Genuine Parts Company, Atlanta, GA, reported sales for 2008 were $11 billion, up 2% from 2007. Profit for the year was $475.4 million, a decrease of 6%.

By segment:

Motion Industries, the Industrial Group, saw a 5% increase for the year. EIS, the Electrical/Electronics Group, reported a 7% increase. The Automotive Group had a slight sales increase in 2008, and S.P. Richards, the Office Products Group, had a sales decrease of 2%.

In the fourth quarter, sales decreased 4% to $2.5 billion. Motion sales were unchanged; Automotive sales were down 6%; EIS sales were down 4%; and Office Products sales were down 5%.

The company reported a weakening in demand across all its business segments in the fourth quarter.

Genuine Parts Company is …