The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
September 16, 1955
STATISTICS
BUSINESS
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
175
INDEX, 1947-49 = 100
175
STEEL PRODUCTION (ingots and steel for castings)
- 150
150
125
125
100
100
75
1952
1953
1954
ASOND
INDEX, 1947-49= 100
120
FREIGHT CARLOADINGS
BILLION DOLLARS
20
SALES OF RETAIL STORES
(seasonally adjusted)
(seasonally adjusted)
110
. Total
100
Nondurable Goods
10
JFMAMJJ
1955
\
•—•*—*•>
Durable Goods
80
Averoge per working day
0 11111 1111111
i I i i ii i
1952
1953
i I i i i n 1 ii.ii1 i i ii
70
1954
INDEX, 1947-49 » 100
180
MANUFACTURING EMPLOYMENT &
PAYROLLS (production workers)
160
>
Payrolls
ftH/WV *\
1952
1955
1953
1954
1955
HOURS
DOLLARS
2.20
56
MANUFACTURING HOURS & EARNINGS
2.00
52
Average Hourly
Gross Earnings
ys/
(left scale)
1.80
140
120
-
48
Average Hours
Per Week
1.60
44
(right scale)
>
1.40
100
40
Employmei? /
80
JL ' ' ' ' 1 ' 1 ' 1 1
i mi
1952
1 1 II 11 11 1 1 1 1 1 H1I M1 1
1 11 1 1 1 1
1953
1954
1955
1.20
LKLULLJJ
1952
IIII II I II
1953
36
i , 11 i I 11 i i i
1954
1955
WEEKLY BUSINESS STATISTICS1
1954
1955
ITEM
Sept. 1 1
Sept. 4
Commodity prices, wholesale:
Al1 commodities
Farm products
Foods, processed.
All other
22 commodities 2/
....1947-49=100..
...........do....
fin.
do....
.do....
do....
Finance:
Currency In circulation 4/
Federal Reserve bank credit outstanding, total 4/
do
Member bank reserve balances 4/
..do...
do....
Excess reserves, estimated 4/
Federal Reserve reporting member banks in leading cltles:5/
....mi 1. of dol..
do....
Loans and investments (adjusted), total.
do....
do....
U. S. Government obligations.
Commercial, industrial, and agr. loans (gross)...do....
do.
Real-estate loans (gross)....
Failures, industrial and commercial
Bond yields, domestic corporate (Moody*s) 4/
percent..
Stock prices,480 stocks (Standard and Poor •s).1935-39=100..
Industrials, 420 stocks
do....
Production:
. of short tons..
Electric power, by utilities
.mi 1. of kw.-hr..
Passenger cars and trucks (Ward's)
number..
Petroleum (crude) and condensate 4/
..thous. of bb1..
S tee 1 6/
Percent of capacity 6/
Freight carloadlngs, total
Miscel laneous
thou s . of short tons..
11
.thous. of cars..
do
•I 10.5
•95.8
• 106 A
•1 14.4
90.7
1 13
1,784
1,606
Aug. 20
91.1
110.3
87.9
mi *
116.8
89.0
Sept. 10
Sept. 3
Aug. 27
110.5
88 3
110.5
87 9
ini
ini
A
1 17 0
89 2
1 1 1
1,051
n
1 17 1
89.2
1 10.6
88 1
!Q! 4
117.289.8
97
106
1,816
1,639
1,045
939
944
29,982
24,699
18,346
30,099
24,759
18,336
30,315
25,495
18,757
30 251
25,425
18 673
30 362
25,217
18,614
30,515
25,401
18,685
743
780
592
570
498
599
54,066
21,253
82,204
35,862
20,798
7 866
54,013
21,309
82,020
35,526
20,829
6 838
55,360
21,567
84,210
31,261
23,940
8 069
55,669
21,532
84,098
30,972
24,050
9 428
55,880
21,579
84,390
30,952
24,159
9,487
125
193
168
216
180
215
205
3.13
232.7
257.0
3.13
234.7
259.3
3;29
307.4
349.5
3.30
311.9
355.5
3.31
315.7
360.7
3.32
319.9
366.7
1,304
9,087
108,834
6, 1 I 1
1,350
8,808
82,747
6, 178
1,579
10,812
159,528
6,701
1,622
10,906
149,774
6,685
10,706
100,663
6,662
95,562
1,525
#64.0
688
344
1,502
#63.0
602
300
2,176
90.2
781
375
2,186
90.6
792
382
2,255
93.4
794
384
2,264
93.8
J./ Data do not always cover calendar weeks. 2/ Tuesday prices. 3/ Includes UCFE program beginning January 8, 1955. ±/ Daily average.
j>/ Wednesday data. 6/ Week ended September 17: Production, 2,295 thous. short tons; operating rate, 95.1 percent. • Monthly index for
August 1954. # Not comparable with 1955 rates which are based on higher capacity as reported January I, 1955.
MONTHLY BUSINESS STATISTICS
1954
1955
ITEM
July
August
May
August
July
June
COMMODITY PRICES
Prices received and paid by farmers:
Prices received, all farm products
Crops
Food grai ns
Feed grains and hay
Tobacco
Cotton
Fruit
Commercial vegetables, fresh market
Oi I-bear i ng crops
245
247
225
202
446
272
228
228
286
249
248
228
207
430
288
234
199
294
244
255
240
200
436
266
209
308
259
243
244
232
196
435
266
239
230
256
237
238
244
278
238
172
249
282
245
179
234
260
236
175
242
276
235
176
237
261
263
277
247
264
277
250
263
274
251
263
274
250
262
274
248
260
273
247
280
88
r28l
89
282
87
282
281
84
279
84
209.7
209.0
207.7
207.8
8.6
mil. of do I
14,390
13,896
15,468
15,734
r15,398
15,368
do..
do..
2,747
733
2,672
730
3,409
809
3,536
847
r3,27l
r825
3,295
875
do..
do..
do..
722
407
1,221
681
396
1,207
878
419
1,136
868
425
1,168
r756
r434
r 1,274
745
440
1,232
1910-14=100,
do..,
do..,
........do..
do..
do..,
do..
do..
do..,
Livestock and products
do..
Meat animals.
do..
Dairy products
do..
Poultry and eggs
do..
Prices paid:
All commodities and services
do..
Family living items
do..
Production items
,
do..
All commodities and services, Interest, taxes, and
wage rates
do..
Parity ratio
do..
RetaiI price:
All commodities (U.S.Dept. of Commerce index).1935-39=100
DOMESTIC TRADE
A11 retail stores:
Estimated sales (unadjusted), total ±/
Durable-goods stores:
Automot Ive group
Furniture and appliance group...
Nondurable-goods stores;
Appare I group
Drug and proprietary stores........
Eating and drinking places
TJ RevIsea.
\J August
1955 figures are advance estimates
222
190
435
271
235
223
257
242
178
233
228
214
178
437
277
213
211
246
237
251
249
191
MONTHLY BUSINESS STATISTICS —Continued
1954
1955
ITEM
July
August
May
June
July
August
DOMESTIC TRADE - Continued
All retail stores - Continued
Estimated sales (unadjusted) _!_/ - Contjryjed
Nondurable-goods stores - Continued
Food group
mil. of do I.
Gasoline service stations
do...
Genera I-merchandi se group
do...
Estimated inventories (adjusted), total
do...
Durab le-goods stores
do...
Nondurab le-goods stores.
,.. .do...
Firms with II or more stores, estimated sales:
Unadjusted.
do...
Adjusted
do...
Department store sales, United States total:
Unadjusted index
1947-49= 100.
Adjusted index
do...
Wholesale trade:
Sales, estimated (unadjusted), total
mil. of do I.
Durable-goods estab I ishments
do...
Nondurab le-goods estab I ishments
do...
Inventories, estimated (unadjusted), total
do...
Durab le-goods estab I i shments
do...
Nondurab le-goods estab I ishments
do...
EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES
Labor force (Bureau of the Census):
Civilian labor force
Emp I oyed
Agricultural employment
Nonagr i cu 11ura I emp Ioyment
Unemp I oyed
Employees in nonagricuItural establishments:
Total, unadjusted (U. S. Dept. of Labor)
Manuf actur i ng
Mining
Contract construct ion
Transportation and public utilities
Wholesale and retail trade
Finance, insurance, and real estate.
Service and miscellaneous
Government
Production workers in manufacturing industries:
Tota I
Durab le-goods i ndustr ies
Ordnance and accessories,
Lumber and wood products (except furniture)
Furniture and fixtures...
Stone, clay, and glass products
Primary metal industries
Fabr i cated raeta I products 2/
Machinery (except electrical)
E Iectr ica I mach I nery
Transportation equipment
Instruments and related products
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries
3,689
1,052
1,334
22,400
10,190
12,210
3,374
1,026
1,424
22,450
10,290
12,160
3,514
1,046
1,584
r23,000
10,750
r12,250
3,591
1,066
1,565
r23,190
10,780
rl2,4IO
r3,76l
rl, 117
rl,4!2
23,350
10,850
12,500
2,643
2,652
2,470
2,655
2,721
2,825
2,778
2,784
2,729
2,809
88
rl 12
98
r l 16
I 17
109
rl 14
r98
rl24
9,510
2,870
6,640
I 1,500
5,720
5,780
9,460
2,980
6,480
11,630
5,710
5,920
9,320
3,270
6,050
I 1,550
6,060
5,490
rlO,I 10
3,450
r6,660
r I 1,520
6,040
r5,480
9,650
3, 190
6,460
I 1,640
5,950
5,690
thousands.
do...
do...
do...
do...
65,494
62,148
7,486
54,661
3,347
65,522
62,277
6,928
55,349
3,245
65,192
62,703
6,963
55,740
2,489
66,696
64,016
7,681
56,335
2,679
67,465
64,994
7,704
57,291
2,471
67,726
65,488
7,536
57,952
2,237
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
47,866
15,584
760
2,686
4,029
10,351
2,150
5,755
6,551
48,123
15,822
763
2,735
4,018
10,321
2,151
5,750
6,563
48,918
16,334
742
2,526
3,997
10,534
2,171
5,733
6,881
r49,508
r16,577
760
2,615
r4,08l
r10,643
r2,206
r5,775
6,851
r49,433
rl6,49l
r747
r2,70l
r4,101
r 10,642
r2,236
r5,8l9
r6,696
p49,789
p16,772
p753
p2,729
p4,122
p10,641
p2,233
p5,82l
p6,7l8
do. -..
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
do...
12,179
6,876
104
583
275
424
969
809
1,111
751
1,279
214
358
12,418
6,890
101
592
290
434
967
820
1,095
766
1,238
214
373
12,882
7,530
90
683
298
456
1,096
877
I, 174
809
1,456
211
379
r13,086
r7,630
r89
r727
r300
r466
rl, I 15
r884
rl,l82
r8l6
r1,447
r220
r385
r12,988
r7,523
r89
r725
298
r460
rl,IO2
r865
rl,l64
r807
r1,425
r2l8
r372
p13,249
p7,556
p88
p733
p3l I
p466
pi,I 12
p88l
pi,155
p824
pi,376
p22l
p390
5,303
,152
83
946
984
433
508
517
181
171
328
5,528
1,238
102
974
1,054
439
509
520
179
175
338
5,352
1,035
80
965
1,041
444
516
550
175
216
331
r5,456
r 1,089
82
974
r1,058
451
r52l
545
rl76
219
r342
r5,465
rl, 156
79
r956
r1,024
r449
519
r543
179
r2l7
343
_. ,P5,693
pi,253
plO8
p978
pi,082
p456
p5l9
p547
pl79
p2l9
p354
98.5
99.7
131.9
100.4
99.4
134.8
104. I
105.8
150.1
105.8
106.7
152.1
r105.0
r106.4
r 151.5
PI07.I
p106.I
p156.0
39.4
39.7
39.0
70.92
75.83
64.74
39.7
40.1
39.2
71.06
76.59
64.68
40.8
41.6
39.6
76.30
82.78
67.32
40.7
41.3
39.9
76.1 I
82.19
67.83
r40.4
r40.9
39.7
r76.36
r82.2l
67.89
p40.8
P4I.5
p39.9
p77.I I
p83.83
p67.83
I..80
1.91
1.99
1.54
1.57
1.77
2.11
1.79
1.91
2.00
1.58
1.57
1.77
2.10
1.87
1.99
2.03
1.66
1.59
1.84
2. 18
1.87
1.99
2.04
1.72
1.61
1.86
2.21
rl.89
r2.0l
r2.04
1.72
1.61
rl.87
r2.27
pl.89
P2.02
P2.05
pl.74
pl.63
pi.85
p2;29
Nondurab le-goods industries
do....
Food and kindred products....
do....
Tobacco manufactures
do....
Texti le-mi 11 products
do....
Apparel and other finished textile products.
do....
Paper and allied products
do....
Printing, publishing, and allied industries.
do....
Chemicals and allied products
do....
Products of petroleum and coal
do....
Rubber products
do....
Leather and leather products
do....
Manufacturing production-worker indexes:
Employment:
Unadjusted
1947-49= 100..
Adjusted
do....
Payro I Is, unadjusted...
do....
Hours and earnings:
Average weekly hours per worker, all manufacturing...hours..
Durab le-goods industr ies
do....
Nondurab le-goods i ndustr ies
do....
Average weekly earnings, all manufacturing.
...dollars..
Durab le-goods i ndustr ies
do....
Nondurab le-goods industr ies
do....
Average hourly earnings, all manufacturing.
Durab le-goods i ndustr ies
Ordnance and accessories
Lumber and wood products (except furniture)
Furniture and fixtures.....
Stone, clay, and glass products
Primary metal industries
r./ Revised. £ / Preliminary.
do....
do....
do....
do....
do....
do....
do....
3,577
1,099
1,578
plO4
pi 18
\J August 1955 figures are advance estimates. 2/ Except ordnance, machinery, and transportation equipment.
MONTHLY BUSINESS STATISTICS — Continued
1954
1955
ITEM
July
August
May
July
June
August
EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES - Continued
Hours and earnings - Continued
Average hourly earnings, all manufacturing - Continued
Durable-goods industries - Continued
Fabricated metal products \J
.dollars
Machinery (except electrical).....
.....do..
E lectr ica I mach i nery...
do..
Transportation equipment,
do..
Instruments and related products
do..
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries
do..
1.89
2.01
1.82
2.12
1.84
1.60
1.90
2.01
1.81
2.13
1.83
1.59
1.96
2.07
1.87
2.22
1.87
1.65
1.95
2.08
1.86
2.18
.91
.64
rl.99
2.08
rl.87
r2.24
rl.90
rl.66
pl.99
p2.09
pi.87
p2.26
pi.91
pi.65
do..
do..
do..
do..
do..
do..
do..
do..
....do..
do..
....do..
1.66
1.67
1.36
1.36
1.34
1.76
2.27
1.94
2.30
1.94
1.37
1.65
1.64
1.29
1.36
1.35
1.76
2.27
1.93
2.27
1.94
1.37
1.70
1.74
1.41
1.38
1.32
1.81
r2.35
rl.98
r2.36
2.08
1.41
.70
.72
.41
.37
.33
.83
2.35
2.00
2.37
2.11
1.40
1.71
rl.72
r 1.4 I
1.37
r|.33
1.84
r2.35
r2.03
r2.4l
2.10
rl.38
pl.70
pl.72
pi.31
pi.37
pi.34
pi.84
P2.35
P2.03
p2.40
p2. 10
pi.39
Federal Covernraenf. finance:
Gross debt (direct), end of month, total
mil. of do I
I nterest bearing, totaI
.do..
Pub lie {ssues.
.do..
S pec i a I issues.
do..
Noninterest bear 1 ng.
'
do..
Obligations guaranteed by U.S. Government, end of mo..do..
270,984
268,681
226,528
42,152
2,303
21
274,955
272,693
230,214
42,479
2,262
27
277,472
274,804
232,563
42,240
2,668
43
274,374
271,741
228,491
43,250
2,633
44
277,584
274,955
2,629
42
278,309
275,711
231,472
44,238
2,598
43
11,016
9,555
11,606
12,595
13,334
13,572
3,160
1,848
72
4,490
444
168
2,939
1,785
109
4,681
446
152
2,123
2,062
107
7,541
774
215
2,377
2,514
125
7,770
770
209
2,317
2,078
116
6,251
627
177
Nondurab le-goods industr ies.
Food and kindred products
.•
Tobacco manufactures
Texti le-mi I I products........
Apparel and other finished textile products
Paper and allied products
Printing, publishing, and allied industries
Chemicals and allied products
Products of petroleum and coal.....
Rubber products
Leather and leather products.
FINANCE
METALS AND MANUFACTURES
Iron ore (Lake Superior district):
Shipments from upper lake ports
thous. of long tons
Barrels and drums, steel, heavy types:
Orders, unf i lied, end of month.....
thousands
Shipments....
do,.
Stocks, end of month
.do..
Steel products, net shipments, totaI....thous. of short tons
Bars: Hot rol led, al I grades
do..
Re i nf ore ing
do,.
231,615
43,340
Semimanufactures
Pipes and tubes..
Plates
Rai Is
Sheets
..
• • .do,.
do,.
..do,.
do..
do..
116
674
376
80
1,347
142
715
365
71
1,331
290
872
571
121
2,439
325
967
600
127
2,428
264
824
506
104
2, 108
Strip:
do..
do..
• • .do..
do..
...do..
74
95
350
242
322
95
109
326
342
351
148
193
414
607
515
152
198
378
651
542
109
145
357
368
363
Cold rolled
Hot ro I led
StructuraI shapes
Tin plate and terneplate
Wire and wire products
r / Revised.
£ / Preliminary.
±/ Except ordnance, machinery, and transportation equipment.
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
DIVISION O F PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
FIRST CLASS
WEEKLY SUPPLEMENT
SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE T O A V O I D
PAYMENT O F POSTAGE, $300
@FedFRASER