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O f F in a n c ia l, A g r i c u l t u r a l , T r a d e a n d I n d u s t r i a l
C o n d i t i o n s in th e S i x t h F e d e r a l R e s e r v e D i s t r i c t

F E D

E R A

L

R E S E R V E

B A N

K

A TLAN TA, GA., AUGUST 31, 1934

Vol. 19 No. 8

NATIONAL SUMMARY OF BUSIN ESS CONDITIONS
Prepared by Federal Reserve Board
Industrial production declined in July.* Factory employ­
ment and payrolls also decreased. Diminished output of steel
was the chief factor in the decline of industrial activity which
was larger than is usual at this season of the year. The gen­
eral level of wholesale commodity prices showed little net
change for July and advanced in the first three weeks of
August.
Production
Volume of industrial output, as measured by
and
the Board’s seasonally adjusted index, deEmployment creased from 83 per cent of the 1923-25 aver­
age in June to 76 per cent in July. This decline
reflected chiefly a sharp reduction in the output of steel,
due in part to previous accumulation of stocks by consumers;
and there was a further decline in steel operations during
the first three weeks in August. Activity in the automobile
industry decreased and there were considerable reductions in
the output of pig iron and anthracite. At textile m ills, where
operations had been at a low level in June, activity showed
little change in July. Output of shoes showed a seasonal in­
crease. Accompanying heavy marketings of cattle from
drought areas there was a considerable increase in activity at
meat packing establishments.
Factory employment decreased between the middle of June
and the middle of July by 3 per cent, an amount larger than
is usual at this season. There were reductions in many indus­
tries producing durable manufactures, such as iron and steel
products and building materials, and also at establishments
producing knit goods and women’s clothing. At canning es­
tablishments the number of employes increased by less than
the usual seasonal amount. Employment on public projects
increased further in July.
Value of construction contracts awarded, as reported by
the F . W. Dodge Corporation, was about the same in July as
in June.
Department of Agriculture estimates, based on August 1,
conditions, indicate that the yields per acre for principal
crops are 22 per cent smaller than the ten-year average,
reflecting the effects of the drought. The wheat crop is esti­
mated at 491,000,000 bushels, 37,000,000 bushels less than last
year’s small harvest, and the corn crop at 1,607,000,000

A

T L A

N

T A

^ifSj^n^papefs 'of

PER CENT

PER C EN

In d e x n u m b e r o f in d u s t r ia l p ro d u ctio n , a d ju ste d f o r s e a s o n a l v a r ia t io n .
(1923-1925 a v e r a g e = 1 0 0 .) L a t e s t fig u re J u ly P r e lim in a r y 76.




F

bushels, as compared with a five-year average of 2,516,000,000
bushels. The cotton crop estimate is 9,195,000 bales, about
4,000,000 bales less than last season and smaller than in any
other year since 1921.
Distribution Total volume of freight car loadings declined in
July, reflecting chiefly a reduction in miscel­
laneous freight, including steel shipments, offset in part by an
increase in shipments of livestock. Department store sales
showed a decrease of somewhat more than the estimated sea­
sonal amount.
Commodity
Wholesale prices of farm products, after flucPrices
tuating widely in July, advanced considerably
in the first three weeks of August. Between
the beginning of July and the third week of August cotton,
wheat and hog prices showed substantial increases while cat­
tle prices declined somewhat. During this period prices of
commodities other than farm products and foods as a group
showed little change.
Bank
Member bank reserve balances increased further beCredit tween the middle of July and the middle of August
and on August 15 were about $1,900,000,000 in ex­
cess of legal requirements. The increase of reserve balances
reflected principally a further growth in monetary gold stock
offset in part during the first half of August by a seasonal
increase in the total volume of money in circulation. The vol­
ume of reserve bank credit showed little change.
In the four weeks ending August 15, loans and investments
of New York City banks decreased by $141,000,000, while
those of weekly reporting banks in other leading cities in­
creased by $116,000,000. The decrease at New York banks
reflected a reduction of nearly $200,000,000 in loans to brokers
and dealers in securities, following a sharp decline in security
prices in the latter part of July, and a decline of $52,000,000
in holdings of United States Government securities. A ll other
loans and holdings of securities other than United States
Government obligations increased substantially at New York
banks and at banks outside New York City. At outside banks
holdings of United States Government securities also de­
creased.
Average rates of discount on United States Treasury bills
issued rose from .07 per cent in July to .23 per cent on
August 22. Other open market money rates remained un­
changed at low levels.
P E R CEN T

P ER C EN T

O

F e d e ra l R e se rv e B o a r d ’s in d e x o f f a c to r y e m p lo y m e n t a d ju ste d f o r sea­
so n a l v a r ia t io n .
(1923-25 a v e r a g e = 1 0 0 .)
L a t e s t fig u re J u ly P r e lim in a r y
79.4.

2

M O N T H L Y

R E V IE W

B IL L IO N S

OF D O L L A R S

B illio n s

7

me:MBER

o f d o lla r s

7

BANK CRE:dit

U5 Govt Securities
\
W -*

V

i
v'

-411OtherLoans

__
Other Securities

■... . — —

ion

W e d n e s d a y f ig u r e s f o r r e p o r t i n g m e m b e r b a n k s i n
fig u r e s a r e f o r W e d n e s d a y , A u g u s t 1 5 .

SIXTH D ISTRIC T SUMMARY
In the Sixth Federal Reserve District there were further
declines during July in the volume of trade at both retail and
wholesale because of seasonal influences, and decreases were
reported in the production of pig iron in Alabama, in coal
mining in Alabama and Tennessee, and in the consumption of
cotton. Building permits at reporting cities declined over the
month, but construction contracts in the Distirct as a whole
increased, and both were substantially larger than a year ago.
Department store sales declined 22.4 per cent from June to
July but were 18.8 per cent greater than in July last year,
and for the seven months of the year have been 33.5 per cent
greater than in that part of 1933. On a daily average basis,
the decrease from June to July was 19.3 per cent, compared
with a usual decline of 22.4 per cent at that time of year, and
the adjusted sales index rose from 81.9 per cent of the 19231925 average for June to 83.4 per cent for July. Sales by
wholesale firms declined 4.6 per cent from June to July and
were only slightly higher than in July a year ago, but for the
seven months of 1934 they were 31.8 per cent greater than
for that part of last year. Business failures declined from
June to July, in both number and liabilities, and continued
less than a year ago.
After increasing for three consecutive months, building per­
mits issued during July at twenty reporting cities declined
19.3 per cent, but were 55.7 per cent greater than a year ago,
and for the seven months were 91.6 per cent greater than in
the same period a year ago. Building and construction con­
tracts awarded in the Sixth District, however, increased 20.6
per cent from June to July, were greater by 180.2 per cent
than in July, 1933, and for the seven months have been 183.2
per cent greater than in that part of 1933. Consumption of
cotton in the three states of the District for which figures are
available declined 6.3 per cent from June to July, and was
39.9 per cent less than a year ago when the mills were very
active, and for the cotton season which ended with July con­
sumption in these states was 7.9 per cent less than in the pre­
vious season. Orders booked during July, however, by report­
ing mills increased substantially over the month before and
were greater than for that month last year.
Production of pig iron in Alabama declined about 22 per
cent from June to July and was 18 per cent less than in July,
1933, but for the seven months of the year has been 139.2
per cent greater than in that part of 1933. Coal mining in
both Alabama and Tennessee also declined from June to July
and was less than a year ago.
Total volume of member bank credit outstanding at weekly
reporting member banks in the District declined about seven
millions of dollars from July 11 to August 15, but was 5.3
millions greater than a year ago because of larger holdings of
securities. Discounts at the Federal Reserve Bank also de­
clined somewhat during this five week period and were less
than a year ago, but holdings of Government securities were
about 36.5 millions greater.
August 1st estimates by the United States Department of
Agriculture indicate a decrease of 11.7 per cent in production
of cotton this year compared with last in the six states
located wholly or partly in this District. Increases over 1933

production are indicated in corn, wheat, oats, hay, potatoes,
peaches, oranges and sugar, but decreases in apples, grape­
fruit and rice.
FIN A N C E
Reserve The volume of reserve bank credit outstanding at
Bank
this bank, indicated by its total holdings of bills
Credit
and securities, declined slightly between July 11
and August 15, but was more than 30 millions of
dollars greater than a year earlier. Discounts declined dur­
ing this period by 51 thousand and holdings of United States
securities declined 14 thousand, but these were partly offset
by industrial advances amounting to 35 thousand made under
the recent authorization by Congress. Government security
holdings of the bank on August 15 were 36.5 millions greater
than at the same time last year.
Member bank reserve deposits declined 6 millions between
July 11 and August 15, and total deposits declined about 7.9
millions, and member bank reserve deposits were 15.3 m il­
lions, and total deposits were 16.1 millions, greater than a
year ago. Total reserves declined 9.7 millions during this
recent five week period and were 4.3 millions less than a
year ago. Federal Reserve note circulation declined 2.3 mil­
lions from July 11 to August 15, but was 15.2 millions
greater than a year ago.
Principal items in the weekly statement of this bank are
compared in the table below, which is followed by another
table setting out similar comparisons for the twelve Federal
Reserve Banks combined.




90

■

In d e x e s o f t h e U n ite d S ta te s B u r e a u o f L a b o r S ta t is tic s . B y m o n th s
1 9 2 9 to 1 9 3 1 ; b y w e e k s 1 9 3 2 to d a t e . ( 1 9 2 6 = 1 0 0 . ) L a t e s t fig u re s A u g u s t
1 8 ; F a r m P r o d u c ts 6 8 .9 ; F o o d s 7 4 .1 ; O th e r C o m m o d itie s 7 8 .4 .

c itie s .

FED ER A L RESER V E BA NK OF ATLANTA
( 0 0 0 O m itte d )
A u g . 15
J u ly 11
1934
1934
B ills D isco u n te d :
S e cu red b y G o v t. O b lig a tio n s
A ll O th e r s ...........................................
T o ta l D is c o u n ts ...................
B ills B o u g h t in O p en M a r k e t . .
I n d u s tr ia l A d v a n c e s .........................
U . S . S e c u ritie s .....................................
T o ta l B ills a n d S e c u ritie s
T o ta l R e s e rv e s ......................................
M e m b e r B a n k R e s e rv e D e p o sits
T o ta l D e p o s its ......................................
F . R . N o te s in a c tu a l c irc u la tio n
F . R . B a n k N o te s in a c tu a l cir­
cu la tio n .............................................. ..
R e s e rv e R a t i o ........................................

$

$

30
162
192
178
35
94,230
94,635
123,839
70,971
79,191
132,926

L a te s t

A ug. 16
1933

$

9
234
243
178

393
5,825
6,218
239

*941244
94,665
133,510
77,102
87,063
135,250

*57‘,758
64,215
128,177
55,651
63,106
117,684

6 0 .1 %

2,047
7 0 .9 %

FED ER A L R ESER V E SYSTEM
(000 O m itte d )
J u ly 11
A u g . 15
1934
1934

A u g . 16
1933

B ills D isco u n te d :
S ecu red b y G o v t. O b lig a tio n s
A ll O th e r s ...........................................
T o ta l D is c o u n ts ...................
B ills B o u g h t in O p en M a r k e t . .
I n d u s tr ia l A d v a n c e s ..........................
U . S. S e c u ritie s .....................................
O th e r S e c u ritie s ...................................
T o ta l B ills a n d S ecu ritie s
T o ta l R e s e r v e s ......................................
M e m b e r B a n k R e s e rv e D e p o s its
T o ta l D e p o s its ......................................
F . R . N o te s in a c tu a l c irc u la tio n
F . R . B a n k N o te s in a c tu a l cirR e se rv e R a t i o ........................................

* 58*. 4 %

$

3,820
16,387
20,207
5,198
214
2,431,457
428
2 ,457,504
5,210,143
4,064,270
4,333,572
3,102,373
32,651
7 0.1%

$

6,047
18,544
22,684
5,259

$

42,425
123,466
165,891
7,456

2,43 i,’779
483
2,460,205
5,066,978
3,902,098
4,188,145
3,098,273

2,058 ’,853
1,851
2,231,051
3,823,106
2,370,866
2,616,475
2,996,314

41,045
6 9 .5 %

128,188
68.1 %

M O N T H L Y

Member During the five weeks from July 11 to August 15
Bank
there were declines both in loans and in investment
Credit
holdings of 17 weekly reporting banks located in
Atlanta, Birmingham, Jacksonville, Nashville, Chat­
tanooga, Mobile and Savannah. The decrease in total loans
amounted to only 1.4 millions, but the volume of loans on
August 15 was smaller than on any other Wednesday this
year or last. Investments in securities, however, although
5.5 millions less on August 15 than five weeks earlier, con­
tinued large in comparison with figures for earlier periods
this year, and were more than 15 millions greater than at
the same time last year. Demand deposits reported by these
banks declined slightly from July 11 to August 15, but were
larger than on any Wednesday during the first half of the
year and 31.6 millions greater than on the same report date a
year ago. Time deposits declined slightly since July 11, and
were 5.5 millions less than a year ago. Bankers’ balances
increased from July 11 to August 15 and were substantially
larger than at the same time last year. In the tables which
follow are shown comparisons of the principal items in the
weekly report, and monthly averages of some of these figures
over the past year, and a comparison of savings deposits
reported by a list of banks located throughout the District.
C O N D IT IO N O F M E M B E R B A N K S IN S E L E C T E D C IT IE S
(0 0 0 O m itte d )
A u g . 15
J u ly 11
A ug. 16
1934
1934
1933
L o a n s:
O n S e c u ritie s .....................................
A ll O th e r s ...........................................
T o ta l L o a n s ............................
U . S . S e c u ritie s .....................................
O th e r S e c u ritie s ...................................
T o t a l In v e s tm e n ts .............
T o ta l L o a n s a n d I n v e s t­
m e n ts ......................................
T im e D e p o s its .......................................
D e m a n d D e p o s its ...............................
D u e to B a n k s ........................................
D u e fro m B a n k s ..................................
B o rro w in g s fro m F . R . B a n k . . .

$ 5 5 ,4 1 5
1 1 0 ,4 2 1
1 6 5 ,8 3 6
1 1 0 ,4 8 1
5 5 ,8 0 7
1 6 6 ,2 8 8

$ 5 5 ,6 9 7
1 1 1 ,5 7 8
1 6 7 ,2 7 5
1 1 8 ,7 5 7
5 3 ,0 0 2
1 7 1 ,7 5 9

$ 5 9 ,1 2 7
1 1 6 ,4 5 8
1 7 5 ,5 8 5
9 7 ,2 9 9
5 3 ,9 5 5
1 5 1 ,2 5 4

3 3 2 ,1 2 4
1 2 9 ,7 6 4
1 7 2 ,0 8 6
8 9 ,0 3 0
8 8 ,7 4 2
0

3 3 9 ,0 3 4
1 3 0 ,1 1 5
1 7 4 ,4 6 4
7 9 ,1 5 9
8 3 ,2 8 4
0

3 2 6 ,8 3 9
1 3 5 ,2 2 2
1 4 0 ,4 4 5
5 3 ,9 0 1
5 7 ,6 6 7
1 ,0 3 6

M O N T H L Y A V E R A G E S O F W E E K L Y F IG U R E S O F
17 R E P O R T I N G M E M B E R B A N K S I N S E L E C T E D C I T I E S
(0 0 0 O m itte d )
T o ta l
In v e s t­
Loans an d D em and
T im e
F ro m
Loans
In v e s tm e n ts D e p o sits D e p o s its F . R . B a n k
m e n ts
1933
J u n e ..................., $ 1 7 5 ,9 8 1
J u l y ................... , 1 7 6 , 9 4 6
A u g u s t............. , 1 7 5 , 6 8 4
S e p te m b e r .. . 1 7 6 , 5 2 7
O c to b e r........... 1 7 8 ,4 1 1
N o v e m b e r .. . 1 8 8 , 6 1 2
D e c e m b e r .. . 1 9 2 ,4 9 1
1934
J a n u a r y ..........., 1 8 7 , 7 9 5
F e b r u a r y .. . , , 1 8 7 , 3 5 8
. 1 8 4 ,8 5 1
A p r il.................. 1 8 0 , 6 7 0
M a y ................... 1 7 8 , 0 1 9
J u n e ................... 1 7 7 , 6 8 7
J u l y ................... . 1 6 7 , 2 9 4

$ 1 3 4 ,2 4 4
1 3 8 ,4 7 5
1 4 5 ,7 7 7
1 4 9 ,7 1 7
1 4 4 ,6 5 1
1 5 1 ,2 7 5
1 5 0 ,1 9 9

$ 3 1 0 ,2 2 5
3 1 5 ,4 2 1
3 2 1 ,4 6 1
3 2 6 ,2 4 4
3 2 3 ,0 6 2
3 3 9 ,8 8 7
3 4 2 ,6 9 0

$ 1 4 1 ,9 9 3
1 4 0 ,5 7 0
1 4 1 ,8 4 2
1 4 5 ,1 6 7
1 4 1 ,8 9 4
1 4 4 ,6 0 2
1 5 2 ,2 4 9

$ 1 2 6 ,8 7 6
1 3 4 ,2 6 1
1 3 4 ,2 3 9
1 3 2 ,7 5 4
1 3 2 ,1 6 0
1 3 1 ,4 2 6
1 2 9 ,0 3 3

$ 1 ,1 5 4
1 ,1 7 9
1 ,2 2 9
2 ,1 1 2
1 ,9 6 0
2 ,5 7 2
2 ,6 1 4

1 4 8 ,3 0 5
1 6 2 ,0 5 4
1 5 5 ,6 0 8
1 5 2 ,6 7 9
1 5 1 ,1 7 2
1 5 6 ,5 2 2
1 6 9 ,7 8 0

3 3 6 ,1 0 0
3 4 9 ,4 1 2
3 4 0 ,4 6 0
3 3 3 ,3 4 9
3 2 9 ,1 9 1
3 3 4 ,2 0 9
3 3 6 ,5 1 3

1 5 1 ,9 3 5
1 5 8 ,6 9 5
1 6 1 ,7 9 4
1 6 8 ,0 7 0
1 6 7 ,4 0 4
1 6 9 ,1 9 6
1 7 2 ,7 0 7

1 3 0 ,0 4 8
1 3 1 ,5 0 5
1 3 0 ,4 0 6
1 3 0 ,6 4 9
1 3 2 ,9 1 1
1 3 0 ,7 8 6
1 3 1 ,5 6 0

2 ,0 6 0
441
1 61
0
0
0
0

S A V IN G S D E P O S IT S
( 0 0 0 O m itte d )
N um ber
of
B anks
A tla n ta .. . .
B irm in g h a m
Jack so n v ille.
K n o x v ille .. .
N a s h v ill e .. .
N ew O rlean s
O th e r C ities.
T o t a l ..............

3
3
3
3
4
5
35
56

J u ly
1934
$ 3 0 ,5 0 5
1 7 ,0 6 6
1 3 ,6 9 8
3 ,1 7 0
2 2 ,6 0 4
2 8 ,7 6 1
6 2 ,6 4 7
1 7 8 ,4 5 1

June
1934
$ 3 1 ,2 0 0
1 7 ,3 6 0
1 3 ,7 0 3
2 ,9 3 0
2 2 ,4 0 4
2 8 ,5 4 1
6 3 ,2 7 6
1 7 9 ,4 1 4

J u ly
1933
$ 2 8 ,5 9 1
1 6 ,1 7 8
1 2 ,4 6 5
1 ,4 7 7
1 9 ,6 6 5
2 1 ,8 8 9
5 6 ,5 7 9
1 5 6 ,8 4 4

P e rc e n ta g e C h a n g e
J u ly 1 9 3 4 c o m p a re d
w ith
J u n e 1 9 3 4 J u ly 1 9 3 3
—
—
—
+
+
+
—
—

2 .2
1 .7
0 .0
8 .2
0 .9
0 .8
1 .0
0 .5

+ 6 .7
+ 5 .5
+ 9 .9
+ 1 1 4 .6
+ 1 4 .9
+ 3 1 .4
+ 1 0 .7
+ 1 3 .8

Debits to Debits to individual accounts at twenty-six clearindividual ing house centers of the Sixth District declined
Accounts 1.4 per cent from June to July, but were 3.2 per
cent greater than in that month a year ago. In­
creases over June were reported from nine cities, and over
July 1933 by fifteen cities. Bank debits usually decline some­
what from June to July. Monthly totals shown in the table
are derived from weekly reports by pro-rating figures for
those weeks which do not fa ll entirely within a single calen­
dar month.



3

R E V IE W

( 0 0 0 O m itte d )
J u ly 1 9 3 4

Ju n e 1934

J u ly 1 9 3 3

$ 1 1 5 ,4 5 1
7 2 ,8 9 9
1 ,6 8 9
2 3 ,1 2 0
1 7 ,7 4 3

$ 1 1 2 ,9 7 8
7 0 ,7 7 5
1 ,7 2 6
2 3 ,7 1 8
1 6 ,7 5 9

$ 9 4 ,5 8 2
5 6 ,6 7 4
1 ,5 3 9
2 3 ,7 7 8
1 2 ,5 9 1

F lo rid a — 4 C itie s ..............................
J a c k s o n v ille ....................................

8 5 ,7 6 3
4 5 ,8 0 8
1 4 ,7 3 8
5 ,5 6 7
1 9 ,6 5 0

9 3 ,2 6 8
5 0 ,1 1 8
1 7 ,4 7 5
5 ,6 0 0
2 0 ,0 7 5

7 7 ,2 8 1
4 2 ,0 7 8
1 4 ,1 9 0
4 ,7 9 8
1 6 ,2 1 5

G eorgia— 10 C itie s ..........................

1 8 6 ,6 6 8
2 ,2 3 4
1 2 0 ,0 3 7
1 5 ,5 8 4
1 ,9 3 6
8 ,8 6 7
596
1 0 ,2 6 7
1 ,5 2 0
2 3 ,1 7 7
2 ,4 5 0

1 8 6 ,0 1 1
2 ,3 3 3
1 1 7 ,3 4 1
1 5 ,9 1 4
1 ,8 1 5
8 ,7 9 7
632
1 0 ,2 0 2
1 ,4 3 0
2 5 ,0 5 2
2 ,4 9 5

1 8 0 ,1 6 7
2 ,0 9 3
1 1 1 ,0 4 6
1 5 ,4 4 7
1 ,6 2 0
8 ,0 4 9
398
1 1 ,1 9 2
1 ,5 3 6
2 6 ,5 7 9
2 ,2 0 7

L o u isia n a — N e w O rle a n s ............

1 6 3 ,3 9 2

1 6 7 ,4 0 5

1 8 8 ,9 2 4

M ississippi— 4 C itie s .....................
H a ttie s b u r g .....................................

3 1 ,7 1 5
3 ,3 6 2
1 7 ,9 9 0
6 ,1 4 2
4 ,2 2 1

3 0 ,8 7 0
3 ,4 5 3
1 5 ,6 8 7
7 ,5 4 6
4 ,1 8 4

2 9 ,0 7 3
3 ,1 3 6
1 5 ,9 1 6
6 ,0 1 0
4 ,0 1 1

T en n essee— 3 C itie s .......................
C h a tta n o o g a ...................................

1 0 8 ,2 1 9
2 7 ,4 4 6
1 7 ,5 9 0
6 3 ,1 8 3

1 1 0 ,7 7 0
2 7 ,6 8 3
1 8 ,8 3 1
6 4 ,2 5 6

1 0 0 ,0 1 6
2 4 ,4 4 9
1 5 ,5 3 1
6 0 ,0 3 6

T o ta l— 2 6 C itie s ...............

$ 6 9 1 ,2 0 8

$ 7 0 1 ,3 0 2

$ 6 7 0 ,0 4 3

A la b a m a — 4 C itie s ..........................
B irm in g h a m ...................................
M o n tg o m e ry ..................................

B ru n sw ic k ........................................
C o lu m b u s .........................................

V ic k s b u rg .........................................

A G RIC U LTU RE
The August crop report issued by the United States De­
partment of Agriculture indicates a decline of nearly 11 per
cent in crop prospects in the United States during July as a
result of continued drought and record-breaking hot weather.
The report states that “growing conditions are poor prac­
tically everywhere except along the Atlantic Coast, in the
eastern Cotton Belt and in the Pacific Northwest. . . . Com­
bining the estimates of 32 principal crops, present indications
are that yields per acre w ill average nearly 19 per cent less
than they were last year, and about 22 per cent below the
average of yields during the last 13 years. The aggregate
acreage of the 15 principal field crops, according to current
estimates, w ill be about 8 per cent less than the very low
acreage harvested last year, 15 per cent lower than the aver­
age acreage during the previous 10 years, and lower than in
any season in about 25 years.” The largest declines in esti­
mated production, compared with last year, are in corn, hay,
oats, tobacco and apples, and small increases over last year
are indicated in the estimates for potatoes, peaches and
pears. Comparisons of the estimates for the principal crops
are shown in the table.
( I n T h o u s a n d s o f U n its )
E s tim a te
E s tim a te
P e rc e n t P ro d u c tio n
A ug. 1, 1 9 3 4 J u ly 1, 1 9 3 4
C hange
1933
C o m , b u s h e ls . . .
W h e a t, b u s h e ls ..
O ats, b u s h e ls .. . .
T a m e H a y , to n s .
T o b a cco , lb s.........
W h ite P o ta to e s ,

P ercen t

1 ,6 0 7 , 1 0 8
4 9 0 ,9 6 0
5 4 5 ,3 4 5
4 9 ,0 1 8
1 ,0 4 2 ,9 4 2

2 ,1 1 3 ,1 3 7
4 8 3 ,6 6 2
5 6 7 ,8 3 9
5 2 ,0 2 0
1 ,0 3 9 ,5 1 7

— 2 3 .9
+ 1 .5
— 4 .0
— 5 .8
+ 0 .3

2 ,3 4 3 ,8 8 3
5 2 7 ,9 7 8
7 3 1 ,5 2 4
6 5 ,9 8 3
1 ,3 8 5 ,1 0 7

— 3 1 .4
— 7 .0
— 2 5 .5
— 2 5 .7
— 2 4 .7

3 2 7 ,2 5 1

3 4 8 ,0 9 2

— 6 .0

3 2 0 ,3 5 3

+ 2 .2

In the Sixth District, prospects for tobacco, oats and wheat
improved somewhat from July 1 to August 1, and substantial
increases are indicated over 1933 production of potatoes, oats
and wheat, and small increases in com and hay. Rice pro­
duction in Louisiana is estimated at 13,962,000 bushels, a de­
cline of 5.4 per cent from last year, but estimates for sugar
indicate an increase of 4.9 per cent. A ll six states apparently
w ill have larger crops of white potatoes, and all except Geor­
gia are expected to produce more sweet potatoes than in
1933. The apple crop is smaller in all of these states, but
more peaches were produced this year than last except in
Georgia, where there was a slight decrease. Production of
oranges in Florida, from the bloom of 1933, is estimated at
17,800,000 boxes, compared with 16,200,000 boxes from the
previous season and grapefruit is indicated at 10,700,000
boxes against 11,800,000 boxes the season before. In the
table are shown estimates for some of the principal crops for
the Sixth District prepared by the Federal Reserve Board’s

4

M O N T H L Y

Division of Research and Statistics, based upon estimates by
states reported by the United States Department of Agricul­
ture.
(I n T h o u s a n d s of U n its )
E s tim a te
E s tim a te
P e rc e n t P ro d u c tio n
A ug. 1, 1 9 3 4 J u ly 1, 1 9 3 4
C hange
1933
C o rn , b u s h e ls . . .
W h e a t, b u s h e ls ..
O ats, b u s h e ls .. . .
T a m e H a y , to n s .
T o b a cco , lb s.........
W h ite P o ta to e s ,
b u s h e ls ................

R E V IE W

C le an R ic e— P o c k e ts:
R e c e ip ts ..........................
S h ip m e n ts ......................
S to c k s ...............................

P e rc e n t
C h an g e

1 5 7 ,7 6 8
3 ,5 9 8
9 ,9 3 2
1 ,9 5 6
1 2 2 ,8 4 2

1 5 8 ,5 4 4
3 ,3 8 4
9 ,8 5 3
2 ,1 4 8
1 1 7 ,8 3 1

— 5 .0
+ 6 .3

+ 0.8

— 8 .9
-J- 4 . 3

1 5 1 ,6 7 2
3 ,0 3 9
8 ,1 8 3
1 ,9 2 7
1 6 7 ,1 5 6

+ 4 .0
+ 1 8 .4
+ 2 1 .4
+ 1 .5
— 2 6 .5

1 4 ,8 9 8

1 4 ,9 3 8

— 0 .3

1 1 ,0 3 0

+ 3 5 .1

Cotton The first estimate of the 1934 cotton crop by the
United States Department of Agriculture, based on
conditions on August 1, indicate a crop of 9,195,000 bales, a
reduction of 29.5 per cent compared with the 1933 crop of
13,047,000 bales. The 1932 crop was 13,002,000 bales. The
crop as forecast is 3,852,000 bales less than last year's crop
and 5,480,000 bales less than average production in the fiveyear period, 1928 to 1932. With the exception of 1921, when
production was below eight million bales, the indicated 1934
crop is the smallest since 1896. Unusually hot and dry
weather prevailed in the western part of the belt, but in the
eastern part conditions were mostly favorable and resulted
in considerable recovery from unfavorable conditions earlier
in the season.
In the six states located wholly or partly in the Sixth Fed­
eral Reserve District the Augst 1st estimate indicates a total
crop of 3,693,000 bales, smaller by 11.7 per cent than last
year’s production.The acreage in these states is estimated to
be 7.3 per cent less than that harvested last year. Estimates
for these states are compared with the 1933 crop in the table.

R e c e ip ts o f R o u g h R ice:
S eason 1 9 3 3 - 3 4 .......................
S eason 1 9 3 2 - 3 3 .......................

P ro d u c tio n
1933

P e rc e n t
C hange

A la b a m a ............................................
F lo r id a ................................................
G e o rg ia ..............................................
L o u is ia n a ..........................................
M is siss ip p i.......................................
T e n n e s s e e .........................................

9 1 5 ,0 0 0
2 1 ,0 0 0
8 8 1 ,0 0 0
4 4 6 ,0 0 0
1 ,0 6 2 ,0 0 0
3 6 8 ,0 0 0

9 6 9 ,0 0 0
2 8 ,0 0 0
1 ,1 0 5 ,0 0 0
4 7 7 ,0 0 0
1 ,1 5 9 ,0 0 0
4 4 3 ,0 0 0

— 5 .6
— 2 5 .0
— 2 0 .3
— 6 .5
— 8 .4
— 1 6 .9

T o ta l— 6 S t a t e s ............

3 ,6 9 3 ,0 0 0

4 ,1 8 1 ,0 0 0

— 1 1 .7

R e c e ip ts:
N ew O rlean s
........................... 6 8 , 9 6 3 , 3 7 8
3 0 ,6 1 8 ,5 7 2
S a v a n n a h ............... ...........................
M eltin g s:
N ew O r le a n s . . . ............................. 1 3 0 , 3 7 1 , 1 0 9
S a v a n n a h ............... ........................... 3 4 , 9 3 4 , 1 3 4
S to ck s:
N e w O rlean s
........................... 1 1 5 , 6 7 0 , 1 4 9
S a v a n n a h ............... ........................... 1 0 0 , 1 6 7 , 0 4 2

1 5 2 ,4 1 9 ,1 9 4
2 8 ,1 5 5 ,1 9 3

1 0 8 ,2 3 5 ,5 7 7
2 8 ,7 7 0 ,0 9 4

1 1 1 ,0 8 0 ,0 3 9
4 2 ,4 1 5 ,2 6 0

1 7 7 ,1 0 4 ,7 3 7
1 0 4 ,4 8 2 ,6 0 4

1 0 7 ,7 5 7 ,5 6 7
8 1 ,4 5 7 ,2 6 2

...........................
...........................

1 2 8 ,1 3 1 ,1 9 6
2 9 ,8 9 0 ,2 9 0

1 0 3 ,8 0 7 ,7 4 8
2 7 ,6 6 5 ,7 6 1

8 9 ,8 7 9 ,3 1 3
4 3 ,8 9 9 ,8 6 1

...........................
...........................

3 4 ,6 6 5 ,8 2 9
7 ,7 1 1 ,5 4 0

4 1 ,6 0 1 ,7 3 7
8 ,4 3 4 ,3 2 6

7 2 ,0 0 0 ,1 8 7
1 5 ,1 9 9 ,4 2 8

R IC E M O V E M E N T — N E W O R LEA N S
J u ly 1 9 3 4
Ju n e 1934
R o u g h R ic e — B arrels:
R e c e ip ts ...............................................
S h ip m e n ts ...........................................
S to c k s ....................................................

1 9 ,6 1 0
2 2 ,2 9 4
1 8 ,8 1 3

4 8 3 ,2 5 5
5 5 3 ,8 7 7

7 ,6 9 2 ,8 0 7
9 ,7 8 1 ,7 8 9

S to c k s :
J u ly 3 1 , 1 9 3 4 .
J u ly 3 1 , 1 9 3 3 .

2 3 7 ,3 8 9
2 9 1 ,2 2 7

Rough

Fertilizer There was a substantial seasonal decline from
Tag Sales June to July in sales of fertilizer tax tags in the
six states located wholly or partly in the Sixth
District, but July sales were 46.8 per cent greater than in
that month last year. For the cotton season, August, 1933,
through July, 1934, total tag sales in these states have been
35.8 per cent greater than in the season before, increases by
states ranging from 11 per cent for Florida to 109.2 per cent
for Mississippi. The figures in the table are from those com­
piled by the National Fertilizer Association.
J u ly
1934

Ju n e
1934

300
1 2 ,5 2 5
1 ,3 2 0
250
678
162
1 5 ,2 3 5

J u ly
1933

A u g u st 1 to J u ly 3 1
1933 -3 4
1 9 32-33

4 ,4 5 0
1 7 ,2 5 1
1 ,4 8 0
500
1 ,9 8 1
178

850
6 ,6 6 6
1 ,1 1 3
1 ,1 5 0
400
200

3 6 8 ,8 0 0
3 9 9 ,6 4 4
5 6 2 ,6 5 1
8 0 ,3 4 5
1 7 9 ,6 0 1
8 9 ,2 6 9

2 7 4 ,0 0 0
3^0 064
3 8 9 ,6 0 5
5 4 ,2 9 5
8 5 ,8 5 6
7 3 ,5 6 5

2 5 ,8 4 0

1 0 ,3 7 9

1 ,6 8 0 ,3 1 0

1 ,2 3 7 ,3 8 5

TRA D E

1 ,7 9 4
2 ,3 1 3
3 0 ,4 5 7

R E T A IL T R A D E IN T H E S IX T H D IS T R IC T D U R IN G JU L Y 1 9 34
B ased on c o n fid en tial re p o rts fro m 6 1 d e p a rtm e n t sto re s
C o m pa r is o n o p N e t S a l e s
C o m pa r is o n o p S to ck s
J u ty 1 9 3 4
Y e a r to
J u ly 3 1 , 1 9 3 4
S to ck T u r n o v e r
w ith :
d a te w ith
w ith :
S am e m o n th P rev io u s
S am e p erio d S am e m o n th P re v io u s
J u ly
J u ly
J a n . to J u ly
a y e a r ago
M o n th
la s t y e a r
a y e a r ag o
M o n th
1934
1933
1934
1933
A tla n ta ( 6 ) ..............
B irm in g h am (6 ) .
C h a tta n o o g a ( 4 ) .
Jack so n v ille ( 3 ) ..
K n o x v ille ( 3 ) . . . .
M ia m i (3).............
N a sh v ille ( 4 ) ..........
N ew O rlean s (5 ) . .
O th e r C ities ( 2 7 ) .
D IS T R IC T (6 1 ).
NOTE:

+ 1 9 .5
+ 11.8
+ 3 4 .3
+ 2 0 .8
+ 2 2 .3
+ 3 4 .2
+ 2 2 .7
+ 1 5 .2
+ 17.1
+ 18.8

— 24.0
— 18.0
— 23.3
— 18.8
— 21.9
— 11.9
— 34.0
— 21.2
— 24.4
— 22.4

H30.2
-37.4
-43.0
-31.2
-40.6
r49.9
-25.9
H-28.4
1-32.3
-33.5

+
—
—
+

3.1
3 .7
11.5
3.7

+ i6*.3
+ 6 .4
+ 2 0 .7
+ 2 1 .8
+ 9 .6

— 5 .8
— 7 .2
— 3 .3
— 13.3

.29
.26
.24
.15

—
—
—
—
—

*.25

i5*.3
3 .7
7.7
9 .0
8 .0

T h e rate of stock turn over is the ratio of sales d u rin g given period to average stocks on hand.




C le a n
9 9 9 ,2 9 8
6 4 5 ,5 3 9

Retail Department store sales in the Sixth District declined
Trade by slightly less than the usual seasonal amount from
June to Ju ly, but were 18.8 per cent greater than in
July last year. Total sales declined 22.4 per cent from June
to July, but on a daily average basis the decrease was 19.3
per cent. For the first seven months of 1934 sales by report­
ing firms have been 33.5 per cent greater than in that part
of 1933. In July cash sales accounted for 46 per cent of the
total, compared with 45.3 per cent in June and with 46.1 per
cent in July last year. Stocks at the end of July averaged
8 per cent smaller than a month earlier, but 9.6 per cent
greater than a year ago. The rate of stock turnover declined
from June to July, but was higher for the month, and for the
seven months, than a year ago. The collection ratio also
declined slightly over the month, but continued higher than
at the same time last year. For installment accounts the
July ratio was 14.6 per cent, and for regular accounts 31.1
per cent.
Percentage comparisons shown in the table are based upon
reports in actual dollar amounts and make no allowance for
changes in the level of prices.

J u ly 1 9 3 3

3 9 ,5 1 4
1 8 ,0 1 7
2 1 ,4 9 7

A S S O C IA T IO N S T A T IS T IC S
(B a rre ls)
A u g u st to J u ly In c .
J u ly

D is trib u tio n of M ille d R ic e:
S eason 1 9 3 3 —3 4 .......................
S eason 1 9 3 2 - 3 3 .......................

T o t a l.

R e fin e d S u g a r
S h ip m e n ts :
N ew O r le a n s .. . .
S a v a n n a h ...............
S to ck s:
N e w O r le a n s .. . .
S a v a n n a h ...............

3 1 ,& 5 6
5 0 ,1 3 0
1 5 5 ,$ 5 1

7 ,6 2 6 ,2 0 7
8 ,9 1 8 ,7 8 2

M ississip p i............

J u ly 1 9 3 3

1 0 0 ,4 3 1 ,5 7 1
4 2 ,2 9 2 ,0 8 7

2 6 ,2 8 8
3 5 ,1 8 9
1 4 9 ,0 9 4

1 5 2 ,9 0 7
1 1 2 ,0 4 5

B ales
E s tim a te
A ug. 1, 1 9 3 4

S U G A R M O V E M E N T -—(P o u n d s )
R aw S ugar
J u ly 1 9 3 4
Ju n e 1934

2 9 ,0 1 8
7 1 ,1 9 2
1 0 6 ,9 2 0

.17
.26
.19
.24

.25
.23
.17

2.47
2 .04
1.89

*15
.19

2^78
1.67
1.67
1.75
1.92

.21
.20

1.22

2.23
1.57
1.44

C o l l e c t io n R a t io
J u ly
1934

June

2 5.3
30.0
31.6

28.8
31.9
3 1 .6

1934

. . . .

i .48
1.38
1.59
1.59

26.9
36.9
27 2
28.8

July
1933
25.0
19.6
24.3
• * . *
• • • *

28*4
3 9.6
24.7
2 9 .6

27.5
33.7
25.0
2 6 .9

M O N T H L Y

Wholesale Wholesale trade in the Sixth District declined
Trade
from June to Ju ly, and was only one-half of one
per cent above the July, 1933, total. For the
seven months of the year, sales by 99 reporting wholesale
firms have been 31.8 per cent greater than in that part of
1933. From June to July last year there was an increase in
wholesale trade, but during the previous thirteen years there
had been six increases from June to July, six decreases, and
one year in which there was no change. Stocks declined
slightly over the month, but were 21.8 per cent greater than
for July last year. The collection ratio rose in July and
continued well above the same month a year ago. Reported
figures are compared in the table.
W H O LESA LE T R A D E IN JU L Y 1934
S ix th F e d e ra l R e s e rv e D is tric t*
P e rc e n ta g e C o m p a riso n s
J u ly 1 9 3 4 w ith :
J a n .- J u l y 1 9 3 4
N um ber
June
J u ly
w ith sam e
of F irm s
1934
1933
p e rio d la s t y e a r
A ll L in es C o m b in ed :
S to c k s ...............................
G ro ceries:
S a le s ..................................
J a c k s o n v il le .. .
N e w O rle a n s —
V ic k s b u rg ...........
O th e r C itie s . . .
S to c k s ..............................
D r y G o o d s:
S a le s ..................................
N a s h v ille .............
O th e r C ities
S to c k s ............................... ,
H a rd w a re :
S a le s ..................................
N a s h v ille .............
N e w O rlean s —
O th e r C itie s
S to c k s ...............................
F u r n itu r e :
S a le s ...................................
A t l a n t a .................
O th e r C itie s . . .
S to c k s .................................
E le c tric a l S u p p lies:
S ales ................................
N e w O r le a n s .. .
O th e r C itie s . . .
S to c k s ...............................
D ru g s :
S a le s ...................................
S ta tio n e r y :

,

30

— «*,o
— 1 .6

f v.O
+ 2 1 .8

4
5
3
11
3

— 6 .7
— 3 .2
— 4 .4
— 2 1 .7
— 3 .8
— 7 .4

+ 6 .4
+ 1 7 .0
+ 3 .3
— 1 2 .7
+ 1 2 .7
+ 2 0 .4

+ 2 9 .2
+ 2 2 .5
+ 3 0 .6
+ 3 7 .8
+ 2 9 .2

3
12
7

+ 1 9 .3
+ 1 8 .8
+ 1 9 .4
+ 0 .9

— 3 3 .6
— 1 2 .9
— 3 7 .5
+ 4 7 .7

+ 2 0 .9
+ 2 5 .1
+ 1 9 .9

26
3
5
18
9

—
—
—
—
+

5 .6
1 8 .9
5 .4
3 .1
1 .5

+
—
+
+
+

4 .9
1 .3
4 .0
6 .6
8 .0

+ 3 6 .9
+ 2 0 .4
+ 3 6 .5
+ 4 0 .7

9

—
—
—
—

9 .7
1 4 .0
8 .0
1 .1

— 2 1 .0
— 2 7 .5
— 1 8 .3
+ 2 3 .1

+ 4 8 .7
+ 2 8 .2
+ 5 7 .2

13
4
9
3

— 1 2 .8
— 7 .4
— 1 4 .7
— 1 3 .1

+ 5 8 .7
+ 6 0 .5
+ 5 8 .1
+ 4 2 .1

+ 4 5 .7
+ 4 3 .7
+ 4 6 .5
..............

8

— 4 .1

+ 1 9 .6

+ 2 8 .4

5
6

— 2 1 .8

— 9 .9

C O L L E C T IO N R A T IO * *
N um ber
J u ly
1934
of F irm s
G ro c e rie s ................................
H a r d w a r e ............................ ..
F u r n i t u r e .............................
E lle c tric a l S u p p lie s
D r u g s ........................................

6
4
4

T o t a l .........................

+ 1 9 .1

Ju n e
1934

J u ly
1933

6 2 .7
3 3 .7
3 1 .9
3 0 .3
7 6 .2
2 6 .5

6 3 .1
3 3 .3
3 2 .0
3 0 .2
5 7 .1
2 8 .8

5 5 .3
2 9 .2
2 5 .2
2 7 .8
3 2 .1
1 9 .8

4 2 .6

4 1 .6

3 3 .9

* B ased o n co n fid en tial r e p o rts fro m 9 9 firm s.
** T h e collection ra tio is th e p e rc e n ta g e of a c c o u n ts a n d n o te s re c e iv a b le o u t­
s ta n d in g a t th e b e g in n in g of th e m o n th w hich w ere co llected d u rin g th e m o n th .

Life
Sales of new, paid-for, ordinary life insurance in
Insurance the six states located wholly or partly in the
Sixth District declined 16.3 per cent from June to
July, and were 0.8 per cent less than a year ago. A ll of the
states except Mississippi reported increases over Ju ly, 1933.
For the seven months of the year total sales have been 20
per cent greater than in that part of last year, as indicated
in the figures below, which are from those compiled by the
Life Insurance Sales Research Bureau.
J u ly
1934
A la b a m a ....................
F lo r id a ........................
G e o r g ia ......................
L o u is ia n a ..................
M is s is s ip p i...............
T e n n e s s e e .................

$ 3 ,7 7 9
5 ,0 1 4
6 ,4 5 8
4 ,1 3 0
1 ,9 9 8
5 ,6 0 4

(0 0 0 O m itte d )
June
J u ly
1934
1933
$ 3 ,1 2 8
3 ,5 4 6
6 ,0 4 1
3 ,9 4 6
5 ,1 4 6
5 ,4 0 5

$ 2 6 ,7 3 7
3 3 ,1 4 9
4 8 ,9 0 4
3 1 ,6 5 7
1 7 ,0 5 3
4 2 ,2 4 4

T o t a l ............$ 2 6 , 9 8 3 $ 3 2 , 2 5 6 $ 2 7 , 2 1 2

$ 1 9 9 ,7 4 4




$ 4 ,1 3 0
5 ,0 4 8
8 ,1 6 6
5 ,3 7 6
3 ,0 6 0
6 ,4 7 6

J a n . to J u ly In c .
1934
1933
$ 2 3 ,4 8 9
2 4 ,0 6 0
3 8 ,6 2 9
2 6 ,5 5 1
1 6 ,4 9 3
3 7 ,2 1 1
$ 1 6 6 ,4 3 3

P ercen t
C hange
+ 1 3 .8
+ 3 7 .8
+ 2 6 .6
+ 1 9 .2
+ 3 .4
+ 1 3 .5
+ 2 0 .0

R E V IE W

5

C O M M E R C IA L F A IL U R E S
(F r o m s ta tis tic s co m p ile d b y D u n & B ra d s tr e e t, I n c .)
S ix th D is tr ic t
N um ber
L iab ilities
J u ly 1 9 3 4 ..................................
J u n e 1 9 3 4 .................................
M a y 1 9 3 4 .................................
J u ly 1 9 3 3 ..................................
J a n u a r y - J u ly 1 9 3 4 ............
J a n u a r y - J u ly 1 9 3 3 ............

31
30
19
58
264
726

$

3 4 2 ,0 1 8
5 8 6 ,1 9 9
1 8 0 ,9 9 8
6 5 7 ,9 1 2
3 ,8 6 1 ,0 0 0
1 7 ,8 6 3 ,0 0 0

U n ite d S ta te s
N um ber
L iab ilities
912
1 ,0 3 3
977
1 ,4 2 1
7 ,4 8 9
1 4 ,1 4 4

$ 1 9 ,3 2 5 , 5 1 7
2 3 ,8 6 8 ,2 9 3
2 2 ,5 6 0 ,8 3 5
2 7 ,4 8 1 ,1 0 3
1 7 1 ,1 1 9 ,2 7 7
3 5 5 ,0 7 1 ,8 5 7

IN DUSTRY
Building After registering increases for three consecutive
Permits months over the month before, the total value of
permits issued at twenty reporting cities for the
construction of buildings within their corporate lim its de­
clined 19.3 per cent from June to Ju ly, but was 55.7 per cent
greater than in July last year. Twelve of these cities, how­
ever, reported gains over the month, and there were fifteen
increases over Ju ly, 1933. For the seven months of 1934,
total permits issued at these cities have amounted to
$13,562,194, larger by 91.6 per cent than the total for the
same part of 1933, 39 per cent greater than for that part of
1932, but 25.1 per cent less than for the corresponding part
of 1931. Comparisons for the month are shown in the table.
B U IL D IN G P E R M IT S
N um ber
V alu e
J u ly
J u ly
19341933
1934
A la b a m a
A n n is to n ..............
B irm in g h a m . . .
M o n tg o m e r y .. .
F lo rid a
J a c k s o n v ille .. . .
M ia m i B e a c h . .
G eo rg ia
A tla n ta

....

C o lu m b u s ............

1933

P e rc e n ta g e
C h a n g e in
V alu e

900
7 1 ,0 2 4
2 0 ,7 7 2
3 2 ,1 4 0

+ 5 9 4 .7
+
3 .7
+ 1 1 0 .8
+ 4 6 .5

10
289
68
96

6
123
59
78

585
403
42
83
202

423
213
37
61
221

1 5 5 ,6 2 5
2 1 0 ,1 3 3
4 5 1 ,0 5 0
4 6 .8 5 3
4 9 ,8 8 6

2 0 9 ,3 1 0
7 5 ,7 9 6
1 9 0 ,5 0 0
2 4 ,0 7 6
4 8 ,6 3 9

— 2 5 .6
+ 1 7 7 .2
+ 1 3 6 .8
+ 9 4 .6
+
2 .6

227
45
77
320
17

167
38
38
233
33

1 0 4 ,9 8 7
2 2 ,1 0 4
2 4 ,8 8 3
4 8 ,2 8 7
1 8 ,8 3 5

1 3 1 ,7 2 0
2 9 ,0 6 1
2 ,9 4 4
3 8 ,8 4 7
5 2 ,4 6 5

— 2 0 .3
— 2 3 .9
+ 7 4 5 .2
+ 2 4 .3
— 6 4 .1

$

6 ,2 5 2
7 3 ,6 7 6
4 3 ,7 8 6
4 7 ,0 9 2

$

S a v a n n a h ............
L o u isian a
N ew O r le a n s ...
A le x a n d ria ..........
T en n essee
C h a tta n o o g a .. .
Jo h n so n C i t y . .
K n o x v ille .............
N a s h v ille .............

103
74

88
54

2 2 8 ,5 1 6
1 3 ,2 6 2

6 8 ,7 2 1
1 6 ,9 1 8

+ 2 3 2 .5
— 2 1 .6

247
2
50
106

172
1
38
103

4 2 ,5 1 6
2 0 ,5 0 0
6 0 ,1 1 6
1 9 7 ,3 9 6

4 0 ,5 0 5
500
4 7 ,2 9 2
9 5 ,8 2 5

+
5 .0
+ 4 0 0 0 .0
+ 2 7 .1
+ 1 0 6 .0

T o ta l 2 0 C itie s .

3 ,0 1 0

2 ,1 8 6

$ 1 ,8 6 5 ,7 5 5

$ 1 ,1 9 7 ,9 5 5

+ 5 5 .7

Contract
Awards

The value of building and construction contracts
awarded in the Sixth District, indicated in statis­
tics compiled by the F . W. Dodge Corporation and
subdivided into district totals by the Federal Reserve Board's
Division of Research and Statistics, increased 20.6 per cent
from June to July and was 2.8 times as large as for July last
year. Residential contracts declined nearly 4 per cent over
the month and were only slightly larger than a year ago,
but other classes of awards increased 26.8 per cent over June
and were 322.3 per cent greater than in Ju ly, 1933. For the
seven months of the year, total awards in this District have
been greater by 183.2 per cent, residential awards by 29.6
per cent, and others by 237.8 per cent, than in that part of
1933. July contracts increased sharply over June in Louisi­
ana, but other states of the District had decreases, but for
the seven months large increases over that part of last year
were shown for all of the six states.
In the 37 states east of the Rocky Mountains July contracts
declined 5.8 per cent from June, but were 45 per cent greater
than for July last year, and for the seven months of the year
total awards show an increase of 89.2 per cent over that part
of 1933. Comparisons for the month are set out in the table.

6

M O N T H L Y

R E V IE W

BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS AWARDED
July 1934
June 1934
July 1933
Sixth D istrict—T o ta l................ $10,873,768
1,741,023
Residential..............................
All Others................................
9,132,745

9,015,961
1,811,664
7,204,297

3,880,108
1,717,646
2,162,462

State Totals:
A labam a..................................
F lorida................. ...................
Georgia....................................
Louisiana.................................
Mississippi...............................
E. Tennessee...........................

1,149,900
1,640,900
795,500
8,195,300
814,900
............

1.415.600
1.832.600
2,035,300
1,567,200
1,348,100
1,937,700

306,700
1,005,500
1,134,000
964,600
169,900
641,500

United States:
T o tal........................................ 119,698,800
Residential............ ..............
19,879,100
Non-Residential...................... 60,753,400
Public Works and Utilities... 39,066,300

127,116,200
26,565,200
43,141,900
54,409,100

82.554.400
23.630.400
39,983,200
18,940,800

Lumber Reports in the press indicate that there was some
improvement in orders received by lumber mills
following the announcement of revised code prices which were
effective the latter part of July, but retail yards have resumed
buying only for actual needs and most of the current busi­
ness is for railroads. For the six weeks ended August 11,
orders averaged 1 per cent less than production by the same
mills, but were 24.5 per cent less than orders booked by the
same mills during the corresponding period a year ago. Un­
filled orders averaged 19 per cent, and production 33.6 per
cent, less than a year ago. Weekly figures compiled by the
Southern Pine Association are compared in the table.
Week
Ended

Number
of Mills

July 7 .............
July 14...........
July 21...........
July 28...........
August 4 ........
August 1 1 ....

78
92
83
87
88
103

(In Thousands of Feet)
Orders
Production
1933
1934
1933

1934

10,410
14,127
18,267
25,475
19,746
19,814

23,432
23,785
21,271
27,443
25,752
19,816

15,884
19,809
18,682
18,280
17,510
17,776

24,180
29,507
28,264
26,791
27,896
25,922

Unfilled Orders
1934
1933
56,943
60,111
54,205
60,001
57,593
56,354

75,180
83,263
69,514
69,211
68,795
62,424

Cotton
Consumption of cotton by American mills was
Consumption about the same in July as in June, but was
40.2 per cent less than in July last year when
mills were very active. Total consumption in July was 1.1
per cent less, but daily average consumption 2.8 per cent
more, than in June, because of the smaller number of busi­
ness days. Exports in July were one-third less than in June,
and 55.8 per cent less than in July, 1933. Spindles active in
July declined slightly from June, and were 6.4 per cent fewer
than a year ago.
For the 1933-34 cotton season which ended with July, total
consumption in the United States was 6.1 per cent less than
in the previous season. Consumption in the cotton states was
10.5 per cent less, but in other states 9.4 per cent larger.
Exports for the season totaled 7,536,115 bales, a decrease of
10.5 per cent compared with the season before. Census
Bureau figures for the month are compared in the table.
COTTON CONSUMPTION, EXPORTS, STOCKS AND ACTIVE SPINDLES
U N ITE D STATES—Bales
July 1934
June 1934
July 1933
Cotton Consumed......................
Stocks...........................................
In Consuming Establishments
In Public Storage and a t
Compresses..........................
E xports........................................
Active Spindles—N um ber........

359,372
6,795,509
1,230,369

363,414
7,312,195
1,326,480

600,641
7,084,634
1,348,236

5,565,140
305,820
24,417,682

5,985,715
459,226
24,690,312

5,736,398
692,007
26,085,300

COTTON GROWING STATES—Bales
Cotton Consumed......................
Stocks..........................................
In Consuming Establishments
In Public Storage and a t
Compresses..........................
Active Spindles—N um ber.........




289,557
6,210,038
935,636

292,621
6,697,973
1,016,096

483,846
6,355,843
1,030,635

5,274,402
17,127,942

5,681,877
17,175,280

5,325,208
17,694,344

OTHER STATES—Bales
Cotton Consumed......................
Stocks...........................................
In Consuming Establishments
In Public Storage and a t
Compresses..........................
Active Spindles—N um ber........

69,815
585,471
294,733

70,793
614,222
310,384

116,795
728,791
317,601

290,738
7,289,740

303,838
7,515,032

411,190
8,390,956

Consumption in the three states of this District for which
Census figures are compiled separately declined 6.3 per cent
from June to July, and was 39.9 per cent less than a year
ago. On a daily average basis consumption in Tennessee and
Georgia increased somewhat over June, but these increases
were more than offset by a decrease in Alabama. For the
season consumption in these three states has been 7.9 per
cent less than in the previous season.
COTTON CONSUMPTION—Bales
July
June
July August to Jnly Inc.
19341934
1933
1933-34
1932-33
Alabama...............
Georgia................
Tennessee............
T otal........

33,386
40,529
60,428
68,326
69,018
111,989
9,108 8,782
11,906
110,820

118,329

184,323

584,916
1,059,745
122,271

660,910
1,104,881
153,149

1,766,932

1,918,940

Cotton
Manufacturing

A further substantial increase in orders
booked during July was reported by cotton
mills in this district over June, and orders
for yam were greater than a year ago, but those for cloth
smaller. There were also increases over June in unfilled
orders, shipments and production, but stocks were reduced
slightly and employment also declined* Stocks at both cloth
and yarn mills were substantially greater than a year ago,
and employment at all reporting mills averaged 1.5 per cent
less than for July, 1933. Comparisons for the month are
shown in the table.
Cloth
July 1934 compared
with:
June 1934 July 1933

Orders booked...............
Unfilled Orders.............
Stocks on H and ............
Number on payroll. . . .

. . . + 17.1
. . . +125.5
... + 4 .3
. . . — 1.1
..
— 2 .0

—37.2
— £5.5
— 13.3
— 0.8
+ 9 8.8
+ 0.6

Yarn
July 1934 compared
with:
June 1934
July 1933
b 2.9
- 6.1
-57.1
b 5.8
- 1.6
- 0.7

—41.3
—46.1
+ 1 0 .2
— 9 .7
+ 1 2 8 .6
— 6.3

Cotton Seed There was a slight increase in production of
Products
crude oil and of linters at cotton seed oil mills
in this District during July, compared with June,
but production of cake and of meal and of hulls declined.
Operations for the month were at a lower level than a year
ago. For the cotton season, August, 1933, through July, 1934,
receipts of seed at mills in this District have been 8.7 per
cent, and crushings 12.9 per cent, less than in the previous
season, and output of the principal cotton seed products has
also been smaller. Stocks of seed at the end of July were
much larger than a year earlier, but stocks of the principal
products were smaller. For the country as a whole, receipts
and crushings of seed have been smaller than during the sea­
son before, and except for a gain of production of linters,
output of cotton seed products has also been less. Totals
for the season for Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and Missis­
sippi combined are compared in the first two columns of the
table, and totals for the country are compared in the last two
columns.
COTTON SEED AND COTTON SEED PRODUCTS
Sixth District*
United States
Aug. 1, to July 31
Aug. I to July 31
1933-34
1932-33
1934-34
1932-33
Cotton seed, Tons:
Received at Mills...
Crushed....................
On Hand. July 31. .

1,209,786
1,170,381
68,175

1,325,200
1,343,336
28,770

4,155,276
4,151,058
224,639

4,542,622
4,620,558
220,938

Production:
Crude Oil, lbs.......... 384,433,618 435,275,845 1,301,789,405 1,445,681,407
Cake and Meal, tons
509,948
585,191
1,887,299
2 093,168
Hulls, tons...............
319,431
387,658
1,102,185
1,312,435
Linters* Bales..........
235,105
236,660
800,178
741,401

M O N T H L Y

Stocks a t Mills, July 31:
Crude Oil, lbs..........
4,763,890
Cake and Meal, tons
53,389
Hulls, to n s...............
9,631
Linters, Bales..........
18,756

14,100,762
60,918
27,610
27,031

19,980,290
128,379
31,425
77,159

33,013,337
160,874
76,686
70,786

* Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Electric
Power

There was a further slight increase from May to
June in the production of electric power by public
utility power plants in the six states located wholly
or partly in the Sixth District, and except for March the June
total was the largest since October. Production by use of
water power, which in June accounted for 61.1 per cent of
the total, was 3.1 per cent less than in May, and 8.3 per cent
less than a year earlier, but production by use of fuels in­
creased 6.2 per cent from May to June and was 5.4 per cent
greater than in June, 1933. For the first half of 1934, the
total was 7.3 per cent greater than for that part of 1933,
production by use of water power being 0.6 per cent less, but
that by use of fuels 22.9 per cent greater. Figures compared
in the table are from those compiled by the United States
Geological Survey.
PRODUCTION OF ELECTRIC POWER

M ay 1934

June 1933

Alabam a........................ ............
Florida........................... ............
............
............
Mississippi..................... ............
............

129,603
50,107
98,628
112,154
4,538
95,701

135,600
55,523
93,605
94,418
4,311
105,638

165,838
47,236
96,892
106,826
3,827
87,248

T o tal................................

490,731

489,095

507,867

299,731
191,000

309,273
179,822

326,711
181,156

10,730
184,564
2,294,023

11,632
203,052
1,975,335

9,521
187,927
2,086,321

By use of: W ater Power...........
Fuels........................
Fuels consumed in Production
of Electric Power:
Coal—to n s...........................
Fuel Oil—b b ls....................
Natural Gas—000 cu. f t . . .
Note:

Bituminous
Coal Mining

Production of bituminous coal in the United
States declined 4.3 per cent from June to July,
and was 14.2 per cent less than in July last
year, according to preliminary statistics compiled by the
United States Bureau of Mines. The decrease from June to
July was largely due to the smaller number of working days,
as daily average production was only 0.4 per cent smaller.
For the seven months of 1934, January through July, total
production has amounted to 207,969,000 tons, an increase of
19 per cent compared with the same part of 1933. Preliminary
figures for July are compared in the table.
Total
Production
(Tons)

July 1934..................................... ... 25 ,290,000p
June 1934.................................... ... 26,424,000
March 1934.................................... 38,497,000
July 1933..................................... ....29,482,000

Number of
Working
Days
25
26
27
25

Average per
Working Day
(Tons)
l,012,000p
1,016,000
1,426,000
1,179,000

Weekly figures for July indicate a decline in production in
both Alabama and Tennessee, compared with June, and Ala­
bama output was about 14 per cent and that in Tennessee
about 34 per cent less than in corresponding weeks a year
ago. Figures for recent weeks are compared in the table.
(Tons)
Alabama
1934
1933

July 7 ........................... ......... 142,000
July 14...................................175,000
July 21......................... ..........166,000
July 28......................... ..........175,000
August 4 ...................... ..........172,000

Pig Iron
Production

177,000
199,000
185,000
207,000
219,000

Tennessee
1934
1933
48,000
50,000
60,000
57,000
60,000

69,000
82,000
80,000
95,000
98,000

There was a substantial decline in the production of pig iron, in the United States and in Ala­
bama, in July compared with previous months,
and a reduction in active furnaces. In the United States




Production—Tons
Total
Daily Average

Furnaces
Active*

United States:
July 1934.................................
June 1934................................
May 1934................................
July 1933.................................

1,224,826
1,930,133
2,042,896
1,792,452

39,510
64,338
65,900
57,821

75
89
117
106

Alabama:
July 1934.................................
June 1934................................
May 1934................................
July 1933.................................

100,279
128,183
130,364
122,308

3,235
4,273
4,205
3,945

7
10
10
9

* First of following month.

June figures preliminary—M ay figures slightly revised.

Week Ended:

production of pig iron in July was 36.5 per cent less than in
June and 31.7 per cent less than in July, 1933. At the same
time last year there was an increase of 41.7 per cent from
June to July. Furnaces active on August 1 numbered 75,
compared with 89 a month earlier, and with 106 a year ago.
Alabama production of pig iron declined 21.8 per cent from
June to July, when production was the smallest since Janu­
ary, and 18 per cent less than in July last year. Last year
production increased 83.9 per cent from June to July. On
August 1 there were 7 Alabama furnaces active, compared
with 10 active during the previous seven months, and with 9
active at the same time a year ago. Press reports indicate
that with most consumers heavily stocked with iron bought
before the increase in price, there is little new business.
Cumulative production in the United States during the
seven months of 1934 amounted to 11,023,139 tons, greater
by 76.8 per cent than in that part of last year and by 92 per
cent than in the same part of 1932, and production in Ala­
bama during this seven months period totaled 836,286 tons,
139.2' per cent greater than in the first seven months of 1933
and 79.8 per cent greater than in that part of 1932. Compar­
isons for the month are shown in the table.

(000 k. w. Hours)

June 1934

7

R E V IE W

Naval Receipts and stocks of both turpentine and rosin at
Stores the three principal markets of the District increased
seasonally from June to July, but were less than for
July of last year. Except for 1932, July receipts of both
commodities were the smallest for that month of any recent
year, and July stocks of turpentine were smaller than for
any other July since 1926, and stocks of rosin were less than
for July of the past four years. Quotations published in the
Naval Stores Review indicate that the price of turpentine
declined from 45% cents on July 14 to 40% cents two weeks
later, but rose to 43 cents on August 11, and the average of
quotations on the thirteen grades of rosin declined from
$4.45 on July 14 to $4.27 on July 28, and increased to $4.38
two weeks later. Press reports indicate some improvement in
demand for both commodities during the second week of
August. Comparisons of receipts and stocks for the month
are set out in the table.
NAVAL STORES
July 1934

June 1934

July 1933

15,616
11,262
4,270

13,009
10,635
3,970

17,122
13,362
4,781

T o ta l................................ ...........31,148

27,614

35,265

Receipts—Rosin (2)
Savannah............................................60,890
Jacksonville........................................42,572
P e n sa c o la .............................. ...........12,557

49,905
41,308
11,204

59,562
52,120
12,295

Receipts—Turpentine (1)
Savannah.................................
Jacksonville.............................
Pensacola.................................

T o ta l................................

116,019

102,417

123,977

Stocks—Turpentine (1)
Savannah.................................
Jacksonville.............................
Pensacola.................................

9,690
26,511
18,970

7,091
23,387
17,214

14,212
36,676
19,563

T o ta l................................

55,171

47,692

70,451

Stocks—Rosin (2)
Savannah.................................
Jacksonville.............................
Pensacola.................................

113,411
67,598
19,640

94,840
61,112
15,853

115,559
104,578
14,441

T otal................................

200,649

171,805

234,578

(1)
(2)

Barrels of 50 Gallons.
Barrels of 500 Pounds.

8

M O N T H L Y

R E V IE W

MONTHLY INDEX NUMBERS COMPUTED BY FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF ATLANTA
MONTHLY AVERAGE 1923-1925=100

DEPARTM ENT STORE TRADE—SIX TH D ISTR IC T

M ay
1934

Ju n e
1934

Ju ly
1934

M ay
1933

Ju n e
1933

Ju ly
1933

D aily Average Sales—U n a d ju ste d
A tlanta...........................................................................................
Birmingham..................................................................................
Chattanooga..................................................................................
Nashville.......................................................................................
New Orleans..................................................................................
D IS T R IC T ....................................................................................

155.3
64.0
69.6
88.7
67.6
82.8

131.8
58.6
65.6
69.8
65.7
73.7

101.8
49.3
52.3
47.9
53.8
58.4

123.0
51.8
54.7
73.3
59.0
67.9

103.9
44.1
50.8
56.3
53.5
58.0

85.1
47.3
39.0
39.0
46.7
50.3

Daily Average Sales—A djusted*
A tlanta..........................................................................................
Birmingham..................................................................................
Chattanooga..........................................................................
Nashville........................................................................................
New Orleans..................................................................................
D IS T R IC T ...................................................................................

147.9
63.4
67.6
79.9
69.7
82.0

151.5
63.0
59.1
75.9
73.8
81.9

139.5
67.5
70.7
69.4
78.0
83.4

117.1
51.3
53.1
66.0
60.8
67.2

119.4
47.4
45.8
61.2
60.1
64.4

116.6
64.8
52.7
56.5
67.7
71.9

M o n th ly Stocks—U n a d ju ste d
A tlan ta...........................................................................................
Birmingham........ .........................................................................
Chattanooga..................................................................................
Nashville........................................................................................
New Orleans..................................................................................
D IS T R IC T ....................................................................................

90.8
35.2
44.3
67.9
60.5
64.5

83.5
33.6
40.4
59.4
56.9
54.9

83.3
31.9
39.0
•57.2
52.5
52.1

68.5
37.5
39.7
55.2
46.9
48.3

70.1
37.4
42.0
54.6
46.5
48.2

79.2
35.2
44.1
53.8
45.8
48.3

M o n th ly S tocks—A djusted*
A tlan ta...........................................................................................
Birmingham.................................................... .............................
Chattanooga..................................................................................
Nashville......................................................................................
New Orleans..................................................................................
D IS T R IC T ..................................................... .............................

89.9
34.5
43.4
67.2
59.9
63.2

87.0
33.9
42.1
61.2
60.5
57.8

91.5
33.6
41.5
61.5
55.3
56.6

67.8
36.8
38.9
54.7
46.4
47.4

73.0
37.8
43.8
56.3
49.5
50.7

87.0
37.1
46.9
57.8
48.2
52.5

WHOLESALE TRADE—SIX TH D ISTRICT—T O T A L ..
Groceries...................... .................................................................
Dry Goods.....................................................................................
H ard w are......................................................................................
Furniture.......................................................................................
Electrical Supplies........................................................................
Stationery................................................................ ....................
Drugs..............................................................................................

56.7
49.0
54.8
59.3
51.3
78.4
37.9
76.0

53.5
47.1
40.0
56.6
46.1
93.9
35.4
71.8

51.0
44.0
47.7
53.4
41.6
81.9
31.9
68.9

47.9
41.2
54.5
47.8
40.4
61.1
34.0
62.9

48.0
42.3
54.9
48.3
47.5
55.0
34.6
59.0

50.7
41.8
69.9
50.9
52.6
51.6
39.3
57.6

LIFE INSURANCE SALES—SIX STATES—T O T A L ...
Alabama.........................................................................................
Florida............................................................................................
Georgia..........................................................................................
Louisiana.......................................................................................
Mississippi......................................................... ...........................
Tennessee.......................................................................................

76.0
60.8
84.8
90.3
81.8
63.9
69.0

76.8
60.9
85.3
89.0
84.8
70.0
68.8

64.3
55.7
84.7
70.4
65.2
45.7
59.5

59.6
54.7
62.2
65.7
63.7
53.6
55.6

63.1
60.0
65.9
65.7
67.1
57.8
60.9

66.1
47.5
61.6
67.6
62.4
118.8
59.1

18.7
12.7
3.8
14.5
10.0
8.6
24.4

20.5
20.4
14.8
18.8
8.1
5.6
27.4

16.6
6.8
5.0
18.9
31.1
17.8
20.2

13.6
5.3
3.3
13.8
10.6
12.4
19.3

13.0
7.7
2.2
19.0
16.5
7.9
17.3

10.6
8.5
4.8
25.4
15.1
5.3
11.3

29.8
14.7
40.0

25.7
12.9
34.2

31.0
12.4
43.4

14.9
15.1
14.7

12.1
11.5
12.5

11.1
12.2
10.3

WHOLESALE PRICES—UNITED STATES f
ALL COM M ODITIES..............................................................
Farm Products..............................................................................
Foods..............................................................................................
Other Commodities.................................................... .................
Hides and leather products................................................
Textile products..................................................................
Fuel and lighting..................................................................
Metals and metal products.................................................
Building materials................................................................
Chemicals and drugs............................................................
Housefurnishing goods........................................................
Miscellaneous...................................................... ................

73.7
59.6
67.1
78.9
87.9
73.6
72.5
89.1
87.3
75.4
82.0
69.8

74.6
63.3
69.8
78.2
87.1
72.7
72.8
87.7
87.8
75.6
82.0
70.2

74.8
64.5
70.6
78.4
86.3
71.5
73.9
86.8
87.0
75.4
81.6
69.9

62.7
50.2
59.4
66.5
76.9
55.9
60.4
77.7
71.4
73.2
71.7
58.9

65.0
53.2
61.2
68.9
82.4
61.5
61.5
79.3
74.7
73.7
73.4
60.8

68.9
60.1
65.5
72.2
86.3
68.0
65.3
80.6
79.5
73.2
74.8
64.0

COTTON CONSUMPTION—UNITED STA TES.............
Cotton-Growing S tates................................................................
AH Other States.................................................. .........................
Georgia..................................................................................
Alabama........................................................ .......................
Tennessee..............................................................................

100.9
121.8
59.6
124.6
163.3
120.5

70.6
85.5
41.0
88.6
117.9
88.2

69.8
84.6
40.4
87.7
97.1
91.5

120.5
150.1
61.8
147.7
197.3
149.6

135.4
165.3
76.1
168.8
209.1
153.8

116.6
141.3
67.7
119.6
175.8
119.6

COTTON EXPORTS—UNITED STA TES.........................

55.5

89.4

59.6

115.2

119.7

134.8

P IG IRON PRODUCTION—United States........................
A labam a.................................

68.4
56.1

64.6
55.2

41.0
43.2

29.7
20.9

42.3
28.6

60.0
52.7

BUILDING PER M ITS—TW ENTY C IT IE S ......................
A tlanta...........................................................................................
Birmingham..................................................................................
Jacksonville...................................................................................
Nashville........................................................................................
New Orleans.................................................................... i ...........
Fifteen Other Cities.....................................................................
CONTRACT AWARDS—SIX TH D ISTRICT—TOTAL.
Residential....................................................................................
All Others......................................................................................

♦ A d ju st e d fo r S e a so n a l V a r ia t io n .




t C o m p ile d b y B u r e a u o f L a b o r S ta tistic s.

1 9 2 6 — IOO.