Genuine Parts Company, Atlanta, GA, reported sales of $2.9 billion for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2008, an increase of 3% over third quarter 2007. Profit for the quarter was $131 million, an increase of 2%.
 
For the first nine months, sales increased 3% to $8.5 billion. Profit was $387.6 million, an increase of 2% for the same period the prior year.
 
Three of four segments saw sales improvement in the third quarter. Sales in EIS, the Electrical Group, increased 13%. Motion Industries improved sales by 7%. The Automotive Group reported sales increases of 1%. S.P. Richards, which distributes office products, saw sales remain flat as compared to the same period the prior year.
 
Genuine Parts Company is a distributor of automotive replacement parts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The company also distributes industrial replacement parts in the U.S. and Canada through its Motion Industries subsidiary. S.P. Richards Company, the Office Products Group, distributes business products nationwide in the U.S. and in Canada. The Electrical/Electronic Group, EIS, Inc., distributes electrical and electronic components throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Genuine Parts Company had 2007 revenues of $10.8 billion.