In a brief preview of its full figures, Nixdorf Computer AG yesterday announced that turnover for 1987 rose 13% to the equivalent of about $3,000m, and says that the rise in the Deutschemark was responsible for growth not being higher. But the growth rate shows a decline on the 15% achieved last year in a trend certain to worry further all those concerned that the computer industry is heading into a downturn. Nixdorf will give more details on February 5, but also said that employment in 1987 rose another 4,000, taking the total to just shy of 30,000; that number has been achieved this month with another 400 joining in January. Despite the slowing growth rate, the company is doing some $100,000 per employee, operating substantially in countries with high-wage economies. Among US companies, IBM does better with $127,000 per employee, and Prime Computer is on a par with Nixdorf at $99,800 (CI No 847) – and Nixdorf buys less in and manufactures to a much lower level than most US companies. Orders in hand at the start of the current year matched 1987’s sales of $3,000m.