The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
April 20, 1956
BUSINESS
°F
BUSINISS t C °
STATISTICS
A WEEKLY SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Available only with subscription to the SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS, at $3.25 annually, this Supplement provides selected
weekly and monthly data subsequent to those published in the latest monthly SURVEY
SELECTED BUSINESS INDICATORS
INDEX, 1 9 4 7 - 4 9 » 100
250
INDEX, 1 9 4 7 - 4 9 = 100
250
Weekly
MontMy
ELECTRIC POWER PRODUCTION (by utilities)
(seasonally adjusted)
225
—
—
"
225
200
H
200
175
H
H 175
150
Jti^J.... 1 L_JL_L_.1 1 ...J i _
111
1953
1 |_.| 1 I I I
1
1 i i i j _h i l l
i
i i i i j
1955
1954
INDEX, 1947-49 = 100
ISO
II
I I I 1 1 1 I I I J I 50
J F M A M J
J A S O N D
INDEX, 1947-49 = 100
130
TOTAL INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION
WHOLESALE PRICES
(F.R.B. seas. adj. index)
—
S60
i i _i_i i J...J
1956
Commodities Other Than
Farm Products & Foods *v
120 h
110
Aft Commodities
-
S40
100
J
120
pvj
90
100
I I I I 1 1 1 1 1 i1i 1i i i 1 i i i I iJ...1...1 i„i LJ I I I I M i l l 1 1 l.lJjJ
Farm Products •
8 0 M i i i J I i i ' ' i 1 i i i i i I i i i i i 1 i i i i i I i i i i i 1 i i 11 i I
1953
BILLION DOLLARS
20
SALES OF RETAIL STORES
(seasonally adjusted)
15
10
1954
1955
1956
INDEX, 1947-49= 100
160
DEPARTMENT STORE SALES & STOCKS
(seasonally adjusted)
140
^ » » » « » f
120 h
Durable Goods »
iOO h
0 II lI 1 I1IIiM1 IilIIIiiM I 1 iin iIin i i 1 iiii iI i i iI t
1953
1954
1955
1956
80 LLJ I I I JUJ I I 1 I I M I I I 1-L.I I 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I 1 i I 11
!953
1954
1955
1956
WEEKLY BUSINESS STATISTICS1
1956
1955
ITEM
Apr. 9
Apr. 16
Mar. 24
Mar. 51
Apr. 7
Apr. 14
Commodity prices, wholesale:
1947-49=100..
89.8
122
1,698
1,505
•110.5
*94.2
*I02.5
*I15.7
90.5
105
1,685
1,499
90.1
112
1,551
1,422
90.2
122
1,495
1,570
29,925
24,918
18,611
556
29,854
25,159
18,868
654
50,260
25,754
19,204
625
55,086
21,581
85,015
34,425
22,449
7,482
55,849
21,544
84,825
54,096
22,545
7,517
21!
5.20
281.8
516.4
115.5
88.4
100.8
121.2
90.9
104
115.4
88.0
100.8
121 5
91 9
50.288
25,661
19,028
555
30,506
25,658
18,860
555
50 5^*
25,481
18,917
56,500
21,595
86,489
28,654
27,711
8,520
55,755
21,618
85,651
27,995
27,781
8,541
55,592
21,640
85,454
27,852
27,588
8,544
204
5.20
285.7
520.8
208
5.51
549.6
405.2
265
5.55
552.6
409.2
217
5.55
556.2
414.5
1,567
9,655
196,411
6,811
1,402
9,602
205,524
6,828
1,655
11,154
154,977
7,165
1,715
10,992
149,952
7,149
1,662
10,846
157,662
7,171
2,500
#95.5
666
569
2,284
#94.6
674
566
2,449
99.5
697
565
2,452
99.6
725
582
2,406
97.7
685
571
do....
FI nance:
Federal Reserve bank credit outstanding, total 5/....do....
do....
Federal Reserve reporting member banks in leading cities-..4/
do....
Loans and investments (adjusted), total
do
Commercial, industrial, and agr. loans (gross)...do....
Bond yields, domestic corporate (Moody's)
Stock prices,480 stocks (Stand. & Poor's) 4/.. 1955-59:* 100..
656
255
**5.59
552.8
410.2
Product i on:
>. of short tons.,
.mi 1. of kw.-hr..
Stee 1 5/
thou«>. of short tons..
.thous. of cars..
159,262
2,485
100.9
M M T 1 U
±/ Data do not always cover calendar weeks. 2/ Tuesday prices. 3/ Daily average. ±/ Wednesday data. 5./ Week ended April 21, I956:
Production, 2,447 thous. short tons; operating rate, 99.4 percent, bl Data for I956 adjusted to revised classification of class I railroads. * Monthly index for April I955. # Not comparable with I956 rates which are based on higher capacity. ** Average for Apr. 9-I2.
MONTHLY BUSINESS STATISTICS
I956
1955
ITEM
February
GENERAL BUSINESS
Furniture and fixtures
Lumber and products.
Stone, clay, and glass products.....
Mi see I laneous manufactures
Non durab le manufactures
Food and beverage manufactures...,
Tobacco manufactures
•» / D a u l c a H
r\ I
DroliminMru
December
January
February
March
INDICATORS
Farm income and marketings:
Cash receipts from farming, including Government payments,
total
mil. of do I..
Farm marketings and CCC loans, total
do....
Crops
do... •
Livestock and products, total
do....
Dairy products
do....
Meat an i ma I s
do.. •.
Pou Itry and eggs
do....
indexes of cash receipts from marketings and CCC loans: \J
A11 commodities
1955-59= 100..
Crops
do... •
Livestock and products
do....
Indexes of volume of farm marketings: \J
A11 commod i t ies
do....
Crops
do....
L i vestock and products
do....
industrial production (FRB):
Unadjusted, combined index
1947-49=100..
Manufactures
do....
Durab le manufactures
do....
Primary metaIs.
do....
Metal fabricating (including ordnance)
...do....
Fabr icated meta I products
do....
Mach i ner y
do....
Transportation equipment
do....
Instruments and related products
do....
March
.u. i_
....
incc .J_.*...
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
1,905
1,872
691
1,181
294
651
257
1,897
1,875
547
1,528
549
677
286
2,738
2,709
1,444
1,265
350
563
357
2,589
2,550
1,109
1,241
555
627
258
1,859
1,812
678
1,154
519
565
252
282
244
511
285
195
550
409
510
555
555
592
527
275
240
298
125
98
145
127
76
166
185
187
180
166
156
175
154
102
158
155
156
151
156
162
126
152
205
142
158
140
154
142
165
130
154
209
145
142
145
161
147
175
157
164
214
{61
145
144
160
r!5l
172
rl55
167
206
160
144
146
r!6l
rl52
172
154
168
r204
162
pl45
pl46
p 161
pl54
p!72
pl55
p!69
p202
p!62
115
125
154
134
122
97
*I05
114
126
140
137
125
100
**I04
128
115
155
149
125
105
88
r!22
116
150
r!4l
128
102
107
r!25
121
ri50
rl45
rl5l
102
pi2i
p!20
pl55
pl42
pl52
MONTHLY BUSINESS STATISTICS—Continued
3
1955
1956
ITEM
February
March
December
January
February
GENERAL BUSINESS INDICATORS - Continued
industrial production (FRB) - Continued
Unadjusted index - Continued
Manufactures - Continued
Nondurable manufactures - Continued
Texti ie-mi 11 products
Apparel and allied products
Leather and products
Paper and allied products
Printing and publishing
Chemicals and allied products
Petroleum and coal products
Rubber products
Mi nera Is
Coal
Crude oi I and natural gas
108
116
112
148
122
162
134
144
119
79
144
109
123
113
152
128
166
133
146
118
71
145
105
107
102
147
!30
!77
141
140
127
91
151
III
117
rl09
157
r!26
r!77
143
rl50
r!28
r9l
r!53
114
124
118
162
rl28
180
142
147
rl28
88
152
do...
do. •.
do.. •
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
133
134
147
131
158
126
146
199
142
109
127
138
133
135
136
rl50
136
160
129
147
200
143
112
127
143
136
144
146
161
150
172
138
163
212
159
123
126
155
146
143
145
160
rl48
170
rl36
164
205
160
M22
r!28
154
rl44
143
i44
rl58
rl48
rl68
134
163
r20i
162
r l 19
124
rl55
rl44
do. •.
do...
do...
do...
do...
«... .do. •.
do...
do...
do...
do...
do,..
do. •.
do...
do...
12!
106
*I07
103
106
105
143
123
158
134
138
123
79
144
rl23
107
**I06
104
III
105
147
125
161
134
140
121
72
145
130
113
107
109
116
108
160
128
175
141
146
129
87
151
129
Mi
109
108
113
rl08
159
rl30
rl74
142
149
rl3l
r87
rl53
129
M2
do...
do...
do,..
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
151
174
210
146
III
rl37
272
97
155
179
215
15!
114
151
260
99
148
164
193
14!
125
rl30
224
III
r.144
rl59
173
r!50
rl20
148
239
rl09
rl43
157
164
154
122
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
140
159
189
134
107
r!29
226
99
142
161
192
136
109
133
222
100
148
163
187
143
121
rl43
216
114
rl43
rl56
171
rl45
120
150
207
r l 13
137
rl48
158
rl42
118
1947-49=100.
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
...do...
..do...
110.4
93.1
103,8
93.1
80.7
103.2
116.3
107.2
104.4
86.9
110.0
92.1
104.
92.
79.
101.
116.
107.
104.8
83.3
III.3
82.9
95.6
82.7
59.3
98.2
115.2
107.2
107.9
75.3
in.9
84.1
105.0
81.5
63.0
98.3
185.1
106.1
108.1
75.7
rll2.4
86.0
98.2
82.9
67.7
99.0
115.4
106.1
r108.9
76.1
115.
107,
117,
i08,
III.7
115,
108.
92,
121,
121,
115.6
106.8
117,
108,
III,
115,
107,
92,
121,
121,8
119.8
106.6
119.4
109.3
115.6
117.3
105.8
96.7
125.1
126.4
120.4
106.3
120.0
Hi.O
117.2
118.0
105.6
96.7
126.3
127.6
r120.6
106.4
119.9
r i l l .2
117,5
r118.2
r!05.7
97.1
126.7
128.2
1947-49= I(X).
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
Adjusted, combined index
Manufactures
Durab le manufactures
Pr i mar y met a Is
Metal fabricating (including ordnance)
Fabricated metal products
Mach i nery
Transportation equipment
instruments and related products
Furniture and fixtures
Lumber and products
Stone, clay, and glass products
Mi see 11 aneous manufactures
Nondurab le manufactures
Food and beverage manufactures
Tobacco manufactures
Texti Ie-mi 11 products.
Apparel and allied products
Leather and products
Paper and allied products
Printing and publishing
Chemicals and allied products
Petroleum and coal products
Rubber products
Mi nera Is
Coal
Crude oil and natural gas.....
Consumer durables output (FRB):
Unadjusted index, total
Major consumer durables
Autos
Major household goods
Furniture and floor coverings
Appliances and heaters
Radio and television sets...,
Other consumer durables
„
s
Adjusted index, total
Major consumer durables
Au tos
Major household goods
Furniture and floor coverings
Appliances and heaters
Radio and television sets
Other consumer durab les
109
114
110
158
rl29
174
142
141
131
88
152
233
rl09
194
rill
COMMODITY PRICES
Wholesale price index, all commodities
Farm products
Fruits and vegetables, fresh and dried
Grains
Livestock and live poultry
Foods, processed
Cereal and bakery products
Dairy products and ice cream
Fruits and vegetables, canned and frozen..
Meats, poultry, and fish
•
Commodities other than farm products and foods
Chemicals and allied products
Chemica I s, i ndustr I a I
Fuel, power, and I ighting materials
Petroleum and products
Furniture, other household durables
App I iances, househo Id
**
Hides, skins, and leather products
Lumber and wood products
Lumber
rj
Revised,
JD/ Preliminary.
* January 1955 data.
do..
do..
do..
do..
do..
do..
do* 8
do..
do..
do..
** February 1955 data.
MONTHLY BUSINESS STATISTICS — Continued
4
1955
1956
ITEM
February
March
December
February
January
March
COMMODITY PRICES - Continued
Wholesale price index - Continued
Machinery and motive products
1947-49=100.
Electrical machinery and equipment
,
....do...
Motor vehicles,
.
.
...••do..,
Metals and metal products.
do...
Iron and steel
.do...
Nonmetaliic minerals, structural. .„
do,,.
Pulp, paper, and allied products.....
......do...
Paper...
.........do...
Rubber and products...
..do...
Textile products and appare!.....„
do...
Appare I
do,,.
Tobacco manufactures and bottled beverages.......... do...
CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE
New permanent nonfarm dwelling units started:
Unadjusted: Total*, privately and publicly owned, .thousands.
Privately owned, total
do...
S n metropo I i tan areas
do...
Pubi icly owned...
do...
Seasonally adjusted at annual rate:
Privately owned, total.....
....
....do...
126.1
126.7
121.5
I3L5
135.8
121.8
116.
128.'
140.
95.
98,:
121.
126. I
126.4
121.5
131.9
136.2
121.9
116.8
128.0
138.0
95.3
98.3
121.6
133.0
132.1
126.7
143.9
147.2
125.4
123.6
132.6
151.0
95.6
99, S
121.7
89,9
87.9
64.9
2.0
113.8
112.8
86.0
S.O
r76.2
r73.5
r53.6
r2.7
74.0
73.0
52.7
S.O
78.0
76.8
55.2
1.2
96.0
94.4
67.2
1.6
1,370.0
1,367.0
r1,208.0
1,180.0
!,2Q0.Q
1,140.0
2,946
2,341
2,966
2,299
9,205
5,324
3,387
2,758
3,481
2,823
9,111
5,259
2,888
2,280
2,778
2,106
8,729
5,429
2,933
2,305
2,904
2,227
8,746
5,495
2,915
2,289
2,966
2,288
8,684
5,486
8,497
88
9,982
93
10,504
99
10,828
99
10,119
99
6,120
355
365
457
161
901
630
128
134
7,269
428
436
543
207
1,100
764
161
165
7,581
429
485
678
180
1,215
834
194
176
7,588
417
467
650
223
1,189
818
182
178
7,468
4H6
479
641
202
S,I65
809
174
171
610
327
489
2,456
734
1,154
795
398
580
2,782
829
1,292
885
332
390
2,988
887
1,395
879
353
555
2,855
844
1,310
872
364
553
2,777
800
1,271
133.3
132.4
126.7
145.1
149.4
127.0
124.8
134.6
148.4
95.7
99.5
121.7
r!33.9
r133.2
M27.5
N45.I
r!49.I
M27.I
125.4
135.0
147. S
96.0
99.5
121.7
134.7
133.6
129.0
146.3
149.2
127.6
126.8
136.2
146.2
95.9
99.7
121.7
LUMBER AND MANUFACTURES
Lumber (National Lumber Manufacturers Association):
Production, total
••mil, of bd. ft.
Softwoods.
.do...
Shipments, total......................................do...
Softwoods
„
do,..
Stocks, gross (mill and concentration yards)..,.
do...
Softwoods
do,..
METALS AND MANUFACTURES
Steel ingots and steel for castings:
Production
thous. of short tons.
Percent of capacity
Steel products, net shipments:
Total (all grades)
thous. of short tons.
Semi f i n i shed products.
do...
Structural shapes (heavy), steel piling....
do...
PI ates
do...
Rails and accessories
do...
Bars and tool steel, total
do...
Bars: Hot rolled (incl. light shapes)
do...
Reinforcing....
do...
Cold finished
....do...
Pipe and tubing..
.
Wire and wire products.
Tin mill products (incl. black plate).....
Sheets and strip (incl. electrical), total
Sheets: Hot rolled.
^
Cold rolled (incl. enameling)
rj
Revised.
&/
..do.
do.
do.
.do.
....do.
..do.
^10,921
' 100
Preliminary,
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
DIVISION OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
FIRST CLASS
WEEKLY SUPPLEMENT
SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID
PAYMENT OF POSTAGE, $300
@FedFRASER