Full text of Survey of Current Business. Business Statistics (Weekly Supplement) : February 19, 1942

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SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
WEEKLY SUPPLEMENT
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE

WASHINGTON, D. C , FEBRUARY 19, 1942.
SUMMARY OF BUSINESS TRENDS
*THE general price level continues to advance. For the prices of housefurnishings (influenced by increased excise taxes)
week ended February 7, the Bureau of Labor Statistics* have climbed about 18 percent, approximately the same as the
over-all index of wholesale prices stood at 95.7 (1926 = 100), wholesale price advance.
up about 2 percent since the beginning of the year. From the
Among the various industrial commodities at wholesale, chemoutbreak of the war in September 1939 to date, wholesale prices ical prices rose 23 percent, building materials 10 percent, and
have risen 27 percent, while the advance since February 1941 metals 6 percent, in the 12 months ending with the middle
has been nearly 19 percent. The increase in the cost of living, of February. Chemical prices have continued to increase
of course, has been somewhat smaller; nevertheless, the 11 since the year end. On the other hand, metal prices have repercent rise of the past 12 months is very substantial by any mained relatively stable, the Office of Price Administration havstandard.
ing been particularly successful in this regard. However, in an
Farm products still lead the general price advance, having effort to encourage added production, high premium prices werG
climbed an additional 5 percent since the end of December. recently granted producers of copper, lead, and zinc for all outThe Government's farm program sought to raise these prices, puts beyond certain quotas.
and their-upward movement- has-been -sustained by-heavy doDespite recent passage of the Price Control Act, it is clear that
mestic demand and the large requirements for lend-lease ship- the general price advance in all likelihood will only be slowed over
ment. Altogether, domestic agricultural prices stood 42 percent coming months. In the absence of a strong and aggressive fiscal
higher in the middle of February than a year earlier, while the check, the tremendous pressure on retail prices is being steadily
wholesale prices of foodstuffs increased an average of 28 percent. increased as armament expenditures are stepped up and conTextile prices have risen some 24 percent in the same period, sumer incomes expand. Many prices will not be controlled by
though only a part of this can be attributed to higher raw-material the Administrator. Moreover, agricultural prices have not yet
costs, led by a 91-percent increase in the cost of cotton. Of the reached permissible ceilings in a number of cases. Finally, upcost-of-living components affected by the increased agricultural ward revision of many existing ceilings will undoubtedly be
prices, food prices are up 19 percent in the January 1941-January forthcoming as a result of increased raw-material and wage
1942 period, while clothing costs have risen 15 percent. Retail costs.

SELECTED BUSINESS INDICATORS
ELECTRIC POWER PRODUCTION
(BILLIONS OF KILOWATT HOURS)

STEEL INGOT PRODUCTION
(PERCENT OF CAPACITY)

140

FREIGHT-CARLOADINGS
(THOUSANDS OF CARS)

4.5

120

4.0
I942p

too

3.5
194/ S

eo
1940^-

60

/^~V
3.0

V

2.5
.

40

s-\

/
t

,

,

1

,

.

1

.

CRUDE OIL R U N S - T O - S T I L L S
(MILLIONS OF BARRELS- DAILY AVERAGE)

5.0

/940"

2.0

MISCELLANEOUS CARLOADINGS

BITUMINOUS COAL PRODUCTION
(DAILY AVERAGE-THOUSANDS OF TONS)

(THOUSANDS OF GARS)

4.5
194S

-1942

j>S\

4.0

*—- *^

3.5

J ^

„-, r

•1940
3.0

^-1940
,

2.5

1

,

,

1

i

COMMERCIAL LOANS
(BILLIONS OF DOLLARS)

9

,

1

i

,

i

.

WEEKLY WHOLESALE

R H . A . HOME MORTGAGES
(NUMBER SELECTED FOR APPRAISAL ON HOMES TO BE BUILT)

.

i

(1926-100)

8
7
6
5
4
COTTON CONSUMPTION
(DAILY AVERAGE - THOUSANDS OF BALES)

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION
(SEASONALLY ADJUSTED, 1935-39* (00)
200

50

MONTHLY DATA

180

45

160

40

140

35

120

MONTHLY DATA

30
_

100

^

•

'

25

BO

. . . . .1 . . . . . . . . , . i . . . . .
1939

442048—42




1940

. . . . ,

1.. 1.,
1942

, . I , , I . , ! . .

. . 1 . , 1 , . t . ,

., i , , i . , i . ,

.

PRICES

.'. i , . i

.

2

WEEKLY BUSINESS INDICATORS •

[Weekly average, 1935-39=-100, except as indicated; data beginning January 1939 for most of the series on a 1935-39 base and 1939 and 1940 data for the New York Times Index
of business activity, also data beginning September 1939 for the price index of 28 basic commodities, are shown in table 32, pp. 24-26 of the November 1941 SURVEY]

1943

Business activity:!
136,4 139.4139.6 137.2 121.4 121.4 101.9 103 6
New York Times§-..-__—._
142.8 144.5 144 3 142.3 130.2 130.0 107.4 110.8
Barron's, 1923-25=100
171.0 170 4 168.8 166.9 146.8 146.4 110.2 113.6
Business Week§, 1923-25=100.
Commodity prices, wholesale:
Dept. of Labor:
95 7 95.9 95.5 95.6 80 5
Combined index, 1926=100
78.3 78.5
100.1 101.3 100 3 100 8 70.5 70 7
68.9
Farm products
93.7 93.9 '3.6 94.1 73.3 73.2 70 5 70 9
Food
94 5 94 7 94 5 94.4 84.6 84.6 83.3
Allother
165 2 1G5.3 164 8 164.2 164.0 120.8 119.9 115.6 116.4
28 basic commodities©
Fisher's index, 1926=100:
102.6 102.4 102 6 102
_ . 5_ 102.6
_ . _ . 85.4
_ _ _85.4
. . _ 84
. 3 84 6
Combined index
Copper, electrolytic!
_„ 112 9 112.9 112 9 112.9 112.9 112.9 112.9 105 3 107.2
Cotton, average, 10 markets! ._ 176.6 175.4 181.2 177. 4 172.9 92 7 92.9 99 4
85.9
95.4 77.2 122 8
Construction contracts!
Distribution:
Carloadings
120.2 125.1 125 4 124 4 110.6 108 9 93.3
82
97
114 121 119 131
95
Department store sales

1941

1943

1940

1941

1940

Feb. Feb. Jan. Jan Jan Feb. Feb Feb. Feb.
14
7
31 24 17 15 8
17 10

Feb Feb. Jan. Jan. Jan. Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb.
17 10
14
7
31 24 17 15
Employment, Detroit, factory,
1923-25=100
Finance:
Bond yieldsi
Stock prices?
Banking:
Debits, outside N. Y. C.t--~
Federal Reserve reporting
member banks:
Loans, total
C urrency in circulation!
Failures, commercial, 1939=100.
ProductionAutomobiles
Bituminous coalj
Cotton manufacturing!
Electric power.
Petroleum!.... _
SteelS

112.6 122.4

102.'

111.5

82.7 82.7 82.5 82.5 82.5 83.7 83.5 88.9 89.1
68 9 71.0 71.4 70.9 72.3 80.3 82.5 100.1 99.1
130.1 150.1 142.4 151.0137.0 93.3 123.9 106.4 103.6
132. 2 131. 2 131.4 130 7 132.0 109.5 109 0 99.4 99.3
L7S. 177.2 175.5
.75.5 174 174.5 136 136 1116.9 116.8
178.3
74.2 85.2 87.6 85.2 91.9 95.8 100.4 103.2 88.7
0 103.6 98.0.165.2
48 1 95.......
... 165 5123 2124.4
138 0 160
143 76 158.1
144.5 155.2
145.3 143
133.3
129 66 116.6 127.4
0 142
162 8 161.5 162.0 139 7 140.3 120.4 122 8
137.0 122.3 136 2 127.8 114 9 114 3 117.4 116 5
181.7 180.8 180.0 180 8 181.0 175.6 175.2,120 3 125.4
38 7

•Data do not cover calendar weeks in all cases
^Seasonally adjusted.
JDaily average.
©Index for week ended Feb 21 is 183.1.
§For New York Times index, computed nonnal=100, this and the Business Week index have been revised beginning Januaiy 1941 to take account of changing conditions
resulting from the defense program; the revised series were first published, respectively, in thp weekly for Jan. 15, 1942, and Nov. 6, 1941.
©Thursday prices; August 1939=J00.
fSeasonally adjusted index compiled by the N. Y. Cotton Exchange. Index has been discontinued by compiling source.

WEEKLY BUSINESS STATISTICS*
1943
Feb. 14
COMMODITY PRICES, WHOLESALE
Copper, electrolytic,
New York!
dol. per lb_.
Cotton, middling, lW average, 10 markets!!
do..
Food index (Dun & Btadstreet)
do..
Iron and steel, composite
__
dol. per ton..
Wheat, No. 2, Hard Winter (Kansas City)-dol. per bu-.
FINANCE
Banking:
Debits, New York City
mil. of dol..
Debits, outside New York City (140 cities)
do.-.
Federal Reserve banks:
Federal Reserve bank credit, total.
do....
XJ. S. Government securities
do
Member bank reserve balances—
do
Excess reserves, estimated
_
do
Federal Reserve reporting member banks:
Deposits, demand, adjusted
.do
Deposits, time
do
Investments, total.
do
U. S. Government direct obligations
do....
Obligations guaranteed by U. S. Govt
do
Loans, total
__
_
do
Commerc'l, indust'l, and agricult'l loans.,.do
Interest rates, call loans!
percent..
Interest rates, time loans!
do
Currency in circulation!
_.mil. of dol..
Exchange rates* Pound sterling!
dollars..
Failures, commercial
number..
Security marketsBond sales (N. Y. S. E.)
thous. of dol. par value-.
Bond yields (Mortis) Q20 bonds)
.percent Stock sales (_V. Y. s. E.)
thous. of shares..
Stock prices (_V. Y. Times)
dol. per shareStock prices (Stand. andPovr'z) (402) y 1935-39=100-.
Industrials (354)..._
.do...
Public utilities (28)
do-...
Railroads (20)
do-...
PRODUCTION, CONSTRUCTION, AND
DISTRIBUTION
Production:
Automobiles (TTard't)
_
number..
Bituminous coalt
thous of short tons.Electric powerA.mil. ofkw-hr_.
Petroleum!
thous. of bbl_
Steel®
pet. ofcapacity..
Construction contract awards!
thous. of dol-.
Distribution*
Freight carloadings, total.cars,.
Coal and coke.
_
...do
Forest products
_
_
do
Grains and grain products
_do
Livestock
_do
Merchandise, 1. c. 1
_.. do
Ore
do
Miscellaneous--.
__
do
Receipts:
Cattle and calvesf
.thousands..
Hogsf.
________
_
_
do....
Wheat, at primary markets
thous. of bu._

Feb. 7

Jan. 31

1941
Jan. 24

Jan. 17

Feb.15

1939

1940

Feb.8

Feb.17

Feb.10

Feb. 18

Feb. 11

0.118
.192
3.53

0.118
.191
3.51
38.15
1 23

0.118
.197
3.51
38.15
1.26

0.118
.193
3.47
38.15
1.26

0.118
.188
3.47
38.15
1.26

0.118
.101
2 55
38.23
.76

0.118
.101
2.54
38.20
.79

0.110
.108
2 33
37.00

0.112
.108
2.34
37.01

0.110

0.110

2.31
36.38

2.30
36.36
.68

3,134
5,448

4,116
6,286

4,135
5,964

3,914
6,325

5,735

2,365
3,908

3,850
5,190

2,604
3,713

3,185
4,335

2,841
3,659

3,385
3,813

2,331
2,243
12,905
3,357

2,316
2,243
12,849

2,339
2,243
13,075
3,479

2,383
2,249
13,145
3,584

2,390
2,254
12,992
3,561

2,260
2,184
13,871
6,331

2,217
2,184
13,842
6,306

2,530
2,477
12,151
5,580

2,518
2,477
12,097
5,523

2,587
2,564
8,707
3,166

2,584
2,564
9,01S
3,459

24,731
5,197
19,130
12,717
2,716
11,322
6,862
1.00
1.25
11,315
•4.035
210

24,457
5,214
19,114

12, 721
2,710
11,241
6,785
1.00
1 25
11,241
• 4.035
241

24,747
5,241
19,087
12,689
2,709
11, 255
6,778
1.00
1.25
11,133
-4.035
248

24,426
5,254
19,012
12,630
2,709
11,199
6,721
1.00
1.25
11,083
•4.035
241

24,169
5,281
18,925
12,281
2,978
11,308
6,723
1.00
' 1 25
11,074
«4.035
260

22,981
5,452
16,871
10,382
2,765
9,377
5,173
1.00
1.25
8,675
M.02S
'271

22,798
5,452
16,847
10,378
2,746
9,337
5,124
1.00
1.25
8,636
•4.031

19,062
5,260
14,686
8,855
2,420
8,516
4,309
1.00
1.25
7,420
3.958
292

19,108
5,256
14,692
8,910
2,411
8,507
4,314
1.00
1.25
7,412
3.981
251

15,951
5,181
13,403
8,182
1,975
8,205
3,761
1.00
1.25
6,697
4.686
293

16,077
5,185
13,280
8,171
1,807
8,179
3,745
1.00
1.25
6,681
4.686
318

33,660
3.35
1,916
74 58
69.6
71.0
64 0
67.0

38,510
3.35
2,301
76 83
72.6
74.0
66 0
71 1

48, 270
3.34
2,037
77.24
72.4
74.0
65 6
70.7

61,310
3.34
2,653
76.77
71.6
73 2
65 0
68.8

45,040
3.34
2,972
78 29
73 3
75 0
66 4
69.5

28,210
3.39
2P6SQ
86 90
81.0
80.3
88 3
70.6

33,270
3.38
2,276
89 33
81 9
SI. 3
SS 7
72 1

27,070
3. GO
3,073
108 32
97 0
97.4
102.5
76.9

33,510
3 61
3,735
107 24
66 4
96.7
102.1
76 1

25, S20
3.81
2,860
101 89
95 6
96 6
- 9S.4
74 0

30,530
3 R2
3.536
101 73
96.2 '
97.0
99.5 „
75 6

29,830

37,125
1,793
3,475
4,337
9fi.O

73,305
1,86fi
3,468
3,871
94.6

79,930
1,877
3,440
4,311
95 0
8,973

75,625
1,888
3,450
4,0J6
95.1
7,259

127,510
3,731
2,976
3,638
97.1
11,544

127,675
1,63^
2,989
3,618
96.9

95,050
1,516
2,565
3,718
63 8
8,074

9o, 9S5
1,655
2,616
3.688
71.7

79,860
1,445
2,297
3,321
54 8
8,067

84, .500
1,464
2,315
3,284
53 4.

784,060
167,115
47,146
41,315
10,414
151,718
13,405
352,947

815,567
170,179
48,764
47,629
11,517
151,786
13,342
372,350

817,804
176,984
47,343
47,148
12,327
149,455
14,103
370,444

811,196
189,019
43,993
49,488
13,825
146,688
12,896
355,287

721,176
167,147
39,328
29,297
10,720
153,049
13,478
308,157

710,196
163,767
38,512
28,730
10,290
153,324
12,818
302,755

608,237
142,410
30,532
30,897
11,083
142,987
9,821
240,507

627,429
157,516
29.263
29,174
10,540
147,442
9,812
243,682

576,645
133,634
24.403
28,582
11,120
148,244
8,944
221,718

186
319
5,828

192
364
5,949

211
373
5,612

258
444
3,808

173
324
2,107

150
290
2,274

150
368
2,138

157
346
1,939

95.5

4,169

k

284

576,352
138,820
23,539
9,700
148,406
8,420
218,649

2,416

JDaily average.
• Data do not cover calendar weeks in all cases.
• Free rate.
1 Revised series. See table 32, pp. 24-26 of the Nov. 1941 SURVEY for stock prices beginning Jan. 1939 and cotton prices beginnins: Aus\ 1939.
® Rate for week ended Feb. 21 is 96.2, data beginning with January 1942 are based on estimated capacity as of December 31,1941, of 88,570,000 tons of steel ingots and steel
for castings.
tComparable data are not available prior to 1940 because of a change in the markets included in the data beginning with that year.
ADara for 1941 revised; revisions for all weeks of 1941 and earlier revisions referred to in the WEEKLY SUPPLEMENT of Jan. 8,1942, are available on request.




MONTHLY BUSINESS STATISTICS
Earlier data are available in monthly issues of
the Survey and the 1940 Supplement

COMMODITY PRICES
Cost of living:
National Industrial Conference Board:
Combined index
1923*= 100.
Clothing
do—
Food~_
..do—
Fuel and light.
-do—.
Housing
1
do...
Sundries..
.
.
do...
U. S. Department of Labor:
Combined index*:
.1935-39=100Clothing*
do—
Foodf-- —
-do—
Fuel, electricity, and ice*
—do—
House furnishings'
—do...
Rent*
_
do—
Miscellaneous*—
do.-.
Retail prices. Fairchild's index:
Combined index
Dec. 31,1940=100.
Apparel:
Infants'
do—
M e n ' s . ^_
—do—
Women's.
do—Home furnishings
do—
Piece goods
do—

1943

1941

DecemJanuary January November
ber

94.5
82.4
95.2
90.4
90.1
102.5

86.0
73.0
78.7
86.4
87.6
98.1

92.9
79.6
92.2
90 2
89.5
101.9

'93.2
80.1
92.6
90.3
89.9
' 102. 2

111.9
115.7
116.2
104.2
117.8
108.4
108.3

100 8
100.7
97.8
100. S
100.1
105.0
101.9

110.2
113.8
113.1
104.0
115.6
107.8
107.4

110.5
114.8
113.1
104.1
116.8
10S.2
107.7

110.2

91.2

107.5

108.3

104.9
101.1
109.1
112.7
107.1

97.6
89.3
93.0
95.8
87.3

103.2
97.5
.106.9
109.5
103.7

103.7
98.1
107.7
110.2
105.0

Engineering construction:
Contract awards (B. N. ROt--thous. of d o l - 628,780
Construction cosjt indexes:
-•Asso. General Contractors1913=100.. 203.3
2G9.41
Engineering News Record (all types), .do

584,549
193.2
250.50

318,806 269, GS9
203.3
266.16

203.3
267. 63

DOMESTIC TRADE

FINANCE
Banking:
Bank debits, total (141 cities)...mil. of d o l New York City
_
do
Outside New York City
do
Savings deposits, savings banks in N. Y.
State:
Amount due depositors
mil. of dol~
Capltal flotations:
Securities issued, total
thous. of d o l - New capital, total
do
Domestic, totaL..
do—
Corporate, total.
do
Farm loan and other Gov.agen..do
Municipal, State, etc
:
do
Refunding, total
do
Domestic, total..
-do—
Corporate, total
—_
do
Farm loan and other Gov. agen..do
Municipal, State, etc
do
Corporate securities issued by type of borrower, total
thous. of doL.
New capital, total.
do
Industrial
do
Public utilities
:
do—.
Railroads.
do.*.—
Refunding, total
L
do
Industrial
do
Public utilities
d o Railroads
do

79
93
69
89
75
96
75
92
78
55
239
SO
101
122
113
100
126
115
101

'133
169
103
140
136
150
10G
123
130
117
172
133
116
151
133
127
131
323
109
97
114

197
2*15
'165
213
197
222
183
198
194
166
'283
190
111
1-10
126
115
128
127
107
91
115

44,261
17,247
27,014

37,645
15,147
22,498

41,152
16,077
25,075

51,716
20,598
31,118

5,433
333,238
181,760
181,760
87,186
11,175
83,399
151,478
151,478
82,846
33,775
34,857

5,541

5,549

'420,112
'95,539
' 95,539
52,929
2,200
' 40,410
'324,573
'324,573
271,3SS
'29,950
'23,235

P!07

* 118
P99
P120

» 110
*122
P102

p 117
P103
* 111

»13$
M54
M53
* 147
MG1
M10

5,664

237,815 216,428
110,379 121,001
110,379 121,001
89,427 59,466
0
19,520
20,952 42,015
127,43fi 95,427
127,436 95,427
42,384 52,055
31,675 25,100
53,377 18,273

170,032 324,316 131,811
87,186 52,929 89,427
46,150 10,243 43,578
10,715 40,637
28,101
1,210
9,890 30,395
82,840 271,388 42,384
499 99,406 16,890
82,120 134,940 21,841
9,790
0
0

111,520
59,466
24,018
7,203
27,745
52,055
16,880
31,339
0

141
135
168
143
115
117
101
199
150
135
121
159

128
125
182
129
113
97

Class I steam railways—Continued.
Freight carloadings—Continued.
Combined index,adjusted—Continued.
Forest products....
1035-39=100..
Grains and grain products
do...
Livestock
do....
Merchandise, 1. c. 1
do...
Ore
do...
Miscellaneous
_
do...
FOODSTUFFS
Stocks, cold storage, end of month:
Butter, creamery
..thous. of lb..
Cheese, total
do
Eggs:
Shell
„ thous. of cases
Frozen
.thous. of lb..
Fish, total (15th of m o n t h ) . .
____do..__
Total, meats
mil. of lb_.
Beef and veal
thous. of lb..
Lamb and mutton
do....
Pork, total...
—
do....
Fresh and cured
do
Lard
do
Poultry
__
do
Livestock:
Cattle and calves:
Receipts, principal mkts. thous. of animals.
Disposition:
Local slaughter
do
Shipments, total
do.
Stocker and feeder
do.
Receipts, principal markets
Disposition:
Local slaughter
_
Shipments, total
Stocker and feeder
_
Sheep and lambs:
Receipts, principal markets.
Disposition:
Local slaughter
Shipments, total
:
Stocker and feeder

DecemJanuary January November
ber

129
136
184
140
125
95
93
46
134
140
119
153

113
124
174
124
90
84
94
45
115
122
109
145

156
142
99
97
186
152

138
102
88
99
180
130

83, 205
161,685

29,715
125,308

331
74,324
97,247
1,078
138,992
8,383
809,646
603,676
205,970
204,601

297
53,828
1,258
108,622
4,699
1,046,817
739,927
306,890
191,410

1,670
129,533
115,432
720
114,330
6,432
526,735
350,270
176,4G5
172,913

1,789

1,600

2,022

1,964

1,116
660
310

964
623

1,054
961

1,129
816
443

146
118
93
99
204
144

145
124
101
100
246
149

152,484 114,436
189,002 201,613
'549
' 95,538
117,805
'903
135,478
' 7,936
655,049
186,511
218,392

do....

3,704

3,039

2,832

2,670
1,033
60

2,148
881
68

2,098
727
45

2,692
935
63

do

1,791

1,721

1,818

1,719

do
do
do

1,036
754
197

997
718
148

905
945
379

i,oie
699
199

METALS AND MANUFACTURES
Pig iron and iron manufactures:
Pig iron:
Furnaces in blast, end of month:
Capacity
short tons per day.
Number
Production
thous. of short tons.
Steel, crude and semimanufactured:
Steel ingots and steel for castings:!
Production.__
thous. of short tons.
Percent of capacity
Nonferrous metals:
Copper:
Production:
Mine or smelter (including custom intake)
short tons.
Refinery
do...
Deliveries, refined, total
do...
Stocks, refined, end of month
do...
Zinc:
Production, slab, at primary smelters
short tons.
Shipments, total
do...
Domestic.
.do...
Stocks, refinery, end of month
do...

159,270
217
4,971
7,129
95

88,319
90,017
130,467
81,371

152,040 156,855 162,140
216
215
205
5,012
4,703
4,664

97

6,070
98

7,164
98

83,280 84,718 ' 88,463
93.840 84,799 89,940
119,736 124,645 138,585
116,854 72,352 75,564

14,859

74,951
73,363
61,154
23,182

78,635
77.755
65,690
24,062

19,350
1,561
96.2

14,277
1,300
80.1

10,311
1,696
104.5

79,213
79,413
67, 248
23,862

66,121
68,844

9,143
1,639
100.9

STONE, CLAY, AND GLASS
PRODUCTS
Plate glass, polished, production
thous. of sq. ft.
Window glass, production, .-..tbous. of boxes.
Percent of capacity
—
TEXTILE PRODUCTS
Cotton:
Consumption
bales.
Rayon:
Deliveries (consumption), yarn*—mil. of lb.
Stocks, yarn, end of mo
do...

945,909
41.2
4.7
1941

844,839 849,733 887,326
35.0
8.9
1940

38.5
4.5

39.3
3.8

1941

Decem- Decem- October November
ber
ber

138
137
111
167

BUSINESS INDEXES
Mfrs.' orders, shipments, and inventories:*
New orders, total
Jan. 1939=100..
Durable goods
do
Electrical machinery
do_._.
Other machinery
do.._,
Iron and steel and their products..do.«.
Other durable goods.
do....
Nondurable goods
do—.

' Revised.
» Preliminary. ' ' N e w series. See note on corresponding Item in the January 1942 SURVET,
tBevised series. See note on corresponding item in the January 1942 SURVEY,




1941

do
do
do,...

TRANSPORTATION
Class I steam railways:
Freight carloadings (Fed. Res. indexes):
Combined index, unadj
1935-39=100Coal
do
Coke
_
do
Forest products
;
do
Grains and grain products
do
Livestock
do
Merchandise, I. c. 1
—do
Ore
do
Miscellaneous..
_
do
Combined index, adjusted
do
Coal
do
Coke
do

1943

TRANSPORTATION—Continued

CONSTRUCTION A N D REAL ESTATE

Retail trade: •
• Department stores:
• Sales, total U. S., unadjusted. 1923-25=100..
Atlanta t
1935-39=100..
Boston
1923-25=100..
• Chicasrot-^
--do ..
Clc\piand...do
• Dallas—
-•--•
do. Kansas City.
1925=100..
Minneapolist
1935-39=100..
New York
1923-25=100..
Philadelphia
do
Richmond
do.—.
St. Louis.
do—
Sales, total U. S., adjusted!
do—
Atlanta?
-19?5-39=10n..
Chicacot
.1923-25=100Cleveland.. ^_
--do—
Dallas
—do...
' Minneapolist
.1935-39=100..
New York:
1923-25=100..
Philadelphia.
—do
St. Louis
*~do—

Earlier data are available in monthly issues of
the Survey and the 1940 Supplement

28
»329
*365
P252
396

172
252
294
267
216
282
120

193
239
359
246
213
227
163

'212
••265
'314
'326
'225
'258
'178

MONTHLY BUSINESS STATISTICS—Continued
1941
1941 1940
Earlier data Me *Tailable in monthly issues of the
Survey and the 1940 Supplement
Decem Decem- October November
ber
ber

152
1S4
161
200
PSSO

193
195
336
167

J-1G7
P170
MOO
p\m

* 158.8
P 176.3
p 191.9
P 238.0
p ISO. 8
p 130.6
P 662.1
P 136.1
P 143.6
P 113.9
P 1G2. S
"135.8
*114.1
P 141.1
* 14fi. 4
»138.S

123
124
112
14C
107
169
143
123
119.9
129.S
14-1.6
140.8
125.4
127.4
278.2
108.7
111.3
117.3
112.3
120.3
102.1
124.0
116.2
103.9

203
240
159
257
278
255
W5
228
172
182
161
191
145
'222
200
1C2
148.3
16fi.2
395. 0
225.5
16G. 1
12o.9
600.2
127.4
132.7
128.2
146.7
128.5
110.4
131.8
137.0
128.9

'203
•' 212
171
••272

'291
'246
'714
'224
'163
'176
'158
'202
'158
'194
'191
'149.
M.r,2.7
'170.3
' 103.3
'231.6
' 173.3
127.8
' 61S. 2
' 130.9
' 137.4
' 132.0
'153.4
'132.0
'111.9
' 134.6
' 143.5
' 131.1

CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE
Real estate:
Estimated new mortgage loans by all savings
and loan assoriations, totaL_.thous. of dol..
Classified according to purpose:
Mortgage loans on homes:
Construction
do
Home purchase.—
do
Refinancing-.....do
Repairs and reconditioning-,
do
Loans for all other purposes
do
EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES
Labor conditions:
Average weekly hours per worker in factories:
U. S. Dept. of Labor (90 industries) hours..
Wages:
Factory average weekly earnings:
U. S. Dent, of Labor (90 industries)-.dollars..
Durable goods
—do
Nondurable goods
do
Factory average hourly earnings:
U. 8. Dept. of Labor (90 industries)—.do
Durable goods
do
Iron and steel, etc., not incl. mchy.-do
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling
mills
dollars..
Hardware
_
do
Struct'I and ornam'l metal work.do
Tin cans and other tinware
do
Lumber and allied products
do.
Furniture
do
Lumber, sawmills
-_..do
Machinery. excL transp. equip
do
Agric'l implements (inch trac's) .do
Electrical machinery, etc
do
Engines, turbines, etc.
do
Foundry and machine-shop prod-do
Machine tools*
do
Radios and phonographs...
_do
Metals, nonferrous, and products..do
Brass, bronze, and copper prod-.do
Stone, clay, and glass products
do
Brick, tile, and terra cotta
do
Glass.
_._
do
Transportation equipment
^
do
Aircraft*..
...do.
Automobiles.
.. do.
Shipbuildin?*
do.__.
Nondurable poods.
do....
Chemical, petroleum, and coal products
dollars-Chemicals
do
Paints and varnishes
do
Petroleum refining
do
Rayon and allied products
do
Food and kindred products
do
Baking
,
do
Slaughtering and meat packing,-do
Leather and its manufactures..
do
Boots and shoes
do

100,208 88,5*3 127,938

104,749

30,290 30,032 37,722
43,145 31.465 59,874
14,424 14,575 16,283
4,170 4,248 5,361
8,179 8,233

30,103
48,816
13,340
4,267
8,223

41.2

39.8

41.1

40.3

33.69
38.65
26.90

27.89
31.96
23.09

32.89
'37.92
' 26.11

'32.80
' 37.05
'26.09

.787
,871
.894

.749
.780

.763
.854
.703
.602
.642
.572
.879
.924
.877
1.063
.858
.908
.722
.848
.918
.753
.667
.841
L035
.916
1.107
1.060
.695
.881
.941
.824
3.109
.797
.703
.695
.783
.649
.618

.770
.853
.877

.781
.865
.8S6

.85S
.681
.743
.038
.528
.552
.507
.761
.818
.766
.845
.755
.781
.626
.733
.80S
.680
.582
.764
.900
.756
.954
.895
,617

.969
.749
.852
'.708
.598
'.626
.578
.861
.923
'.860
1.019
.843
',876
'.701
.822
'.890
.744
'.655
.836
1.019
'.870
1.091
1.059

.977
.754
.839
.707
.602
.640
.573
.868
.919
.804
' 1.072
.849
.830
'.704
.831
'.894
.749
.657
'.844
1.042
'.902
1.116
' 1.070
.683

.766
.816
.741
.968
.694
.641
644
.080
.552
.526

'.861
'.925
'.808
'1.097
.773
.679
.675
.787
'.635
'. 605

' Revised.
9 Preliminary.
*New s& ies. See note on corresponding item in the January 1942 SUBVEY.




1940

1941

Decem Decem- October November
ber
ber

EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES-Continued

BUSINESS INDEXES—Continued
Mfrs. orders, shipments, and inventories*—Con.
Shipments, total
Jan. 1939=100Durable troqds....
_
do—
Automobiles and equipment
do—
Electrical machinery
do—
Other machinery
do
Iron and steel and their products
do
Trans, equip, (exc. automobiles)
do
Other durable goods
do
Nondurable poods
•—
do
Chemicals and allied products
—do
Food and kindred products
_.do
Paper and allied products
_
do.,..
Petroleum refining
do
Rubber products^
do
Tcxtile-milJ products
do
Other nondurable goods
do...
Inventories, total
avg. month 1939=100..
Durable goods
do. ...
Automobiles and equipment.._
do.--.
Electrical machinery
_
do
Othfr machinery
do.-..
Iron and steel and their products
do
Trans- equip, texcl. autos.)...
do...
Other durable goods. _-.do ...
Nondurable soods..
do
Chemicals and allied products,
do
Food and kindred products
do
Paper and allied products
do
Petroleum refining..
do
Rubber products
do
Tettile-mill products
:
do—.
Other nondurable goods
do

1941
Earlier data are available in monthly issues of the
Survey and the 1940 Supplement

'.875
.935
.818
1.111
.775
.695
.6SS
.793
'.644
'.614

Labor conditions—Continued.
Factory average hourly earnings—Continued.
U. S. Dept. of Labor (90 industries)—Con.
Nondurable goods—Continued.
0.855
Paper and printing
dollars.
.747
Paper and pulp
-do...
.880
Rubber products.
do...
1-072
Kubber tires and Inner tubes
do._.
.583
Textiles and their products
do...
Fabrics
do..571
Wearing apparel
do..».
.609
.530
Tobacco manufactures----do...,
CHEMICALS AND ALLIED PRODUCTS
Oleomargarine:
Consumption (tax-pd. wlthd'ls). thous. of Re- 33,754
production
..-do_... 34,638
Paint sales:
Calcimines, plastic, and cold-water paints:
Calcimines
thous. of bbl._
217
Plastic paints
do
47
Cold-water paints:
175
In dry form
do
In paste form
do
496
FUELS AND BYPRODUCTS
Coal.
Stocks, end of month:
In producers' storage yards
thous. of short tons.. 1,237
In selected retail dealers* yards
58
number of days' supply..
METALS AND MANUFACTURES
Steel, manufactured products:
Barrels and drums, steel, heavy types:
Orders, unfilled, end of month
thousands- 2,047
Production... . .
d o . . . . 1, S59
90.7
Percent of capacity
Shipments
thousands.. 1,851
34
Stocks, and of
month
do
Furniture, stp*1!:
Office furnituro:
Orders, new
—.thous. of dol.. 4,612
7,105
Orders, unfilled, end of month
do
4,338
Shipments
do
Shelving:
838
Orders, new
do
1,315
Orders, unfilled, end of month
do
1,058
Shipments..
do
Machinery and apparatus:
Electric overhead cranes:
Orders, new
thous. of dol.. 3,163
Orders, unfilled, end of month
d o . . . 14,654
2,216
Shipments
.do
Pumps and water systems, domestic shipments:
Pitcher, other hand, and windmill pumps
units.. 31,663
9S4
Power pumps, horizontal type-.
do....
Water systems, including pumps.
do . . 20,559
Pumps, steam, power, centrifugal, and rotnry:
Orders, new
thous. of dol.. 2,459
Fuel equipment and heating apparatus:
Oil burners:
Orders, new, net
_
number.. 23,225
Orders, unfilled, end of month
do.... IS,057
21,915
Shipments
:
do
Stocks, end of month
do.... 28,900
4fi
Pulverizers, orders, new
..do
Mechanical stokers, sales:
Classes 1, 2, and 3
do..— 8,303
'Classes 4 and fi:
289
Number..
72,229
Horsepower
PAPER AND PRINTING
Paperboard:
Consumption, waste paper
short tons.. 437.902
521,866
Orders, new
do
404,121
Orders, unfilled, end of month
do
Production
d o — 545,050
92.6
Percent of capacity
Waste paper stocks, at mills
short tons.. 186,522
TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT
Automobiles:
Financing:
Retail purchasers, total
thous. of dol.. 104,243
47,981
New cars
do
Used cars
do
55,836
426
Unclassified
do
198,295
Wholesale (mfrs. to dealers)
do
Retail automobile receivables outstanding,
end of month*
-_.mil. of dol.. 1,309
Registrations:
New passenger cars
number.. 174,188
41,006
New commercial cars..
do

0.799
.660
.784
.971
.507
.488
.544
.490

'0.834
'.732
.865
'1.060
.581
.666
'.611
.527

'0.841
'.733
'.876
' 1.075
.579
.567
'.604
.532

31,122
32,461

33,932
34,060

32,147
32,503

1.50
44

171

161
40

138
259

253
471

210
278

939

1,177

45

96

303

486
1.452
77.8
1,442
52

1,850
1,781
8&0
1,777
43

1,762
1,586
77.3
1,604
25

4,357
2,933
3.583

3.896
7,329
4,352

3,422
6,840
3,912

9S7
1,837
1,173

858
1.678
1,016

4,172
8,563
825

1.76?.
13,503
2,071

2.239
13,731
1,955

20,813
969
11,511

41.36f>
l,37fl
24,835

' 37,668
' 1,498
•20,222

4,042

2,304

2,368

17,01fi
8,043
16,535

27,451
18.3f.8
31,414
27,099
61

20,202
16,747
'21,813
27,304
43

'6,328

22,888

10,613

254
51,671

401
75,29*

204
53,020

275,353
193,026
115,143
107,629
70.7
269,755

464,446
595,634
446,033
583,668
98.9
189,163

419,770
527,829
433,788
536,646
98.5
167,424

160,956
93,350
67,065
541
253,778

106,680 94,902
50,074 44.426
56,303 50,140
336
303
198,874 194,258

844
658
790

1,166
334,073
51,095

1,435

1,379

165,485 163.126
41,352 35,985