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^^jj^Lco. BUSINESS March 30, 1956 STATISTICS °F SUSINESS tco' 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, 1947-49 = 100 250 . ELECTRIC POWER PRODUCTION (by utilities) INDEX, I94?™49 » 100 250 Weekly (seasonally adjusted) 2 25 ' 200 2.25 200 •-• _i-J—J-J-J-J-J-J-JLJ--Lj J F M A MJ J A S O N D THOUSANDS 1,200 PASSENGER CAR A N D TRUCK PRODUCTION' (United States plants) 1,000 800 600 400 Monthly, left scale; 200 U—I--1—L_J_i-JL-L.-L_L_L.J—LJLJ_J_l 1953 weekly, right scale. A - J L A - ^ ^ - ^ A ^ \ - L ^ J - A - 1 - L ^ ^ L ^ ^ ± - 1 ^ L . 1954 !955 i956 INDEX, 1 9 4 7 - 4 3 = 100 BILLION 125 50 CONSUMER PRICES J F M A M J J A S O N D DOLLARS CONSUMER CREDIT OUTSTANDING (short- and intermediate-term) 120 40 Total All Items ! 15 Food MO SOS LjJ-L LLl 1 I \\ i 1 I M i i i i \ S L L L L i t 1 I I I i I I 1 I I i I I I I ! I M 11 1953 1954 !955 1956 I 0 Li I i I 1 i i i M 1 III I I i 1953 1954 I l I l l I l I I I I 1 1955 I I I I I i I I I !I 1 l j 1956 i 50 WEEKLY BUSINESS STATISTICS1 2 1956 1955 ITEM Mar. 19 Commodity prices, wholesale: A I I commodities 1947-49=100.. Farm products do.... Foods, processed do.... A11 other . do.... 22 commod i t i es 2/ do.... Department store sales... do.... Insured unemp loyment, totaI thous.. State programs do.... Finance: Currency in circulation^/ mil. of dol.. m Federal Reserve bank credit outstanding, total 3;/.,..do.... Member bank reserve balances 2S/ do.... Excess reserves, estimated V do.... Federal Reserve reporting member banks in leading cities:^/ Demand deposits, adjusted mil. of dol.. Time deposits, except Government do.... Loans and investments (adjusted), total do.... U. S. Government obligations ,....do.... Commercial, industrial, and agr. loans (gross)...do.... Real-estate loans (gross) do.... Failures, industrial and commercial number. Bond yields, domestic corporate (Moody's) ^/......percent. Stock prices,480 stocks (Stand, o. Poor's) 4_/..1935^39=iOC. Industrials, 420 stocks do... Production: Bituminous coal 3/ thous. of short tons. Electric power, by utilities ..mil. of kw.-hr. Passenger cars and trucks (Ward's) number. Petroleum (crude) and condensate 3/ thous. of bbl. Steel ]5/ Percent of capacity j>/ Freight car loadings, totai M i see 11 aneous thous. of short tons. thous. of cars. do... Mar. 26 Mar. 3 Mar. 10 Mar. 24 Mar. 17 89.0 104 1,66! 1,520 112.4 85.7 98.9 120.7 89.3 109 1,644 1,505 112.5 86.6 99.2 120.6 89.4 106 112.8 87.8 99.8 120.7 90.1 29,732 25,327 18,804 681 30,188 25,089 18,596 437 30,253 25,118 18,670 487 30,266 25,308 18,691 481 30,260 25,754 19,204 622 57,861 21,528 84,843 34,374 22,584 7,402 56,282 21,556 83,921 33,509 22,637 7,432 56,230 21,493 84,190 28,272 26,316 8,224 56,417 21,510 84,338 28,157 26,454 8,254 57,603 21,597 85,349 28,431 27,047 8,287 226 3.21 306! I 232 3.20 278.! 312.2 293 3.27 331.5 382.3 268 3.27 337.3 389.2 300 3.29 347,! 401.6 1,343 9,814 201,503 6,858 1,318 9,907 205,459 6,863 1,647 11,199 157,532 7,156 1,588 11,133 157,005 7,162 1,538 11,202 154,946 7,153 2,273 #94.2 65! 363 2,262 #93.7 639 352 2,459 99.9 71! 378 2,462 100.0 698 373 2,477 100.6 686 367 88.9 108 i,88i 1,655 •I 10.0 *92.l •101.6 •115.6 89.0 103 1,816 1,594 29,819 24.809 18,779 630 208 3.31 348,2 403.3 154,961 2*449 99.5 J/ Data do not always cover calendar weeks. 2/ Tuesday prices. 3/ Daily average. £ / Wednesday data. j>/ Week ended March 31, 1956: Production, 2,400 thous. short tons; operating rate, 97.5 percent. • Monthly index for March 1955. # Not comparable with 1956 rates which are based on higher capacity. MONTHLY BUSINESS STATISTICS 1955 1956 ITEM January February November December January February GENERAL BUSINESS INDICATORS Industrial and commercial failures: Fa i I ures, tota I Commerc i a I ser v i ce Construct i on Manufacturing and mining Retat I trade Who Iesa I e trade Liabilities (current), total Commercial service Construction Manufactur i ng and mi n i ng Reta i I trade Who I esa I e trade number do.., do.., do.., do.. do.. 939 87 .87 195 456 114 877 60 113 188 412 104 945 70 133 196 462 84 908 73 136 191 404 104 1,048 72 126 209 535 106 1,024 62 141 202 5U 108 thous. of dol do.. do.., do.., do.. do.. 37,872 3,154 9,044 !!,636 9,647 4,391 42,056 2,244 7,624 18,922 8,928 4,338 42,783 1,239 9,744 14,106 12,626 5,068 41,643 1,106 7,34! 11,554 10,775 10,867 42,890 2,974 6,163 14,442 14,936 4,375 49,189 1,920 9,88! 17,647 14,693 5,048 ..1947-49*100, do.. do.. do.. do.. do.. 114.3 103.3 110.6 106.4 110.6 102.4 114.3 103.4 110.8 106.1 110.7 102.5 115.0 104.7 109.8 107.8 109.0 97.1 114.7 104.7 109.5 107.7 110.7 94.6 114.6 104.1 109.2 107.3 112.6 93.3 do.. ..do.. do.. do.. do.. 119.6 109.4 104.6 129. 126. 119.6 109.9 104.8 129.7 126.8 120.9 III.5 104.5 130.9 129.8 120.8 III.5 103.4 131.1 130.2 120.6 III.7 102.0 131.4 130.7 120, III, 102. 131, 130. do.. do.. do.. do.. 113. 106. 127. 119.9 113.5 106.4 127.4 119.8 117.5 106.8 128.5 120.6 117.9 106.8 127.3 120.6 118.5 107.3 126.8 120.8 118.9 107.5 126.9 120.9 COMMODITY PRICES Consumer price index, all items Appare I Food Dairy products Fruits and vegetables Meats, poultry, and fish Housing Gas and electricity Housefurni shings Rent Med i ca i care Persona I care Reading and recreation Transportat ion Other goods and services ±/ Index based on 1935-39-100 is 191.6. * If 114.6 104.6 108.8 107.3 113.3 93.6 MONTHLY BUSINESS STATISTICS — Continued 3 1956 1955 ITEM February November December 90.8 87.5 90.4 90.6 87.5 90.3 89.9 87.0 91.1 89.8 87.2 91.3 89.4 87.3 91.6 1/ 89.0 1/ 87.3 1/ 91.9 54,385 1,485 1,236 58,456 1,581 1,279 54,856 1,797 1,388 50,551 1,921 1,438 51,949 1,858 1,356 58,056 1,860 1,429 214 239 260 286 227 263 260 295 244 243 270 252 244 233 301 247 242 300 290 p27l p292 p3ll p326 258.8 254.6 257.7 258.8 254.7 257.9 269. 1 265. I 266.7 270.1 266. I 267.3 271.2 267.1 268.4 271.6 267.7 270.5 266.4 262.5 256.2 257.4 246.0 266.5 262.6 256.3 257.7 246.1 276.8 274.4 265.2 -266.9 259.4 278.1 275.3 265.7 267.3 260.8 279.4 276.3 267.2 268.1 261.3 279.4 277.1 269.0 270.5 261.8 258.4 252.4 258.6 252.6 267.4 ! 261.3 268.0 1 261.9 269.1 262.7 271.2 265.2 4,833 4,655 48 3,638 716 430 5,954 5,427 47 4,857 774 276 5,527 4,662 65 4,215 1,008 240 5,337 4,889 56 3,962 879 440 4,915 4,684 59 3,727 853 275 7,158 6,195 4,942 222 379 3,176 1,166 4,831 396 365 3,048 1,022 5,172 542 426 3,116 1,089 5,651 595 p408 p3,477 pi,170 5,274 625 p402 p3,028 Pl,2l9 4,950 thous. of gaT.. 43,071 67,886 1,194 9,565 36,944 60,353 1,202 8,934 47,263 73,491 1,385 10,723 47,771 80,027 1,606 9,710 49,619 77,404 1,225 9,746 .thous. of lb.. do.... do.... do.... 9,359 7,336 51,599 77,226 9,319 8,395 55,206 95,422 10,310 6,124 75,535 111,181 10,991 7,636 82,575 107,479 11,592 9,360 90,684 111,691 thous. of gal.. 170 15,393 25,798 157 13,825 24,976 186 17,206 29,980 196 19,675 29,749 206 10,524 30,522 3,290 6,908 414 553 34,394 3,215 7,177 364 559 37,195 3,495 8,394 451 643 44,665 4,041 7,705 428 433 43,044 do.... do.... do.... do.... do.... 36,860 20,698 53,782 31,441 11,353 36,360 | 20,676 51,650 31,909 10,478 48,272 25,197 62,200 34,464 11,083 47,434 24,206 61,285 35,689 10,617 47,002 26,411 67,500 32,682 10,823 is. of animals.. Shipments, feeder, to 9 corn-belt States... Hogs: 2,322 294 1,767 171 2,674 734 2,091 420 2,354 249 1,870 183 dc... 3,183 2,587 4,099 4,056 3,908 3,262 1,029 1,273 247 1,09! 161 1,248 994 121 January January ; February COMMODITY PRICES - Continued Purchasing power of the dollar as measured b y — ..1947-49-100.. CONSTRUCTiON AND REAL ESTATE Construction contracts awarded, 37 States (F.W. Dodge Corp.): do.... Construction contract awards, (F. R. indexes): ..1947-49=100.. do.... do.... Construction cost index: E. H. Boeckh and Associates, average, 20 cities: Apartments, hotels, and office buildings: Brick and concrete U. S. avg. 1926-29*100.. 273 1 Commercial and factory buildings: do.... do.... do.... Residences: do.... FINANCE Federal Government finance: do.... do.... do.... do do.... do.... do..,. 57 5,959 944 198 553 p403 p3,170 p824 CHEMICALS AND ALLIED PRODUCTS Organic chemicals, production: .thous. of lb.. do.... Ethyl acetate (85JO Forma 1dehyde (37% HCHO) Methanol: Natura 1 (I00JO Synthet i c (I00£) .thous. of lb., Synthetic plastics and resin materials, product ion: Cellulose acetate and mixed ester plasties: .thous. of lb.. do.... do.... I 1 i 3,508 6,492 519 450 43,407 FOODSTUFFS AND TOBACCO Livestock: Cattle and calves: Sheep and lambs: Shipments, feeder, to 9 corn-belt States... jr/ Revised. £./ Preliminary. 52.2; retail food, 45.5. 1,334 226 1 135 | 1 160 1 1/ Indexes based on 1935-39=100 are as foiiows: Measured by—wholesale prices, 46.6; consumer prices, MONTHLY BUSINESS STATISTICS — Continued 4 1955 1956 ITEM January February November December January February FOODSTUFFS AND TOBACCO - Continued e thous 8 Coffee, visible supply Tobacco, manufactured products: Production, totaI.•......••.. Chewing, plug, and twist... SnK>k ing.................... of bags. ...thous. of ib. , ....do,.. o 9 • o o o o o o e »dO, . o ...........do... 704 793 729 776 564 16,25? 6,536 6,516 3,199 15,698 6,012 6,377 3,309 16,179 6,627 6,304 3,249 13,194 5,.347 4,747 3, 100 15,567 6,509 5,704 3,354 2,644 30,438 408,354 15,924 2,516 28,655 399,885 14,968 2,416 32,644 613,199 16,909 2,570 27,357 432,028 13,115 2,091 32,871 453,272 15,298 6,620 37,470 31,360 6, 110 5,785 6,447 33,108 25,222 5,886 5,443 7,486 51,040 43,718 7,323 6,699 7,663 44,359 37,539 6,820 6,954 7,953 36,702 .30,283 6.419 7,050 7,440 29,173 23,677 5,495 6,603 1,148 3,543 976 4,390 1,543 4,i3i 2,?88 6, S9S 2 , 302 6,189 1,768 9/770 203.0 167.3 209.4 168.2 433.3 214.2 534.1 237.8 r389.6 r184.7 p290 0 8 p2!8.4 S0P449 9,593 §3,30^ 10,211 9,177 14,058 80,557 9,84.5 14,123 10,166 H,332 12,700 r I 1,097 r9,578 13,995 11,128 9,952 14,882 1,848 296 5,712 1,840 1,816 288 4,944 1,876 i\7S6 340 5,424 i,864 1,945 335 5,160 1,890 §,876 272 5,280 1,924 ^,860 .304 5,616 2,000 352 300 388 300 372 376 335 390 328 408 376 420 20,902 19,352 10,150 508 9,393 143.0 20,988 19,440 11,848 474 10,992 133.3 20,990 19,399 !0,3I5 516 9,577 546.6 20,983 19,428 10,347 517 9,633 S47.2 831 Consumption (withdrawals): Cigarettes, smal3: ..mi 5 S ions. ia X ™T r e e . o o o a e o e o a a o e e e o e o,, ....do. .. Tax-paid.O..«.o<>.«,»•»«»*•> ..thousands,, Cigars, tax-paid.. Manufactured tobacco and snuff, tax-paid...thous. of lb« METALS AND MANUFACTURES Iron or© (Lake Superior district);: Consumption by furnaces...........*...thous. of long tons. Stocks, end of month, totaI..........................do... At furnaces. .o*...»..aoo.o....o..........o.o..i>...a »do... On Lake Erie docks do... Pig iron, production.•••••• 0 .••..••••.»thous. of short tons. Furnaces, industrial, new orders, net: - Electric processing,,... ..«.....l).c.o.othous, of doi. FueI-f irsd (except for hot ro1I i ng steeI)............do... Machine tools (metal-cutting types): New order s..»oas410oe..fflffl.0rno8 avg. shipments, s945"47«S00„ S h i pment.S.0ooo»ooooeo.>090«>eo«o<»»*«o»o««.©.o.««o<i...ooe » d O .e o STONE, CLAY, AND GLASS PRODUCTS Glass containers: Product ion Sh I psnsnts s . „ ., 0 3 * . » o«. S t o c k s , end o f m o n t h . ..thous. Of gross. >«dofflSO >3uO«e a TEXTILE PRODUCTS M@n B s apparel, cuttings: JJ Tailored garments: thous. of units. Overcoats and topcoats........••••••.. ......... ..do... Trousers (separate), dress and sport.. 3 # * 9 0 « » » « « « U U g « 6 Shirts (woven fabrics), dress and sport. ..thous. of doz„ Work clothing: Dungarees and waistband overalls...... do. Sh irts...•••..••••..•••.•••.••..••••••.•...••• do Cotton, manufactures: U Spindle activity (cotton system spindles): thousands. Active spindles, last working day, total* ..»• 6 d c e . . Consuming !00 percent cotton........... .mi I of hr. Spindle hours operated, ail fibers, total Average per working dsy •do... Consuining 100 percent cotton. eo ........ .do... Operations as percent of capacity.......„ r/ Revised. U D a t a f o r December 20,782 19,282 9,934 497 9,184 138.0 20,954 19,429 10,046 51 1 9,299 140.1 1955 c o v e r 5 w e e k s ; o t h e r m o n t h s , 4 weeks* ' * z si PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID PAYMENT OF POSTAGE, $300 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE DIVISION OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS W A S H I N G T O N 25, D. C. OFFICIAL BUSINESS FIRST CLASS WEEKLY SUPPLEMENT SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
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