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M ONTHLY

R E V IE W

O f Financial, A gricultural, T rade and Industrial
C onditions in the S ixth Federal Reserve D istrict
F E D E R A L
V ol. 20

N o. 1

R E S E R V E

P r e p a r e d b y F e d e r a l R e s e r v e B o a rd
I n D e c e m b e r th e F e d e r a l R e s e rv e B o a r d ’s s e a s o n a lly a d ­
j u s t e d in d e x e s o f in d u s t r ia l p r o d u c tio n a n d f a c t o r y e m p lo y ­
m e n t in c r e a s e d s h a r p ly . W h o le s a le p r ic e s o f f a r m p r o d u c ts
a n d f o o d s sh o w e d a c o n s id e ra b le a d v a n c e in t h e l a t t e r p a r t o f
t h e m o n th a n d in th e e a r l y p a r t o f J a n u a r y , w h ile p ric e s o f
o t h e r c o m m o d itie s a s a g ro u p s h o w e d l i t t l e c h a n g e .
P r o d u c tio n
and
E m p lo y m e n t

O u tp u t o f b a s ic in d u s t r ia l p r o d u c ts in c r e a s e d in
D e c e m b e r, w h e n i t u s u a l ly d e c lin e s, a n d th e
F e d e r a l R e s e rv e B o a r d ’s in d e x , w h ic h m a k e s
a llo w a n c e f o r t h e u s u a l s e a s o n a l v a r ia tio n s , in ­
c r e a s e d f r o m 74 p e r c e n t o f t h e 1923-25 a v e r a g e in N o v e m b e r
to 85 p e r c e n t in D e c e m b e r. A c tiv ity a t s te e l m ills in c re a s e d ,
c o n tr a r y to t h e u s u a l s e a s o n a l te n d e n c y , a n d o u t p u t o f a u to ­
m o b ile f a c t o r ie s r o s e r a p id ly . I n b o th o f th e s e i n d u s t r ie s
th e r e w e r e f u r t h e r s h a r p in c r e a s e s in a c t i v it y in t h e f i r s t
t h r e e w e e k s o f J a n u a r y . A t w o o le n m ills a n d s ilk m ills a c tiv ­
i t y in c r e a s e d in D e c e m b e r, c o n tr a r y to s e a s o n a l te n d e n c y , a n d
a t c o tto n m ills a n d to b a c c o f a c t o r ie s i t d e c lin e d b y le s s th a n
t h e u s u a l s e a s o n a l a m o u n t. O u tp u t o f p e tr o le u m in c re a s e d
s o m e w h a t in D e c e m b e r a n d t h e f i r s t h a l f o f J a n u a r y .
F a c t o r y e m p lo y m e n t in c r e a s e d b e tw e e n t h e m id d le o f
N o v e m b e r a n d t h e m id d le o f D e c e m b e r, c o n tr a r y to s e a s o n a l
te n d e n c y , a n d t h e r e w a s a c o n s id e ra b le g r o w th in f a c t o r y p a y ­
ro lls . S u b s ta n t ia l in c r e a s e s w e r e r e p o r t e d f o r t h e a u to m o b ile ,
te x t i le , sh o e , a n d t i r e in d u s tr ie s , w h ile in t h e m e a t p a c k in g
i n d u s t r y t h e r e w a s a f u r t h e r d e c lin e f r o m r e c e n t h ig h le v e ls.
E m p lo y m e n t in r e t a i l t r a d e sh o w e d a n in c r e a s e l a r g e ly o f a
s e a s o n a l c h a r a c te r .
V a lu e o f c o n s tr u c tio n c o n tr a c ts a w a rd e d , a s r e p o r t e d b y
th e F . W . D o d g e C o rp o r a tio n , sh o w ed a d e c lin e in D e c e m b e r,
p a r t l y s e a s o n a l in n a tu r e , fo llo w e d b y a n in c r e a s e in th e f i r s t
h a l f o f J a n u a r y . F o r th e f o u r t h q u a r t e r a s a w h o le th e v a lu e
of c o n tr a c ts f o r p r i v a t e l y fin a n c e d p r o j e c ts w a s a b o u t th e
s a m e a s in t h e c o r re s p o n d in g p e rio d o f 1933, w h ile th e v o l­

PER CEN1

In d e x n u m b e r o f in d u s t r ia l p r o d u c t io n , a d ju st e d f o r s e a s o n a l v a r ia t io n .
(1 9 2 3 -1 9 2 5 a v e r a g e = 1 0 0 . )
L a t e s t fig u r e D e c e m b e r P r e l i m i n a r y 85.




O F

A T L A N T A , G A ., J A N U A R Y 31, 1935

N A T IO N A L S U M M A R Y O F B U S I N E S S C O N D IT IO N S

PER CENT

B A N K

A T L A N T A
This review released for publication
in afternoon papers of Ja n u ary 31.

u m e o f p u b lic ly fin a n c e d p r o je c ts w a s c o n s id e r a b ly s m a lle r
th a n l a s t y e a r .
D is tr ib u tio n

V o lu m e o f f r e i g h t c a r - lo a d in g s d e c lin e d le s s in
D e c e m b e r t h a n is u s u a l a t t h a t s e a s o n . S a le s o f
m e r c h a n d is e b y d e p a r t m e n t s to r e s sh o w e d a n in c r e a s e o f
m o re th a n th e e s tim a te d s e a s o n a l a m o u n t a n d w e r e a p p r o x i­
m a te ly 11 p e r c e n t l a r g e r t h a n in t h e c o r re s p o n d in g m o n th a
y e a r e a r lie r .
C o m m o d ity
P r ic e s

T h e g e n e r a l le v e l o f w h o le s a le c o m m o d ity p r ic e s ,
a s m e a s u r e d b y th e in d e x o f t h e B u re a u o f L a b o r
S t a ti s t i c s , a d v a n c e d c o n s id e r a b ly d u r i n g th e l a t ­
t e r p a r t o f D e c e m b e r a n d th e e a r l y p a r t o f J a n u a r y , r e fle c tin g
c h ie fly m a r k e d in c r e a s e s in t h e p ric e s o f f a r m p r o d u c ts a n d
fo o d s. S c ra p s te e l p ric e s a ls o in c re a s e d . I n th e t h i r d w e e k o f
J a n u a r y p ric e s o f g r a in s , c o tto n , h id e s a n d r u b b e r sh o w e d a
d e c lin e f r o m t h e le v e l o f th e p r e c e d in g w e e k .
C u r r e n tly
w h o le s a le p r ic e s a r e 9 p e r c e n t h i g h e r t h a n a y e a r a g o ,
r e fle c tin g a n in c r e a s e o f 30 p e r c e n t f o r f a r m p r o d u c ts , a n i n ­
c r e a s e o f 24 p e r c e n t f o r fo o d s a n d l i t t l e c h a n g e f o r o th e r
c o m m o d itie s.
R e ta il p ric e s o f fo o d s, a s r e p o r t e d b y th e
B u r e a u o f L a b o r S t a ti s t i c s , in c r e a s e d c o n s id e r a b ly in t h e l a t ­
t e r p a r t o f D e c e m b e r, fo llo w in g t h r e e m o n th s o f g r a d u a l
d e clin e.
B ank
C re d it

D u r in g th e six w e e k s e n d in g J a n u a r y 23 s e a s o n a l
r e t u r n flow o f c u r re n c y f r o m c irc u la tio n , f u r t h e r im ­
p o r t s o f g o ld , a n d d is b u r s e m e n t b y t h e T r e a s u r y o f
f u n d s p re v io u s ly h e ld a s c a s h o r on d e p o s it w ith t h e r e s e r v e
b a n k s w e re r e fle c te d in a g r o w th o f m e m b e r b a n k b a la n c e s
w ith t h e r e s e r v e b a n k s to $4,500,000,000, th e h i g h e s t fig u r e on
r e c o rd a n d in a n in c re a s e o f t h e i r e x c e s s r e s e r v e s to t h e h ig h
le v e l o f $2,160,000,000.
L o a n s a n d in v e s tm e n ts o f r e p o r t i n g m e m b e r b a n k s in le a d ­
in g c itie s in c r e a s e d b y $350,000,000 in t h e 5 w e e k s e n d in g
J a n u a r y 16. H o ld in g s o f U n ite d S t a te s G o v e rn m e n t o b lig a ­
tio n s r o s e $420,000,000 a n d a n in c r e a s e w a s sh o w n a ls o in
h o ld in g s o f o b lig a tio n s g u a r a n t e e d b y t h e G o v e rn m e n t a n d in
o th e r s e c u r ity h o ld in g s , w h ile lo a n s d e c lin e d b y $130,000,000.

PER CEN T

perc en t

I n d e x n u m b e r s o f f a c t o r y e m p lo y m e n t a n d p a y r o lls , w it h o u t a d ju s t m e n t
f o r s e a s o n a l v a r i a t i o n s (1 9 23 -25 a v e r a g e = 1 0 0 ) .
L a t e s t f ig u r e D e c e m b e r
E m p lo y m e n t 7 8 .1 ; p a y r o l ls 63.2.

2

Indexes of daily average value of sales. (1923-1925=100.)
December (P relim in ary ): Adjusted 76, Unadjusted 133.

M O N T H L Y

L atest figure

Commercial paper rates, which had been reported at a
range of %-l per cent since June, declined to a general level
of % per cent early in January. Other short term open
market money rates showed little change, while yields on
long term United States Treasury bonds declined from 3 to
2 % per cent.
In December and January discount rates were lowered from
3 to 2 V per cent at the Federal Reserve Banks of Richmond,
2
Minneapolis, Kansas City, and Dallas, and from 2% to 2 per
per cent at Philadelphia, Chicago, and St. Louis. At the Fed­
eral Reserve Bank of Atlanta the discount rate was lowered
to 2 V per cent in December and to 2 per cent in January.
2
SIXTH DISTRICT SUMMARY
In December the volume of retail trade in the Sixth Federal
Reserve District increased by more than the usual seasonal
amount and was at the highest level for any month in four
years. Wholesale trade declined seasonally from November,
but continued greater than a year ago. Building activity de­
clined, however, from November to December, but for the
year was greater than in 1933 or 1932.
Department store sales, reflected in figures reported confi­
dentially by 60 firms, increased 60.7 per cent from November
to December and were 19.1 per cent greater than in December,
1933. For the year 1934, total sales by these firms were 25.5
per cent greater than in 1933, and were also greater than in
1932, but were slightly less than in 1931. Wholesale trade
declined 11.8 per cent from November to December but was
4.2 per cent greater than a year earlier, and for the year was
23.4 per cent greater than in 1933, 36.9 per cent greater than
in 1932, and about the same as in 1931. Bank debits to indi­
vidual accounts increased 14.8 per cent over November, and
were 15.1 per cent greater than in December a year earlier.
Between December 12 and January 9 there were small
increases in the volume of industrial advances and discounts,
at the Federal Reserve Bank, and total reserve bank credit
outstanding was 14.7 millions greater than a year earlier, due
to larger holdings of United States securities offset in part
by declines in discounts and holdings of purchased paper.
At weekly reporting member banks loans declined 4.8 millions
from December 12 to January 9. Holdings of United States
securities increased 9.4 millions, but other securities declined
2.4 millions. Loans were slightly less than a year ago, but
investment holdings 18.9 millions greater, and demand de­
posits, although 9.6 millions less on January 9 than four
weeks earlier, were 42.4 millions greater than a year ago.
Building permits issued at twenty reporting cities declined
18 per cent from November to December, but were 4.9 per
cent greater than a year earlier, and for the year were 63
per cent greater than in 1933, and 20.1 per cent greater than
in 1932. Contract awards in the District as a whole declined
39.3 per cent compared with November, and were 73.8 per
cent less than the unusually large total for December, 1933,
but for the year were 8.9 per cent greater than for 1933,



R E V IE W

Three m onth moving averages of F. W . Dodge data for 37 E astern
States adjusted for seasonal variation. L atest fiure based on data for
October, November and estim ate for December. Total 136.7: Residential
22.6; All O ther 114.1.

65 per cent greater than for 1932 and 17.1 per cent less than
for 1931. Cotton consumption in the three states of the Dis­
trict for which figures are available declined 12.5 per cent
from November, but was 8.3 per cent greater than in Decem­
ber, 1933, and for the five months of the cotton season has
been 16 per cent less than in that part of the season before.
Coal mining in Alabama increased from November to Decem­
ber but was slightly less than a year ago, but declined some­
what in Tennessee over the month but was about one-third
greater than a year ago. Production of pig iron in Alabama
increased 14 per cent from November to December but was
47.7 per cent less than a year earlier, but for the year was
28.2 per cent greater than in 1933, and 73 per cent greater
than in 1932.
Estimates by the United States Department of Agriculture
indicate that the value of crops produced in the six states of
this District increased 31.3 per cent in 1934 over 1933, and
were 99.1 per cent greater than in 1932, not including rental
or benefit payments.
FINANCE
Reserve The volume of reserve bank credit outstanding at
Bank
the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, reflected in
Credit
its total holdings of bills and securities, increased
slightly between December 12th and January 9th,
and was then 14.7 millions greater than at the same time a
year ago. Most of the increase from December 12th to Janu­
ary 9th was in Industrial Advances, but discounts also in­
creased slightly and although negligible in amount were the
largest since October 31st. Compared with the corresponding
Wednesday a year ago, holdings of United States securities
show an increase of 23 millions, offset in part by decreases in
holdings of bills discounted and bills bought in the open
market.
Member bank reserve deposits on January 9th were 4.1
millions larger than four weeks earlier, larger than for any
Wednesday since July 3rd, and 14 millions greater than a year
ago. Between December 26th and January 9th Federal
Reserve notes of this bank’s issue were returned from circula­
tion to the extent of 5.6 millions, and on that date this circu­
lation was 7.5 millions greater than on the same Wednesday a
year earlier.
Principal items in the weekly statement are compared in
the table, which is followed by another table setting out
similar comparisons for the twelve Federal Reserve Banks
combined.
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF ATLANTA
(000 Omitted)
Jan. 9
Dec. 12
1935
1934
Bills Discounted:
Secured by Govt. Obligations
All Others................................
Total Discounts..............
Bills Bought in Open M arket. .
Industrial Advances...................
U. S. Securities...........................
Total Bills and Securities

45
99
144
302
899
94,252
95,597

$

45
64
109
302
768
94,257
95,436

$

Jan. 10
1934
$ 1,764

4,039
5,803
3,869

7 i ,235
80,907

M O N T H L Y

132,580
82,842
90,273
130,113

130,772
78,785
84,759
134,691

126,928
68,821
75,073
122,663

60.2%

59.6%

4,888
63.6%

FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
(000 Omitted)
Jan. 9
Dec. 12
1935
1934
Bills Discounted:
Secured by Govt. Obligations
All Others................................
Total Discounts..............
Bills Bought in Open M ark et. .
Industrial Advances...................
U. S. Securities...........................
Other Securities..........................
Total Bills and Securities
Total Reserves............................
Member Bank Reserve Deposits
Total Deposits............................
F. R. Notes in actual circulation
F. R. Bank Notes in actual cir­
culation....................................
Reserve R atio .............................

3,588
$
4,982
$
34,424
3,406
4,274
69,268
6,994
9,256
103,692
5,611
5,690
113,211
14,744 10,662
..........................
2,430,254
2,430,217
2,431,746
............
............
1,462
2,457 ,603
2,455,825
2,650,111
5,468,780
5,378,506
3,816,901
4,282,546
4,111,949
2,776,857
4 ,556,522
4 ,393,3 14
3 ,0 0 7 , 14 4
3,136,987
3,201,456
2,998,760
26,185
71.1%

27,054
70.8%

205,191
63.6%

CONDITION OF M EM BER BANKS IN SELECTED CIT IE S
(000 Omitted)
Dec. 12
Jan. 9
Jan. 10
1935
1934
1934
Loans:
On securities............................
All O thers................................
Total Loans.....................
U. S. Securities...........................
Other Securities..........................
Total Investm ents..........
Total Loans and Invest­
m ents............................
Time Deposits............................
Demand Deposits.......................
Due to Banks..............................
Due from Banks.........................
Borrowings from F. R. Bank...

$ 50,441
137,363
187,804
105,410
57,588
162,998
350,802
126,224
191,258
80,833
74,569

$

62,005
127,292
192,648
96,050
59,988
156,038

$

348,686
128,281
200,862
82,890
74,462

55,991
132,726
188,717
97,269
46,870
144,439
332,856
129,141
148,897
62,686
50,706
2,327

MONTHLY AVERAGES OF WEEKLY FIGURES OF
17 REPORTING M EM BER BANKS IN SELECTED C ITIES
(000 Omitted)
Total
Borrowings
Loans
Invest- Loans and Demand
Time
From
ments Investments Deposits Deposits F. R. Bank

1 87 ,7 9 5

F ebruary... . 187,358
. 184,851
. 180,670
178,019
. 177,687
Ju ly ............ , 167,294
August........ . 166,546
Septem ber.. . 167,243
. 176,456
N ovem ber.. . 187,788
D ecem ber.. . 193,141

162,054
155,608
152,679
151,172
156,522
169,780
167,502
163,759
159,810
156,775
162,168

349,412
340,460
333,349
329,191
334,209
336,513
334,048
331,002
336,266
344,563
355,309

158,695
161,794
168,070
167,404
169,196
172,707
172,917
179,195
180,374
189,297
196,394

131,505
130,406
130,649
132,911
130,786
131,560
129,194
127,402
128,944
130,313
128,492

441
161
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

$151,275 $339,887 $144,602
150,199
342,690
152,249
1 4 8 ,3 0 5




SAVINGS DEPOSITS
(000 Omitted)

$

Member Total loans and investments of 17 weekly reporting
Bank
member banks located at Atlanta, Birmingham,
Credit
Jacksonville, Nashville, Chattanooga, Mobile and
Savannah increased nearly 15 millions during the
week ended December 19th because of increased holdings of
United States securities, but have since declined, and on Jan­
uary 9th were 2.1 millions greater than on December 12th
and 17.9 millions greater than a year ago. Total loans by
these banks increased to 194.5 millions on December 26th, the
highest level since December 20th, 1933, but were 187.8
millions on January 9th when they were slightly less than a
year ago. Holdings of United States securities were 9.4 mil­
lions greater on January 9th than four weeks earlier, and 8.1
millions greater than a year ago, but holdings of other secur­
ities declined somewhat during this four-weeks period but
were 10.7 millions greater than a year ago.
After increasing to the highest level at 200.9 millions for
any Wednesday in the series, which goes back tq the begin­
ning of 1932, demand deposits of these weekly reporting
member banks declined to 191.3 millions on January 9th, when
they were 42.4 millions greater than on the same report date
last year. Time deposits declined 2.1 millions from December
12th to January 9th and were 2.9 millions less than a year
earlier.
In the tables which follow are shown comparisons of princi­
pal items in the weekly report, monthly averages of weekly
figures over the past year, and comparisons of savings de­
posits reported by a list of banks located throughout the
Sixth District.

J a n u a r y .......

3

Jan. 10
1934

Total Reserves............................
Member Bank Reserve Deposits
Total Deposits............................
F. R. Notes in actual circulation
F. R. Bank Notes in actual cir­
culation ....................................
Reserve R atio.............................

1933
N ovem ber... $188,612
D ecem ber... 192,491
1934

R E V IE W

3 3 6 ,1 0 0

1 5 1 ,9 3 5

$131,426 $
129,033
1 3 0 ,0 4 8

2,572
2,614
2 ,0 6 0

Number
of
Banks

Birmingham.
Jacksonville..
Knoxville.. . .
Nashville.. . .
New Orleans.
Other Cities.

3
3
3
3
4
5
35

Dec. 19
1934
$

56

Nov.
1934

Dec.
1933

Percentage Change
Dec. 1934 compared
with
Nov. 1934 Dec. 1933

31,097 $ 31,080 $ 28,092
15,629
16,638
15,998
14,437
14,034
12,992
3,979
3,808
1,684
23,403
23,241
20,999
31,494
30,586
23,444
65,662
64,921
57,567

+ 0 .1
+ 2 .4
+ 2 .9
+ 4 .5
—0.7
+ 3 .0
+ 1 .1

+ 10.7
— 3.8
+ 11.1
+ 136.3
+ 10.7
+ 34.3
+ 14.1

183,461

+ 1 .3

+ 15.2

185,908

161,416

Debits to Bank debits to individual accounts at 26 clearing
Individual house centers in the Sixth District, reflecting the
Accounts amount of business transactions settled by check,
increased 14.8 per cent from November to Decem­
ber, and were 15.1 per cent greater than a year ago. The
increase of 14.8 per cent over the month compares with an
average gain of 13.1 per cent at the same time of the past
seven years. Monthly totals compared in the table are
derived from weekly reports by pro-rating figures for those
weeks which do not fall entirely within a single calendar
month.
(000 Omitted)
Dec. 1934
Alabama—4 Cities................. ..
Birmingham........................

$

Montgomery.......................

116,912
64,147
2,650
27,651
22,464

Nov. 1934
$

122,000
64,468
25,650
6,887
24,995

103,458
55,590
2,569
21,892
23,407

Dec. 1933
$

113,181
69,932
2,083
25,246
15,920

209,814
3,981
135,726
17,751
1,627
9,173
902
11,990
1,351
24,514
2,799

204,385
2,903
130,595
17 ,423
1,838
9,031
673
11,640
1,504
25,772
3,006

195,135

201,402

41,430
3,428
24,041
7,872
6,089

45,493
3,181
28,117
7,583
6,612

32,159
3,290
17,065
6,161
5,643

129,010
31,734
21,310
75,966

Georgia—10 Cities.................

101,213
56,524
18,345
5,773
20,571

209,083

Pensacola.............................

92,967
47,472
19,841
5,864
19,790

954
13,052
1,679
30,566
3,192

Florida-— Cities....................
4
Jacksonville.........................

108,261
28,674
17,957
61,630

100,878
28,422
17,328
55,128

3,932
163,458
19,078
2,096

Brunswick............................
Columbus............................

Savannah.............................
Louisiana—New Orleans
Mississippi—4 Cities..............
Hattiesburg.........................
Vicksburg............................
Tennessee—3 Cities...............
Chattanooga........................

Total—26 Cities......... .,

$

866,778

$

755,128

$

753,218

AGRICULTURE
The final crop report for the year 1934 issued by the United
States Department of Agriculture indicates that, after in­
creasing 43.3 per cent from 1932 to 1933., the total value of
the principal crops produced in 1934 showed a further in­
crease over 1938 of 16.2 per cent. Valuing late crops at the

4

M O N T H L Y

prices being received by farmers on December 1, and adding
the value of early fruits and vegetables already marketed at
that time, the estimates show total crop values of $4,764,507,000 for 1934, compared with $4,100,712,000 for 1933, and
$2,860,645,000 for 1932. The report states that “Largely as
a result of the sharp decreases in the production of most
crops and the shortage of feed for livestock, prices of the
fourteen principal crops averaged 42 per cent higher on
December 1 than they were on that date a year earlier, and
140 per cent higher than two years ago. In most cases the
percentage increase in price, as compared with last year, was
greater than the percentage decrease in production.”
In the six states located wholly or partly in the Sixth Fed­
eral Reserve District, principal crops produced in 1934 were
valued at $740,577,000, a gain of 31.3 per cent over the value
of 19-33 crons, and practically double the value of those pro­
duced in 1932. The 1934 production of cotton, and seed, cow­
peas, tobacco, pecans and apples declined, but other crops
increased, compared with 1933, but the value of nearly all
crops increased, the exceptions being pecans, apples, sugar
cane and rice. Combined totals of production and values for
the principal crops raised in these six states are compared in
the table below, which is followed by another giving total
crop values by states.
PRODUCTION AND VALUE OF PRINCIPAL CROPS IN SIX TH D ISTR IC T
Production in Thousands of Units
Values in Thousands of Dollars
Production
Value
1934
1933
1934
1933
Cotton—Lint, Bales. . . .
Cotton Seed, Tons..........
Corn, Bushels..................
Oats, Bushels..................
W heat (1), Bushels........
Tame Hay, Tons............
Soy Beans, Bushels........
Cowpeas, Bushels...........
White Potatoes, Bushels.
Sweet Potatoes, Bushels.
Peanuts, Lbs....................
Pecans, Lbs.....................
Tobacco, Lbs...................
Apples, Bushels..............
Peaches, Bushels............
Oranges (2), Boxes.........
Grapefruit (3), Boxes. ..
Sugar Cane Syrup, Gals.
Sugar Cane (4), T ons. . .
Rice (4), Bushels............

4,033
1,792
208,873
11,064
4,214
2,620
1,905
3,615
16,982
36,080
918,970
13,320
140,963
3,355
10,071
19,520
13,500
19,640
3,561
15,957

4,181
1,857
199,091
8,835
3,487
2,575
1,748
4,003
12,269
29,816
840,715
22,150
195,322
4,188
7,637
18,317
10,700
17,476
3,176
15,957

(1) Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. (2)
Mississippi* (3) Florida. (4) Louisiana.

$249,627
63,588
157,777
8,023
4,461
33,341
3,510
4,927
12,864
21,271
28,671
1,832
23,094
3,342
7,950
29,890
13,475
8,597
9,685
12,606

$198,274
26,455
112,658
5,422
3,404
25,482
2,613
3,947
10,733
16,856
21,522
2,228
21,211
3,534
6,076
27,492
12,475
7,818
11,038
12,446

Florida,rLouisiana, Alabama and

VALUES OF PRINCIPAL CROPS BY STATES
In Thousands of Dollars
1934 compared with
1934
1933
1932
1933
1932
Alabam a...................... $ 142,975 $
Florida..........................
82,941
Georgia........................
161,445
Louisiana.....................
88,294
Mississippi...................
141,395
Tennessee.....................
123,527

99,454 $
66,659
128,588
68,821
100,325
100,132

62,051
57,914
67,039
54,711
66,630
63,709

Total Six S ta te s .... $ 740,577 $ 563,979 $ 372,054

+
+
+
+
+
+

43.8
24.4
25.6
28.3
40.9
23.4

+ 130.4
+ 43.2
+140.8
+ 61.4
+ 112.2
+ 93.9

+ 31.3

+ 99.1

R E V IE W

R IC E MOVEM ENT— (New Orleans)
Dec. 1934
Nov. 1934
33,533
43,529
6,870

61,741
67,527
16,866

41,216
26,940
42,405

Clean Rice—Pockets :
Receipts...................................
Shipments................................
Stocks.......................................

62,840
57,517
165,928

87,093
76,575
160,605

39,034
28,377
159,045

R ICE M ILLERS’ ASSOCIATION STATISTICS
(Barrels)
Aug. 1 to Dec. 31
December
Receipts of Rough Rice:
4,575,537
Season 1934-35.......................
611,966
4,858,431
Season 1933-34.......................
426,005
Distribution of Milled Rice:
Season 1934-35.......................
Season 1933-34.......................

714,423
573,029

Stocks:
Dec. 31, 1934..........................
Dec. 31, 1933..........................

931,324
1,061,634

NOTE:

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

+ 17.3
+ 25.8
+44.5
+ 1 8 .4
+ 12.1

+ 6 3.9
+ 5 9 .9
+ 5 8 .4
+ 81.2
+ 8 0.2
+ 6 4.9
+ 4 7 .4
+ 5 7 .8
+ 60.7

+ 2 2 .8
+ 2 5 .3
+ 2 7 .4
+ 2 6.3
+ 4 9 .2
+ 2 0 .2
+ 2 0 .8
+ 2 6.2
+ 25.5

— 0.4
— 2.6
+ 4.1
— 3.8
+ 22.3
+ 4.3
— 5.7
+ 12.7
+ 2.3

Clean
1,379,585
1,586,812

Fertilizer December sales of fertilizer tax tags in the six
Tag Sales states located wholly or partly in the Sixth Dis­
trict declined 27.1 per cent from November, and
were less than half those in December, 1938. At the same
time a year ago, tag sales considerably more than doubled
from November to December. Total sales for the five months
of the season in these states were 6.8 per cent less than in
that part of the previous season. Figures in the table are
from those compiled by the National Fertilizer Association.
Dec.
1934
Alabama......................
Florida.........................
Georgia........................
Louisiana.....................
Mississippi...................
Tennessee....................

(Short Tons)
Nov.
1934

3,600
34,841
12,904
1,500
104
600

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

53,549

1,250
69,142
1,057
940
131
900
73,420

Dec.
1933

August 1 to Dec. 31
1934
1933

12,850
59,941
20,870
6,600
17,650
100

6,650
196,406
15,489
20,451
1,711
16,565
257,272

118,011

17,000
173,019
28,866
24,470
19,245
13,376
275,976

TRADE
Retail Total sales during the year 1934 by 60 reporting deTrade partment stores in the Sixth District were 25.5 per
cent greater than in 1933, 21 per cent greater than in
1932, and 8 per cent less than in 1931. December sales by
these 60 reporting department stores increased 60.7 per cent
over the previous month, and were 19.1 per cent greater than
in December, 1933. Stocks of merchandise declined 18.8 per
cent from November 30 to December 31, and were 2.3 per cent
larger than a year ago, and the rate of stock turnover was
higher for the month, and for the year than at the same time
last year. The collection ratio, also shown in the table, de­
clined only slightly from November to December and was
somewhat higher than a year ago. For regular accounts the
December ratio was 35.7 per cent, and for installment
accounts 15.3 per cent.

—31.4
— 19.3
— 13.6
— 13.6
+ 0.5
—20.5
— 17.9
— 16.0
— 18.8

.67
.50
.54
.37
.62
.44
.43
.45
.50

T h e ra te o f s to c k t u rn o v e r is th e ra tio o f sales d u r in g g iv e n p e rio d to a v e ra g e s to c k s o n h a n d .




3,819,625
3,364,604

Rough

RETA IL TRADE IN T H E SIX TH D ISTRICT DURING DECEM BER 1934
Based on confidential reports from 60 department stores
C omparison op N bt Sales
Comparison op Stocks
Dec. 1934
Year to date
Dec. 31, 1934
Stock Turnover
with:
with:
with:
Same month
Previous Same period Same month
Previous
December
Jan. to Dec. inc.
a year ago
month
last year
a year ago
M onth
1934
1933
1934
1933
Birmingham (6).............
Chattanooga (4).............
Jacksonville (3)..............
Miami (3)........................
Nashville (4)...................
New Orleans (5).............
Other Cities ( 2 9 ) . . . . . . .
D ISTRICT (60).............

Dec. 1933

Rough Rice—Barrels:
Receipts...................................
Shipments................................
Stocks.......................................

.63
.41
.38
.40
.35
.43
.42

4.71
3.79
3.62
2.40
4.56
3.07
3.16
3.18
3.57

C ollection R atio
Dec.
1934

Nov.
1934

Dec.
1933

3.21
3.13
3.09

27.6
34.1
36.4

29.8
34.9
33.8

29.3
26.7
29 .6

2. si

30*5
39.3
33.0
32.6

i i .8
39.8
30.6
32.7

29*7
39.9
30.9
32. 1

2.65
2.97
3.08

M O N T H L Y

Wholesale The volume of wholesale trade in the Sixth DisTrade
trict, reflected in confidential reports from 99
firms, increased 23.4 per cent in 1934 over 1933,
was 37 per cent greater than in 1932, and about the same as
in 1931. December sales and stocks declined over the month,
and sales averaged 4.2 per cent greater than a year earlier,
and stocks were 1.2 per cent larger. Comparisons of sales,
stocks and collection ratios for reporting groups are shown
in the table.
WHOLESALE TRADE IN DECEM BER 1934
Sixth Federal Reserve District*
Percentage Comparisons
Number
Dec. 1934 with: Jan.-Dee. 1934 inc.
of Firms
Nov.
Dec.
with same
1934
1933
period last year
All Lines Combined:
Sales.............................
Stocks...........................
Groceries:
Sales.............................
Jacksonville.........
New Orleans........
Vicksburg............
Other Cities.........
Stocks..........................
Dry Goods:
Sales.............................
Nashville..............
Other Cities.........
Stocks...........................
Hardware:
Sales.............................
Nashville..............
New Orleans........
Other Cities........
Stocks..........................
Furniture:
Sales.............................
A tlan ta................
Other Cities........
Stocks...........................
Electrical Supplies:
Sales.............................
New Orleans........
Other Cities........
Stocks..........................
Drugs:
Sales.............................
Stationery:
Sales.............................

99
30

— 11.8
— 8.0

+ 4.2
+ 1.2

+ 2 3 .4

23
4
5
3
11
3

+ 2.1
— 2.9
+ 1 5 .6
— 4.4
— 5.5
+ 2.1

+ 8.1
— 5.6
+ 8.0
+ 1 3 .6
+ 16.8
+ 1 5 .0

+ 2 3.2
+ 15.7
+25.1
+ 2 1 .8
+ 2 7 .0

15
3
12
7

—37.6
— 42.2
—36.2
— 16.6

— 0.1
+ 17.5
— 4.1
+ 1 0 .9

+ 2 2.2
+ 30.5
+ 1 9.9

26
3
5
18
9

— 14.9
— 6.3
— 18.8
— 14.8
— 1.3

— 6.6
+ 1 0 .0
—26.1
+ 0.5
— 4.8

+ 20.8
+ 1 6.6
+ 18.7
+ 22.8

9
4
5
6

— 9.7
— 2.1
— 12.3
— 2.6

+ 2 5.0
+ 17.8
+ 28.1
+ 0.0

+ 2 6.4
+ 10.7
+ 32.9

13
4
9
3

— 3.0
— 17.2
+ 3.4
— 9.7

+31.5
+ 9.8
+ 4 1 .6
+ 1 3.8

+ 43.8
+ 4 5.4
+ 4 3.2

8

— 2.8

+ 8.7

+ 2 3 .3

3

— 8.6

+ 8.0

+14.7

R E V IE W

5

INDUSTRY
Building
For the year 1934, the total value of permits
and
issued at twenty reporting cities in the Sixth
Construction District, for the construction of buildings
within their corporate limits, amounted to
$23,174,397. This total represents an increase of 63 per cent
over the total of $14,217,532 for the year 1933, was 20.1 per
cent larger than the 1932 total, but 21.2 per cent less than for
1931. All but four of these cities reported increases from
19331 to 1934. In December total value of permits at these
cities declined 18 per cent from November, but was 4.1) per
cent greater than for December a year ago. Comparisons for
the month are shown in the table.
BUILDING PER M ITS
Number
Value
December
December
1934
1933
1934
1933

Percentage
Change in
Value

Alabama
Birmingham..........
Montgomery.........
Florida
Jacksonville...........
Miami Beach........
Georgia
Columbus..............
Savannah...............
Louisiana
New Orleans..........
Alexandria.............
Tennessee
Chattanooga..........
Johnson C ity .........
Knoxville...............
Nashville................
Total 20 Cities .. .

16
364
44
125

3
99
24
38

368
443
115
50
164

9,885 $
900
105,252
87,819
26,462
86,060
4,640
42,256

+ 99 8 .3
+ 19.9
— 69.3
+ 810.7

399
291
66
49
116

122,926
309,962
501,470
31,111
22,694

98,956
417,591
163,195
13,167
45,071

+ 24.2
— 25.8
+ 20 7 .3
+ 13 6 .3
— 49.6

189
18
33
38
21

105
35
26
123
28

72,755
19,634
7,776
14,910
27,667

24,807
183,389
17,377
34,191
14,212

+ 193.3
— 89.3
— 55.3
— 56.4
+ 94.7

54
51

40
34

44,039
10,583

35,933
3,193

+ 22.6
+ 2 3 1 .4

145
3
16
46

137
1
22
43

21,793
14,700
17,202
251,352

2,303

$

277,367
— 92.1
300 + 4 ,8 0 0 .0
54,477
— 68.4
33,074
+ 6 6 0 .0

1,679 $1,674,429 $1,595,719

+

4 .9

COLLECTION RATIO**
Nov.
1934

Dec.
1934

Dec.
1933

Groceries..........................
Dry Goods.......................
H ardware........................
F urniture.........................
Electrical Supplies..........
Drugs...............................

68.6
43.5
40.8
31.4
66.5
33.7

62.8
42.7
46.5
34.1
72.2
26.8

66.8
38.4
32.8
29.0
46.3
28.4

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

48.4

48.5

42.1

* Based on confidential reports from 99 firms.
** The collection ratio is the percentage of accounts and notes receivable out­
standing a t the beginning of the month which were collected during the month.

Life
December sales of new, paid-for, ordinary life inInsurance surance in the six states located wholly or partly
in this District increased by 32.7 per cent over
November, to the highest level in about three years, and for
the year were 13.3 per cent greater than in 1933. Figures
compared in the table are from those compiled by the Life
Insurance Sales Research Bureau.
(000 Omitted)
December November December January-Dee. Inc.
1934

1934

A lab am a.. $ 5,007 $
Florida___
4,680
Georgia. ..
7,947
Louisiana..
5,699
Mississippi.
3,122
Tennessee.
6,369
Total. $32,824

3,535
3,665
6,132
3,959
2,465
4,987

$ 24,743

1933

1934

1933

Percent
Change




32
29
51
404
962

In the 37 states east of the Rocky Mountains, December
contracts declined 17 per cent from November, and were 55.3
per cent less than a year earlier, and for the year the total
was $1,543,101,300, a gain of 22.9 per cent over the total for
1933. Comparisons for the month are shown in the table.
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS AWARDED
F. W. Dodge Corp.
Dec. 1934
Nov. 1934
Dec. 1933

4,091
4,185
7,579
5,965
2,817
7,246

$ 45,900
54,041
81,059
54,269
29,476
68,701

$ 41,823
41,579
69,815
47,490
27,868
65,757

+ 9.7
+ 3 0 .0
+ 1 6 .1
+ 1 4 .3
+ 5.8
+ 4.5

Sixth District—T otal.............. .$ 5,709,498
Residential............................
1,305,295
All Others..............................
4,404,203

$ 31,883

$333,446

$294,332

+ 1 3 .3

State Totals:

$

COMMERCIAL FAILURES
(From statistics compiled by Dun & Bradstreet, Inc.)
Sixth District
United States
Number
Liabilities
Number
Liabilities
December 1934............
November 1934...........
December 1933............
Year 1934...................
Year 1933...................

The value of building and construction contracts awarded
in the Sixth District, indicated in statistics compiled by the
F. W. Dodge Corporation and subdivided into district totals
by the Federal Reserve Board’s Division of Research and
Statistics, amounted in 1934 to $143,110,074, an increase of
8.9 per cent over the 1933 total, 65 per cent greater than in
1932, but 17.1 per cent smaller than in 1931. Residential
contracts for the year increased 13.6 per cent over those in
1933, but other contracts increased only 8.1 per cent. The
December total exhibited a sharp decline from November, and
was 73.8 per cent less than in December, 1938.

$

1,071,772
287,233
458,665
6,956,000
21,728,000

963 $1 9,91 0,61 0
923
18,349,791
1,132
27,200,432
12,185
264,247,000
20,307
502,831,000

Mississippi.............................
Tennessee..............................
United States:
T otal...................................... .
Residential............................ .
Non-Residential.................... .
Public Works and Utilities.. .

$ 9,413,352
1,684,335
7,729,017

$ 21,818,561
1,128,838
20,689,723

1,111,900
1,609,700
1,499,600
638,900
1,215,700
605,400

797,400
4,971,700
709,400
2,270,400
902,700
2,321,100

3,183,600
4,121,300
1,919,200
4,110,300
1,813,600
10,059,500

92,684,900
14,550,500
28,067,400
50,067,000

111,691,500
19,909,700
39,439,500
52,342,300

207,209,500
23,899,600
50,040,000
133,269,900

M O N T H L Y

6

Lumber Declines from November to December in both
orders and production because of the holiday and
inventory periods, were indicated in press reports and in
weekly statements of the Southern Pine Association. For the
five weeks ending January 5th orders by reporting mills aver­
aged 11 per cent greater than during the same period a year
ago, and production averaged 1.8 per cent smaller, and un­
filled orders were smaller on the average by 3.9 per cent.
During this five week period orders were approximately 11
per cent below production, while at the same time last year
they averaged 21 per cent less. Weekly figures compared in
the table are from those compiled by the Southern Pine Asso­
ciation*
Week
Ended

(In Thousands of Feet)
Number
Orders
Production
Unfilled Orders
of Mills 1934-35 1933-34 1934-35 1933-34 1934-35 1933-34

December 8 . . . . 115
December 15... 114
December 22... 73
December 29 ... 96
January 5 ........ 109

17,124
17,993
12,252
12,555
14,246

17,153
15,242
8,257
13,285
12,863

21,761
19,931
14,171
9,804
17,518

22,332
21 ,776
12,943
9,308
18,340

54,330
45,865
30,140
47,096
41,979

59,237
51,083
30,435
40,428
47,088

Cotton
There was a further decline of 13.3 per cent
Consumption in the consumption of cotton by American mills
from November to December, but December
consumption was 19 per cent greater than a year earlier. The
decline from November to December in the cotton states was
relatively larger, and the increase over December a year ago
smaller than in other states. There was a small gain over the
month in the number of spindles active, and an increase of
about 1 per cent over the number active in December, 1933.
Consumption in the cotton states accounted for 79.7 per cent
of the total. In the first five months of the cotton season
total consumption has been 11.9 per cent, that in the cotton
states 11.8 per cent, and in other states 12.3 per cent, less
than in that part of the season before.
Exports during December declined further by 11.9 per cent,
and were 38.5 per cent less than a year earlier, and for the
five months of the season have been 42.6 per cent less than
in that part of the previous season. Census Bureau figures
are compared in the table.
COTTON CONSUMPTION, EXPORTS, STOCKS AND ACTIVE SPIN D LES
U N ITED STATES—Bales
Dec. 1934
Nov. 1934
Dec. 1933
Cotton Consumed......................
Stocks...........................................
In Consuming Establishments
In Public Storage and at
Compresses..........................
Exports........................................
Active Spindles—N um ber........

413,535
10,940,112
1,299,554

477,060
11,088,574
1,293,763

347,524
11,976,828
1,641,830

9,640,558
504,185
25,057,270

9,794,811
572,359
25,050,778

10,334,998
820,099
24,828,396

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

329,636
10,463,882
1 ,045 ,8 4 1

385,449
10,624,271
1 ,044,645

282,091
11,241,457
1 ,29 1 ,053

9,418,041
17,411,208

9,579,626
17,412,166

9,950,404
17,328,074

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




83,899
476,230
253,713

91,617
464,303
249,118

65,433
735,371
350,777

222,517
7,646,062

215,185
7,608,612

384,594
7,500,322

R E V IE W

In the three states of this District for which separate
figures are available cotton consumption declined further in
December by 10.7 per cent, but was 7.3 per cent greater than
in December a year ago. For the five months of the cotton
season, August through Dcember, consumption in these states
has been 16 per cent less than in that part of the previous
season. Census Bureau figures for these states are compared
in the table.
(Bales)
Nov.
1934

Dec.
1934

Dec. Aug. 1 to Dec. 31, Inc.
1933
1934
1933

Alabama......................
Georgia........................
Tennessee....................

41,612
70,848
9,132

46,603
81,715
10,617

38,763
66,466
7,002

209,059
364,930
49,171

244,453
447,848
49,160

Total 3 S tates.........

121,592

138,935

112,231

623,160

741,461

Cotton
There were increases from November to
Manufacturing December in all items reported by both cloth
and yarn mills in this District. Compared
with December a year ago, unfilled orders and employment at
yarn mills were smaller, but other items show increases, as
indicated in the percentages shown in the table.
Cloth
Dec. 1934 compared
with:
Nov. 1934
Dec. 1933

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

+ 1.0
+ 3.6
+ 9.3
+ 22.9
+ 3.6
+ 0.4

+ 12.9
+ 17.3
+ 36.8
+ 16.7
+ 29.8
+ 9.5

Yarn
Dec. 1934 compared
with:
Nov. 1934 Dec. 1933
+ 5.6
+ 8.0
+ 41.5
+ 13.2
+ 13.2
+ 7.0

+ 2 9 .4
+ 2 8 .0
+ 3 .5
— 9 .4
+ 3 2 .4
— 4.9

Cotton Seed
Operations at cotton seed oil mills in the
and Cotton Seed Sixth District declined further from NovemProducts
ber to December, but for the first five
months of the cotton season receipts of seed
were 24.1 per cent, and crushings 28.6 per cent, greater than
in that part of the previous season. Production of the princi-*
pal cotton seed products also averaged considerably greater
than a year ago, and stocks, except of crude oil, were also
larger. Combined totals for Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and
Mississippi are shown 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 Dec. 31
Aug. 1 to Dec. 31
1934
1933
1934
1933
Cotton Seed, Tons:
Received at Mills.......
Crushed........................
On Hand Dec. 31........

1,223,919
826,653
465,198

985,990
642,760
372,000

3,077,654
2,183,177
1,117,238

3,503,827
2,426,991
1,297,774

Production:
Crude Oil, lbs.............. 264,569,895 207,020,551 671,571,981 750,349,682
Cake and Meal, to n s..
360,611
278,050
989,030
1,096,102
Hulls, to n s...................
221,187
177,738
564,134
652,336
Linters, bales..............
174,602
117,941
474,715
437,433
Stocks at Mills Dec. 31:
Crude Oil, lbs.............
12,901,169 35,658,753 46,641,157 131,954,331
Cake and Meal, to n s..
111,476
102,353
320,322
312,458
Hulls, to n s...................
61,906
31,500
185,797
124,427
Linters, bales..............
46,849
45,216
166,142
161,681
* Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.

M O N T H L Y

Electric
Power

Production of electric power for public use in the
six states located wholly or partly in the Sixth Fed­
eral Reserve District declined 2.3 per cent from
October to November, because of the shorter month, but was
14.9 per cent greater than a year earlier. Daily average pro­
duction increased nearly one per cent over the month. For
the eleven months of the year production was 5.9 per cent
greater than in that part of 1933. Figures compared in the
table are from those compiled by the United States Geological
Survey.
PRODUCTION OF E LECTR IC POWER (000 k. w. Hours)
Nov. 1934
Oct. 1934
Nov. 1933

Alabam a......................................
Florida..........................................
Georgia........................................
Louisiana.....................................
Mississippi...................................
Tennessee....................................

186,252
56,874
91,428
106,638
4,477
98,917

181,427
54,368
109,461
108,155
5,346
95,802

176,364
51,776
75,641
103,552
4,205
62,421

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

544,586

554,559

473,959

349,755
194,831

358,064
196,495

289,823
184,136

11,972
202,271
2,252,342

12,226
197,208
2,364,776

11,384
188,376
2,069,273

By use of:

W aterPow er........
Fuels.....................
Fuels consumed in Production
of Electric Power:
Coal—tons...............................
Fuel Oil—bbls.........................
N atural Gas)—000 cu. f t . . . .
Note:

1934 figures preliminary.

Bituminous There were further increases of 3.1 per cent in
Coal
total, and of 1.8 per cent in daily average, proMining
duction of bituminous coal in the United States
during December compared with November, and
an increase of 3.$ per cent over December, 1933, according to
preliminary figures compiled by the United States Bureau of
Mines. Total production during the year 1934, based on the
preliminary figures, appears to have been 7.2 per cent greater
than in 1933, following a gain of 5.9 per cent from 1932 to
1933. Preliminary figures are compared in the table.
Production—Tons
Number of
Total
Daily Average Working Days
United States:
December 1934........................... 31,386,000p
November 1934 .......................... 30,450,000r
April 1934.................................... 24,772,000
December 1933........................... 30,377,000
Year— 1934.................................. 357,500,000
Year— 1933.................................. 333,631,000
p-Preliminary.

l,255,000p
l,233,000r
1,024,000
1,215,000

25
24.7
24.2
25

r-Revised.

Weekly figures indicate that production in Alabama in­
creased somewhat from November to December but was
slightly less than a year ago, while in Tennessee December
production seems to have been somewhat less than in Novem­
ber but about one-third greater than in December a year ago.
Week Ended:

Production—Tons
Alabama
Tennessee
1934-35
1933-34
1934-35
1933-34

December 1..................... ......... 152,000
December 8 ............................... 190,000
December 15 ................... ......... 215,000
December 22 ................... ..........220,000
December 29................... ......... 135,000
January 5 ........................ ......... 170,000

Pig Iron
Production

182,000
203,000
203,000
194,000
173,000
198,000

73,000
85,000
94,000
92,000
62,000
81,000

54,000
59,000
69,000
63,000
61,000
63,000

Production of pig iron in the United States has
increased each month since September, and in
December was 7.4 per cent greater than in
November, but 13.1 per cent less than a year ago. Daily aver­
age production increased 3.9 per cent over November. The
number of furnaces active increased from 59 (revised) on
December 1st to 69 on January 1st, compared with 75 active
a year earlier. For the year 1934 total production was 20.4
per cent greater than in 1933, 83.2 per cent greater than in
1932, and only 12.9 per cent less than in 1931.




R E V IE W

7

December production of pig iron in Alabama increased 14
per cent, and the daily average 10.3 per cent, over November,
but was 47.7 per cent smaller than in December, 1933, at
which time there was an increase of 50 per cent in production
from November to December. Production in December was
the largest since July, but was smaller than for other months
since May, 1933. For the year, Alabama production of pig
iron totaled 1,140,727 tons, an increase of 28.2 per cent over
the total of 889,942 tons produced in 1933, 73 per cent greater
than in 1932, but 31.8 per cent smaller than in 1931. Demand
for iron, according to press reports, declined as usual during
the holidays, and there has been little activity since the turn
of the year. The price continues at $14.50 per ton. Figures
for the month are compared in the table.
Production—Tons
Total
Daily Average
United States:
December 1934.............
November 1934............
May 1934......................
December 1933.............
Year 1934......................
Year 1933......................
Year 1932......................
Alabama:
December 1934.............
November 1934............
May 1934......................
December 1933.............
Year 1934......................
Year 1933......................
Year 1 9 3 2 ....,............

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

Furnaces
Active*

1,027,622
956,940
2,042,896
1,182,079
15,911,188
13,212,785
8,686,443

33,149
31,898
65,900
38,131

69
59r
117
75

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

66,379
58,217

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

127,039
1,140,727
889,942
659,545

2,141
1,941
4,205
4,098

6
5
10
10

........

r—Revised.
*F irst of following month.

Naval December receipts of turpentine at the three princiStores pal markets of the District declined slightly, but
receipts of rosins increased, compared with Novem­
ber, and receipts in both instances were greater than a year
ago. Stocks of both commodities also increased over the
month and were greater than for December, 193«3. Press
reports indicate that there was improvement in the demand
for both commodities after the turn of the year, and the price
of turpentine rose from 45 cents on December 29th to 51 cents
two weeks later, and the average of quotations on the thir­
teen grades of rosin increased from $4.43 on December 29th
to $4.78 on January 12th. According to press reports approxi­
mately three-fourths of the available stocks at these three
ports are pledged to the Government to secure loans. Com­
parisons of receipts and stocks for the month are shown in
the table.
NAVAL STORES
Dec. 1934
Nov. 1934
Receipts—Turpentine (1)

Dec. 1933

Jacksonville.............................

7,054
9,357
6,423

8,818
9,167
5,014

7,845
7,126
2,381

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

22,834

22,999

17,352

Jacksonville.............................

40,660
61 208
20,305

34,646
54 646
10,965

37,133
34,668
9,826

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

122,173

100,257

81,627

Jacksonville.............................

20,529
53,088
33,354

17,527
47,392
29,270

16,431
34,618
30,220

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

106,971

94,189

81,269

126,618
157,027
38,015

125,688
121,991
24,348

106,736
83,565
20,476

321,660

272,027

210,771

Receipts—Rosin (2)

Stocks—Turpentine (1)

Stocks—Rosin (2)
Jacksonville.............................
T otal.
(1)

Barrels of 50 Gallons.

(2)

Barrels of 500 Gallons.

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=11)0

DEPARTM ENT STORE TRADE—SIX TH D ISTR IC T

O ct.
1934

Nov.
1934

Dec.
1934

O ct.
1933

Nov.
1933

Dec.
1933

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

161.3
77.2
76.3
81.9
80.0
90.6

159.9
72.0
74.6
83.0
83.3
91.3

271.9
115.7
118.2
136.9
122.8
145.6

139.0
75.7
72.5
73.5
75.0
83.2

138.0
66.0
68.8
66.0
70.8
78.4

244.5
102.3
100.8
115.8
109.5
127.9

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

135.5
66.6
61.5
70.0
69.6
76.1

149.4
64.3
67.2
72.8
70.0
80.1

164.8
68.1
75.8
82.0
71.4
85.6

116.8
65.3
58.5
62.8
65.2
69.9

129.0
58.9
62.0
57.9
59.5
68.8

148.2
60.2
64.6
69.2
63.7
75.2

M o n th ly Stocks—U n a d ju ste d
A tlanta.................................................................................................
Birmingham........................................................................................
Chattanooga........................................................................................
Nashville..............................................................................................
New Orleans........................................................................................
D ISTR IC T ..........................................................................................

115.3
45.6
44.6
73.0
83.8
67.2

113.9
46.1
45.7
74.4
64.6
70.0

75.8
37.0
39.5
58.0
53.0
55.2

109.2
50.2
51.8
66.8
66.7
67.4

107.0
51.2
48.1
66.5
67.2
67.4

74.3
40.0
38.0
55.7
56.7
53.7

M o n th ly S tocks—A djusted*
A tlanta.................................................................................................
Birmingham........................................................................................
Chattanooga........................................................................................
Nashville..............................................................................................
New Orleans........................................................................................
D ISTR IC T ........................................................................... ‘............

102.9
41.5
39.8
64.6
58.0
60.5

100.8
41.2
41.6
66.4
59.3
63.0

87.1
40.7
44.9
64.4
60.0
62.0

97.5
45.6
46.3
59.1
60.6
60.7

94.7
45.7
43.7
59.4
61.7
60.7

85.4
44.0
43.2
61.9
63.7
60.3

WHOLESALE TRADE—SIX TH D ISTRICT—TO TA L........
Groceries..............................................................................................
Dry Goods...........................................................................................
Hardw are.............................................................................................
Furniture.............................................................................................
Electrical Supplies..............................................................................
Stationery............................................................................................
Drugs....................................................................................................

67.7
54.2
79.2
71.9
63.2
78.9
46.6
89.0

63.3
51.1
72.7
65.1
59.3
85.2
41.3
85.8

55.8
52.1
45.4
55.3
53.6
82.6
37.7
83.4

56.5
44.6
75.7
59.3
54.4
50.0
39.4
70.2

54.1
44.2
62.6
60.5
52.7
52.1
29.3
69.5

53.3
48.2
45.0
59.3
42.9
62.8
33.7
76.7

LIFE INSURANCE SALES—SIX STATES—TOTAL
Alabama...............................................................................................
Florida..................................................................................................
Georgia.................................................................................................
Louisiana.............................................................................................
Mississippi...........................................................................................
Tennessee.............................................................................................

60.2
50.8
67.1
65.0
71.2
50.3
55.4

58.9
52.1
61.9
66.9
62.5
56.4
53.0

78.2
73.8
79.1
86.7
89.9
71.4
67.7

57.6
53.4
54.4
64.8
61.3
54.8
54.6

61.8
60.6
63.6
70.4
58.6
55.4
58.5

78.5
62.8
75.4
85.0
95.0
66.5
79.8

BUILDING PER M ITS—TWENTY C IT IE S ............................
A tlanta.................................................................................................
Birmingham........................................................................................
Jacksonville.........................................................................................
Nashville..............................................................................................
New Orleans........................................................................................
Fifteen Other Cities...........................................................................

21.8
13.2
7.3
23.1
7.6
12.7
31.8

18.1
15.4
7.0
25.1
6.9
6.6
24.9

14.9
4.7
7.1
14.9
39.6
3.4
19.7

10.8
5.9
2.2
48.9
5.8
8.6
9.9

6.8
2.8
2.4
9.3
3.7
6.3
9.3

14.2
1.6
5.9
12.0
5.2
2.8
24.0

CONTRACT AWARDS—SIX TH D ISTRICT—TO TA L ___
Residential...........................................................................................
All Others............................................................................................

22.6
16.0
26.9

26.8
12.0
36.7

16.3
9.3
20.9

48.8
6.5
77.0

122.1
29.2
184.0

62.2
8.0
98.2

WHOLESALE PRICES—UNITED STATESt
ALL COM M O DITIES....................................................................
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..............................................................................

76.5
70.6
74.8
78.0
83.8
70.3
74.6
86.3
85.2
77.1
81.7
69.7

76.5
70.8
75.1
78.0
84.2
69.7
74.4
86.2
85.0
76.9
81.3
70.6

76.9
72.0
75.3
78.0
85.1
70.0
73.7
85.9
85.1
78.1
81.2
71.0

71.2
55.7
64.2
77.2
89.0
77.1
73.6
83.0
83.9
72.7
81.2
65.3

71.1
56.6
64.3
77.2
88.2
76.8
73.5
82.7
84.9
73.4
81.0
65.5

70.8
55.5
62.5
77.5
89.2
76.4
73.4
83.5
85.6
73.7
81.0
65.7

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

101.0
119.9
63.6
110.8
158.4
118.4

92.6
112.6
53.1
104.9
135.6
106.7

80.3
96.3
48.6
90.9
121.0
91.8

97.9
118.3
57.3
118.5
148.5
105.0

92.3
110.8
55.6
109.2
140.0
90.0

67.5
82.4
37.9
85.3
112.8
70.4

COTTON EXPO RTS—UNITED STA TES...............................

119.9

111.5

98.2

203.8

178.3

159.7

P IG IRON PRODUCTION—United S tates..............................
Alabama.......................................

31.8
25.3

32.0
25.1

34.4
28.6

45.4
42.9

36.3
36.4

39.6
54.7

♦Adjusted for Seasonal Variation,




tCompiled by Bureau of Labor Statistics.

1926 • 100.