<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>ex99a.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99(A)
<TEXT>
GE FIRST  QUARTER  EARNINGS  GROW 17% TO A RECORD $3.5  BILLION;  CASH FLOW FROM
OPERATIONS EX-PROGRESS RISES 18%

    FAIRFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 2002--GE's first-quarter 2002
earnings before required accounting changes grew 17% to a record $3.5 billion,
or $.35 per share, the Company announced today.

    "GE delivered in the first quarter for the same reason we have delivered
throughout the economic downturn -- the strength of our business model," said GE
Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt. "Power Systems, GE Capital and broad-based
productivity gains helped our short-cycle businesses ride out this
still-difficult economy. It's this mix of businesses, and execution of our
initiatives, that enable GE to deliver earnings and cash growth through economic
cycles."

    Financial highlights of the quarter include:


--   Earnings before required accounting changes rose 17%, to $3.518 billion, or
     $.35 per share,  from last year's $3.017 billion,  or $.30 per share.  Both
     earnings  and EPS were  records for the quarter.  Earnings  after  required
     accounting changes in both quarters are described below.

--   Revenues of $30.5  billion  were about the same as in first  quarter  2001.
     Industrial  businesses'  revenues grew 5%, reflecting continued strength at
     Power Systems,  including  termination  revenues of $476 million, and NBC's
     Winter Olympics broadcasts. GE Capital Services (GECS) revenues declined 6%
     as a result of  repositioning  activities and the revenue  effects of lower
     interest rates,  the earnings effects of which were offset by lower matched
     borrowing costs.

--   Cash  generated  from  GE's  operating   activities,   excluding   progress
     collections,  was $2.2  billion,  up 18% from  last  year's  $1.8  billion.
     Reflecting  record  progress  collections in 2001,  reported cash flow from
     operating  activities  of $1.4  billion was 53% lower than last year's $3.1
     billion.

--   Operating  margin was a  first-quarter  record 18.2% of sales, up from last
     year's 17.7%. GE's digitization initiative was a significant contributor to
     margin expansion in the quarter.

--   GE Capital Services (GECS) first-quarter earnings before accounting changes
     rose to $1.657  billion,  up 18% over last year's  reported $1.401 billion.
     These results reflect the diversity of GECS businesses,  with strong growth
     in its Specialized  Financing,  Mid-Market  Financing and Consumer Services
     segments.  GECS assets  totaled $427 billion at the end of the quarter,  up
     15% from $370 billion at the end of first quarter 2001.

--   Required  accounting  changes  include  a  non-cash  transition  charge  to
     earnings in first quarter 2002 of $1.015  billion,  or $.10 per share,  for
     impairment  of goodwill as required  for adoption of Statement of Financial
     Accounting  Standards 142 (SFAS 142).  Earnings  after  accounting  changes
     totaled $2.503 billion, or $.25 per share. In the first quarter of 2001, GE
     recorded a one-time,  non-cash  transition charge of $444 million,  or $.04
     per  share,   as  required  for  adoption  of  new  accounting   rules  for
     derivatives,  warrants,  options and other financial  instruments (SFAS 133
     and EITF 99-20).  Earnings after accounting changes were $2.573 billion, or
     $.26 per share.

--   GE stopped  amortizing  goodwill as of January 1, 2002, in accordance  with
     the adoption of SFAS 142. Excluding goodwill  amortization in first quarter
     2001,  EPS and earnings in first quarter 2002 rose 9% and 8%  respectively.
     To facilitate comparison of segment operating results,  prior-year goodwill
     amortization  is now  treated as a corporate  rather  than a segment  cost.
     Other changes to segment  operating  results relate to the GE pension plan,
     now reported at the corporate  level,  and  allocation to segments of other
     selected  costs  previously  reported at the corporate  level.  These other
     changes  have no  impact on  consolidated  earnings.  Prior-period  segment
     results    reflecting    all   of   these    changes   are   available   at
     www.ge.com/investor.   [Such  prior-period   segment  information  is  also
     provided in Exhibit 99(b) to this Form 8-K report.]

    As previously announced, GE will provide more detail on first-quarter
results on a conference call and Webcast to be held at 9 a.m. EDT today. Call
information is available at www.ge.com/investor.

    Among first-quarter business highlights:


--   GE Power Systems  (GEPS)  continued to meet record demand for gas turbines,
     shipping 85 heavy-duty  gas turbines in the quarter.  GEPS Energy  Services
     business added 41 contractual  services  agreements valued at $1.5 billion,
     driving total commitments for these multi-year agreements to $26.0 billion,
     up $8.3 billion or 47% over last year. GEPS completed three acquisitions in
     the  quarter  to  enhance  its  technology  base and expand its Oil and Gas
     businesses and services  capabilities:  Bently Nevada,  Pipeline  Integrity
     International  and KVB-Enertec.  GEPS also reached agreement to acquire the
     manufacturing  and  technology  assets of Enron Wind Corp.,  establishing a
     presence in the renewable wind power segment of the industry.

--   GE Medical  Systems (GEMS) built a global base for growth and continued its
     product development initiatives. Total orders were up 4%, with double-digit
     growth in MR  (magnetic  resonance),  ultrasound,  PET  (positron  emission
     tomography),   outpatient   monitoring  and  related  clinical  information
     systems;  these  were  partially  offset by a 6%  decline  in CT  (computed
     tomography)  orders as the market  anticipated the introduction of GEMS new
     16-slice  technology  in the  second  quarter.  During  the  quarter,  GEMS
     expanded  its  product  lines  and  capabilities  as it  completed  several
     acquisitions,  including MedicaLogic, a developer of electronic records for
     outpatient care;  iPath, a leader in surgery  management  software;  Danica
     Biomedical A/S, a Denmark-based developer of wireless technology for secure
     intra-hospital transmission of patient information;  and Surgical Insights,
     Inc.,  a pioneer in the  development  of  image-guided  orthopedic  surgery
     software.

--   GE Aircraft  Engines  (GEAE),  CFMI (its joint venture with Snecma Moteurs)
     and the GE-PW Engine  Alliance won $2.5 billion in equipment  orders during
     the first quarter from customers including Emirates Airline, Ryanair, South
     African  Airways,  Frontier  Airlines and Continental  Airlines.  GEAE also
     added more than $2 billion in multi-year  service agreements with customers
     including KLM and Continental Airlines.  The CF34 Growth engine development
     program  achieved a significant  milestone with the successful first flight
     of the Embraer 170 regional jet. To date, GEAE has received over $7 billion
     in orders for CF34  regional jet  engines,  the  fastest-growing  sector of
     commercial aviation.  In addition,  GEAE received in excess of $600 million
     in contracts from the U.S. military during the quarter,  including an order
     to provide  engines  for the  initial  phase of the Air  Force's C-5 Galaxy
     Re-engining Program.

--   GE Capital Services (GECS) posted a strong  performance  through  continued
     cost improvement and robust  acquisition  activity.  GECS  digitization and
     productivity  enhancements  reduced operating and  administrative  costs by
     $275 million, which contributed $165 million to GECS earnings.  Acquisition
     activity remained strong,  as Real Estate and Commercial  Finance completed
     the acquisition of Daimler  Chrysler's real estate and asset-based  lending
     portfolios. Global Consumer Finance completed the acquisition of Kingfisher
     plc's Time Retail  Finance  operations and also agreed to acquire the sales
     finance business of Kawai Instruments,  while Commercial  Equipment Finance
     and Healthcare  Financial Services agreed to acquire leasing businesses and
     financing assets from Comdisco.

--   NBC continued its success in television's key demographic category,  adults
     18-49,  with  first-quarter  ratings 40  percent  higher  than its  closest
     prime-time  competitor's.  In February, NBC telecast the second-most-viewed
     Winter Olympics ever, reaching a total of 187 million American viewers. The
     Olympics  led the  network to an eighth  consecutive  sweeps-month  victory
     among  adults  18-49,  with the highest  ratings for any network in a major
     sweeps month in eight years. NBC was also television's No. 1 network in key
     demographics for the quarter in late night, daytime,  morning news, evening
     news and Sunday-morning  public affairs  programming.  NBC saw increases in
     scatter pricing, which at the end of the quarter was 6% higher than upfront
     pricing.

--   GE  Appliances  (GEA)  grew  quarterly  revenues  8%  with  a  very  strong
     performance in the U.S., where core product volumes were up 10%,  outpacing
     the industry and gaining 0.6 points of market share. GEA products continued
     to win awards,  as the Monogram  Advantium(TM)  Speed Cook Oven was named a
     "Top 100 Pick" by Building Products magazine and Home magazine named the GE
     Profile  Arctica(TM)  Refrigerator  one of its  "Products  of the  Year." A
     leading  consumer  magazine  named GE cooking  products its top products in
     several  categories.  GEA also launched a new GE Profile  Washer that meets
     the Department of Energy's stringent Energy Star guidelines.

--   GE  Plastics  (GEP)  average  daily order  rates  increased  18% over first
     quarter 2001, with order growth in the media, consumer and industrial,  and
     automotive segments, but pricing remained difficult.  GEP ended the quarter
     with an  increase  in its order  backlog  for the first time in more than a
     year.  Although the backlog was 29% lower than at the end of first  quarter
     2001, it was 36% higher than at the end of the year.



    Immelt said, "Our initiatives continue to yield impressive results in
productivity, product and services leadership and business development. These
initiatives, combined with GE's strong portfolio, will enable us to deliver
earnings of $1.65-$1.67 per share in 2002."

    GE (NYSE:GE) is a diversified technology, services and manufacturing company
with a commitment to achieving customer success. GE operates in more than 100
countries and employs approximately 310,000 people worldwide. For more
information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com/.


    Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

    This document includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to
uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially
from these expectations due to changes in global political, economic, business,
competitive, market and regulatory factors. More detailed information about
those factors is contained in GE's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.




                       GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
                    Condensed Statement of Earnings

                      Consolidated         GE            GECS
                     ---------------  ------------  ----------------
Three months
ended March 31,       2002    2001    2002    2001     2002     2001
                     ------  ------ -------  ------   ------   -----
Revenues
  Sales of goods
    and services    $17,488 $16,860 $16,748 $15,850    $816   $1,068
  Earnings of GECS
    before accounting
    changes               -       -   1,657   1,401       -        -
  GECS revenues
    from services    12,978  13,574       -       -  13,083   13,655
  Other income           55      59      86     109       -        -
                    ------- ------- ------- -------  ------  -------
    Total revenues   30,521  30,493  18,491  17,360  13,899   14,723
                    ------- ------- ------- -------  ------  -------

Costs and expenses
  Cost of sales,
    operating and
    administrative
    expenses         18,853  18,560  13,700  12,923   5,294    5,749
  Goodwill
    amortization          -     295       -     121       -      174
  Interest and
    other financial
    charges           2,374   3,076     157     255   2,288    2,898
  Insurance losses
    and policyholder
    and annuity
    benefits          3,549   3,523       -       -   3,549    3,523
  Provision for
    losses on
    financing
    receivables         662     483       -       -     662      483
  Minority interest
    in net earnings
    of consolidated
    affiliates           76     102      42      45      34       57
                    ------- ------- ------- -------  ------  -------
    Total costs
      and expenses   25,514  26,039  13,899  13,344  11,827   12,884
                    ------- ------- ------- -------  ------  -------

Earnings before
  income taxes and
  accounting changes  5,007   4,454   4,592   4,016   2,072    1,839
Provision for
  income taxes       (1,489) (1,437) (1,074)   (999)   (415)    (438)
                    ------- ------- ------- -------  ------  -------
Earnings before
  accounting changes $3,518  $3,017  $3,518  $3,017  $1,657   $1,401
                    ------- ------- ------- -------  ------  -------

Cumulative effect
  of accounting
  changes            (1,015)   (444) (1,015)   (444) (1,015)    (169)
                    ------- ------- ------- -------  ------  -------
Net earnings         $2,503  $2,573  $2,503  $2,573    $642   $1,232
                    ======= ======= ======= =======  ======  =======

Per-share amounts
before accounting
changes (in dollars)
  Diluted earnings
    per share         $0.35   $0.30
  Basic earnings
    per share         $0.35   $0.30

Per-share amounts
after accounting
changes (in dollars)
  Diluted earnings
    per share         $0.25   $0.26
  Basic earnings
    per share         $0.25   $0.26

Dividends declared
  per share
  (in dollars)        $0.18   $0.16


    Dollar amounts in millions; per-share amounts in dollars;
unaudited. Supplemental consolidating data are shown for "GE" and
"GECS." Transactions between GE and GECS have been eliminated from the
"consolidated" columns. See note 1 to the consolidated financial
statements in the 2001 Annual Report to Share Owners for further
information about consolidation matters.


GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
All amounts except per-share earnings are in millions of U.S. dollars.


Three months ended March 31,              2002       2001        V%
                                       -------------------------------

Revenues                               $ 30,521   $ 30,493        -

Earnings before accounting changes     $  3,518   $  3,017       17
Cumulative effect of accounting changes  (1,015)      (444)
Net earnings                              2,503      2,573       (3)

Per-Share Earnings
Diluted
   Before accounting changes           $   0.35   $   0.30       17
   Cumulative effect of accounting
    changes                               (0.10)     (0.04)
   After accounting changes                0.25       0.26       (4)
Basic
   Before accounting changes           $   0.35   $   0.30       17
   Cumulative effect of accounting
    changes                               (0.10)     (0.04)
   After accounting changes                0.25       0.26       (4)


Segment Information - Industrial Businesses
                                          2002       2001        V%
                                       -------------------------------
Revenues
    Aircraft Engines                   $  2,577   $  2,738       (6)
    Appliances                            1,414      1,315        8
    Industrial Products & Systems:
       Industrial Systems                 1,097      1,124       (2)
       Lighting                             540        609      (11)
       Transportation Systems               482        548      (12)
       GE Supply                            532        566       (6)
                                       -----------------------
    Total Industrial Products & Systems   2,651      2,847       (7)

    Materials:
       Plastics                           1,179      1,448      (19)
       Specialty Materials                  401        486      (17)
                                       -----------------------
    Total Materials                       1,580      1,934      (18)

    NBC                                   1,998      1,351       48
    Power Systems                         5,271      4,260       24
    Technical Products and Services:
       Medical Systems                    1,863      1,828        2
       Global eXchange Services             105        170      (38)
                                       -----------------------
    Total Technical Products and
     Services                             1,968      1,998       (2)

Segment profit (a)
    Aircraft Engines                        421        480      (12)
    Appliances                               91         87        5
    Industrial Products & Systems:
       Industrial Systems                   103        133      (23)
       Lighting                              20         59      (66)
       Transportation Systems                53         50        6
       GE Supply                             20         18       11
                                       -----------------------
    Total Industrial Products & Systems     196        260      (25)

    Materials:
       Plastics                             207        339      (39)
       Specialty Materials                   47         81      (42)
                                       -----------------------
    Total Materials                         254        420      (40)

    NBC                                     313        298        5
    Power Systems                         1,552        857       81
    Technical Products and Services:
       Medical Systems                      266        293       (9)
       Global eXchange Services               5         31      (84)
                                       -----------------------
    Total Technical Products and Services   271        324      (16)


    (a) First quarter 2001 reclassified to conform to 2002
        presentation.


Segment Information - GE Capital Services

Dollars in millions
Three months ended March 31,        2002      2001      %V
                                 ----------------------------

Consolidated GECS
       Revenues
       Consumer Services           $ 5,410   $ 5,692     -5%
       Equipment Management          1,599     1,845    -13%
       Mid-Market Financing          2,271     1,951     16%
       Specialized Financing           720       835    -14%
       Specialty Insurance           2,785     2,888     -4%
       All Other                     1,114     1,512    -26%
                                 ----------------------------
          Total Revenues          $ 13,899  $ 14,723     -6%
                                 ============================

Consumer Services
       Revenues
       Global Consumer Finance       1,470     1,318     12%
       GE Financial Assurance        2,983     3,100     -4%
       GE Card Services                903     1,122    -20%
       Other Consumer Services          54       152    -64%
                                 ----------------------------
          Total Revenues           $ 5,410   $ 5,692     -5%
                                 ============================

Equipment Management
       Revenues
       Aviation Services               568       516     10%
       Americom                          -       237   -100%
       Other Equipment Management    1,031     1,092     -6%
                                 ----------------------------
          Total Revenues           $ 1,599   $ 1,845    -13%
                                 ============================

Mid-Market Financing
       Revenues
       Commercial Equipment          1,081       956     13%
       Commercial Finance              610       524     16%
       Vendor Financial                535       471     14%
       Other Mid-Market                 45         -
                                 ----------------------------
          Total Revenues           $ 2,271   $ 1,951     16%
                                 ============================

Specialized Financing
       Revenues
       Real Estate                     461       598    -23%
       SFG                             296       312     -5%
       GE Equity                       (55)      (89)   -38%
       Other Specialized Financing      18        14     29%
                                 ----------------------------
          Total Revenues             $ 720     $ 835    -14%
                                 ============================

Specialty Insurance
       Revenues
       Mortgage Insurance              280       309     -9%
       GE Global Insurance           2,407     2,497     -4%
       Other Specialty Insurance        98        82     20%
                                 ----------------------------
          Total Revenues           $ 2,785   $ 2,888     -4%
                                 ============================

All Other
       Revenues
       IT Solutions                    916     1,221    -25%

       Other                           198       291    -32%
                                 ----------------------------
          Total Revenues           $ 1,114   $ 1,512    -26%
                                 ============================


Net Earnings (a)
Consumer Services                $ 704    $ 648      9%
Equipment Management               169      306    -45%
Mid-Market Financing               354      292     21%
Specialized Financing              218      119     84%
Specialty Insurance                234      270    -13%
All Other                          (22)     (95)    77%
                              --------------------------
   Total Net Earnings          $ 1,657  $ 1,540      8%
                              ==========================

Net Earnings (a)
Global Consumer Finance            320      297      8%
GE Financial Assurance             173      159      9%
GE Card Services                   211      177     19%
Other Consumer Services              -       15       U
                              --------------------------
   Total Net Earnings            $ 704    $ 648      9%
                              ==========================


Net Earnings (a)
Aviation Services                   95      130    -27%
Americom                             -       91       U
Other Equipment Management          74       85    -13%
                              --------------------------
   Total Net Earnings            $ 169    $ 306    -45%
                              ==========================

Net Earnings (a)
Commercial Equipment               168      120     39%
Commercial Finance                 107      113     -5%
Vendor Financial                    67       57     17%
Other Mid-Market                    12        2       F
                              --------------------------
   Total Net Earnings            $ 354    $ 292     21%
                              ==========================


Net Earnings (a)
Real Estate                        162      132     23%
SFG                                129      106     22%
GE Equity                          (70)    (117)    40%
Other Specialized Financing         (3)      (2)      -
                              --------------------------
   Total Net Earnings            $ 218    $ 119     84%
                              ==========================


Net Earnings (a)
Mortgage Insurance                 100      124    -19%
GE Global Insurance                 80      146    -45%
Other Specialty Insurance           54        -       F
                              --------------------------
   Total Net Earnings            $ 234    $ 270    -13%
                              ==========================


Net Earnings (a)
IT Solutions                        (2)      (3)    33%
Other                              (20)     (92)    78%
                              --------------------------
   Total Net Earnings            $ (22)   $ (95)    77%
                              ==========================

(a) First quarter 2001 reclassified to conform to 2002 presentation.



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
