New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-04
Early Increase of Exports
and Imports Offsets
Late Falling Off.
DECLINE AND TARIFF
LAW COINCIDENT
Restriction of Consumption Re-
corded in Smaller lmporta-
tons of Food Products.

The combined totals OF the imports and
exports OF the United States for the cal
endar year 1918 indicate a stupendous for
eign trade. and are by their size reassur-
ing The Department OF Commerce, esti-
mating the figures for the month Of De-
cember. places the imports for the year at
approximately S.7500co.Ooo and the exports
at S25oOCOo.c00 The excess Of indicated
exports over imports for the year approx
mated $3.50, 0O0000.
The exports for 1913 exceeded those OF
1912 which established the record for any
calendar year up 20 that time. by approx
matoly 100000. 600. The imports for
1913. however, show a decline by compari-
son with the imports FOR 1912, but were
greater than for any other preceding
year This decline is due 10 some extent
10 a reduction in prices Of imported
articles but in great part It is the result
Of general slackening Of trade.
Falling OF In Foreign Trade.
Closer analysis Of the figures for exports
and imports for the year just ended re-
veals a marked falling of in the foreign
trade Of the United States. particularly
during the latter months. The condition
Of the trade mi$ be said 70 be healthy, as
the excess Of exports is maintained and,
on the whole, exports appear 10 have been
less affected by the business disturbances
in various parts Of the world than the
import trade.
restriction IN the consumption Of the
United States is indicated in the falling
off in the imports Of some food products.
MI ha
OF the year a decrease In the quantity Of
crude and partially manufactured ma
terials for use in manufacturing imported
from foreign countries.
Coffee and tea imports are far below
those of 1912. Manufacturers materials
show a falling off Of approximately per
cent for the ten-month period ended
with October Rubber. hides. wool and
fibres and other similar raw products
show marked decreases in importation.
particularly during the last months of the
year. For the ten month period the de-
crease in the importation Of crude ma
terials for use in manufacturing as com
pared with the similar period in 1912 was
soS.O0o,O0O.
A still closer analysis Of the figures for
October alone shows trade conditions far
from reassuring. The returns for october
are under the new tariff law, the figures
being affected somewhat by the fact that
the first three days Of the month, during
which the old law was in effect, are in
cluded in the September totals.
Specific Decreases In Imports.
As compared with the imports for Oc-
tober. 1912, the imports OF crude materials
for use in manufacturing show a decrease
from s44.7S1,422 10 s34.122,19s; food
stuffs. crude. a decrease from Sls,2s0,SSS
10 SlS.547,33S, manufactured products for
further use in manufacture. from s17,74S,-
O7S 10 S15.82O.77O The total Of exports
and imports for the month Of October,
1918, was only s4O4. 1880. as compared
with s432.621. 400 in 1912. Despite the
reduction in tariff the imports show
marked falling off for the first month dur
ing which the new law was in operation.
while the exports show an increase.
The condition Of the foreign trade OF
the country in November was even less
encouraging than IN october. The imports
were s14S,594,741 as compared with $751;
O94. s9s for the same month in 1912. Ex-
ports for the same month in 1913 were
S245,645.s95. compared with s27S,2441s1
IN 1912, a falling off Of more than $1,000
900 a day.
BY using the figures for the whole year
the gains during the early months may
be made TO Offset the losses during the
late months Of 1913. II the comparison
were based on the figures Of the period
that the new tariff law has been in effect
the result would be far less reassuring.