Beckman Instruments Inc.: The Fullerton company reported...

Beckman Instruments Inc.: The Fullerton company reported first-quarter profit of $8 million, down 25% from the same period in 1989. Sales for the quarter were $185.5 million, a decrease of 7% from the year before. The decrease was blamed on a reduction in government funding for biological research, unusually large shipments in the 1989 quarter, a movement by customers toward operating leases instead of purchases and an increase in research and development expenses. Beckman develops and manufactures automated systems and supplies used in biological research laboratories.