For Better Living Inc. Has Bad 4th Period, Good Year

For Better Living Inc., a diversified company with interests in concrete, plastics, publishing and oil and gas exploration, reported a fourth-quarter loss of $407,000 but said its profits for the entire year jumped 324%, largely due to a sale of property.

The loss for the quarter ended Dec. 29 compared to a $170,000 loss in the like period of 1983. The San Juan Capistrano company said its earnings normally suffer from a slowdown in construction during the winter months. The larger fourth-quarter loss in 1984 was attributed to settlement of a lawsuit, which cost the company $255,000.

For the full year, the company said it earned $1.94 million, up from profits of $457,000 in 1983. However, the company credited the gain primarily to a $4.6-million sale of real estate in San Jose.

During the fourth quarter, sales increased 6%, to $9.55 million from $9.02 million. For the year, sales rose 18%, to $37.3 million from $31.6 million.