Corporations: The Big Grow Much Bigger

The very largest companies are taking over a steadily growing share of U.S. business. FORTUNE'S annual listing of the top 500, published last week, shows that the biggest industrial companies rang up almost 64% of all industrial sales in the U.S. last year, up from 62% in 1967 and just over 55% a decade ago. In their fields the 500 employed 687 out of every 1,000 workers and accounted for 74% of total profits. Despite the tax surcharge, profits were up 13%, to $24 billion.

General Motors again led the list, followed in the top ten by Standard Oil...

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