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R-6.33 BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM STATEMENT FOR THE PRESS For release in morning papers, Thursday, April 18, 194-0 The following summary of general business and financial conditions in the United States, based upon statistics for March and the first half of April, will appear in the May issue of the Federal Reserve Bulletin and in the monthly reviews of the Federal Reserve banks Industrial activity continued to decline during March but at a somewhat slower rate than in the preceding two months, and in the first half of April there was little further decrease. Wholesale price,s of basic commodities decreased somewhat in the latter half of March but recovered by the middle of April. Distribution of commodities to domestic consumers continued in large volume, and exports were at the high levels reached last December. Production The Board's index of industrial production, which is adjusted for usual seasonal variations and for the number of working days, was 103 in March compared with 109 in February, The decline reflected chiefly a further reduction in output of steel and considerable decreases in activity at cotton and woolen textile mills. Steel ingot production declined from an average of 69 per cent of capacity in February to an average of 6U per cent in March. In the first half of April output was at around 61 per cent of capacity. Automobile production in March and the first half of April was maintained at the high rate prevailing during January and February but did not show the increase customary at this season. Retail sales of automobiles continued in large volume, and dealers' stocks of new cars declined somewhat from the high level reached earlier. In the machinery industries activity showed some decline from the high rate of other recent months, while at aircraft factories and shipyards activity continued at peak levels. Output of lumber and plate glass advanced seasonally in March. In the woolen textile industry, where activity had been declining from the high level reached last November, there was a further sharp reduction in March. Activity at cotton textile mills also declined considerably but remained at a somewhat higher level than prevailed a year ago. Shoe production likewise declined considerably in March. At silk mills activity remained at an exceptionally low level, while rayon production was large. Mineral production was maintained in large volume in March. There was some further reduction in output of bituminous coal, but output of anthracite increased, following a sharp decline in February. Crude petroleum production continued at record levels. Value of construction contracts awarded, as reported by the F. W. Dodge Corporation, increased considerably in March, as is usual at this season. The increase was principally in awards for private work, which in March approximately equalled those in the corresponding period last year. Public awards increased somewhat, following declines in 139 -3- R-63S January and Februaiy, but were in smaller volume than a year ago. Pri- vate residential building rose by about the usual seasonal amount. Distribution Sales of general merchandise at department and variety stores and by mail-order houses increased by about the usual seasonal amount from February to March, with allowance for the earlier date of Easter this year. In the first week of April sales at department stores were at a higher level than in March. Freight-car loadings showed little change from February to March, although a rise is usual between these months. Shipments of mis- cellaneous freight showed considerably less than the usual seasonal increase, and there was some further decline in loadings of coal. Foreign trade Exports of United States merchandise in March continued near the high level reached last December. Agricultural exports, principally cotton, decreased from February to March, while there were substantial increases in shipments of commercial vehicles and in metal working, agricultural, and other types of machinery. During March, the country's monetary gold stock increased ty $256,000,000. In the first two weeks of April the rate of gold inflow was accelerated, acquisitions in this period amounting to $145,000,000. Commodity prices Prices of a number of basic agricultural and industrial commodities, which had declined in the latter part of March, advanced during 140 -4- the second week in April. B-638 Prices of certain finished steel products, on the other hand, were reduced, and prices of most other commodities showed little change. Government security market Prices of Treasury bonds moved sharply upward during March and the first few days of April to a new high level since last summer. On April 9, however, on receipt of news of the expansion of war activities in Europe, a decline of about one point occurred in long-term bonds. Subsequently the market recovered part of the loss. The yield on the 1960-65 Treasury bonds was 2.3-1 per cent on April 15, compared with a low of 2.26 per cent on April 2. Bank credit Reflecting continued heavy gold imports, excess reserves of member banks increased during the four weeks ending April 10 to a record high level of $5,950,000,000. Total loans and investments at banks in 101 leading cities, which had shovm little net change during March, increased in the first two weeks of April, reflecting purchases of United States Government obligations.
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