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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 ix th Federal R eserve D istrict
F E D E R A L
V o l. 19

R E S E R V E

N o . 10

B A N K

O F

This review released for publication
in m orning papers of October 31

A T L A N T A , G A ., O C T O B E R 31, 1934

OF B U S I N E S S C O N D IT IO N S
Prepared by Federal Reserve Board

N A T IO N A L S U M M A R Y

V o lu m e of i n d u s t r ia l p ro d u c tio n r e m a in u n c h a n g e d in S e p ­
t e m b e r w h e n t h e r e is u s u a lly a s e a s o n a l in c r e a s e , a n d 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 d e c lin e d . A n i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r in
th e d e c re a s e w a s th e s t r i k e in t h e te x t i le in d u s tr y . R e ta il
t r a d e in r u r a l d i s t r ic t s sh o w e d a l a r g e in c r e a s e , a n d s a le s a t
d e p a r t m e n t s to r e s in c itie s a ls o in c r e a e d , t h o u g h s o m e w h a t
le s s t h a n s e a s o n a lly . D e p o s its a t b a n k s a n d c o m m e rc ia l lo a n s
c o n tin u e d to in c re a s e .
Production
V o lu m e o f in d u s t r ia l p r o d u c tio n , a s m e a s u r e d
and
b y th e B o a r d ’s s e a s o n a lly a d ju s te d in d e x , deEmployment c lin e d f r o m 73 p e r c e n t o f t h e 1923-1925 a v e r ­
a g e in A u g u s t to 71 p e r c e n t in S e p te m b e r.
T h e r e w e r e s u b s ta n t ia l d e c lin e s in a c t i v it y a t c o tto n a n d
w o o le n m ills , r e fle c tin g t h e in flu e n c e o f t h e t e x t i le s t r i k e ,
a n d in th e o u t p u t o f s h o e s, a u to m o b ile s , a n d lu m b e r . A f t e r
t h e te r m i n a t io n o f th e s t r i k e te x t i le p ro d u c tio n in c re a s e d .
S te e l m ill o p e r a tio n s , w h ic h h a d d e c lin e d s h a r p l y d u r i n g th e
s u m m e r, h a v e b e e n a t a h i g h e r le v e l in r e c e n t w e e k s t h a n in
t h e e a r l y p a r t o f S e p te m b e r. P r o d u c tio n o f b e e f a n d la m b
in c r e a s e d f u r t h e r in S e p te m b e r, r e fle c tin g in p a r t th e d is ­
p o s a l o f a n im a ls b o u g h t in th e d r o u g h t a r e a s b y t h e F e d e r a l
G o v e rn m e n t. W h e a t flo u r p ro d u c tio n a n d s u g a r m e ltin g s a ls o
w e re l a r g e r in S e p te m b e r. O u tp u t o f a n t h r a c i t e a n d b itu m i­
n o u s c o a l sh o w e d a l a r g e r t h a n s e a s o n a l in c re a s e .
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 d e c lin e d c o n s id e ra b ly in
S e p te m b e r, l a r g e ly a s a r e s u l t o f t h e t e x t i le s tr ik e . T h e n u m ­
b e r o f w o r k e r s e m p lo y e d w a s s u b s ta n t ia l ly r e d u c e d in th e
a u to m o b ile , iro n a n d s te e l, a n d sh o e i n d u s t r ie s , a s w e ll a s in
th e b a s ic t e x t i le in d u s tr ie s . T h e r e w a s a l a r g e r t h a n s e a ­
s o n a l in c r e a s e in e m p lo y m e n t in c lo th in g in d u s tr ie s , w h ile in
th e n o n - f e r r o u s m e ta ls , b u ild in g m a t e r i a ls , fo o d p r o d u c ts ,
a n d p a p e r a n d p r i n ti n g in d u s tr ie s e m p lo y m e n t w a s s u s ta in e d .
A m o n g n o n - m a n u f a c tu r in g lin e s , e m p lo y m e n t in c r e a s e d s e a ­
s o n a lly f r o m A u g u s t to S e p te m b e r a t c o al m in e s a n d in r e t a i l
t r a d e . T h e re w a s a ls o a s u b s ta n t ia l in c r e a s e in n u m b e r o f
p e r s o n s p ro v id e d w ith w o rk b y t h e e m e r g e n c y w o rk p r o ­
g r a m o f th e F e d e r a l R e lie f A d m in is tr a tio n , w h ile e m p lo y ­
m e n t on p u b lic w o rk s d e c re a s e d s o m e w h a t.
T h e v a lu e o f c o n s tru c tio n c o n tr a c ts a w a r d e d , a s r e p o r te d
b y t h e F . W . D o d g e C o r p o ra tio n , c o n tin u e d in a b o u t t h e s a m e
v o lu m e d u r i n g S e p te m b e r a s in o t h e r r e c e n t m o n th s .
D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r ic u ltu r e c ro p r e p o r t s f o r O c to b e r 1,

140

in d ic a te d a c o tto n c ro p o f 9,443,000 b a le s a s c o m p a r e d w ith a
y ie ld o f 13,047,000 b a le s l a s t y e a r . T h e c o m c ro p , w h ic h
a v e r a g e d 2,516,000,000 b u s h e ls f r o m 1927 to 1931, is e s t i ­
m a te d a t 1,417,000,000 b u s h e ls th is y e a r . H a y a n d p a s t u r e
c o n d itio n s im p ro v e d in S e p te m b e r a n d w e a t h e r in t h e f ir s t
h a lf o f O c to b e r w a s g e n e r a lly f a v o r a b le f o r f o r a g e c ro p s.
T h e y ie ld o f w h ite p o ta to e s is e s tim a te d a t 362,000,000 b u s h ­
e ls, a b o u t e q u a l to t h e a v e r a g e f o r 1927-1931.
D is tr ib u tio n D a ily a v e r a g e r a il r o a d f r e i g h t c a r lo a d in g s
i n c r e a s e d f r o m A u g u s t to S e p te m b e r b y a b o u t
th e u s u a l s e a s o n a l a m o u n t, b u t d e c lin e d s l i g h tl y in t h e f i r s t
h a lf o f O c to b e r. S a le s in d e p a r t m e n t s to r e s in c r e a s e d f r o m
A u g u s t to S e p te m b e r b y s o m e w h a t le s s t h a n t h e e s tim a te d
s e a s o n a l a m o u n t, w h ile r e t a i l s a le s o f g e n e r a l m e rc h a n d is e
in r u r a l d is t r ic t s , a s sh o w n b y r e p o r t s o f m a il o r d e r h o u s e s
a n d c h a in s to r e s to th e D e p a r tm e n t o f C o m m e rc e , in c re a s e d
c o n s id e ra b ly .
C o m m o d ity W h o le s a le p ric e s o f f a r m p r o d u c ts a n d fo o d s,
P r ic e s
w h ic h h a d a d v a n c e d s h a r p ly in A u g u s t a n d th e
f i r s t w e e k o f S e p te m b e r s u b s e q u e n tly d e c lin e d
s o m e w h a t.
T h e w e e k ly in d e x o f w h o le s a le p r ic e s o f th e
B u r e a u o f L a b o r s t a ti s t i c s , w h ic h h a d a d v a n c e d f r o m 74 p e r
c e n t o f th e 1926 a v e r a g e a t th e b e g in n in g o f J u n e to 78 p e r
c e n t e a r l y in S e p te m b e r, s to o d a t 76 p e r c e n t in t h e se c o n d
w e e k o f O c to b e r.
R e c e n t d e c lin e s o c c u rre d p rin c ip a lly in
th o s e p r o d u c ts w h ic h h a d in c r e a s e d m o s t r a p id l y in p re c e d in g
w e e k s , s u c h a s w h e a t, c o tto n , liv e s to c k , a n d m e a ts . P r ic e s o f
c o m m o d itie s o t h e r t h a n f a r m p r o d u c ts a n d fo o d s h a v e in g e n ­
e r a l sh o w n l i t t l e c h a n g e sin c e l a s t J a n u a r y , b u t w ith in r e c e n t
w e e k s p ric e s o f te x t i le p r o d u c ts a n d s c r a p s te e l d e c lin e d
s lig h tly a n d g a s o lin e p ric e s sh o w ed a c o n s id e ra b le d e c re a s e .
T h e o p e n m a r k e t p r ic e o f s ilv e r a d v a n c e d s h a r p ly i n t h e f i r s t
h a lf o f O c to b e r.
Bank
E x c e s s r e s e r v e s o f m e m b e r b a n k s h a v e sh o w n no
C re d it
m a t e r i a l c h a n g e d u r in g t h e p a s t m o n th a n d on
O c to b e r 17 a m o u n te d to a b o u t $1,750,000,000.
A
re d u c tio n in t r e a s u r y c a s h a n d d e p o s its w ith th e F e d e r a l
R e s e rv e b a n k s s o m e w h a t m o re t h a n o ffs e t a s e a s o n a l g r o w th
o f $57,000,000 in th e v o lu m e o f m o n e y in c ir c u la tio n a n d a
c o n tin u e d g r o w th in r e q u ir e d r e s e r v e s a r is in g f r o m a g r o w th
in d e p o s its .
V o lu m e o f r e s e r v e b a n k c r e d it o u ts ta n d in g
sh o w e d l i t t l e c h a n g e .
A t 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 t h e r e w a s a
f u r t h e r g r o w th in d e p o s its a n d in lo a n s a n d in v e s tm e n ts .

mo

IN ID U S T R IA L P R O D U C T ION

130

130

120
110
100

120
110
100

110

60

70

70

50

60

60

40

50

50

3 0 1_______
1929

1931

.19 32

1933

1934-




\\

70

80

90

.Emp■loyrrient

80

90

1930

100

90

80

I n 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 f ig u r e S e p t e m b e r P r e l i m i n a r y 71.

120
110

f:ACT0RY ’EMPLOYlMENT ANC>■PAYROLL.5

100

90

1929

A T L A N T A

60

A '
SVV
\
Payrolls >

70

r

/v

i

\/N

/
//

1932

1933

A , — 60
-t------%
/

i

50

i

1930

1931

kO
1934

30

I n d e x n u m be rs^ 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 2 3 -2 5 a v e r a g e = 1 0 0 ) .
L a t e s t fig u r e S e p te m b e r
E m p lo y m e n t 7 5 .8 ; p a y r o l ls 57.9.

2

M O N T H L Y

R E V IE W

BILLIONS OFDOLLARS

Indexes of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. By months
1929 to 1931; by weeks 1932 to date. (1926=100.) L atest figures October
13; F arm Products 71.0; Foods 74.8; O ther Commodities 78.1.

Between September 19 and October 17 total deposits of the
banks increased by about $500,000,000, commercial loans to
customers and member banks holdings of United States Gov­
ernment securities increased further, while security loans
declined.
Short term money rates continued at low levels during
September and the first three weeks of October. Yields on
Government securities declined in October, following an in­
crease in August and September.
SIXTH DISTRICT SUMMARY
Available business statistics for the Sixth Federal Reserve
District indicate that in September there were further gains
in the volume of trade at both retail and wholesale, and in­
creases in the value of contracts awarded and in the produc­
tion of coal in Tennessee, compared with the month before,
but life insurance sales declined and building permits issued
at twenty reporting cities decreased somewhat, while activity
at cotton mills compared unfavorably with a month earlier
and a year ago because of the interruption of operations by
the textile strike.
Department store sales in the Sixth District increased 15.2
per cent from August to September, and were 21.5 per cent
greater than in that month last year. Adjusted for the num­
ber of business days, however, retail trade increased 29.6 per
cent in September over August and was 26.5 per cent greater
than a year ago, and with further adjustment for the usual
seasonal increase, the September index number was higher
than for any other month in four years. Stocks of goods on
hand increased 9.9 per cent from August to September, and
were about the same as a year ago. Wholesale trade, based
upon reports from 99 firms, increased 1.9 per cent from Aug­
ust to September and was 13.2 per cent greater than in Sep­
tember last year and higher than for any other month since
November, 1930. For the nine months of 1934, retail trade
has been 29 per cent, and wholesale trade 27.3 per cent,
greater than in that part of 1933.
Building permits issued at twenty reporting cities declined
8.3 per cent from August to September, but were 31.8 per cent
greater than in September last year, and for the nine months
have been 59.8 per cent greater than in that part of 1933.
Contracts awarded in the District, however, increased some­
what in September over August and were less than a year
ago, but for the ninth months period were substantially larger
than in that period last year.
Cotton consumption by mills in Georgia, Alabama and Ten­
nessee declined 29.6 per cent in September compared with
August and was 42.3 per cent less than in September last
year, largely because of the strike, and production and orders
of reporting mills also declined compared with both of those
periods. Employment at these reporting mills at the end of
September was 18.1 per cent less than a month earlier, and
14.1 per cent less than a year ago.
Production of coal increased somewhat in Tennessee, but de­
clined in Alabama, in September compared with August, and
in both states was less than a year ago. Alabama production
of pig iron declined further in September and was 46.7 per
cent less than in September last year.




BILLIONS OFDOLLARS

Wednesday figures for reporting mem ber banks in 90 cities.
figures are for Wednesday, October 17.

L atest

At weekly reporting member banks in seven of the larger
cities of the District, an increase of 5.6 millions in total loans
between September 12 and October 10 was only partly offset
by a decline of 3.5 millions in holdings of Government securi­
ties. Demand deposits at these banks declined during this
period, but were 25.8 millions greater than a year ago. At
the Federal Reserve Bank there were small increases between
September 12 and October 10 in discounts for member banks,
in holdings of purchased paper and of Government securities,
and in industrial advances.
The October Jst estimate by the United States Department
of Agriculture indicates that the cotton crop in the six states
located wholly or partly in this District will amount to 3,924,000 bales, larger by 4.6 per cent than the September estimate,
but 6.4 per cent less than 1933 production.
FINANCE
Reserve Bank The total volume of reserve bank credit outCredit
standing at the Federal Reserve Bank of At­
lanta increased further between September 12th
and October 10th by $216,000, and was 21.4 millions greater
than on the corresponding Wednesday a year ago. During
this recent four-week period there were small gains in dis­
counts, both those secured by Government obligations and
All Others, in holdings of purchased bills and of United States
securities, but the principal increase was in the volume of
Industrial Advances made under authority of the Act of Con­
gress of June 19. Holdings of Government securities were
26.5 millions greater than a year ago.
Member bank reserve deposits, which had declined from
about 84 millions on July 3rd to 69.3 millions on September
26th, rose to 75.3 millions two weeks later, and were 16.4
millions greater than a year ago.
Federal reserve note circulation of this bank's issue in­
creased 5.1 millions between September 12th and October 10th,
and was 16.7 millions greater than a year ago, and total
reserves rose 7.5 millions during the four weeks from Sep­
tember 12th to October 10th and were 2.2 millions greater
than on the same Wednesday last year.
Principal items in the weekly statement of the bank are
compared in the table, which is followed by another table
setting out similar comparisons for the twelve Federal Re­
serve Banks combined.
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF ATLANTA
(000 Omitted)
Oct. 10
Sept. 12
1934
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
Total Reserves............................
Member Bank Reserve Deposits
Total Deposits............................
F. R. Notes in actual circulation
F. R. Bank Notes in actual cirReserve R atio .............................

$

81
151
232
199
409
94,271
95,111
130,028
75,263
81,967
134,865
60.0%

$

50
137
187
178
270
94,260
94,895
122,479
74,229
80,920
129,751
58.1%

Oct. 11
1933
$

201
5,505
5,706
217
67,749
73,672
127,808
58,867
68,020
118,174
6,061
68.6%

M O N T H L Y

FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
(000 Omitted)
Oct. 10
Sept. 12
1934
1934
Bills Discounted:
Secured by Govt. Obligations $
3,795
All O thers................................
8,244
Total Discounts..............
12,039
Bills Bought in Open M ark et. .
5,809
Industrial Advances...................
3,708
U. S. Securities...........................
2,430,202
Other Securities..........................
302
Total Bills and Securities
2,452,060
Total Reserves............................
5,186,387
Member Bank Reserve Deposits
3,978,521
Total Deposits............................
4,212,939
F. R. Notes in actual circulation
3,184,558
F. R. Bank Notes in actual cir­
culation ....................................
29,664
Reserve R atio..............................
70.1%

$

5,624
17,716
23,340
5,202
1,281
2,431,485
356
2,461,485
5,212,353
3,948,304
4,300,059
3,148,449

Oct. 11
1933
$

24,067
95,240
119,307
6,906

2,344,109
1,737
2,472,059
3,805,435
2,567,360
2,785,059
3,008,430
170,501
65.7%

31,127
70.0%

Member
Bank
Credit

Between September 12th and October 10th there
was in increase in loans, but a decrease in investments, of 17 weekly reporting member banks lo­
cated in Atlanta, Birmingham, Jacksonville, Nash­
ville, Chattanooga, Mobile and Savannah, and total loans and
investments of these banks were 8.6 millions greater than on
the same Wednesday last year. Loans on securities declined
slightly during this four-week period, but All Other Loans,
which include those for commercial and industrial purposes,
increased about 5.8 millions, and were at the highest point
since May 9th. A decline of 8.5 millions in holdings of United
States securities was partly offset by an increase of 1.5 mil­
lions in other securities.
Demand deposits declined 15.6 millions from September
12th to October 10th but were 25.8 millions greater than a
year ago, but time deposits increased slightly during this
recent four-week period and were somewhat less than a year
ago. In the tables are compared principal items in the weekly
report, monthly averages over the past year and savings de­
posits reported by a list of banks located throughout the
District.
CONDITION OF M EM BER BANKS IN SELECTED CITIES
(000 Omitted)
Oct. 10
Sept. 12
Oct. 11
1934
1934
1933
Loans:
55,860
On Securities........................... $
All O thers................................
116,822
Total Loans....................
172,682
101,161
U. S. Securities...........................
Other Securities..........................
59,694
Total Investm ents..........
160,855
Total Loans and Invest­
ments ............................
333,537
128,052
Time Deposits............................
169,040
Demand Deposits......................
77,463
Due to Banks..............................
76,760
Due from Banks.........................
0
Borrowings from F. R. B an k ...

$

56,118
110,969
167,087
104,675
58,165
162,840

$

329,927
127,256
184,664
75,018
73,017
0

58,769
120,060
178,829
93,836
52,243
146,079
324,908
132,310
143,219
55,674
58,387
1,661

MONTHLY AVERAGES OF W EEKLY FIGURES OF
17 REPO RTIN G M EM BER BANKS IN SELECTED CITIES
(000 Omitted)
Total
Borrowings
Loans
Invest­ Loans and Demand
Time
From
ments
Investments Deposits Deposits F. R. Bank
1933
August........ $175,684
Septem ber.. . 176,527
October
178,411
N ovem ber.. . 188,612
December. . . 192,491
1934
January. . . . 187,795
F eb ru ary ... . 187,358
M arch........ 184,851
April........... 180,670
M ay ............ 178,019
June............ 177,687
Ju ly ............ 167,294
August........ 166,546
Septem ber.. . 167,243

A tlanta.........
Birmingham.
Jacksonville..
Knoxville.. ..
Nashville... .
New Orleans.
Other Cities..
T o ta l............

$145,777
149,717
144,651
151,275
150,199

$321,461
326,244
323,062
339,887
342,690

$141,842
145,167
141,894
144,602
152,249

$134,239
132,754
132,160
131,426
129,033

$1,229
2,112
1,960
2,572
2,614

148,305
162,054
155,608
152,679
151,172
156,522
169,780
167,502
163,759

336,100
349,412
340,460
333,349
329,191
334,209
336,513
334,048
331,002

151,935
158,695
161,794
168,070
167,404
169,196
172,707
172,917
179,195

130,048
131,505
130,406
130,649
132,911
130,786
131,560
129,194
127,402

2,060
441
161
0
0
0
0
0
0

SAVINGS DEPOSITS
(000 Omitted)

Number
of
Banks

Sept.
1934

3
3
3
3
4
5
35
56

$ 30,325
15,297
13,712
3,468
23,303
29,442
63,445
178,992




August
1934
$ 30,519
15,199
13,774
3,409
23,390
29,262
63,175
178,728

Sept.
1933
$ 27,673
16,161
12,463
1,588
20,613
22,095
57,054
157,647

Percentage Change
Sept. 1934 compared
with
Aug. 1934 Sept. 1933
—0.6
+ 0 .6
—0.5
+ 1.7
—0.4
+ 0 .6
+ 0 .4
+ 0 .1

+
+
+
+
+
+
+

9.,6
5..4
10. 0
118.,4
13. 1
33. 3
11.,2
13.,5

R E V IE W

3

Debits to Total volume of debits to individual accounts at
Individual 26 reporting cities in the Sixth District increased
Accounts 1.4 per cent from August to September and was
7.4
per cent greater than in September,
Twelve cities reported gains over August, and there were
eighteen increases over September a year ago. Monthly
totals 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)
Sept. 1934

August, 1934

Sept. 1933

$ 9 2 ,8 2 2
48,566
2,765
22,881
18,610

$ 101,185
59,439
2,144
22,043
17,559

$ 94,896
57,721
2,291
21,614
13,270

81,193
44,125
14,232
5,263
17,573

84,247
45,524
14,762
5,650
18,311

72,461
40,762
11,257
4,882
15,560

189,416
2,921
123,544
14,512
1,687
8,088
678
10,589
1,132
23,343
2,922

193,495
2,780
123,867
14,151
1,785
8,441
618
11,610
1,452
23,983
4,808

181,162
2,150
112,348
15,103
1,596
8,199
535
11,405
1,322
25,507
2,997

181,804

161,743

169,222

41,160
3,291
24,416
8,515
4,938

33,106
3,180
19,748
5,937
4,241

30,453
3,399
16,151
6,311
4,592

Tennessee—3 Cities...............
Chattanooga.......................
Knoxville.............................

99,697
25,976
16,213
57,508

102,800
25,697
17,107
59,996

90,752
24,699
14,134
51,919

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

$686,092

$676,576

$638,946

Alabama—4 Cities.................
Birmingham........................
Montgomery.......................
Florida—4 Cities..................
Jacksonville.........................
Pensacola............................
Georgia— 10 Cities.................

Brunswick............................
Columbus............................
Macon..................................
Newnan...............................
Savannah.............................
Louisiana—New Orleans
Mississippi—4 Cities..............
Hattiesburg.........................
Vicksburg............................

AGRICULTURE
The October Crop Report issued by the United States De­
partment of Agriculture indicates improvement in prospects
for some of the principal crops over September estimates, but
there was a further decline in the estimated production of
corn and that crop is now estimated at 39.6 per cent less than
last year’s production. September weather was almost ideal
for late potatoes and the October 1st estimate is 7.5 per cent
larger than that for September and 13.1 per cent greater than
production in 1933. Most of the other principal crops are
expected to be smaller than last year, however, the exceptions
being sweet potatoes, rice, sugar, peaches, and pears. Com­
parisons of the estimates for the principal crops are shown
in the table.
(In Thousands of Units)
Estimate
Estimate
Percent Production
Oct. 1, 1934 Sept. 1, 1934 Change
1933
Corn, bushels. . . .
Wheat, bushels..
Oats, bushels.
Tame Hay, tons.
Tobacco, lbs........
White Potatoes,
bushels...........

1,416,772
496,982
545,938
52,441
1,091,764

1,484,602
493,285
545,870
50,727
1,078,117

362,391

337,141

—4.6
+ 7 .0
+0.01
+ 3 .4
+ 1.3
+ 7 .5

Percent
Change

2,343,883
527,928
731,524
65,983
1,385,107

—39.6
— 5.9
—25.4
—20.5
—21.2

320,353

+13.1

In the Sixth District the October estimates increased some­
what over those for September for hay and tobacco, but de­
clined slightly for corn. A decrease in the crops of corn and
oats in Tennessee compared with last year was more than off­
set by increases in the other states of the District. The hay
crop is larger than a year ago in all six states. Production
of peanuts is larger than a year ago except in Louisiana, but
fewer pecans were grown in each state. The tobacco crop is
also smaller than a year ago in each of the producing states
of the District. In Louisiana the rice crop is estimated at
15.036.000 bushels compared with 14,760,000 bushels in 1933,
and sugar production is estimated at 217,000 tons against
205.000 tons last year. White potatoes were produced in
larger quantities in each of the six states of the District
than a year ago, and sweet potatoes show increases except in

4

M O N T H L Y

Georgia. Production of peaches and pears was larger than in
1933 in all states, but crops of apples and grapes smaller. In
the table are shown October 1st estimates for some of the
principal crops for the Sixth District, prepared by the Federal
Reserve Board’s Division of Research and Statistics based
upon estimates by States reported by the United States De­
partment of Agriculture.
(In Thousands of Units)
Estim ate
Estimate
Percent Production
1933
Oct. 1, 1934 Sept. 1, 1934 Change
Corn, bushels
Wheat, bushels...
Oats, bushels
Tame Hay, to n s..
Tobacco, lbs.........
White Potatoes,
bushels.............

Percent
Change

161,635
3,598
9,973
2,169
118,417

161,808
3,598
9,973
2,032
117,220

—0.1
Same
Same
+ 6 .7
+ 1 .0

151,672
3,039
8,183
1,927
165,156

+ 6 .6
+ 1 8 .4
+ 2 1 .9
+ 1 2 .6
—28.3

14,898

14,898

Same

11,030

+ 35.1

Citrus Total production of Florida citrus fruits for the 1934Fruits 35 season is estimated at 36 million boxes, of which
21 million boxes are oranges, including tangerines,
and 15 million boxes grapefruit. From the bloom of 1933,
orange production amounted to 18.1 million boxes, and grape­
fruit 10.7 million boxes. The growing season so far has been
unusually favorable, there has been no damage from storm
or drought and dropping of fruit during the summer months
was below average.
Cotton The October estimate of the cotton crop in the United
States is 2.1 per cent above that a month earlier, and
27.6 per cent smaller than the 1933 crop. The estimate for
each of the six states of this District increased from Septem­
ber to October,, the average being 4.6 per cent, and the crop
in these states is now estimated to be 6.4 per cent smaller
than a year ago. October estimates are compared in the table.
(In Thousands of Bales)
Estimate
Estimate
Percent Production
_________________Oct. 1, 1934 Sept. 1, 1934
Change
1933
Alabam a..............
980
965
+ 1.6
969
24
23
+ 4.3
28
Florida.................
Georgia................
970
933
+ 4 .0
1,105
Louisiana.............
480
436
+ 10.1
477
Mississippi...........
1,100
1,039
+ 5.9
1,159
Tennessee............
370
355
+ 4.2
443
Total Six States..
Total United States

3,924
9,443

3,751
9,252

+ 4 .6
+ 2.1

4,181
13,047

SUGAR MOVEM ENT— (Pounds)
Raw Sugar
Sept. 1934
August 1934
Receipts:
New Orleans............................ 99,398,148
Savannah................................. 27,929,573
Meltings:
New Orleans............................ 136,999,843
Savannah................................. 63,682,750
Stocks *
New Orleans............................ 98,928,802
Savannah................................. 57,116,443
Shipments:
New Orleans............................
Savannah.................................
Stocks:
New O rle a n s........................
Savannah.................................

Percent
Change
+ 1 1
— 14.3
— 12.2
+ 0.6
— 5.1
— 16.5
— 6.4
—27.6

Sept. 1933

113,678,734
16,004,125

41,236,604
11,955,972

92,387,641
23,301,547

66,566,212
23,456,719

136,706,190
92,869,620

38,258,010
50,073,470

119,944,859
44,047,500

120,556,251
33,127,208

81,953,271
29,842,921

24,633,137
13,009,368

20,134,003
2,777,692

62,195,255
10,939,341

Refined Sugar

R IC E MOVEMENT—N EW ORLEANS
Rough Rice—Barrels:
Sept. 1934
August 1934
Receipts........... .......................
78,482
47,867
Shipments...............................
74,736
64,076
Stocks.......................................
6,350
2,604

Sept. 1933
57,705
57,136
9,513

R E V IE W

Clean Rice—Pockets:
Receipts...................................
Shipm ents................................
Stocks.......................................

95,632
86,401
116,966

+ 2 1 .6
+ 19.8
+ 1 7 .2
+ 25.5
+ 3 5.9
+ 2 6.6
+ 1 8 .9
+ 20.1
+21.5

O T EFRASER
: T h e ra te of s to c k t u rn o v e r
DigitizedN for


+ 20.7
+ 16.4
+ 2 3 .4
+ 1 2 .0
+ 1 3.0
+14.9
— 0.8
+ 2 9.4
+ 1 5.2

+25.9
+30.7
+36.1
+ 28.3
+ 4 8 .0
+ 2 0 .6
+ 2 4.9
+ 30.3
+ 2 9 .0

— 3.8
— 0.1
— 6.6
— 3.6
+ 19.2
+ 1.1
— 2.9
+ 6.5
+ 0.2

77,885
91,739
121,412

R IC E M ILLERS ASSOCIATION STATISTICS
(Barrels)
September
Aug.-Sept. Inc.
Receipts of Rough Rice:
Season 1934-35 .......................
Season 1933—34.......................
Distribution of Milled Rice:
Season 1934-35.......................
Season 1933-34.......................

835,854
1,067,283

1,079,502
1,237,945

737,242
610,459
Rough

1,302,478
1,054,097
Clean

293,504
529,444

789,622
633,956

Stocks:
September 30, 1934................
September 30, 1933................

Fertilizer Although still at a seasonally low level, sales of
Tag Sales fertilizer tax tags in the six states located wholly
or partly in the Sixth District increased 56.3 per
cent from August to September, and were 22.9 per cent
greater than in September a year ago. For the first two
months of the new season, total sales were 19.8 per cent
greater than in those months last year. Figures compared
in the table are from those compiled by the National Fertili­
zer Association.
(Short Tons)
September August
September
1934
1934
1933

August-Sept. Inc.
1934
1933

Percent
Change

Louisiana.. ..
Mississippi...
Tennessee. ..

550
29,478
270
6,634
288
5,132

550
20,946
283
1,950
1,085
2,288

100
23,700
1,067
5,150
620
3,825

1,100
50,424
553
8,584
1,373
7,420

1,300
41,104
2,948
6,500
1,070
5,037

— 15.4
+ 2 2 .7
—81.2
+ 3 2 .1
+ 2 8 .3
+ 4 7 .3

T o ta l.

52,352

27,102

34,462

69,454

57 ,959

+ 19.8

Alabama. . . .

TRADE
Retail Department store sales in the Sixth District increased
Trade further in September by more than the usual seasonal
amount, and stocks also increased somewhat, but the
collection ratio declined slightly and was fractionally above
the ratio for September a year ago.
September sales by 60 reporting firms increased 15.2 per
cent over those in August and were 21.5 per cent greater
than a year ago. On a daily average basis, however, Septem­
ber sales were 29.6 per cent greater than in August and 26.5
per cent greater than a year ago, and the index number for
September, after adjustment for the usual seasonal move­
ment, was higher than for any month since September, 1930.
Department store stocks increased 9.9 per cent from August
to September and were about the same as a year earlier.
The rate of stock turnover was slightly higher than for Aug­
ust, and was higher for September, and for the nine months
of 1934, than for corresponding periods last year. The col­
lection ratio declined from 27.9 per cent in August to 27.5
per cent in September, compared with 27.3 per cent in Sep­
tember last year. For regular accounts the September ratio
was 30.0 per cent, and for installment accounts 14.1 per cent.
Percent comparisons shown in the table are based upon
reports in actual dollar amounts and make no allowance for
changes in the level of prices.

RETA IL TRADE IN TH E SIX TH D ISTRICT DURING SEPTEM BER 1934
Based on confidential reports from 60 department stores
Comparison op N b t S a lss
Comparison op Stocks
Sept. 1934
Stock T urnover
Year to
Sept. 30, 1934
with:
date with
with:
September
Jan.-Sept.
Same month Previous Same period Same month
Previous
a year ago
month
1933
1934
1933
1934
last year
a year ago
M onth
Atlanta (6)........................ ..........
Birmingham (6)................ ..........
Chattanooga (4)............... ..........
Jacksonville (3)................ ..........
Miami (3).......................... ..........
Nashville (4)..................................
New Orleans (5)............... ..........
Other Cities (29).............. ..........
D ISTRICT (60)............... .............

79,203
78,388
107,735

+ 1 3 .4
+ 1 8 .0
+ 6.5
+ 6.9
+ 9.7
+ 7.1
+ 3.5
+ 1 3 .7
+ 9 .9

.42
.31
.30
.18
.23
.22
.23
.24
.28

is th e ra tio of sales d u r in g g iv e n p e rio d to a v e ra ge sto c k s o n h a n d .

.33
.27
.22
A9

.21
.22
.24

3.26
2.63
2.42
1.56
3.19
2.10
2.15
2.18
2.44

C ollection R atio
Sept.
1934

August September
1934
1933

2.91
2.11
1.85

26.3
27.9
26.1

26.1
28.9
26.6

25.8
21.2
26.4

i .92
1.81
2.00
2.09

25*5
36.1
24.3
27.5

2 7 ‘i
37.2
24.3
27.9

23 .’4
34.5
25.8
27.3

M O N T H L Y

Wholesale The volume of wholesale trade in the Sixth District
Trade
exhibited a further small increase from August
to September, and was 13.2 per cent greater than
in September last year. The index number for September,
based upon reports from 99 firms in eight different lines of
business, was at the highest level since November, 1930.
Stocks declined 4.1 per cent from August to September but
were 9.3 per cent larger than a year ago. The collection
ratio rose somewhat over the month, and continued higher
than at the same time last year. Reported figures are com­
pared in the table.
WHOLESALE TRADE IN SEPTEM BER 1934
Sixth Federal Reserve District*
Percentage Comparisons
Number
Sept. 1934 with:
Jan.-Sept. 1934
of Firms
August
Sept.
with same
1934
1933
period last year
All Lines Combined:
Sales.......................
Stocks.....................
Groceries:
Sales.......................
Jacksonville...
New O rleans..
Vicksburg. . . .
Other C ities. .
Stocks....................
Dry Goods:
Sales.......................
Nashville........
Other Cities. .
Stocks.....................
Hardware:
Sales.......................
N ashville........
New Orleans..
Other Cities. .
Stocks.....................
Furn itu re:
Sales...........................
A tlan ta............
Other C ities. . .
Stocks...................... .
Electrical Supplies:
Sales....................... ..
New Orleans .
Other C ities, . .
Stocks.......................
D rugs:
Sales.........................
Stationery:
Sales.........................

99
30
23
4
5
3

11
3

15
3

12
7

26
3
5
18
9

+ 1.9
— 4.1

+ 13.2
+ 9.3

+ 27.3

+ 2.6

+ 16.2
+ 1.5
+ 26.7
+ 4.6

+26.1
+ 19.4
+ 28.8
+ 26.6
+ 28.0

— 4.9
+ 7.6
+ 13. 1
— 1.5
+ 1.5
+
+
+
—

+22.0

+ 7.2

+ 27.5
+46.8

4.2
7.7
3.2
5.3

+22.8

+ 2 6.8

— 0.3
— 1.9
— 0.9

+ 3.8
+ 5.2

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

+26.7
+ 16.4
+ 28.2
+ 27.9

— 3.0

+ 0.2

+ 8.0
+ 1.3
— 0.6

9
4
5
6

+
+
+
—

5.7
0.3
7.5
7.6

+ 5.4
—23.2
+20.1
+ 3.1

+ 30.3
+ 11.3
+ 38.3

13
4
9
3

—
—
+
—

1.9
8.9
1.4
7.1

+27.1
+ 31.7
+ 25.2
+ 2 8.4

+ 41.8
+ 41.7
+ 41.8

8

+ 0.1

+ 10.4

+ 25.0

3

+ 6.2

+ 6.1

+ 13.4

COLLECTION RATIO**
Number September
1934
of Firms
Groceries.......................
Dry Goods...................
Hardware......................
Furniture.......................
Electrical Supplies
Drugs.............................

+ 27.7
+ 37.9
+ 25.3

August
1934

September
1933

11
8
15
6
4
4

66.7
36.7
34.2
30.8
60.6
29.6

65.6
34.2
33.7
29.2
58.4
27.2

59.9
29.4
28.4
33.6
30.1
23.1

48

43.8

42.5

36.5

* Based on confidential reports from 99 firms.
** The Collection Ratio is the percentage of accounts and notes receivable o ut­
standing at the beginning of the month which were collected during the month.

Life
Sales of new, paid-for, ordinary life insurance in
Insurance the six states located wholly or partly in the
Sixth District declined 16 per cent from August
to September but were 6.2 per cent greater than in Septem­
ber last year and only slightly less than two years ago. For
the first nine months of 1934 total sales have been 17.3 per
cent greater than in that part of last year. Life insurance
sales have always declined in this District from August to
September, the decrease at that time last year being 13.7 per
cent. Figures compared in the table are from those compiled
by the Life Insurance Sales Research Bureau.
(000 Omitted)
September August
September
1934
1934
Alabama
$ 3,307 $
Florida.........
3,892
Georgia........
5,647
Louisiana
3,610
Mississippi...
2,067
4,562
Tennessee. . .
T o ta l. $23,085

3,597
4,683
6,471
4,830
2,572
5,328

$ 27,481




$

January to Sept.
1934
1933

Percent
Change

3,116
2,988
5,539
3,415
1,926
4,756

$ 33,641
41,724
61,022
40,097
21,692
52,134

$ 30,206
30,723
50,138
33,967
20,304
48,135

+ 11.4
+ 3 5.8
+ 21.7
+ 18.0
+ 6.8
+ 8.3

$ 21,740

$250,310

$213,473

+ 17.3

R E V IE W

5

COMMERCIAL FAILURES
(From statistics compiled by Dun & Bradstreet, Inc.)
Sixth District
United States
Liabilities
Number
Number
Liabilities
September 1934..............
August 1934....................
September 1933..............
January-September 1934
January-September 1933

35
19
39
318
822

$

419,875
348,997
611,687
4,630,000
20,108,000

790 $ 16,440,147
18,459,903
929
21,846,906
1,116
206,019,000
9,208
419,695,000
16,732

INDUSTRY
Building
There was a further small decline in total
and
value of permits issued at twenty reporting
Construction cities in the Sixth District in September for the
construction of buildings within their corporate
limits, but the September total was 31.8 per cent larger than
that for September, 1933, and for the nine months of 1934 the
cumulated total was 59.8 per cent greater than for that part
of 1933, and 28.1 per cent greater than for the corresponding
period in 1932. Eight cities reported increases from August
to September, and there were fourteen increases over Sep­
tember a year ago. Comparisons for the month are shown in
the table.
BUILDING PERM ITS
Number
Value
1934
1934
1933
Alabama
Anniston..........
Birmingham. . .
Montgomery...
Florida
Jacksonville... .
M iam i..............
Miami Beach...
Georgia
Columbus........
Savannah.........
Louisiana
New Orleans...
Alexandria.......
Tennessee
Chattanooga...
Johnson C ity...
Knoxville.........
Total 20 Cities.

$

5,070
91,208
36,976
53,625

1933

Percentage
Change in
Value

800
31,198
23,766
18,105

+533.8
+ 192.4
+ 55.6
+196.2

19
342
70
170

4
147
34
85

559
481
78
58
207

519
232
32
126
215

165,865
238,755
503,100
50,678
37,206

154,788
382,056
200,400
21,151
44,401

+ 7.2
— 37.5
+ 151.0
+ 139.6
— 16.2

266
45
50
116
37

170
31
47
189
23

95,115
11,214
30,503
72,239
36,155

57,221
28,449
11,803
21,562
37,440

+ 66.2
— 60.6
+ 158.4
+ 2 3 5 .0
— 3.4

66
51

69
51

42,904
9,646

75,541
7,278

— 43.2
+ 32.5

252
5
47
99

193
1
27
76

44,019
4,050
19,869
97,663

28,978
1,000
57,642
44,797

+ 51.9
+ 305.0
— 65.5
+118.0

3,018

2,271

$1,645,860

$1,248,382

+ 31.8

$

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, increased 11.1 per cent from August to September
but was 2.4 per cent less than in September last year. Resi­
dential contracts declined 2.2 per cent from August to Sep­
tember and were 35.2 per cent greater than a year ago, while
other contracts increased 15.3 per cent over the month but
were 9.2 per cent less than a year ago.
For the nine months of 1934 total contracts have been 142.1
per cent, residential awards 27.7 per cent, and other classes
of contracts 180.1 per cent, greater than in that part of last
year.
In the 37 states east of the Rocky Mountains September
contracts declined 8#1 per cent compared with the August
total and were 8.3 per cent less than a year ago. All classes
of awards declined over the month, but non-residential con­
tracts were 14.6 per cent greater than in September last year
while other classes were smaller. For the nine months period
total awards were 61.8 per cent greater than in the same
period a year ago. Comparisons for the month are shown in
the table.
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS AWARDED
Sept. 1934
August 1934
Sept. 1933
Sixth District—T o ta l................ $
Residential..............................
All O thers................................

7,023,384 $
1,488,397
5,534,987

6,322,304 $
1,522,010
4,800,294

7,193,977
1,100,562
6,093,415

State Totals:
Alabama..................................
Florida.....................................
Georgia....................................
Louisiana.................................

536,300
2,691,200
1,066,300
2,335,000

1,539,000
1,430,100
951,100
1,983,800

90,600
2,592,300
711,300
2,201,700

6

M O N T H L Y

Mississippi...............................
Tennessee................................

706,400
855,300

838,800
747,700

2,594,000
1,784,800

United States:
T o ta l...................... ..................
Residential............ ..................
Non-Residential......................
Public Works and Utilities...

110,219,200
17,871,600
42,359,300
49,988,300

120,014,600
18,641,000
50,816,900
50,556,700

120,134,400
21,549,000
37,836,300
60,749,100

Lumber Press reports indicate some slight improvement in
demand for lumber on the part of retail yards, but
most retailers are continuing to buy only for current needs.
Weekly reports to the Southern Pine Association by identical
mills indicate that for the five weeks ending October 6 orders
have averaged 2.4 per cent larger than a year ago, but pro­
duction has averaged 17.1 per cent less. During this period
orders have averaged about 2 per cent above production,
while at the same time last year they were about 18 per cent
less. Weekly figures in the table are from those compiled by
the Southern Pine Association.
Week
Ended

Number
of Mills

September 8 . . . 103
September 1 5 . . I l l
September 22. . I l l
September 29. . 78
October 6......... 104

(In Thousands of Feet)
Orders
Production
1934
1933
1934
1933
16,904
20,472
23,827
16,427
19,445

18,490
19,883
19,680
18,015
18,696

17,759
21,633
20,699
17,899
17,596.

22,600
24,017
24,913
21,705
22,044

Unfilled Orders
1934
1933
55,477
65,164
62,411
48,081
53,317

55,427
60,485
60,068
46,873
57,616

Cotton
Cotton consumption by American mills during
Consumption September, when many mills were closed a
part of the month because of the general tex­
tile strike, declined about 30 per cent from August, was 40.7
per cent less than in September, 1933, and except for July,
1932, was less than for any month since December, 1920. In
the cotton States, September consumption was 27.7 per cent
less than in August, and 39.5 per cent less than a year ago,
and in other states the decrease from August to September
was 37.5 per cent and that from September last year 45.7
per cent. Stocks increased over the month due to movement
of the new crop, and were slightly larger than a year ago.
Exports in September increased 79.3 per cent over those in
August, but were 44.8 per cent less than in September, 1933.
Spindles active in September were 8.4 per cent less than in
August and 14.9 per cent less than a year ago. Census Bureau
figures are compared in the table.
COTTON CONSUMPTION, EXPORTS, STOCKS AND ACTIVE SPIND LES
U N ITED STATES—Bales
Sept. 1934
August 1934
Sept. 1933
Cotton Consumed......................
Stocks...........................................
In Consuming Establishments
In Public Storage and at
Compresses..........................
E xports................................ ........
Active Spindles—N um ber........

295,960
8,672,884
1,056,744

420,949
6,905,243
1,081,218

499,482
8,535,716
1,159,573

7,616,140
479,861
22,112,888

5,824,025
267,562
24,153,998

7,376,143
869,244
25,993,140

COTTON GROWING STATES—Bales
Cotton Consumed......................
Stocks...........................................
In Consuming Establishments
In Public Storage and a t
C o m p resses......................
Active Spindles—N um ber........

243,004
336,159
401,949
8,132,920 6,360,104
7,901,800
779,178
809,683
889,665
7,353,742
5,550,421
7,012,135
15,309,804 16,759,662
17,717,336

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

52,956
539,964
277 ,566

84,790
545,139
271,535

97,533
633,916
269,908

262,398
6,803,084

273,604
7,394,376

364,008
8,275,804

Consumption of cotton in the three states of this District
for which separate figures are available declined 29.6 per cent
fromforAugust
Digitized
FRASERto September, largely on account of the textile


R E V IE W

strike, and was 42.3 £er cent less than in September, 1933. Con­
sumption in Alabama, where operation of some mills was in­
terrupted in August by a strike, increased somewhat in Sep­
tember.
COTTON CONSUM PTION—Bales
September August
September
Aug. to Sept. Inc.
1934
1934
1933
1934
1933
Alabama..........
Georgia............
Tennessee........

33,583
45,588
7,616

32,800
80,461
10,025

48,337
92,099
10,056

66,383
126,049
17,641

106,525
203,964
21,853

T o ta l. ..

86,787

123,286

150,492

210,073

332,342

Cotton
There were material declines in the volume
Manufacturing of production and shipments by reporting
cotton mills in the District from August to
September, which may be attributed to the fact many mills
were closed for a part of the month because of the general
textile strike. Orders and stocks also declined, and there
were decreases, compared with both the month before and the
same month a year ago, in the number of workers on the
payrolls of the mills at the end of the month. Stocks of both
yarn and cloth were larger than a year ago. Comparisons of
reported figures are shown in the table.
Cloth
Sept. 1934 compared
with:
Aug. 1934 Sept. 1933

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

—29.3
—32.1
— 5.6
— 3.0
— 6.7
— 12.4

—34.6
+ 2.1
—31.6
— 11.2
+ 38.5
— 9 .6

Yarn
Sept. 1934 compared
with:
Aug. 1934 Sept. 1933
— 9.8
—39.5
—66.9
+ 2.1
— 8.2
—28.1

—63.6
—47.4
—69.7
— 8.7
+ 6 0 .3
—22.1

Cotton Seed
Operations at cotton seed oil mills in this Dis­
and Cotton
trict during August and September, the first
Seed Products two months of the new cotton season, were at
a higher level than at the same time last
year, as reflected in receipts and crushings of seed and in the
production of the principal cotton seed products. Stocks of
these products at the end of September, however, were less
than a year earlier. For the country as a whole receipts and
stocks of seed were larger than a year ago, but production of
cotton seed products was smaller, except for a small increase
in linters. Census Bureau figures are shown comparatively
in the table.
COTTON SEED AND COTTON SEED PRODUCTS
Sixth District*
United States
Aug. 1 to Sept. 30
Aug. 1 to Sept. 30
1934
1933
1934
1933
Cotton Seed, Tons:
Received at Mills.......
Crushed........................
On Hand, Sept. 3 0 ....

504,872
265,605
307,199

386,677
237,754
177,513

1,218,517
638,042
803,236

1,126,666
755,992
591,612

Production:
Crude Oil, lbs..............
Cake and Meal, to n s..
Hulls, to n s...................
Linters, Bales..............

84,495,390 74,558,726 193,292,258 230,760,137
116,461
101,301
288,327
338,874
74,724
66,359
172,779
208,711
53,969
41,695
130,544
128,456

Stocks at Mills Sept. 30:
Crude Oil, lbs..............
Cake and Meal, to n s..
Hulls, to n s...................
Linters, Bales..............

14,638,265
60,630
34,880
35,431

31,171,793
91,928
36,913
41,181

45,764,563
170,251
90,074
118,323

91,332,769
257,704
146,834
113,948

* Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Electric Production of electric power by public utility power
Power plants in the six states located wholly or partly in
the Sixth District has increased each month since
April and in August was 5.3 per cent greater than in July,

M O N T H L Y

2.1 per cent larger than in August a year ago, and was larger
than for any other month in figures immediately available
which go back to 1927. For the eight months, January through
August, production in these states has been 5.3 per cent
greater than in that part of 1933. Production in this period
by use of water power has been 1.3 per cent less, but that by
use of fuels 18 per cent greater, than in the same period last
year. Figures compared in the table are from those compiled
by the United States Geological Survey.
PRODUCTION OF ELECTR IC POWER (000 k. w. Hours)
August 1934
July 1934
August 1933
Alabam a......................................
Florida..........................................
Georgia........................................
Louisiana......................................
Mississippi...................................
Tennessee....................................

150,784
49,855
99,235
120,768
4,539
103,272

135,873
47,511
95,564
114,647
4,526
103,785

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

528,453

501,906

By use of: Water Power...........
F uels........................
Fuels consumed in Production
of Electric Power:
Coal—T ons.............................
Fuel Oil—bbls.........................
N atural Gas—000 cu. ft........
Note:

180,675
48,423
77,651
111,590
4,182
95,126
517,647

325,415
203,038

307,842
194,064

330,636
187,011

12,077
196,055
2,537,340

11,794
185,281
2,411,561

10,687
198,924
2,173,310

September figures preliminary—August figures slightly revised.

Bituminous Because of the shorter month, total production
Coal Mining of bituminous coal in the United States in­
creased only 0.8 per cent from August to Sep­
tember, and was 6.2 per cent less than in September last year.
Daily average production, however, was 13.4 per cent larger
in September than August and only 1.9 per cent less than a
year ago. For the nine months of the year total production
has been 10.5 per cent greater than in that part of 1933. Pre­
liminary figures are compared in the table with those for pre­
vious months.
Production—Tons
Total
Daily Average
September 1934.......................... ... 27,670,000
August 1934................................ ....27,462,000
April 1934....................................... 24,772,000
September 1933.......................... ... 29,500,000

Number of
Working Days

1,153,000
1,017,000
1,024,000
1,175,000

24
27
24.2
25.1

Weekly figures indicate that production of bituminous coal
in Alabama declined slightly from August to September and
was about 15 per cent less than a year ago, but in Tennessee
September production appears to have increased 7.8 per cent
over the month and was 6.8 per cent less than in September
last year. Usual comparisons are shown in the table.

Week Ended:
September
September
September
September
October 6.

8. .
15.
22.
29.
...

Weekly Production—Tons
Alabama
1934
1933
166,000
167.000
167.000
182.000
167,000

188,000
215.000
194.000
206.000
159,000

year. Production in Alabama, as in the United States as a
whole, has declined each month since May. Furnace activity
in Alabama also remained the same from September 1 to Oc­
tober 1, but was less than a year ago. Press reports indicate
that current demand for pig iron is still irregular and limited
mostly to actual requirements, and yard stocks are still a
definite factor in the present dull market.
Production in the nine months of 1934 in the United States
has been 35.3 per cent greater than in that part of 1933, and
89 per cent greater than two years ago, and in Alabama has
been 65.5 per cent greater than during that part of 1933 and
85.8 per cent greater than two years ago. Figures for the
month are compared in the table.
Production—Tons
Total
Daily Average
United States:
September 1934....................
August 1934..........................
May 1934..............................
September 1933....................
January-September 1934. . . .
January-September 1933. . .
Alabama:
September 1934....................
August 1934..........................
May 1934..............................
September 1933....................
January-September 1934. . .
January-September 1933. . .
*First of following month.

Tennessee
1934
1933

61,000

69.000
72.000
73.000
75.000

65.000

66.000

73.000
92.000
60.000

Furnaces
Active*

898,043
1,054,382
2,042,896
1,522,257
12,975,564
9,589,106

29,935
34,012
65,900
50,742

62
62r
117
89

57,842
63,340
130,364
108,592
957,468
578,515

1,928
2,043
4,205
3,620

5
5
10
8

r-Revised.

Naval Except for the year 1932, September receipts of turStores pentine at the three principal markets of the District
were the smallest for that month of any year since
1919, and receipts of rosin were the smallest for September
since 1921. Stocks of both commodities increased somewhat
from August to September, and supplies of turpentine were
smaller, but those of rosin larger, than a year ago. Press
reports indicate that the demand for both turpentine and rosin
continue to lag, although there was some improvement in the
second week of October in the demand for rosins. Because
of the higher loan bases announced by the Commodity Credit
Corporation, the price of turpentine on the Savannah market
on October 13 was 47% cents, as compared with 41% cents
for a number of weeks before, and the average of prices for
the thirteen grades of rosin was $4.54, somewhat higher than
the average for most weeks during the past four months.
Comparisons of receipts and stocks for the month are shown
in the table.
NAVAL STORES
Sept. 1934
Aug. 1934

Pig Iron
Production of pig iron in the United States, and
Production in Alabama, declined further in September and
was smaller than for any other month since May,
1933. September production in the United States was 14.8
per cent less than in August, and 41 per cent less than a
year ago. On a daily average basis, however, the decline over
the month was 12 per cent. Furnace activity remained the
same as a month earlier, but was less than a year ago.
Alabama production of pig iron declined 8.7 per cent, and
daily average output declined 5.6 per cent, from August to
DigitizedSeptember,
for FRASERand was 46.7 per cent less than in September last


7

R E V IE W

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

12,272

Sept. 1933

11,120
3,464

15,109
12,422
4,942

12,255
10,547
4,109

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

26,856

32,473

26,911

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

40,853
37,758
10,678

57,277
39,758
12,199

42,548
37,322
11,381

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

89,289

109,234

91,251

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

11,802
37,574
24,402

13,713
29,658
22,139

17,804
37,378
24,381

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

71,778

65,510

79,563

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

135,897
85,641
23,430

127,414
72,020
18,822

106,011
96,042
16,227

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

244,968

218,256

218,280

(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

J u ly
1934

Aug.
1934

S ept.
1934

Ju ly
1933

Aug.
1933

S ept.
1933

D aily Average Sales—U n a d ju s te d
A tlan ta.................................................................................................
Birmingham........................................................................................
Chattanooga........................................................................................
Nashville..............................................................................................
New Orleans................................................................................ .
D IS T R IC T ..........................................................................................

101.8
49.3
52.3
47.9
53.8
58.4

140.7
56.4
54.7
61.2
63.9
70.2

194.8
73.3
76.0
79.1
71.2
89.8

85.1
47.3
39.0
39.0
46.7
50.3

129.3
56.3
46.8
69.2
57.9
66.1

147.7
63.2
62.2
60.0
63.7
73.8

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

139.5
67.5
70.7
69.4
78.0
83.4

171.8
70.5
71.0
73.7
81.9
90.0

192.9
75.6
80.0
86.0
77.4
95.5

116.6
64.8
52.7
56.5
67.7
71.9

157.7
70.4
60.8
83.4
74.2
84.7

146.2
66.2
65.5
65.2
69.2
78.5

83.3
31.9
39.0
57.2
52.5
52.1

92.2
35.8
44.3
64.0
57.7
57.6

104.1
43.4
47.2
68.5
59.7
62.9

79.2
35.2
44.1
53.8
45.8
48.3

90.4
38.9
50.2
56.8
55.2
55.6

107.7
45.0
50.5
67.7
62.3
63.8

91.5
33.6
41.5
61.5
55.3
56.6

97.1
37.7
45.7
64.6
58.9
59.3

94.6
42.1
45.4
64.0
56.9
59.3

87.0
37.1
46.9
57.8
48.2
52.5

95.2
40.9
51.8
57.4
56.3
57.3

97.9
43.7
48.6
63.3
59.3
60.2

WHOLESALE TRADE—SIX T H D ISTRICT—T OTAL........

51.0
44.0
47.7
53.4
41.6
81.9
31.9
68.9

62.1
52.0
82.8
61.0
52.3
73.2
43.9
77.7

63.3
53.3
86.2
60.8
55.2
71.8
46.7
77.8

50.7
41.8
69.9
50.9
52.6
51.6
39.3
57.6

53.0
44.5
45.8
61.2
62.7
55.5
44.9
65.2

55.5
46.2
68.6
58.5
52.4
56.5
42.3
70.5

LIFE INSURANCE SALES—SIX STATES—T O TA L..........

64.3
55.7
84.7
70.4
65.2
45.7
59.5

65.4
53.0
79.1
70.6
76.2
58.8
56.6

55.0
48.8
65.8
61.6
57.0
47.3
48.5

66.1
47.5
61.6
67.6
62.4
118.8
59.1

61.5
53.9
64.3
67.0
63.7
43.3
66.8

53.1
47.2
52.3
62.9
54.1
44.4
51.5

BUILDING PER M ITS—TW ENTY C IT IE S ............................

16.6
6.8
5.0
18.9
31.1
17.8
20.2

15.9
8.9
3.3
20.8
12.8
6.2
23.3

14.6
6.1
6.2
20.2
15.4
3.3
21.0

10.6
8.5
4.8
25.4
15.1
5.3
11.3

20.6
5.4
2.8
26.8
160.0
15.3
13.8

11.1
3.7
2.1
18.8
7.1
5.9
16.2

CONTRACT AWARDS—SIX TH DISTRICT—TO TA L. . . .

31.0
12.4
43.4

18.0
10.8
22.8

20.0
10.6
26.3

11.1
12.2
10.3

13.4
10.0
15.8

20.5
7.8
28.9

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

76.4
69.8
73.9
78.3
83.8
70.8
74.6
86.7
85.8
75.7
81.8
70.2

77.6
73.4
76.1
78.3
84.1
71.1
74.6
86.6
85.6
76.5
81.8
70.2

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

69.5
57.6
64.8
74.1
91.7
74.6
65.5
81.2
81.3
73.1
77.6
65.4

70.8
57.0
64.9
76.1
92.3
76.9
70.4
82.1
82.7
72.7
79.3
65.1

69.8
84.6
40.4
87.7
97.1
91.5

81.7
98.2
49.1
103.3
95.4
100.7

57.5
71.0
30.7
58.5
97.7
76.5

116.6
141.3
67.7
143.7
175.8
119.6

114.3
135.7
72.0
143.6
169.3
118.5

97.0
117.4
56.5
118.2
140.6
101.0

COTTON EX PO RTS—UNITED STA TES...............................

59.6

52.1

93.5

134.8

103.3

169.3

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

41.0
43.2

35.0
27.3

30.1
24.9

60.0
52.7

61.4
51.8

51.0
46.8

M o n th ly Stock*—U n a d ju ste d
A tlanta.................................................................................................
Birmingham........................................................................................
Chattanooga........................................................................................
D ISTR IC T ..........................................................................................
M o n th ly S tocks—A djusted*
Chattanooga.................................................. ......................................
Nashville..............................................................................................
D IS T R IC T ..........................................................................................

WHOLESALE PRICES—UNITED STATESf
ALL COM M ODITIES....................................................................

COTTON CONSUMPTION—UNITED STA TES...................

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




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

1 9 2 6 — 100.