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SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
WEEKLY SUPPLEMENT
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE
WASHINGTON, D. C, JUNE 25, 1942
SUMMARY OF BUSINESS TRENDS
YX/"AR Production Board officials announce that the battle for
production is being won as output continues to increase
under the stimulus of the war program. Revisions of the
Federal Reserve seasonally adjusted index of industrial production now reveal that there was a 1-point set back in March
which, however, was followed by a clear recovery of 2 points in
April. The resumed forward movement was further extended
in May according to preliminary estimates indicating that the
May index reached 176 (1935-39=100), up 3 points from April
and 14 percent from a year ago.
The output of durable manufactured goods (a group in which
consumer goods now form an almost negligible, and war goods
a major, portion) increased 7 points or 3 percent from April and
26 percent from last May. Among the major industrial groups,
the manufacture of transportation equipment (which includes
airplanes and ships) increased the most—nearly 8 percent in a
single month. In contrast, the May output of nondurable
goods (largely civilian) remained stationery at the March and
April level and was up only 3 percent from a year ago. Textiles
and textile products, leather goods, and manufactured foods
output declined slightly from April. The nondurable goods
index is now 5 points below its peak of 144 reached last November.
The General Maximum Price Regulation has been in effect
since May 11 for wholesale prices and since May 18 for retail
prices. Data now available indicate that the price advance is
definitely being retarded. Inasmuch as a number of price
groups are excluded from control it has generally been expected
that both wholesale and cost-of-living prices, on the average,
would continue to rise in some degree over the highest levels
attained during March.
For the week ended June 13, the weekly general wholesale
price index of the Bureau of Labor Statistics was 98.4 percent of
the 1926 average, up 1 percent from the highest March weekly
average, but down slightly from the peak reached late in May.
This index now stands at approximtely the mid-April average.
Compared with the highest March prices, food prices were up
4 percent, and prices of farm products, leather, textiles, metals,
and chemicals were up fractionally. The prices of building
materials, however, were slightly below the March prices.
The index of the cost of living of the Bureau of Labor Statistics
for May reached 116 (1935-39=100), an increase of 1.5 percent
from March and an increase of a little less than 1 percent from
April. All the major groups show some increase over March
with clothing and food prices leading the rise. Ceiling prices on
services do not go into effect until the first of next month.
SELECTED BUSINESS INDICATORS
STEEL INGOT PRODUCTION
TOTAL FREIGHT CARLOADINGS
ELECTRIC POWER PRODUCTION
(PERCENT OF CAPACITY)
140
(20
(THOUSANDS OF CARS)
(BILLIONS OF KILOWATT HOURS)
4.5
4.0
1942^
100
r^ y
80
^
60
40
3.5
3.0
2.5
,
.
1
.
.
1
• i
l
l
.
2.0
CRUDE OIL RUNS - T O - STILLS
{MILLIONS OF BARRELS- DAILY AVERAGE)
5.0
2500
4.5
2000
4.0
1500
3.5
1000
• /340
3.0
2.5
500
(
if.
•
r
1
BITUMINOUS COAL PRODUCTION
(DAILY AVERAGE-THOUSANDS OF TONS)
A
A
1940 J
1941 -
O
COMMERCIAL LOANS
F. H.A. HOME MORTGAGES
(BILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
(NUMBER SELECTED FOR APPRAISAL ON HOMES TO BE BUILT)
WEEKLY WHOLESALE PRICES
(1926-100)
120
no
100
—
=
*
90
-
^-1942
1941
80
1940 ~*
COST OF LIVING
(1935-39* 100)
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION
200
(SEASONALLY ADJUSTED, 1935-39 » IQO)
125
MONTHLY DATA
130
120
160
115
140
MIO
120
105
100
80
1939
466448-42
.
70
2000
z
100
. , 1 . . 1 . . 1 . .
1940
.. 1 . . 1 . . 1 . .
1941
.. t . .
1 . . 1 . ,
1942
95
l . i l . r l ,
•
'
•
•
!
•
•
1940
'
•
•
!
•
.
>
.
.
t
.
x.
WEEKLY BUSINESS INDICATORS-8-
2
[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. 24-23, of the November 1941 SURVEY]
Business activity; J
New York Times§
Barron's, 1923-25=100
Business Week§, 1923-25=100
Commodity prices, wholesale:
Dept. of Labor:
Combined index, 1926=100,
Farm products
Food....
Allother
28 basic commodities©...'_ _
Fisher's index, 1926=100:
Combined index
__.
Copper, electrolytic!
Cotton, average, 10 marketst...
Construction contracts}
Distribution:
Carloadings
June June June May May June June June June
22 15
20
13
6 30 23 21 14
June June
22
15
Distribution—Continued.
Department-store sales
Employment, Detroit, factory,
1923-25=100
Finance:
Bond yieldst
Stock prices!
Banking:
Federal Reserve reporting
member banks:
Loans, total..
Currency in circulation!
Failures, commercial, 1939=100.
Production:
Bituminous co
Electric power
PetroleumJ
Steel©
131.4 13L 0 132.0 132.3 130.4 130.0 109.2 108.6
146.9 146.8 148.1 147.3 138.0 134.9 111.7 110.2
182.1 183.0 181.9 181.0 159.1 157.3 125.1 123.2
87.2 86.7 77.1 77.4
P98. 7 *>98.
104.3 105.6 106.0 104.8 83.0 ,81.1 65.6 66.8
70.1 70.2
99.4 99.1 83.7
1.5
82.4 82.4
P95. 9 *95. 9 P95. 9 *95.9 89.0
366.8 166.5 106.0 166.7 166.9 146. 145.7 110.9 110.5
106.5 106.6 106.7 106.8 106.6 94.3
112.9 112.9 112.9 112.9 112.9 112.9
173,1 171. 1 175.6 18L2 182. 8 128.8
356.6 204.0 317.'. 9
127.7 131.1 122.0
1940
1941
1942
1940
1941
1943
June June June M a y May
20
13
6
30
23
93.4 82.3 83.0
112.9 107.\ 2 108.1
124.5 „_ 96.8
218. 6 126.9 124.7
128.5 135.8 132.3 111. 7 109.3
96
120
118,6
126.7
135
83.2
66.0 64.8 63.3
83.2 83.5
92
102.1
83.0 82.2 82.7 91.4 92.8
62.5
81.5 83.9 80.9
98.9
125.8 126.6 127.3 128.0 128.5 119.8 119.5
192.3 192.1 191.6 189.3 187.6 148.8 148.2 122.2 121. 9
63.6 61.1 67.5 74.2 81.3 80.9 81.3 104.6 86.6
143.9 131.8 129.5 102.4 100.6
162.6 158.3 156.0 158.7 145.2 145.6 124.6
116.9 113.8 122.5 113.7 121.9 120.8 121.5 120.5
187.1 189.0 189.0 189.5 1S8.8 179.0 178.3 153.4 148.0
144.0 142.5 160.1
• Data do not cover calendar weeks in all cases.
1 Seasonally adjusted.
JDaily average.
©Index for week ended June 27 is 186.5.
§For New York Times index, computed normal=100; this index has been revised back to January 1941: 1941 and 1942 data are shown on the revised b^isis beginning with
the Jan. 15, 1942, and Feb. 26, 1942, issues, respectively. The Business Week index has also been revised for 1941 and 1942; 1941 data are correct as published only beginning
with the issue of Feb. 5,1942; 1942 revisions were first shown in the issue of Mar. 19.
©Thursday prices; August 1939=100.
"Preliminary.
cTData revised beginning January 1939.
WEEKLY BUSINESS STATISTICS #
1942
June 20
June 13
0.118
.188
3.67
56.73
1.14
0.118
.186
3.66
56.73
1.12
10,161
3,991
June 6
1940
1941
May 30
May 23
0.118
.191
3.66
56.73
1.10
0.118
.197
3.68
56.73
1.13
0.118
.199
3.69
56.73
1.13
0.118
.140
2.99
56.73
.94
3,459
9,066
3,442
9,364
3,740
10,161
4,108
2,803
2,579
12,706
2,791
2,708
2,568
12,629
2,782
2,723
2,532
12,653
2,783
2,584
2,489
12,467
2,535
2,578
2,445
26,058
5,107
20,901
15,318
2,046
10,776
6,546
1.00
1.25
12,202
•4.035
180
26,022
5,094
20,892
15,289
2,057
10,844
6,552
1.00
1.25
12,188
• 4.035
173
25,483
5,092
20,974
14,559
2,667
10,905
6,542
1.00
1.25
12,155
•4.035
191
27,508
3.37
1,704
71.54
67.4
69.7
59.4
28,444
3.38
1,678
71.44
66.5
68.4
59.9
59.1
1939
June 22
June 15
June 24
0.118
.136
2.97
56. 73
0.112
.107
2.18
56.60
.76
0.113
.105
2.19
56.60
.80
0.098
0.098
2.18
55.70
2,19
55.70
.72
9,963
4,233
8,090
3,374
6,141
2,451
7,424
6,003
3,006
12,486
2,565
2,241
2,184
13,131
5,314
2,249
2,184
13,312
5,488
7,941
3,515
2,539
2,473
13,712
6,767
2,523
2,477
13,510
6,607
2,584
2,564
10,099
4,227
2,605
2,564
10,101
4,264
25,511
5,095
20,764
14,510
2,670
10,962
6,557
1.00
1.25
12,014
*4.035
210
25,395
5,113
20,876
14,549
2,661
11,012
6,613
1.00
1.25
11,443
• 4.035
230
23,872
5,407
17,893
11,249
3,038
10,262
5,792
1.00
1.25
9,439
• 4.032
230
24,071
5,408
17,893
11,196
3,037
10,238
5,764
1.00
1.25
9,406
• 4.032
230
20,495
5,306
15,152
9,226
2,400
8,444
4,387
1.00
1.25
7,752
• 3.616
296
20,615
5,311
15,192
9,214
2,400
4,377
1.00
1.25
7,732
• 3.720
245
17,238
5,238
13,851
8,404
2,127
8,072
3,823
1.00
1.25
6,943
4.681
310
17,212
5,225
13,781
8,390
2,108
8,097
3,831
1.00
1.25
6,950
4.683
35,243
3.38
2,162
70.12
65.3
67.2
58.4
59.6
28,626
3.37
1,554
68.57
64.8
66.4
58.5
60.6
36,512
3.36
2,018
67.64
63.0
64.4
57.6
59.4
31,410
3.33
2,259
88.95
80.4
SO. 8
81.8
70.6
33,960
3.35
3,000
88.24
79.8
80.0
82.6
71.4
25,900
3.70
3,611
90.82
80.6
80.0
90.4
63.4
29,110
3.76
5,483
87.60
79.4
79.0
88.2
61.3
27,040
3.71
2,412
97.22
90.5
90.5
98.6
67.4
26,690
3.70
2,511
96.93
90.4
90.5
98.1
67.9
1,882
3,464
3,700
1,863
3,372
3,602
99.3
2,092
3,323
3,877
99.6
33,535
1,881
3,380
3,599
99.2
19,185
1,723
3,092
3,858
99.0
29,893
lt692
3,101
3,823
98.6
20,553
1,338
2,654
3,846
87.7
11,928
1,315
2,665
3,816
84.6
11, 723
1,070
2,362
3,453
55.0
8,269
1,068
2,341
3,447
53.1
10,213
832,726
166,341
14,231
48,261
34,686
11,159
94,556
86,285
377,207
854,689
163,734
13,885
53,319
35,871
12,484
97,5S7
92,453
795,756
157,852
13,840
32,897
11,782
87,000
82,886
•363,810
837,748
165,983
14,181
48,410
34,412
12,853
96,365
87,205
378,339
885,558
161,131
13,558
43,555
46,574
9,089
159, 765
75,661
376,225
862,974
158,621
13,165
42,403
37,006
10,007
159,597
73,549
728,493
123,657
10,605
34,236
33,656
10,553
148, 782
68,242
293,762
712,921
122,037
10,442
34,280
30,456
9,709
148,354
64,230
293,413
638,534
96,835
5,864
30,527
46,981
10,272
151,864
41,417
254,774
633,955
97,176
5,809
30,555
38,811
9,457
152,513
40,696
258,938
.... .235
297
4,147
220
312
4,854
191
251
10, 761
195
278
6,920
178
338
2,458
173
321
2,247
13,313
6,599
June 21
Juno 14
June 17
COMMODITY PRICES, WHOLESALE
Copper, electrolytic, New Yorkt.__
dol. per lb.
Cotton, middling, iffe", average lOmarketsJI
do...
Food index (Dun and Bradstreet)
do..Finished steel, composite*._
dol. per ton.
Wheat, No. 2, Hard Winter (Kansas City).dol. per bu.
FINANCE
Banking:
Debits, weekly reporting member banks
in 101 cities, total©....
__
.mil. of dolNew York City©
....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...
TJ. S. Government direct obligations.
do..Obligations guaranteed by U. S. Govt
do...
Loans, total
...do.—
Commerc'I, indust'l, and agricult'l loans...do...
Interest rates, call loanst
.percentInterest rates, time loansj
do__~
Currency in circulation^
_
...mil. of doL
Exchange rates: Pound sterling!
_
dollars.
Failures, commercial
number.
Security markets:
Bond sales (N. Y. S. E.)
thous. of dol. par valueBond yields (Moody'i)t~
percentStock sales (iV. Y. S. E)
thous. of sharesStock prices (IV. Y. Times)X
dol. per shareStock prices (Stand, and Poor's) (402) V.. 1935-39^100.
Industrials (354)_
do__~
Public utilities (28)
do...
Railroads (20)_
_._
do...
PRODUCTION, CONSTRUCTION, AND
DISTRIBUTION
Production:
Bituminous coal*
thous. of short tons.
Electric power A:.-..mil. of kw.-hr.
Petroleumt
__thous. of bbl..
Steel©
pet. of capacityConstruction contract awards?
thous. of doL.
Distribution:
Freight carloadings, total
cars..
Coal
do—.
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
— t h o u s . of bu..
98.3
.
.226
343
228
329
©Debits to demand deposit accounts except interbank and #.-6; Government accounts in-101 cities; the former series for 141 citiesis no longer availabe weekly.
JDaUy average. • Data do not cover calendar weeks in all cases. • Free rate.
IRevised series. See table 32, pp. 24-25 of the November 1941 SURVEY for stock prices, beginning January 1939-and cotton prices beginning August 1939.
•New series. This series replaces the iron and steel composite price, which has been discontinued by the compiling source.
©Rate for week ended June 27 is 98.0; data for 1942 are based on estimated capacity as of Dee. 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.
249
MONTHLY BUSINESS STATISTICS
Earlier data are available in monthly issues of
the Survey and the 1940 Supplement
1943
1941
May
May
1942
March
April
BUSINESS INDEXES
M77
*185
J>241
M37
*142
P134
P27S
P188
P174
35
P372
P139
*16S
M23
*12O
*» 131
*138
0
162
(•)
M20
P156
175
169
162
<•)
»117
P156
175
169
C)
122
M31
M27
M05
» 173
Mil
155
160
192
134
143
130
206
191
161
142
229
134
135
122
126
119
132
141
145
126
'149
122
126
157
165
169
165
121
127
118
88
'125
118
181
159
168
177
r 226
129
147
120
265
185
142
43
327
137
165
128
129
v 121
131
155
161
122
160
116
126
152
169
175
148
117
118
122
116
140
115
98
165
154
160
190
132
152
122
206
189
143
142
228
135
136
124
128
123
132
142
145
125
'149
122
122
157
165
169
165
119
125
121
80
'147
114
152
159
•"171
"179
••229
134
145
128
265
184
171
41
327
139
161
'121
116
*>137
144
150
156
126
160
120
121
152
169
175
148
125
127
122
113
146
114
154
162
' 171
180
'232
132
••142
127
•"268
183
••153
\ 43
••346
•"138
»-167
••130
'130
J>123
'134
151
157
118
M62
111
••122
••157
177
fi
119
125
••121
122
150
••109
'154
••169
••173
181
'232
'133
' 146
127
••268
182
'153
43
'346
' 139
'164
'126
'124
x-136
'142
148
153
119
'162
112
'116
'157
177
170
153
127
130
'126
114
178
'107
'151
',164
COMMODITY PRICES
Cost of living (U. S. Dept. of Labor):
Combined index*
..1935-39=^100
Clothing*
—
do...
Foodf
do...
Fuel, electricity, and ice*
do...
Housefurmshings*
:
..do...
Rent*
do...
Miscellaneous*..-.
.do,-.
Wholesale prices (U. S. Dept. of Labor):
Combined index (889 quotations)....1926=100.
Economic classes:
Manufactured products.
do...
Raw materials
do...
Semimanufactured articles
do...
Farm products..
.do...
Grains
....
.
do...
Livestock and poultry
.
do...
Commodities other than farm products*
1926=100.
Foods
do...
Cereal products*
•_•_
do...
•.
i.
do...
..do.,.
do...
116.0
126.5
121.6
104.7
121.5
109.7
111.0
102.9
102.8
102.1
101.1
103.2
105.7
102.5
114.3
123.6
118.6
104.5
121.2
108.9
110.1
115.1
120.9
119.6
104,2
121.6
109.1
110.6
»98.8
84.9
97.6
'98-7
P99.0
99.7
92.9
104.4
92.2
117.6
87.1
79.7
86.4
76.4
74.5
88.0
97.8
98.2
92.3
102.8
93.8
113.8
'9S.7
100.0
92.8
104.5
91.5
118.3
»97.4
98.9
89.0
93.5
96.7
114.8
79.5
78.2
81.6
64.0
87.2
96.2
1)6.1
. 90.6
94.3
87.7
109.2
'97.2
98.7
90.2
94.1
97.7
112.8
' Revised.
» Preliminary.
• Data for April are the latest available.
*New series. See note on corresponding item in the May 1942 SURVEY.
1942
1941
May
May
1942
March
April
COMMODITY PRICES—Continued
Industrial production: f (Federal Reserve)
Unadjusted:
Combined index
___ 1935-39=100.
Manufactures
.
.do...
Durable manufactures
do...
Lumber and products*.
.do...
Furniture
_
~
do...
Lumber
.do...
Machinery*..... ._
.do...
Nonferrous metals*
.do..
Stone, clay, and glass products*..do...
Polished plate glass...
.do...
Transportation equipment*
.do...
Nondurable manufactures
_do._
Chemicals*
do..
Leather and products.._
.do..
Shoes*
_do._
Manufactured food products* do..
Meatpacking
do...
Paper and products*
do...
Paper and pulp*
—
.do...
Petroleum and coal products* do...
Coke*.....
do...
Petroleum refining
do...
Printing and publishing*
do...
Textiles and products
do...
Cotton consumption*
do...
Rayon deliveries*.
_do._.
Wool textile production*
_do...
Tobacco products
__
do...
Minerals
_
do...
Fuels*..
do...
Anthracite..do...
Bituminous coal '_
do._.
Crude petroleum
do...
Metals
do_.
Coppcr*
do...
Adjusted:
Combined index
__
__do—
Manufactures
do...
Durable manufactures
do.Lumber and products*
do...
Furniture
...do..,
Lumber
do...
Machinery*
do...
Nonferrous metals*
do_.
Stone, clay, and glass products*..do_.
Polished plate.glass
..do...
Transportation equipment*
do..
Nondurable manufactures.
...do...
Chemicals*
do...
Leather and products.—
do...
Shoes*.
do.Manufactured food products* do...
Meat packing
.do...
Paper and products*
do...
Paper and pulp*...
do...
Petroleum and coal products*....do._
Coke*
do._
Petroleum refining
do..,
Printing and publishing*
.do..
Textiles and products
.do...
Cotton consumption*
do.,.
Rayon deliveries*..
do...
Wool, textile production*
do...
Tobacco products
do...
Minerals
do...
Fuels*
do...
Anthracite
-do...
Bituminous coal
__..do...
Crude petroleum
do...
Metals
do...
Copper*.-..
.
do...
Dairy products.
Fruits and vegetables..
Meats..
___•
Earlier data are available in monthly issues of
the Survey and the 1940 Supplement
Wholesale prices—Continued.
Commodities other than farm products and
foods
1926=100,.
110.1
Building materials
_
do
98. 0
do
t Brick and tile
94.2
t Cement
__
do
131.5
Lumberf
.do
100.6
Paint and paint materials*
do
97.3
Chemicals and allied productsf
do
96.5
Chemicalst
..do
129.1
Drugs and pharmaceuticalsf
-do
79.0
! 'Fertilizer materials}do....
Oils and fats*
. d o , . . . 108.6
78.0
Fuel and lighting materials
do
59.1
Petroleum products
do
118.8
Hides and leather products
do
121.4
Hides and skins
_
do
101.3
Leather
_*
do
Shoes
d o . . . . 126.6
102.9
House-furnishing goods
do...
Furnishings
.
d o . . . . 108.1
97.5
Furniture
_
do,...
P103. 9
Metals and metal products
do
97.2
Iron and steel
do
85.6
Metals, nonferrous
do..,.
98.5
Plumbing and heating equipment, do
98.0
Textile products
d o . . . . J109.6
_.__ Clothing
do
112.9
Cotton goods..".
!."""""
do
71.9
Hosiery and underwear
do
30.3
Rayon*,._
_
_do
111.0
Woolen and worsted goods
do
90.5
Miscellaneous
;
do
73.0
Automobile tires and tubes
do
102.8
Paper and pulp
do....
Wholesale prices of individual commodities:
Brick, com., comp. (f. o. b . pl.)_dol. per thous.. 13.216
Coal:
Anthracite, chest., comp...dol. per short ton.. 10.298
4.773
Bituminous, mine run, pomp.
..do
4.858
Bituminous, prepared sizes, comp
.do
.134
Coffee, Santos #4 (N. Y . ) - dol. per l b . .
Cotton cloth:
Mill margins
cents per l b . . . 20.88
.090
Print cloth, 64 x 60
dol. per l b . .
.108
Sheeting, unbleached, 4 x 4
do
Cotton yarn:
.426
22/1 cones (factory)..
dol, per l b . .
.515
40/s, southern, Boston
do
Cottonseed oil, refined, summer, yellow, prime,
(N. Y.)dol. per l b . .
Dairy products:
Butter, 92 score (N. Y.)
do....
.23
Cheese, No. 1 American, (N. Y.)
do....
Milk:
Condensed (sweetened) (N. Y.).
5.90
dol. per case..
3.75
Evaporated (unsweetened) (N. Y.)__do-...
2.75
Fluid, dealers, stand, gr
dol. per 100 l b . .
2.58
Flaxseed, No. 1 (Mpls.)
dol. per bu_.
Grain and grain products:
Corn:
.85
No. 3 yellow (Chicago)
do
.98
No. 3 white (Chicago)
do
.84
Weighted avg. 5 mkts., all grades
do
Wheat:
1.20
No. 1, Dark N r . Spring (Mpls)
do
1.20
No. 2, Red Winter (St. Louis)
do....
1.15
No. 2, Hard Winter (K. C.)
do—.
1.16
Weighted avg., 6 mkts., all grades
do
Wheat flour:
5.84
Standard patents (Mpls.)
dol. per bbl..
5.26
Winter straights (K. C ) .
..do....
Hides:
.155
Packers', heavy, native steers
dol. per lb_,
.218
Calfskins, packers, 8 to 15 lb
_.do._..
Iron and steel:
Pig iron:
23.50
Basic (valley furnace)....dol. per long ton..
24.20
Composite
do.-..
25.89
Foundry No. 2, northern (Pitts.)
do....
Steel:
.0265
Composite, finished steel
dol. per l b . .
Steel billets, rerolling (Pittsburgh)
34.00
dol. per long ton.
.0210
Structural steel (Pittsburgh)...dol. per lb..
18.75
Steel scrap (Chicago)
do..,,
Lard in tierces:
.126
Prime, contract (N. Y.)_.
do—,
.143
Refined (Chicago)
do...
Leather:
.449
. Sole oak, scoured backs (Boston)
do...,
.529
Chrome, calf, B, comp
dol. per sq. ft.
.141
Linseed oil (N. Y . ) ~
-dol. perlb.
Livestock:
13.22
Beef steers (Chicago)
_.dol. per 1001b.
13.48
Steers, corn fed
do...
13.50
Calves, vealers
do..14.13
Hogs, heavy (Chicago)
do...
6.84
Sheep, ewes (Chicago)
.__.
do...
13.72
Sheep, Iambs
...do...
87.4
100.4
91.9
91.5
116.8
89.3
83.6
86.8
98.7
71.1
80.6
75.6
55.3
106.4
110.3
96.9
110.1
91.4
98.0
84.3
98.1
96.1
84.4
83.0
83.0
90.9
91.0
61.3
29.5
94.1
79.6
58.8
96.7
95.2
110.5
97.1
93.6
133.1
100.8
97.1
96.4
126.5
79.5
108.8
77.7
58.3
116.7
116.6
101.5
124.3
102.6
107.7
97.4
103.8
97.1
85.6
98.2
96-6
106.6
112.6
69.8
30.3
108.7
89.7
71.0
102.9
12.434
13.215
13.209
9.779
4.547
4.618
.108
10.280
4.753
4.897
.134
10.114
4.774
4.819
.134
20.85
20.25
.088
.105
20.29
.089
.107
.430
.419
.506
.425
.516
.105
.140
.140
.36
.21
.35
.24
.38
.23
5.00
3.43
2.27
1.87
5.90
3.85
2.75
2.60
5.90
3.80
2.75
2.62
.72
.78
.82
.97
.80
.97
.81
.97
.90
.94
1.24
1.30
1.21
1.19
1.19
1.21
1.15
1.14
5.32
4.32
6.17
5.63
5.95
5.40
.147
.245
.155
.218
.218
23.50
24.15
25.89
23.50
24.17
25.89
23.50
24.20
25.89
'95.6
110.2
98.0
94.1
131.8
100.6
97.1
96.4
126.7
79.2
308.8
77.7
58.4
119.2
123.5
101.3
126.7
102.8
108.0
97.5
'103.8
97.1
85.6
98.5
97.7
107.8
113.8
70.6
30.3
111.0
90.3
72.5
102.9
.155
.0265
.0265
.0265
34.00
.0210
18.75
34.00
.0210
18.75
34.00
.0210
18.75
.095
.106
.125
.138
.126
.144
.412
.503
.108
.453
.531
.133
.449
.529
.141
10.23
11.97
11.34
8.97
4.81
10.44
12.59
13.36
13.80
13.51
6.91
11.00
13.26
14.09
13.13
14.26
7.24
11.38
fRevised series. See note on corresponding item in the May 1942 SURVEY.
MONTHLY BUSINESS STATISTICS—Continued
Earlier data are available in monthly issues of
the Surrey and the 1940 Supplement
1942
1941
May
May
1943
March
April
Earlier data are arailable in monthly issues of
the Survey and the 1940 Supplement
COMMODITY PRICES—Continued
FINANCE—Continued
Wholesale prices of individual commoditiesContinued:
Lumber:
Douglas fir:
Dimension, No. 1, common
dol. per M bd. ft.
Flooring, " B " and better
-do...
Ponderosa pine, 1 x 8 , No. 2, common*._do.
Southern pine:
Boards, No. 2 common, 1 x 8
do,._
Flooring " B " and better,
do...
Meats:
Beef, fresh, native steers (Chi.)..dol. per lb.
Hams, smoked (Chicago)
do...
Nitrate of soda, 95 pet. (N. Y.)___dol. per cwt_
Nonferrous metals and products:
Aluminum scrap, casting (N. Y.)-dol. per lbCopper, electrolytic (N. Y.)
do....
Lead, refined, pig, desilverized (N. Y.)..do...
Tin, Straits (N. Y.)
do—
Zinc, prime western (St. Louis)
do.__
Brass sheets, mill
do._.
Oleomargarine, stand., uncolored (Chi.)--do—
Petroleum and products:
Crud6 petroleum (Kans-Okla)..dol. per bbl.
Fuel oil (Pennsylvania)*
dol. per galGasoline, tank wagon (N. Y.)
do...
Gasoline, refinery (Okla.)
do...
Kerosene, water white, 47°, refinery
do
Lubricants, cylinder, refinery (Penn)-.do
Potatoes, white (N. Y.)
dol. per 1001b..
Eayon, viscose, 160 denier, first quality minimum
filament
dol. per lb._
Rosin, gum " H " (Saw), bit
dol. per 100 Ib._
Sugar, raw, 96°, centrifugal (N. Y.)
do....
Sugar, refined, granulated (N. Y.)
do
Turpentine, gum, spirits (Saw)---dol. per gal._
Veg. shortening, tierces (Chi.)
dol. per l b . .
Wool:
Eaw, territory, fino scoured
dol. per lb_.
Baw, Ohio and Penna.
fleeces
do
Worsted yarn ?32's, crossbred stock (Boston)
dol. per lb
Purchasing power of the dollar:
Wholesale prices
1923-25=100-.
Retail food pricest
i
do.
Prices received by farmers
do.
Cost of living!
do.
Life insurance—Continued.
Life Insurance Sales Research Bureau—Con.
Insurance written, ordinary, total—Con.
West South Central...
.thous. of dol._
Mountain
do...
Pacific
.do...
32.340
44.100
31.35
24.990 32.340
35 280 44.100
27.68 31.52
32.340
44.100
31.04
30. COO
47.000
30.813 30.770
48.990 53.798
30.000
51.000
.200
.315
1.503
.214
.321
1.503
.0875
.1178
.0650
.5200
.0825
.195
.150
.1100
.1182
.0585
.5216
.0725
.195
.130
.0875
.1178
.0650
.5200
.0825
.195
.150
.0875
.1178
.0650
.5200
.0825
.195
.150
1.110
.058
.161
.055
.064
.160
2.644
1.035
.048
.143
.053
.054
.103
1.110
.057
.157
.054
.063
.160
2.250
Portland cement:
Production
thous. of bags.
Shipments
do...
Stocks, finished, end of month
do...
Stocks, clinker, end of month
do_ .
1.700
1.110
.055
.153
.055
.063
.160
2.525
.550
2.82
.037
.055
.612
.170
.530
1.S7
.034
.050
.428
.124
.550
3.06
.037
.053
.733
.105
.550
2.89
.037
.055
.645
.170
Cotton spindle activity:
Active spindles
thousands^
Active spindle hrs., total
mil. of hrs.
Average per spindle in place
hours.
Operations
pet. of capacity.
1.20
.52
1.08
.45
1.18
.52
1.20
.52
1.800
1.594
1.800
1.800
101.9
104.1
96.7
104.5
118.6
123.9
131.2
116.4
103.2
106.6
100.7
105.8
r 102.0
105.8
98.0
104.7
FINANCE
Commercial failures:!
Grand total
.
numbersCommercial service, total
...do
Construction, total.
do
Manufacturing and mining, total
do
Retail trade, total
_
do
Wholesale trade, total
do
Liabilities, grand total
thous. of dol_.
Commercial service, total
do
Construction, total
__
do
Manufacturing and mining, total
do
Retail trade, total
do....
Wholesale trade, total.
do
Life insurance:
Association of Life Insurance Presidents:
Insurance written:
Policies and certifs., total number
thousands..
Group.
_
do
Industrial
_
...do
Ordinary
_
...do
Value, total.
thous. of dolGroup
_
_
.do
Industrial.
_do
Ordinary.
.__
do
Life Insurance Sales Research Bureau:
Insurance written, ordinary, total
do
New England
-__
..do
Middle Atlantic
do....
East North Central _
do....
West North Central
do....
South Atlantic
.do
East South Central
_
do
955 1,119 1,048
40
42
48
63
77
63
134
188
181
647
650
735
69
85
100
9,839 10,065 12,011
647 1,194
471
896
913
1,175
2,924 2,777 3,739
4,392 4, 765 4,813
963 1,369
877
705
48
461
196
580,124
87,773
141,378
350,973
34
516
259
557,027
46,765
L51,391
i5S,871
724
55
456
213
552,459
97,826
140,735
13,898
157,926
36,248
.14,230
:06,445
48,833
44,679
17,758
»04,162
49,078
L61,514
.40,480
57,076
61,160
24,524
552,044
42,030
.38,708
.26,330
53,182
52,173
24,960
May
31,825 41,650
12,188 15,692
45,720 52,988
1942
March
April
46,531
14,533
53,594
32,604
11,998
46,101
..short tons. 251,831 284,707 295,835 277,741
do... 266,443 291,112 308,166 238,346
do... 169,409 174,044 H4,626 184,021
.175
,.248
1.470
Newspaper advertising:
Linage, total (52 cities)
-.thous. of lines. 107,044 .22,443 106, 90S
Classified
_
do... 22,326 25,624 21,975
Display, total
_do._. 84,718 96,818 84,932
2.334 6,939 1,938
Automotive
-do...
1,248 1,743 1,849
Financial
do...
General
do... 16,529 18,314 16.26S
Retail
do... 64,008 69,822 64,878
Chain-store sales, indexes:
Chain-Store Age, combined index (20 chains)
average s^me month
1929-31=100.
132.0 169.0
Apparel chains
do
145.0 208.0
181.0
Grocery chain-store sales:
Unadjusted
.
1929-31=100. »170. 7
137.6 170.0
Adjusted
..do.-. »168.2
135.6 168.3
Variety-store sales, combined sales, 7 chains:!
110.2 116.1
Unadjusted
__ 1935-39=100. *>127.3
Adjusted
do... *132.0
114.0 133.6
Rural sales of general merchandise:
Total U. S., unadjusted
1929-31=100.
148.5 185.6
164.8
Total U. S., adjusted
__
do..,
179.5
161.8 211.4
1941
May
PAPER AND PRINTING
Newsprint:
Canada:
Production
Shipments from mills
Stocks, at mills, end of month
United States:
Consumption by publishers
Production
Shipments from mills.__
Stocks, end of month:
At mills
At publishers..
In transit to publishers
.213
.315
1.503
DOMESTIC TRADE
1943
do___ 242,372 ?G0, S27 251,042 238,493
do... 80,010 90,913 SO, 923 82,669
do... 76, 612 9L 681) 82,176
81,182
do... 16,076 13,527 11,161
do... 384,758 252,3S1 368, 520
do... 39,025 51,197 47, 376
12,648
383,384
44,843
STONE, CLAY, AND GLASS
16,119 14,732 12,733
14,008
16,349 16,048 12, 563 14,774
24,8S2 22,745 25,831 r25,112
6,241 b,005 fl, 570 'G,65G
TEXTILE PRODUCTS
23,121
11,193
465
138.4
23,004 23,096
10, 276 11,374
473
422
121.7 134.3
1943
1941
April
April Fcbru- March
42.8
38.65
.895
40.7
31.89
.784
42.4
40.0
36.63
42.57
27.82
29.17
33.54
23.62
35.71
' 41. 53
r 27. 35
.819
.910
.926
.996
.783
.892
.738
.633
.671
.G07
.924
.959
.913
1.116
.900
.944
.764
.897
.982
.769
.689
.839
1.055
.966
1.133
1.0S0
.714
.900
.973
• .847
1.105
.808
.732
.706
.800
.678
.649
.868
.769
.904
1.071
.599
.583
.630
.554
.708
.785
.841
.954
.693
.782
.642
.547
.570
.530
.789
.872
.782
.837
.780
.806
.6-14
.749
.816
.695
.606
.770
.923
.788
.983
.906
.629
.773
.839
.755
.995
.706
.655
.6-17
.694
> .579
.555
.805
.666
.804
.995
.524
.509
.553
.506
.803
.-893
.909
.988
.747
'.892
.709
.613
.651
.584
.900
.940
.903
'1.093
.879
.928
.748
.872
r.957
.759
.675
.830
11.061
.948
1.158
' 1.091
r.702
.881
.950
'.831
1.104
' .812
.718
.696
.786
.658
.629
.854
'.764
.882
1.074
.592
.574
.629
.544
23,100
11.463
476
135.3
1943
EMPLOTMENT AND WAGES
National Industrial Conference Board:
Average weekly hours per worker in factories
hours.
107,055
Factory average weekly earnings
dollars..
21,649
Factory average hourly earnings
do—
85.406 Labor conditions:
2,416
Average weekly hours per worker in factories:
1.704
U. S. Dept. of Labor (90 industries)...hours..
17,821 Wages:
63.464
Factory average weekly earnings:
U. S. Dept. of Labor (90 industries)..dollars.
Durable goods
do
lf.4.0
Nondurable goods
do....
174.0
Factory average hourly earnings:
U. S. Dept. of Labor (90 industries)
do....
* 175.2
Durable goods
do...;
r 170.1
Iron and steel, etc., not incl. machy.do...
Blast furnaces, steel works, etc..do...
123.1
Hardware
do
127.0
Struct'1 and ornam'l metal work..do...,
Tin cans and other tinware
.do...
175.6
Lumber and allied products..
.do...
191.1
Furniture
do...
Lumber, sawmills
do.-..
Machinery, excl. transp. equip
do...
Agric'l implements (incl. trac's),.do...
Electrical machinery, etc...
.do...
Engines, turbines, etc
do...
Foundry and machine-shop prod .do...
65
Machine tools
do._.
146
Radio and phonographs
do...
624
Metals, nonferrous, and products. . d o . . .
65
Brass, bronze, and copper prod...do...
9,282
Stone, clay, and glass products
do
335
Brick, tile, and terra cotta
do...
1,033
Glass
_
do...
2,953
Transportation equipment
.do...
3,829
Aircraft
.do...
1,132
Automobiles
do...
Shipbuilding.
do.-.
Nondurable goods
do...
Chem., petroleum, and coal prod...do....
Chemicals
_do.._
721
Paints and varnishes
do.—.
68
Petroleum refining
.do...
454
Rayon and allied products
do...
200
Food and kindred products
do...
625,084
Baking
do.,.
124,823
Slaughtering and meat packing....do.._
139,022
Leather and its manufactures
do
361.239
Boots and shoes
do
Paper and printing....
.-do...
462,761
Paper and pulp.._
do...
37,131
Rubber and products
do.__
118,591
Rubber tires and inner tubes
do
10G, 487
Textiles and their products
do...
44,931
Fabrics
.do...
45,96S
Wearing apparel
do...
18,950
Tobacco manufactures
do...
•f Revised. * Preminary.
*New series. See note on corresponding item in the May 1942 SURVEY.
t Revised series See note on corresponding item in the May 1942 SURVEY.
42.4
37.53
42.7
38.14
42.5
r 36. 10
M l . 92
' 27.70
.916
'.990
.765
•-.899
.720
.620
.059
.594
t .913
.954
.906
«• 1.120
.881
.943
.751
.884
.970
.762
.6S5
.826
'1.051
.951
1.136
' 1. 078
'.707
.889
.962
'.839
1.104
.812
.723
.698
.791
.663
.633
.862
.769
.894
'1.078
.596
.576
.633
.537
@FedFRASER