Genuine Parts Sees 4th Quarter Sales Increase.

Genuine Parts Co.'s fourth-quarter sales rose 2.4 percent to $1.99 billion on a 1 percent rise at its automotive group and 5 percent growth at its industrial and office product segments. Genuine Parts, which distributes automotive replacement parts, expects continued growth in both sales and earnings in 2003, mostly from organic growth and increased unit volume.

The company doesn't expect to make any big acquisitions and sees only modest price increases in the coming year.