The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
tPgjjS^Co*,
BUSINESS
September 7, 1956
STATISTICS
°* «US/NESS t«.°'
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
Monthly
STEEL PRODUCTION (ingots and steel for costings)
INDEX, 1947-49 = 100
17 5
Weekly
^
150 h
1956
fs*A
\r
/V
125 h
T
150
H
1955
125
I\
25
100
-| 1 0 0
H
V
o Imll
7 5
I
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
1953
i
i
i
i
i
I
i
i
i
i
i
1 i
i
i
i
1954
i
I
i i
i
i
i
1 i
i
i
i
1955
i
I i
i. i
1956
i
i
1 ! i i i i i 75
J-FMAMJJASOND
1 i n
i i i
THOUSANDS
1,200
1,000
8 0 0 h-
600
I I I l I I I l I l i j
JFMAMJ
JAS0ND
BILLION
35
DOLLARS
B I L L I O N DOLLARS
70
BILLION
50
DOLLARS
NEW CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY
MANUFACTURERS' SALES & INVENTORIES
(seasonally adjusted)
(seasonally adjusted)
30
H 60
Total
Safes
H 50
Private
Residential
(nonfarm)
s.
40
Inventories*
•••^4»»eeee«9 e«ae
0
{ right scale)
^ BOOK VALUE, END OF MONTH
15
J I I I I I I I I II
1953
IIIII 1 I
1954
I M I I I I I I I I 1 I I I I I I I I I I j j3 0
1955
1956
0 8 < I ' I I I I I 1 I I I I I I I I I I I M I 1 I I I I I I I i i I I I M I I I I I.LJ-LL
1953
1954
1955
1956
WEEKLY BUSINESS STATISTICS1
1956
1955
STEM
Aug,
Commodity prices, wholesale:
A 11 commod 11 ies
... I947-49= 100..
Farm products,................................-...«.do....
Foods, processed.
............ • .do....
AS I other.
...................................do..,.
22 commodities 2/.
..do....
Department store saIes
do....
Insured unemployment, total
,,
„ o s ,thous..
State programs
do....
F i nance:
Currency in circulation 3/99e.................mi1.
of do!..
Federal Reserve bank credit outstanding, total 3_/....do....
Member bank reserve balances 3/
.do....
Excess reserves, estimated 3/
....do....
Federal Reserve reporting member banks In leading cities:4V
Demand deposits, ad justed..
„.
..mil. of do!,.
Time deposits, except U. S. Government....
....do....
Loans and !nvestments (adjusted), tota!•••••••••••.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)
3/......percent..'
Stock prices, 480 stocks (Stand.& Poor's) £/..1935-39=100..
Industrials, 420 stocks........,.........*.........do....
Production:
Bituminous coal 3/
...........thous. of short tons..
Electric power, by utiIities...............mi I. of kw.~hr..
Passenger cars and trucks (Ward's).................number..
Petroleum (crude) and condensate 3/.
thous. of bbl..
Steel 5/,,,.,,,,,,,,
..........thous, of short tons*,
Percent of capacity . 5 / . . . . . . . • • . . • • •
•••....•••....••
Freight car loadings, total ,6/.......
thous. of cars..
Miscel laneous
do....
27
Sept. 3
Aug.
S S
Aug* 25
Aug* 18
Sept. i
121.9
90.6
107
1,212
1,078
114.5
89.0
102.8
122.2
90.9
III
1,169
1,042
114.6
88.9
103.0
122.3
90.9
120
114.6
88.7
103.3
122.3
90.4
30,268
25,217
18,614
484
30,633
25,182
18,588
570
30,681
25,254
18,593
559
30,654
25,642
19,117
655
30,618
25,404
18,883
497
55,669
21,532
84,098
30,972
24,050
8,100
55,931
21,577
84,412
30,948
24,S7I
8,120
55,428
21,913
84,402
25,824
28,727
8,678
54,697
21,897
86,051
27,199
29,029
8,716
55,007
21,939
85,857
26 f 859
29,182
8,737
S80
3.30
311.9
355.5
215
3.3!
315.7
360.7
229
3.59
363.7
426.2
289
3.62
360.2
42 S.7
215
3.65
350.6
409.6
1,607
10,906
149,766
6,685
1,575
10,706
100,663
6,662
1,583
11,530
S27,648
7,086
1,647
11,794
120,027
7,122
1,658
1.1,340
88,621
7,127
2,186
#90.6
787
381
2,255
#93.4
794
384
1,415
57.5
715
344
2,154
87.5
770
367
2,359
95.8
770
371
89.2
ill
•1,051
944
•110.9
•88.1
•101.9
*l17.5
89.2
125
1,019
914
30,288
25,425
18,673
573
IS4.2
89. S
102.4
3.68
348,9
407 . 6
'76,661
2,389
'97.0
U Data do not always cover calendar weeks. 2/ Tuesday prices. 3/ Daily average. 4/ Wednesday data. J5/ Week beginning September 3,
1956:
Production, 2,429 thous. short tons; operating rate, 98„7 percent. J3/ Data for 1956 adjusted to revised classification of class I
railroads. * Monthly index for August 1955. # Not comparable with 1956 rates which are based on higher capacity.
MONTHLY BUSINESS STATISTICS
1955
1956
ITEM
June
GENERAL BUSINESS
July
Aprl 1
May
June
July
24,097
11,191
1,087
1,262
3,464
2,755
INDICATORS
8
Manufacturers sales:
Value (unadjusted), total.....................mi 1. of d o ! . .
27,394
13,974
Durable-goods industries, tota! 1/.................do....
Primary metal,.. ..,. 0 . • ** •»• <> • •. • •*. • oo • •• • .« , 9 9 . d o , . . . 2,349
S,397
Fabr icated meta 1
do....
Machinery (including electrical).................do....
3,682
3,529
Transportation equipment (incl. motor vehicles)..do....
1,244
Lumber and furniture.............................do....
716
Stone, clay, and glass.....................•••••.do....
24,644
12,114
1,875
1,294
3,036
3,342
1,034
631
27,370
13,944
2,493
1,434
3,876
3,257
1,138
27,830
14,069
2,502
1,441
3,957
3,181
1,185
r27,741
r 14,235
r2,57l
r1,484
r4,057
r3,119
r!,S67
698
738
735
13,420
4,377
343
1,148
844
1,955
2,338
488
12,530
4,148
3S6
952
776
1,753
2,276
453
13,426
4,040
13,761
4,322
27, II I
13,527
2,315
1,383
3,547
3,329
1,208
688
13,584
4,329
318
1,148
844
1,985
2,386
465
Nondurable-goods industries, tota! S/ 9 .............do....
Food and beverage..................••••*.••••••.•do....
Tobacco........................................• 8 do....
Texti1e....................................•.....do....
Paper............................................ d o . . . .
Chemical................„..«.*...................do....
Petroleum and coal................................ do....
Value (adjusted), total.......... e a ..................do....
Durable-goods industries, total 1/.................do....
Pr s mary meta (.........••••••••.•••••••••••••••..<. do....
Fabr icated meta1.................................do....
Machinery (including electrical).................do....
Transportation equipment (Incl. motor vehicles)..do....
Lumber and furniture.............................do....
Stone, clay, and glass.. s e ...........,«..........do....
Nondurable-goods Industries, total 1/....,........*do....
Food and beverage................................do....
Tobacco..........................................do....
Text! I'e..........................................do....
Paper............................................do....
Chemlca1......................................... do....
Petroleum and coal...........
...............do....
rj Revised. j>/ Preliminary.
±/
986
656
902
912
2,052
2,424
2,107
2,501
r13,506
r4,299
r337
r1,056
r889
rt,99?
r2,50S
458
459
487
26,731
13,503
2,138
1,407
3,475
3,615
1,198
657
27,231
I3,5S9
2,442
1,434
3,740
3,001
1,105
27,814
13,754
2,472
1,486
3,935
2,972
1,129
r27,665
r13,850
r2,533
r1,484
r3,923
r2,97!
rl, 155
26,118
12,501
1,251
1,372
4,006
2,967
1,120
705
716
693
683
13,228
4,223
316
13,712
4,245
14,060
4,312
13,617
4,209
348
346
S, 133
1,123
1, 125
320
? ,056
367
1,046
834
884
931
1,844
2,299
1,970
2,499
2,097
2,633
rl3,8l5
r4,295
r324
rt,089
r889
r2,028
r2,552
471
445
464
464
Includes data for "other industries" not shown.
12,906
4,124
36 S
904
'833
1,836
2,459
..........
344
1,063
895
1,966
2,484
..........
3
MONTHLY BUSINESS STATISTICS — Continued
I
1955
ITEM
June
July
1956
Apri 1
May
June
July
GENERAL BUSINESS INDICATORS
Manufacturers' inventories, end of month:
of dot..
...do....
...do
Transportation equipment (incl. motor vehicles).do....
...do....
43,855
24,574
3,201
2,656
8,009
5,865
1,773
906
48,170
27,955
3,536
2,962
9,458
6,877
1,830
1,053
48,834
28,446
3,658
3.037
9,655
6,889
1,868
1,057
r49,295
r28,521
r3,638
r3,052
r9,77l
r6,795
r1,870
r1,072
49,023
28,099
3,678
2,953
9,642
6,647
1,855
1,070
6.6
10.0
7.9
7.4
11.5
9.0
7.6
11.7
9.2
7.9
11.6
9.0
8.0
11.6
8.7
19,221
4,108
1,764
2,450
1,034
3,053
2,686
875
19,28!
4,221
1,722
2,422
1,052
3,051
2,753
827
20,215
4,303
1,884
2,542
1,145
3,434
2,789
1,019
20,388
4,238
1,829
2,602
1,144
3,477
2,856
1,024
r20,774
r4,337
r1,785
r2,6i8
r1,181
r3,545
r2,924
1,015
20,924
4,458
1,767
2,622
1,211
3,561
3,017
7.6
2.9
8.7
7.6
2.9
8.7
8.3
3.0
8.9
8.2
3.1
9.1
r8.2
r3.l
r9.5
8.2
3.1
9.6
43,779
24,457
3, 188
2,587
7,905
5,961
1,747
897
43,938
24,563
3,197
2,604
8,010
5,905
1,755
906
47,958
27,723
3,688
2,933
9,292
6,781
1,812
1,022
48,466
28,123
3,770
2,920
9,523
6,830
1,850
1,036
r49,090
r28,174
r3,7l8
r2,907
r9,563
r6,755
r 1,870
rl,06l
49,108
28,085
3,673
2,895
9,645
6,688
r,837
1,070
7.7
11.4
8.7
7.8
11.6
8.7
r8.0
rll.5
8.6
7.9
11.5
8.6
r20,9l6
r4,587
r1,879
r2,6l8
rI,181
r3,5l2
r2,953
21,023
4,599
1,880
2,596
1,223
3,544
3,017
r8.4
r3.1
r9.4
8.4
3.1
9.5
r28,8IO
15,236
r2,!80
r 1,401
r4,6!3
r3,842
r13,574
25,997
13,123
2,143
1,315
3,850
3,111
12,874
43,976
24,755
3,116
2,716
8,078
5,998
1,747
906
By stages of fabrications
of dol..
...do....
of do!..
...do
...do....
...do..-..
...do....
...do....
6.5
10. 1
8.2
By stages of fabrication:
of dol..
...do....
of do 1..
...do....
...do....
...do....
Transportation equipment (incl. motor vehicles).do....
By stages of fabrication:
of dol..
...do
...do....
6.6
10.0
7.9
6.6
10. 1
7.8
20,443
4,467
1,866
2,526
1, 144
3,479
2,828
985
19,322
4,344
1,857
2,426
1,034
3,024
2,713
850
19,375
4,358
1,832
2,398
1,063
3.039
2,753
853
20,235
4,448
1,865
2,492
1,134
3,407
2,817
970
of dol..
...do....
...do....
7.8
2.9
8.6
7.8
2.9
8.6
8.3
3.0
9.0
of dol..
...do
28,314
14,571
2,328
1,640
3,929
3,548
13,743
26,100
13,347
2,316
1,445
3,639
3,234
12,753
27,556
14,257
2, 146
1,609
4,335
3, 188
13,299
27,945
14,223
2,488
1,492
4, 187
3,052
13,722
...do....
New orders, net (adjusted), tota1.... o e ....
...do....
Durable-goods industries, total J./.
Pc! mary meta 1..........,.«,,............... „..., ...do
FabrIcated meta!....„.......•••....••••.•••..•< ...do
Machinery (Including e lectrical)........ os ••••« ...do....
Transportation equipment (Incl. motor vehicles] ...do....
NoradurabSe-goods industries, total...... .... ..... ...do....
27,795
14,033
2,477
1,562
3,734
3,225
13,762
27,044
13,571
2,33c
1,445
3,656
3,334
13,473
27,752
14,073
2,146
1,577
4, 122
3,188
13,679
28,803
14,732
2,392
1,538
4,460
3,213
14,071
r27,897
r14,185
r2,3l9
r1,334
r4,3l|
r3,202
rl3,7l2
27,064
13,497
2,304
1,315
3,979
3,111
13,567
Unfilled orders, end of month.(unadjusted), total. ...do....
Durable-goods industries, total J/.. „ 0 » 0 .. .«««,„<,,. • . d o ® « o.
Pr1mary meta1.................................. 0 9 e d o . . 9 .
Fabricated metal,,.oa.,., 8 ,.. ( ,......,.,,.,,. . e o d o . . . B
Machinery (including electrical)...... o e . # .... o e „ d o „ s o «
Transportation equipment (incl. motor vehicles sas do a o. ffl
Nondurable-goods industries, total......... e&e, 9 8 9 3 «do...•
49,32S
46,066
5,856
3,609
13,736
18,419
3,255
50,777 1
47,299
6,297
3,760
57,410
54,524
7,040
4,462
17,495
20,879
2,886
57,525
54,678
7,026
4,513
17,725
20,750
2,847
r58,594
r55,679
r6,635
r4,430
N8,28l
r2 1,473
r2,9!5
60,494
57,611
7,691
4,483
18,667
21,829
2,883
654,333
371
360
552,881
529,945
101,081
82,400
570,486
362
304
474,010
459,070
96, 114
77,593
538,052
503
471
445,758
433,859
91,791
73,463
522,123
307
220
440,980
429,813
80,836
63,149
of dol...
...do....
...do....
...do....
...do....
...do....
...do....
By stages of fabrication:
Fifilshed goods. 0 ....e .
Manufacturers 9 orders:
„....
Durable-goods Industries, total J./........
...do..oo
...do....
Transportation equipment (incl. motor vehicles) ...do....
14,339'
18,311
3,478
8.3
3.0
9.1
TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT
Motor vehicles,, factory sales, total........ ........ .number..
Coaches, tota1.....••............................. ...do....
Domestic. e .. 3 6 0 e .. 0 «••.•.•••••••••.••••••••••••• o e o d 0 9 S O O
Passenger cars, tota1............................. B 0 9 9 do 0 ..-.
Domest ic,.. e ».o 6 6 S , 8 ( ,e. 9 9 . 8 <,« 9 .
s . 8 », e . e .e» .....do. •..
Trucks, total.• .•••••••.••••••••••••••••••••••••.•• , s ..do...,
v
Domestic....••. e ••••..................••.•••.•.• 0 . 9O do ffl8se
r/ Revised.
1/ Includes data for "other industries8' not shown.
767,182
309
237
647,658
629,185
119,215
101,625
768,621 |
296
256
658,736 |
643,402
i09,589
93,739 j
MONTHLY BUSINESS STATISTICS — Continued
4
1956
1955
ITEM
May
August
July
July
June
August
COMMODITY PRICES
Prices received and paid by farmers:
Prices received, all farm products,,.. .... ..... 1910- 14=100..
CrOpS .............................................. dO. . . a
Commercial vegetables, fresh market,,......., .... .do..,.
Cotton,. ..<,„.. ..... . . . . . . . . ^ . . . . . . . . . . . o . ^ . ^ ^ d o . ...
Feed grains and hay
do,.,.
Food grains
•••.••••.•••••••..••.••..
...do....
Fruit* ..................
..
o ••.••.•.;;..do....
01 1 -bear I ng crops..••.......•..•...••••..••.•.••• do....
Potatoes \Jm................ o • • • • • • • • •••••••.••..do....
Tobacco. •••...••••.••.
do....
Dairy products.•••••••.••••••••••••••.••••••••• ..do..«,.
Meat an f ma Is............'•'•••••••••••.•..•••••••••• do....
Woo i...•..••••••••••••••••.••...••«•••••••••••••. do.•. o
Prices paid:
All commodities and services................
.do....
Family living iten)5........ I .,,..,........,..... 9 do. < .,
Production iterns••.•••••.•••••••••••••••
do....
AS! commode, services, Int., taxes, and wage rates.do....
Par ity rat i o...•••••.•••
• •• •• •. •. o...............do....
236
236
206
271
190
222
236
257
171
435
232
228
208
277
178
214
208
246
145
436
242
252
272
270
192
226
233
265
283
454
247
263
310
273
192
218
266
259
338
453
244
258
286
274
194
216
225
250
387
453
237
236
230
263
197
218
210
249
203
451
236
242
259
179
249
236
249
251
191
240
233
247
251
178
23!
232
247
252
171
231
232
253
246
174
233
238
256
259
171
232
262
274
248
281
84
r26l
264
278
250
286
85
264
280
248
286
86
266
282
248
287
85
267
281
250
288
82
3,714
2,550
1,270
1,105
4,008
2,730
1,362
1,180
142
759
261
290
150
448
r4,194
r2,829
r!,4IO
r1,225
142
786
268
301
159
462
4,261
2,842
1,402
1,220
140
786
273
294
161
481
1,278
357
127
535
r1,365
r38l
rl34
r575
1,419
386
134
615
3,678
2,555
1,250
748
125
423
1,123
340
425
r3,69l
r2,587
r1,270
758
125
424
r1,104
r340
r408
3,689
2,580
1,263
756
124
426
1,109
342
413
r130.8
131.3
273
247
r280
83
CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE
4,085
2,862
1,590
1,430
Nonresidential building, total 2/.
. 9 ...,,.. 0 .do....
New construction (seasonally adjusted), total
....do....
686
205
128
704
251
277
169
419
286
172
434
266
139
427
1,223
1,312
I, 164
384
123
491
380
131
569
337
470
3,598
2,607
1,435
641
133
3,638
2,620
1,433
658
132
3,686
2,559
1,257
744
126
127
668
199
385
991
342
343
Construction cost index:
Department of Commerce composite..
r/ Revised.
.......... 1947—49=100,.
\J Includes sweetpotatoes and dry edible beans.
125.6
113)
385
423
1,018
1,127
335
376
327
443
125.7
r130.3.
2/ Except farm and public u t i l i t y .
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID
PAYMENT OF POSTAGE, $300
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
DIVISION OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
FIRST CLASS
WEEKLY SUPPLEMENT
SURVEY OF CURRENT
4,205
2,893
1,587
1,435
1 19
BUSINESS
@FedFRASER