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SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
WEEKLY SUPPLEMENT
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE
WASHINGTON, D. C, JULY 24, 1941
SUMMARY OF BUSINESS TRENDS
"DUSINESS
activity continues at a high rate although soir.e
-1-* weekly series indicate a rather slow return to the voluir.es
preceding the July 4 week. With growing shortages of both pig
iron and scrap being reported, the steel industry has averaged
less than 97 percent of capacity so far this month" compared
with an average above 99 percent during June. Neither bituminous nor anthracite production had reached June averages
in the week ending July 12, while freight carloadings of 876,000
cars in that week were still below those of the final weeks in
June. The expected tapering of the 1941 model year cut
automobile assemblies from 114,000 to 110,000 units in the week
ending July 19.
Detailed data now available show that large increases in
durable goods output were ir.ainly responsible for the rise in
industrial production during June. The Federal Reserve
-Board's^iljusteti-mtteir advanced to aJnew high of 156 from 150
in May, with half of the rise stemming from the fact that the
seasonal decline which usually begins in June is absent this year.
The adjusted index for durable goods output jumped 12 points
to 188 as particularly strong advances were made in steel,
machinery, aircraft, shipbuilding, and other industries closely
associated with defense. Nondurable output rose only a single
point to 137 for the smallest gain of recent months, while the
adjusted index for minerals production advanced from 127 to
132 over the period.
The tremendous stimulus to construction generated by defense
expansion is clearly evident in contract values reported by the
F. W. Dodge Corporation for both the month of June and the
first half of the current year. With increased public awards
offsetting a less-than-seasonal decline in those for private
account, June contracts totaling $539 million were only $10
million below those of the previous month when a record was
established for recent years. The value of all contracts in the
first 6 months of 1941 amounted to $2.5 billion compared with
$1.6 billion in the comparable period last year. Nonresidential
building scored the largest rise in both percentage and dollar
terms, awards of this type increasing from $468 million to $957
million over the two periods. Most of this gain reflects the
enlarged volume of factory construction stemming from the huge
investment demands of defense. Almost half of this year's nonresidential contracts represent factory building compared with
less than 25 percent contributed by this component in the first
half of 1940. The 6-month total for residential contracts
increased from $691 million in 1940 to $949 million this year,
while a similar comparison for public works and utilities shows
a rise from $465 million to $644 million.
While both private and public building have increased, the
wider public activity in the fields of defense plant construction,
public housing, and cantonment construction, has somewhat
increased the importance of public activity in the total. This
year's public contracts have comprised 45 percent of the total °»
against 39 percent during the first half of 1940.
SELECTED BUSINESS INDICATORS
STEEL INGOT PRODUCTION
80
60
40
20
ELECTRIC POWER PRODUCTION
(PERCENT OF CAFftCITY)
120
100
3.5
/
1941
2.5
V
"•1939
2.0
1
AUTOMOBILE
,'
,
1
.1939
1.5
.
PRODUCTION
(THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES)
BITUMINOUS COAL PRODUCTION
MISCELLANEOUS CAR LOADINGS
(DAILY AVERAGE-THOUSANDS OF TONS)
(THOUSANDS OF CARS)
WEEKLY WHOLESALE PRICE INDEX, ALL COMMODITIES
(1926* 100)
100
95
PRICES OF 350 INDUSTRIAL
140
/
85
1
80
•—>—1
60
INDUSTRIAL
(SEASONALLY ADJUSTED, I 9 3 5 - 3 9 M 0 0 )
,
120
20
401825-41
1939
, . 1 . . 1 . , 1 , , 15
1940
* 'l1
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
z
30
25
i,,
, . 1 . , 1 . . 1.1 ' ' ' ' ' 1 ' '
COTTON CONSUMPTION
35
^y
80
1938
M I M I . I I M
45
40
100
, , 1 , . 1 , , 1 , .. , i , , i , .
W
CDAILY AVERAGE-THOUSANDS OF BALES)
MONTHLY DATA
140
AJ
PRODUCTION
160
60
' JKONESDAY CLOSE
100
80
75
STOCKS
(INDEX, 1926-100)
120
90
180
(THOUSANDS OF CARS)
3.0
\ ^^1940
70
FREIGHT- CARLOADINGS
(BILLIONS OF KILOWATT HOURS)
4.0
1941
z:
. I • •
1938
1939
1940
111
1 I I I I 1 ' ' ' ' '
1941
WEEKLY BUSINESS INDICATORS*
[Weekly average, 1923-25= 100, except as indicated]
Business activity:!
New York Times§
12S. 6 130.5 132.8 131. 4 107..3 106.2 96.2 96.9
Barrons'
-_.
139.2 138.5jl39.0l38. 0 110.7 112.2 93.6 92.4
Business Week—.
.
159.Iil59.0 158.2 154. 6127.6127.5 101.9 100.4
Commodity prices, wholesale:
Dept. of Labor:
8S.1 87.7 87.7 87.2 77.6 77.9 75.2
Combined index, 1926=100.
85.0 84.1 84.2 83.0 67.3 68.0 62.2 63.3
Farm products,...'.
84.1 84.1 84.3 83.7 70.4 71.0 67.5 67.6
Fd
Allother
•....
89.0 82.4 82.4 80.4 80.4
89.5
28 basic commodities©
147.9 147.7 146.1 149.1 146.7 107.5 109.4
Fisher's index, 1926=100:
. Combined index
05.4 95.1 94.3 95.1 94.3 81.8 82.5 78.5 78.7
Copper, electrolytic!
85.5 85.5 85,5 85.5 85.5 76.8 76.8 72.5 71.7
Cotton, middling, spot
60.7 58.8 5fi.6 58.1 55.1 38.6 39.1 34.6 36.0
I8G.2 87.2
70.9
Construction contractst
Distribution:
92.0 77.7 95.4 93.0 76.6 77.3
70.3
Car loadings....
^..
93 86 109 107 72 78 67
73
Department store sales A
75.0
119.6
115.3
Employment, Detroit, factory- 71.0
Finance:
Bond yieldst- -57.2 57.2 57.4 57.5 57.7 61.7 62.0 63.3 63.6
1939
1940
1941
1939
1940
1941
July July July June June July July July July
19 12
5
28 21 20 13 22 15
July July July June June July July July Julj
15
19 12
5
28 21 20 13 22
Finance—Continued.
Stock pricesj
Banking:
Debits, outside N. Y. C.t...
Federal Reserve reporting
member banks:
Loans, total
,
Interest rates:
Call loanst
Time loan$t__
Currency in circulation?
,
Production;
Automobiles
Bituminous coal
^..
Cotton consumption!
Electric power of
Lumber
Petroleum*
_
Steel ingots®
Receipts, primary markets:
Cotton
Wheat
95.3 94.8 92.2 92.3 91.6 92.8 92.4 105.1 100.3
125.9117.5 143.1 121.1 133.9 102.2 90.8 9 L 1 89.0
84.2 83.6 83.6 82.6 82.1 68.1 67.7 64.9 65.1
24.2 24.2 24.2 24.2 24.2 24.2 24.2 24.2 24.2
28.6 28.6 28.6 28.6 28.6 28.6 28.6 28.6 28.6
198.6 199.4 199.6 195.9 194.4 162.1 162.5 144.7 145.3
139.8 145.4 122.7 162.7 169.9 67.4 82.9 67.6 81.3
93.0 79.6 108.3 100. S 76.1 80.7
69.1
193.8 195.2 183.2 132.7 133.2 124. 125.4
147. 5 134.6 146.5 143.5 125.9 124.5 111.t. 65 112.8
55.0- -46.0
54.4 47.2
- - 50.9
- - - 58.1
• • -56.3
- • 46.0
192.0 181.4 190.8 191.3 177.5 176. 6 177.7 175.1
171.0 170. 3 164.8 175. 7 174.2 148.9 148.2 96.9 85.4
66.2 46.2 48.5 58.8 74.2 23.
45.8 34.6
319.3 401.6 247.6 204. 6 135.3 337.6 390.9 296.8 414.5
• D a t a do hot cover calendar -weeks in all cases.
^Seasonably adjusted.
JDaily average.
d" Weekly average, 1935-39=100.
§ Computed normal=100. Index revised beginning Jan. 8,1938; revised data not given in the issue for Jan. 23,1941, and subsequent issues will be shown later.
® Index for week ended July 26 is 172.2. Data for 1941 are based on production of steel ingots and steel for castings.
©Thursday prices: August 1939=100
/\ Weekly average. 1935-39«100. The index is compiled by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; it is not adjusted for seasonal variations.
WEEKLY BUSINESS STATISTICS*
1941
COMMODITY PRICES, WHOLESALE
Copper, electrolytic, New Yorkt__
dol, p e r l b . .
Cotton, middling, spot, New York
•_'
..do.
Food index (Dunn <fe Bradstreet)
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
U. 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 fully guaranteed by U. S. Govern*
mont
--~mil. of doL.
Loans, total§
do....
Commercial, industrial, and agricultural loans §
mil. of dol-.
Interest rates, call loans*
:_.,_
percent-Interest rates, tirnt1 IoansJ.
_
_do _.
Exchange rates: Pound sterling*
dollars
Failures, commercial
.numbor.Currency in circulation}
mil. of dol_.
Security markets:
Bond sales (N. Y. S. U.)
thous. of dol. par value..
Bond yields (Moody's) (120 bonds)t
.
percent
Stock sales (N. Y. S. E,)
__.. thous. of shares'
Stock prices (N. Y. Times)t
dol. per share
Stock price* {Standard and Poor's) (420)....192G»100 Industrials (350)...
do. "
Public utilities (40)
....do.
Railroad (30)
do.
. aly 19
July 12
0.118
.Io5
0.118
.160
3.09
38.15
5,835
1940
1939
1938
June 28
Juno 21
July 20
July 13
July 22
July 15
July 23
0.118
.154
3.06
38.15
0.118
.158
3.08
38.15
0.118
.150
2.99
3S.15
.94
0.106
.105
2.23
37.57
.63
0.106
.107
2.24
37.68
.70
0.100
.094
2.14
35.86
.65
0.099
.098
2.16
35.85
.65
0,095
.088
2.46
36.30
.70
0.095
.087
2.46
36.27
.71
3,166
4,539
4, 936
6,636
3,518
5,614
4,310
6,210
3,386
4,739
2,144
351
2,745
4,224
2,872
4,128
3,431
4,056
3,238
3,830
2,294
2,184
13,223
5,336
2,249
2,184
12,971
5,124
2,273
?, 184
13,125
5,265
2,249
2,184
12,985
5,145
2,501
2,450
13,863
6,882
2,491
2,450
13,764
2,537
2,515
10,412
4,485
2,569
2,535
10,350
4,447
2,585
2,564
8, £02
3,039
2, M)6
2,564
8,273
3,153
24,260
5,416
18,054
11,285
23,920
5,425
18,028
11,259
23,949
5,419
17,872
11,255
24,046
5,410
17,955
11,274
2,241
2,184
13,131
5,314
23,872
5,407
17,893
11,249
20,932
5,316
15,226
9,229
20,824
5,321
15,222
9,226
17,387
5,223
13,909
8,505
17,368
5,224
13,892
8,493
15,127
5,208
12,410
7,696
14,994
5,209
12,237
7,730
3,221
10,523
3,212
10,453
3.038
10,453
3,030
10,324
3,038
10,262
2,415
8,517
2,416
8,461
2,159
8,116
2,153
8,131
1,622
8,208
1,505
8,231
5,988
1.25
* 4.032
193
9,646
5,933
1.00
1.25
M.030
184
9.0S3
5,895
1.00
1.25
M.03I
216
9,695
5,825
1.00
1.25
M.030
229
9,515
5,792
1.00
1.25
•4.032
230
9,439
4,464
1.00
1.25
•3.828
2S8
7,874
4,447
.1.00
1.25
«3.727
3.885
1.00
1.25
4.929
261
4.682
251
7,029
3,878
1.00
1.25
4.920
7,890
3,887
1.00
1.25
4.682
272
7,054
6,439
41,530
3.30
3,0] 4
92.57
79.0
93.4
70.3
27.8
51,030
3.30
5,294
92.04
78.9
93.3
70.1
27.8
28,520
3.31
1,657
89. f,l
76.2
89.7
69.2
26.7
51,590
3,32
2,704
89.60
76.1
89.5
69.3
26.8
31,410
3.33
2,259
88.95
76.1
89.4
70.0
26.6
23,730
3.56
1,635
90.16
76. S
88.1
80.6
24.6
24,010
3.58
1,527
89.69
76.0
87.0
80.2
24,3
36,710
3.65
7,538
102.06
88.8
104.1
86.1
26.8
27,860
3.67
50,230
4.15
10,819
100.89
90.7
108.6
77.8
29.4
6,458
37,850
4.20
8,038
96.6S
87.2
104.4
76.0
26.8
38.15
..97
1.00
July 5
1.00
1.25
3,317
97.38
85.7
100.0
85.3
25.4
PRODUCTION, CONSTRUCTION, AND
DISTRIBUTION
Production:
Automobiles^
_
number.. 109,912
114,318
96,457 127,926 133,565
63,910
65,176
53,020
34,570
53,128
Bituminous coalj
thous. of short tons
1,583
1,355
1,845
1,177
1,374
1,717
1,290
1,188
986
Electric powerAmil. of ktf-hr
3,141
2,867
2,403
2,652
3,056
3,121
2,681
2,378
2,153
Petroleumj
..thous. ofbbl__
3,658
3,871
3,530
3,561
3,858
3,580
3,847
3,584
3,349
Steelingots®.
pet. of capacity..
93.7
96.8
49.7
86.4
99.0
86.8
56.4
69.9
36.4
97.2
Construction contract awards!
thous. of dol
29,893
11,384
8,665
14,371
13,401
13,093
Distribution:
876,165 740,493 908,664 885. 558 729,897 736, 783 651,665
Freight-carloadings, total
cars..
580,818
161,068 106,606 184,907 174,689 131,436 137,320 113,363 113,076
Coal and coke.
_
...do
97,462
44, 252
Forest products
_
do
46,404
37,287
31,426
32,522
26,764
31,015
34,315
43,555
62, C97
Grains and grain products
do
52,931
50,921
56,457
53, 341
52,5flO
46,574
10,177
Livestock
.
,
do
11,844
9,470
7,970
11,627
11,201
11,574
10, 568
9,089
154,133 138,616 159,300 159, 765 147,933 146,080 152,310 150, 553 146, 219
Merchandise, 1. c. 1
do.I..
81,104
Ore
._
do
73,025
71,756
69,633
22,105
44,877
42,596
70,866
75,661
Miscellaneous......
do _.
362,734 327,337 3S2.627 376,225
284,651 252,911 258, 780 223,726
Receipts:
Cattle and calvesf
thousands.
187
156
191
194
216
Hogsf
__do—_
289
316
195
251
261
Cotton into sight
...thous. of bales..
172
64
120
126
393
90
153
119
61
Wheat, at primary markets
thous. of bu_.
25, 397
31,096
31,947
19,697
32,976
26,854
10,761
16.277
22,691
23.610
iDaily average.
•Data do not cover calendar weeks in all cases.
^Source: Ward's Automotive Reports.
* Free rate.
§Data for 1938 not strictly comparable with data for later years; see note on corresponding data shown on p. 51 of the 1940 Supplement.
g R a t e for week ended July 26 is 97.9; data for 1941 are based on capacity Dec. 31,1940, of open-hearth, Bessemer, and electric ingots and steel for castings.
tEeceipts at Buffalo and Cincinnati are now included and receipts at Oklahoma City and Wichita, formerly included, are omitted.
AData revised beginning in the June 19,1941, issue to include certain additional governmental and industrial power generation not previously reported.
July 16
44,510
972
2,154
3,343
32.3
8,276
602,445
93,941
28,375
63,022
12,510
145,353
24,312
234,932
56
31,626
MONTHLY BUSINESS STATISTICS
Earlier data are available in monthly issues of
the Survey and the 1940 Supplement
1941
1940
June
June
BUSINESS INDEXES
Industrial production (Federal Reserve) :f
P156
Unadjusted, combined index.. 1935-39=100..
pl6l
Manufactures
_
do
P192
Durable manufactures
_
do
P179
Iron and steel
_
do
*139
Lumber and products*
do.
P151
Furniture*
do.
P133
Lumber*.
do.
P218
Machinery*
...do
P190
Nonferrous metals*
do
P167
Stone, clay, and glass products*.do
149
Polished plate glass
do
P223
Transport ation equipment*
do
P891
Aircraft*
do.
P167
Automobiles
do.
P285
Locomotives*
do.
P236
Railroad cars*
_.do.
P402
Shipbuilding*
.do.
P137
Nondurable manufactures.
do.
P 133
Chemicals*.
_.do____
P118
Leather and products
do
Shoes*....
do....
120
P123
Manufactured food products*-.-do
P118
Meat packing...
_
do
Paper and products*
._
do,.
(°)
P121
Printing
and publishing*
do,.
191
Rubber products*
„_
.do
P155
Textiles and products
do
- - - C otton consumption*. ~... _ - _~. do . . . .— -160
P172
Rayon deliveries*.. ._
..do
p 66
Silk deliveries*...
____I__do..-.
P162
Wool textile production*
do....
P131
Minerals
do...
*124
Fuels*
_do—
P116
Anthracite.
.
do...
P133
Bituminous coal..
_
do...
P121
Crude petroleum
do...
P175
Metals*..
do...
P!50
Copper*
do...
149
Zinc
do....
P156
Adjusted, combined index
do
P160
Manufactures
do
P188
Durable manufactures
do
P182
Iron and steel
_
do
P134
Lumber and products*
do...,
P156
Furniture*
do...,
P123
Lumber*
_.do—
»216
Machinery*
.do
»190
Nonferrous metals*
do...,
»146
Stone, clay, and glass products*.do._..
152
Polished plate glass
.—_-.do
P210
Transportation equipment*-,,, -do.,.
P874
Aircraft*..
do...
P155
Automobiles
do
»274
Locomotives*
-.do
P2U
Railroad cars*
.do_...
P386
Shipbuilding*
do
*>137
Nondurable manufactures
.do
»140
Chemicals*
do
P129
Leather and products
do
136
Shoes*
...do
P122
Manufactured food products*.-.do
P122
Meatpacking
_
do
Paper and products*
do
P122
Printing and publishing*:
do
191
Rubber products*
do
P162
Textiles and products
do
168
Cotton consumption*,.
do
»189
Rayon deliveries*...
do
P73
SUk deliveries*—
do....
P163
Wool textile production*
do...
P132
Minerals.
do...,
P130
Fuels"
.
.
do...
P126
Anthracite
_
do...-_
Bituminous coal 1~...:_.„__7- .do"... "j» 154
P121
Crude petroleum..
do...
P144
Metals*
do...
*153
Copper*
do...
152
Zinc
do
COMMODITY PRICES
121
122
134
151
116
110
119
129
130
129
79
131
371
114
106
124
176
112
110
88
89
116
123
130
119
117
101
108
131
51
88
118
111
104
100
116
161
140
116
121
122
131
154
111
113
110
128
130
112
80
122
364
106
102
111
170
114
116
06
101
115
126
132
120
117
107
114
144
56
89
••119
116
••116
116"
116
134
143
118
1941
April
142
150
176
171
130
135
128
195
194
142
142
190
801
139
266
196
352
129
134
117
123
111
119
139
123
157
150
160
158
73
152
96
87
76
19
116
149
156
151
140
147
167
160
132
139
128
192
186
142
142
164
801
110
279
173
339
131
130
114
117
122
126
134
117
158
155
156
171
73
165
101
86
71
May
Earlier data are available in monthly issues of
the Survey and the 1940 Supplement
COMMODITY PRICES—Continued
Wholesale prices—Continued.
Commodities other than farm products and
••153
foods—Continued.
••157
••185
Building materials
1926=100..
••172
Brick and tile.
do...
Cement.
_.
do-..
M34
'142
Lumber
_
.-.do...
'130
Chemicals and allied products
do
••206
Chemicals
do
rl96
Drugs and Pharmaceuticals
do
Fertilizer
materials
do
164
Fuel and lighting materials
do
142
'215
Gas
do
••849
Petroleum products.
do
M64
Hides and leather products
do
••280
Hides and skins
do
'218
Leather
_
do...
'379
Shoes
,
do...
r 136
House-furnishing goods
do._.
'133
Furnishings
..do...
'121
Furniture.
_
do
'123
Metals and metal products
..do
'119
Iron and steel
-do
132
Metals, nonferrous
__do
141
Plumbing and heating equipment
'126
1926-100.,
162
Textile products
do._.
157
Clothing...
.do...
164
Cotton goods...—i_____.._i.-_
do—.
168
Hosiery and underwear
—do...
'67
Rayon*
do—.
165
Silk*
do....
'128
Woolen and worsted goods
do
120
Miscellaneous
..do....
88
Automobile tires and tubes
do
126
Paper and pulp..
do
120
Wholesale prices of individual commodities:
'181
Brick, common, composite (f. o. b. plant)
dol. perthous..
159
Coal:
150
'150
Anthracite, chest, comp.
'154
dol. per short ton..
'176
Bituminous, mine run, comp
do....
'165
Bituminous, prepared sizes, comp_-do.__.
'132
Coffee, Rio No. 7 (N. Y.)_-_
do...
'151
Cotton, middling (N. Y.)-~~do.~
••122
Cotton cloth:
'202
Mill margins
.cents per lb.
Print cloth, 64 x 60.
_dol. psr yd.
191
Sheeting, unbleached, 4 x 4
do...
141
Cotton yarn:
142
'194
22/1 cones (factory)...
..dol. per lb_
'832
40/s, southern, Boston
.do...
Cottonseed oil, refined, summer, yellow,
141
'280
prime (N. Y.)
dol. per lb.
rl93
Dairy products:
'361
Butter, 92 score (N. Y.)
.do...
Cheese, No. 1 Amer. (N. Y.)_.
do...
136
'134
'123
'126
'123
132
141
'122
162
'162
164
189
'71
168
127
123
22
80
149
113
191
150
147
117
154
161
150
Condensed (sweetened) (N. Y.)
dol. per case.
Evaporated (unsweet'd) (N. Y.)..do...
Fluid, dealers', stand, gr.dol. per 100 lb .,
Flax-seed, No. 1 (Mpls.)
dol. per bu.
Grain and grain products:
Corn:
No. 3 yellow (Chicago)
do—
No. 3 white (Chicago)
do_~
Weighted av., 5 mkts, all grades.. .do.—
Wheat:
No. 1, Dark Nr. Spring (Mpls.)._.do...
No. 2, Red Winter (St. Louis).—do...
No. 2, Hard Winter (K. C.)
do...
Weighted av., 6 mkts, all grades..do...
Wheat flour: "
Standard patents (Mpls.)..dol. per bbl.
Winter straights (K. C.)
do—
Hides:
Packers', heavy, native steers.dol. per lb.
Calfskins, packers, 8 to 15 lb
do—
Iron and steel:
Pig iron:
Basic (valleyfurnace).dol. per long tonComposite
—
-do—
Foundry No. 2, northern (Pitts)..do...
Steel:
Composite finished steel...~dol. per lb.
Steel billets, rerolling (Pittsburgh)
dol. per long ton.
Structural steel (Pitts.)
dol. per lb.
Steel scrap (Chicago)..dol. per long ton.
Lard, in tierces:
Prime, contract (N. Y.)
dol. per lbRefined (Chicago)
do—
1941
1940
June
June
1941
April
101.0
92.5
91.9
117.6
83.8
87.2
99.9
69.9
77.9
(*)
69.9
107.8
112.4
97.9
111.7
93.1
99.0
87.0
98.3
96.5
84.5
92.4
90.2
90.6
94.8
76.1
85.1
82,2
67.4
71.4
87.4
50.0
99.2
81.9
92.4
107-9
88.5
94.9
81.7
94.7
94.3
81.2
100.1
91.7
91.0
116.7
81.8
86.4
97.5
71.0
72.9
78.1
51.9
103.9
104.7
95.6
107.8
90.4
97.1
83.4
97.9
95.9
84.3
100.4
91.9
91.5
116.8
83.6
86.8
98.7
71.1
75.6
80.1
55.3
106,4
110.3
96.9
110.1
91.4
98.0
84.3
98.1
96.1
84.4
83.1
84.5
91.6
94.6
61.9
29.5
51.2
94.6
80.6
58.8
98.0
80.5
72.6
85.3
68.4
61.6
29.5
46.1
83.7
77.3
58.2
91.7
83.0
81.0
88.7
86.8
61.1
29.5
48.3
93.3
78.6
58.8
94.5
83.0
83.0
90.9
91.0
61.3
29.5
49.1
94.1
79.6
58.8
96.7
12.483
12.116
12.323
12.404
9.807
4.570
4.663
.082
.144
9.333
4.264
4.231
.053
.107
9.779
4.547
4.618
.075
.129
21.84
.088
.093
10.68
.046
.057
9.799
4.T
4.533
.068
.113
19.81
.072
.084
.365
.433
.219
.321
.338
.419
.115
.060
.22
.27
.16
.19
.36
.21
5.40
3.45
2.29
1.87
5.00
3.05
2.18
1.78
5.00
3.23
2.27
1.93
5.00
3.43
2.27
1.87
.74
.82
.71
.66
.77
.66
.72
.67
1.01
1.02
.97
.82
.87
.76
.78
5.42
4.77
.153
.234
20.85
.430
.105
.72
.78
4.64
119
.95
.93
.87
.90
5.01
3.93
5.32
132
.105
,187
.137
.240
.147
.245
23.50
24.15
25.89
23.50
24.15
25.89
22.50
23.50
Cost of living (TJ. S. Dept. of Labor):
23.15
24.15
102.2
100.5
102.9
104.6
Combined index*
1935-39=100..
2189
25.89
102.7
102.3
101.7
103.3
Clothing*
do...
102.1
98.3
100.6
105.9
Food
_
..do...
.0265
101.0
98.6
100.9
101.4
Fuel, electricity, and ice*
do...
102.9
102.2
100.1
105.3
House furnishings*
..do...
34.00
3100
105.8
105.4
104.6
105.8
Rent*
do...
.0210
.0210
102.5
102.2
100.6
103.3
Miscellaneous*
...do...
18.19
18.75
Wholesale prices (Dept. of Labor indexes):
77.5
84.9
83.2
87.1
Combined index (813 quotations) .1926=100.
.060
.101
Economic classes:
.065
.112
87.1
80.5
85.5
88.6
Finished products
.
do
79.7
70.7
77.5
83.6
Raw materials
do
.340
.370
Sole
oak,
scoured
backs
(Boston)_«.do
86.4
77.9
85.1
87.6
Semimanufactures
.do
Chrome, calf, B grade, black, composite
76.4
66.2
74.4
82.1
Farm products
do....
.455
.518
dol. per sq. ft.
74.5
64.4
70.9
75.9
Grams
.do
.099
.108
Linseed oil (N. Y.)
dol. per lb88.0
64.7
86.2
93.0
Livestock and poultry
do
86.6
85.0
79.8
8S.0
Commodities other than farm prod.*.do__.,
9.69
10.62
Beer
steers
(Chicago)
dol.
per
1001b.
79.5
77.9
70.3
83.1
Foods...
do...
10.33
11.88
Steers, corn-fed
—
...do...
81.6
81.0
72.2
84.3
Dairy products.
do..,
9.59
11.13
Calv&s,
vealers._...-d
o
.
.
.
64.0
73.9
63.8
73.0
Fmits and vegetables
do
5.04
9.88
Hogs, heavy (Chicago)
do...
87.2
70.7
85.6
90. S
Meats...
do....
3.84
4-10
Sheep,
ewes
(Chicago)
do—
Commodities other than farm products
10.16
11.13
Sheep, lambs (Chicago).
..do...
87.4
88.6
82.2
85.9
and foods...
1926=100.
*New series. See note on corresponding item in the July 1941
»• Revised.
* Preliminary.
• Data for May are the latest available.
fRevised series. See note on corresponding item in the July 1941 Survey.
May
.98
.97
.90
.94
.0265
.0265
34.00
.0210
18.95
3100
.0210
18.75
.097
.095
.106
.367
.375
.495
.107
.503
.108
10.67
12.31
11.34
8.42
6.75
9.88
10.23
11.97
11.34
8.97
181
10.44
Survey.
MONTHLY BUSINESS STATISTICS—Continued
Earlier data are available in monthly issues of
the Survey.and the 1940 Supplement
b.
1941
1940
June
June
1941
April
May
Earlier data are available in monthly issues of
the Survey and the 1940 Supplement
1941
1940
June
June
1941
April
COMMODITY PRICES—Continued
FINANCE—Continued
Wholesale prices, Individ'1 commod.—Con.
Fecurity markets:
Lumber:
New York Stock Exchange:
Douglas fir:
Bonds:
Dimension, No. 1, common*
Prices:
dol. per M bd. ft_ 24.010 21.560 24.010 24.010
Average price of all listed bonds
Flooring, " B " and better, F. G., 1 x 4,
90.14
dollars.
94.80
94.32
R. L.*_.__
...dol. per M bd. ft.. 35.280 26.460 35.280 35.280
94.93
Domestic
_
_do.__
98.60
98.25
Southern pine
flooring.
d o — 49.143 40.865 48.570 48.213
Foreign
do...
47.79
47.01
, Ponderosa pine. 1x8, No. 2, common (f. o. b.
Value, issues listed:
mills)
dol. per M bd. ft.. 33.310 28.490 33.680 33.220
56,159 52,879 55,678
Face value, all issues
mil. of dol_
Meats:
51,952 48,347 51,416
Domestic
.
do._.
Beef, fresh, native steers (Chicago.)
.175
4,532
4,207
Foreign
do._.
.175
.165
4,262
.170
dol. per lb__
.248
.256
53, 237 47,666 52,518
Market
value,
all
issues.
__do...173
.Hams, smoked (Chicago)
.
_.do
51,227 45,894 50,515
Domestic
do...
Nonferrous metals and products:
.1100
.1100
Foreign
__do._.
.1100
1,771
2,010
2,003
Aluminum scrap, castings (N. Y.)..do
2
Stocks:
.1182
.1181
.1113
Copper, electrolytic (N. Y.)
do
Prices:
Lead, refined, pig, desilverized (N. Y.)
Average price of all listed shares
.0585
.0585
.0585
.0500
dol. per lb..
.5216
.5267
Dec. 31,1924=100.
.5196
.5454
53.1
54.0
Tin, Straits (N. Y.)_..___.
...do....
51.4
.0725
Shares
listed:
.0725
.0725
.0624
Zinc, prime western (St. Louis)
do
Market value, all listed shares
.195
.185
.195
.195
Brass sheets, mill
do.
mil. of doL
38,775 37,711
Oleomargarine, stand., uncolored (Chi.)
Number of shares listed
millions.
.130
.133
.130
1,450
1,463
1,463
.120
dol. per lb..
Petroleum and products:
FOREIGN TBADE
. Crude petroleum (Kansas-Okla.) at wells
1.035
Indexes:
.960
1.010
dol. perbbl.. 1.110
Exports:
.048
.053
.039
.045
Fuel oil (Pennsylvania)*
doh per gal..
Total:
.143
.149
.135
.127
Gasoline, tank wagon (N. Y.)f
do
Value, unadjusted
1923-25 -100.
.058
.053
.048
.049
102
92
. Gasoline, refining (Okla.)
do
Value, adjusted
.do...
104
107
Kerosene, water white, 47°, refinery (Penn.054
.051
.057
U. S. merchandise, unadjusted:
.054
sylvania)
dol. per gaL.
.103
.143
.123
Quantity-_.
do...
.100
146
136
Lubricants, cylinder, re. (Penn.)
do
2.194
2.363
Value
do_.
1.590 1.700
101
Potatoes, white (N. Y.)
dol. per 1001b..
Unit value
do...
Rayon, viscose, 150 denier, first quality,
Imports:
.530
.530
.530
minimum
filament*
dol. per lb..
Total:
.239
.219
.222
.228
Rubber, crude, smokd. sheets (N, Y.).. do
3.019
Value, unadjusted
do...
2.724
2.834 2.886
Silk, raw, Japanese, 13-15 (N.Y,)
do....
.034
.027
.035
Value, adjusted
do...
.034
Sugar, raw, 96°, centrifugal (N. Y.)
do.._.
82
.044
.050
.049
Imports for consumption, unadjusted:
.050
Sugar, refined, granulated (N. Y.)
do
3.34
3.40
3.46
Quantity...
1923-25=100.
109
3.46
143
Wood pulp, sulphite, unbl-.dol. per 100lb..
Value
do...
64
86
Wool:
1.0750
Unit value
do...
1.0750 1.0750
.8812
60
59
Raw, territory, fine scoured...dol. per lb_.
. 457i>
.3875
.4510 .4500 Value:
Raw, Ohio and Penn. fleeces.. do
Exports, total, incl. reexports.thous. of dol.
350,458 385,454
Suiting, unfinished worsted, 13 oz. (at
1.931
2.030
By grand divisions and countries:
2.030
2.030
mill)
dol. peryd..
Africa
do,._
12, 325 28,354
Women's dress goods, French serge, 54"
1.275
1.114
1.312
53,755 64,092
Asia and Oceania
do...
1.262
• (at rnill)^
dol. per yd—
15,421
Japan
do...
8,419
Worsted yarn, 2/32's, crossbred stock (Bos1.594
1.250
1.638
Europe...
do...
1.550
144.813 145,964
ton)
...dol. per lb..
United Kingdom
do...
77,868 127,623
CONSTRUCTION AND SEAL ESTATE
North America, northern
do...
07,679 72,137
Canada
do...
66,790 70,813
Value of contracts awarded (F. R. indexes):
'121
North America, southern._
..do...
130
117
26,924
Total, unadjusted
1923-25=100_.
105
'104
93
Mexico
do._.
6, 536 13,193
Residential, unadjusted
do
112
South America
do...
'101
103
44,961 36,681
Total, adjusted
..do
Argentina
do...
80
'88
14,759
5,858
Residential, adjusted
do
Brazil
do...
10. 641 10,505
Contract awards:
Chile
do...
F, W. Dodge Corp. (37 States):
4,244
4,107
General imports, total
do...
Construction, total value._. thous. of dol__ 539,106 324,726 406,675 548,700
211,390 287,550
406,090 227,269 309,766 403,766
By grand divisions and countries:
Building, total value
do.
589,221 252,763 381,563 409,371
Africa
do.__
9,209 12,345
Engineering construction (E.N. R.)§..do
Asia and Oceania
do.._
72,720 97,837
Highway construction:
Japan..
.do...
8,972 11,020
Concrete pavement contract awards:
7,782
8,776
35,876 35,793
Europe
do...
5,042
6,756
Totalt—
thous. sq. yd__
15,426 15,049
2,804
3,112
United Kingdom
do...
1,358
468
- Airports*
.do
37,802 40,189
3,425
3,878
North America, northern
do...
2,087
4,575
• Roads. •
__
do
37,164 39,357.
1,553
1,786
1,596
1,713
Canada
do...
Streets and alleys
do
28,491 39,787
North
America,
southern
do...
Construction cost indexes:
10,330
9,237
Mexico
do...
American Appraisal Co.:f
27,292 61,597
215
South America
__
do...
202
215
213
Average, 30 cities
1913=100_.
4,743 15,718
214
Argentina
do...
191
214
213
• Atlanta...
±
do
7,579 15,944
231
BraziL.
do...
220
231
230
New York
do
3,590 10,848.
196
Chile
_
do—
184
197
196
San Francisco
do
218
208
219
216
St. Louis
i
.do
195
188
195
' 19G
FOODSTUFFS AND TOBACCO
Assoc. Gen. Contractors (all types)....do
256.8
242.2
255.6
258.2
Engineering News Record (all types)__do
Livestock:
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND
Cattle and calves:
WAGES
1,624
1,462
Receipts, principal mkts. thous. of animals.
Labor conditions:
Disposition:
Average weekly hours per worker in factories:
857
1,025
Local
slaughter
do
955
40.8
40.0
37.5
U. S. Dept. of Labor (90industries).hours..
(•)
574
637
595
Shipments, total
do
Wages:
Hogs:
Factory average weekly earnings, U. S.
2,305
2,610
2,650
Receipts, principal markets
do....
30.69
29.16
25.79
Dept. of Labor (90 industries)....dollars..
Disposition:
Factory average hourly earnings:
1,981
1,707
1,927
Local slaughter
.do
.726
.672
.708
U. S. Dept. of Labor (90 industries).do
<*)
5S2
623
718
Shipments, total
..do
Sheep and lambs:
FINANCE
1,779
1,618
1,687
Receipts* principal markets
do
Banking:
Disposition:
Bank debits, total (141 cities)..thous. of dol.. 42,135 31,960 38,731 39,919
972
933
915
Local slaughter
do....
17,282
13,110 15,657 16,124
New York-City
^
do
834
648
779
Shipments, total
do
Outside Now York City
do.-.. 24,853 .18,850 23,074 23,795
Life insurance:
RUBBER AND PRODUCTS
Association of Life Insurance Presidents:
Crude rubber:
Insurance written®
84,912 47,834 71,374
714
812
784
738
•Policies and certificates
.thousands..
Consumption, total
long tons.
37
35
24
33
Group
..do—.
Stocks:
175,499 119,138 153,484
516
446
502
459
Industrial
.do.-.,
Afloat for United States—
do... 339,103
154,313 329,767
259
233
259
.246
Ordinary
__
..do.,—
United States
do™
Value, total
...thous. of dol_. 649,617 597,450 661,627 660,075 Reclaimed rubber:
22,559 15,163 20,427
Group...,
do-..~ 64,450 48,946 51,096 49,812
Consumption.,
do.-.
23,790 16,581 21,574
135,633 128,232 147,462 151,391
Industrial
„
....
.do
Production
do.-36,265 27.701 35.336
449. 534 420, 272 463,069 458,872
Ordinary
.
do
Stocks, end of month
.....do...
'Revised.
*New series. See note on corresponding item in the July 1941 Survey.
* Data for May latest available.
t Revised series. See note on corresponding item in the July 1941 Survey.
§ Data for May 1941 are for 5 weeks; other months, 4 weeks.
C$40 companies through 1940 and 39 companies in 1941 having 82 percent of total life insurance outstanding in all United States legal reserve companies.
U. S . GOVERNMENT TRINTING OFFICEi
May
94.22
98.08
47.67
55,534
51, 278
4,255
52,322
50,293
2,029
51.5
37,815
1,463
101
108
147
101
92
90
142
384,636
36,925
71,078
6,621
110,409
103,22$
81,165
79,611
42,071
13, 770
42,989
7,698
13,177
4.214
296,930
14,075
115,240
10,869
23,355
9,576
' 49,506
.. 48,192
38, 70G
8,365
56,048
14,437
17,167
8,200
1,647
1,013
624
2,564
1,974
587
1,928
1,079
853
'71,365
147,459
359,234
'21,405
22,775
'35.871
@FedFRASER