HOME DESIGN : A SPECIAL ISSUE OF ORANGE COUNTY LIFE : GARDENING SUPPLY SPENDING COMPARISON

In the third quarter of 1988, the most recent period for which information is available, county residents spent $27.1 million for gardening/farm supplies. That averages out to just more than $12 per resident and also comprised 8% of all such spending throughout the state during the July-September period. Here’s how Orange compared to the surrounding counties:

*Total Per Capita % 5-County % State County Spending Spending Spending Spending Los Angeles $46,391 $5.42 38 13 Orange 27,123 12.12 22 8 Riverside 17,671 18.68 15 5 San Bernardino 8,672 7.00 7 3 San Diego 22,329 9.59 18 6 5-COUNTY TOTAL 122,186 7.98 100 35 STATE TOTAL 351,233 12.53 -- 100

* In thousands of dollars

Source: State Board of Equalization

ANNUAL SPENDING AT GARDEN STORES

1982: 59,452 1983: 57,581 1984: 65,597 1985: 71,837 1986: 77,038 1987: 86,106 1988: 77,481