 
of all groups 
Third one-fourth of 
all groups 
Lowest one-fourth of 
all groups 
K) 
o 
+3 
a 
M 
<a 
o 
£ 
a 
3 
ft 
O 
fc 
fc 
O 
P.ct. 
P.ct. 
19 
7.13 
22.63 
18 
3.37 
20.00 
18 
1.16 
16.14 
18 
-1.02 
14.74 
34 
6.80 
22.74 
33 
3.02 
20.01 
33 
1.17 
19.67 
33 
-1.75 
16.41 
53 
6.91 
22.70 
51 
3.14 
20.01 
51 
3.16 
18 4Q 
51 
-1.51 
15.85 
P.ct. 
15.50 
16.63 
14.98 
15.76 
P.ct. 
10.05 
10.39 
9.19 
10.44 
15. 94| 9. 75 
16.9910.87 
18. 50 11. 19 
18. 16 10. 55 
15.79 
16.87 
17.33 
17.36 
9.85 
10.71 
10.52 
10.51 
_,_,- 
ca 
J2 u 
d% 
o o 
a 
bO 
■•G a 
a 
c3 .. 
t! 
ft 
p. 
o pi 
a 
> 
X} 
< 
£ 
s-.-^; 
1 
a 
P.ct. 
P.ct. 
P.ct. 
P.ct. 
P.ct. 
0.09 
0.85 
1.03 
1.50 
0.37 
.23 
.75 
1.15 
1.69 
.56 
.08 
.73 
1.07 
1.92 
.39 
.32 
.72 
.88 
1.25 
.42 
.14 
.75 
.96 
1.15 
.63 
.11 
.92 
.97 
1.14 
.50 
.20 
.83 
1.01 
1.44 
.47 
.06 
.76 
1.12 
1.30 
.63 
.12 
.78 
.98 
1.27 
.54 
.15 
.86 
1.03 
1.32 
.52 
.16 
.80 
1.03 
1.60 
.44 
.15 
. 75 
1.04 
1.28 
.56 
p.ct: p.ct. 
0.14 1.47 
Delivery 
expense 
1.72 
1. 
1.61 
2.31 
2.24 
3.12 
3.39 
2.04 
2.07 
2.57 
2.80 
I 
CD 
M 
03 
O 
P.ct. 
P.ct. 
1.39 
0.97 
1.40 
.99 
1.64 
1.39 
1.62 
1.18 
..... 
P.ct. 
2.36 
2.39 
3.03 
2.80 
In making up weighted averages in this table, there has been the usual grouping of markets by volume of 
sales, but no grouping by sections of the country, since the resulting subgroups would then be so small 
that variations between markets would be unduly emphasized. 
The column "All other expenses" includes telephone, depreciation, repairs, insurance, taxes, and "other 
expense" of Table 28. 
GENERAL RESULTS SHOWN AS MEDIAN AND AS INTERQUARTILE RANGE 
Since data were available as a basis, a complete system of weighted 
averages has been used in this study. A simple average in which 
stores individually were given equal weight or the total volume of 
sales of all stores was taken as a basis would here give erroneous re- 
sults. The median and the mode are not perfectly applicable where 
such extended analysis and such varied combinations are attempted 
as in the present study. 
Although the median is not fully applicable in a study attempting 
such complete analysis, it is of interest to show some of the results 
by the median and by the interquartile range for comparison with 
the weighted average. Accordingly, the results are shown for the 
individual markets grouped by class of service, as carry and delivery, 
and by volume of sales. It is not practicable to make a further dhi- 
sion by sections of the country, because the number of markets in 
each subgroup would be unduly small and the presentation would be- 
come too complicated. Moreover, combining both carry and de- 
