Ameritech reported that fourth-quarter results showed a...

Ameritech reported that fourth-quarter results showed a 22.3% increase in earnings over the same 1984 quarter. The Chicago-based firm is the parent of former Bell companies serving Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. For the year, the company reported an 8.8% increase in profit and cited more business and fewer employees as the main reasons. Residential lines in service increased by 1% while business lines, which contribute substantially more revenue per hookup, grew by 4% during 1985, Ameritech said.