P&G EARNINGS

Key WorDs: BUSINESS,PROCTER & GAMBLE

CINCINNATI The Procter & Gamble Company has aMDSUnnounced that net earnings for the October-December quarter were $490,000,000, an increase of 40 percent over the net earnings of $350,000,000 for the same quarter last year.

Net earnings were up 13 percent after excluding a one-time $83,000,000 net cost impact of a manufacturing consolidation reserve and a gain on the sale of the worldwide crush soft drink business.

Net earnings per share were $1.36, an increase of 11 percent over the same quarter a year ago. Net sales were $6,857,000,000, up 14 percent over net sales of $6,025,000,000 for the same three months a year ago.

For the first six months of the fiscal year, net earnings were $1,045,000,000, up 14 percent over the net earnings of $914,000,000 of a year ago.