The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1915-12-31
General Trade Conditions
and
Business Forecast
qssued by The Connecticut National Bank)


featuring lines, heavy increases in
building operations and railroad ton
mage and unusual wholesale and re-
tail business generlly is, in brief, the
story of the present business situation
in this country. The total volume
of commercial operation being re-
corded each day has never before
been equa1ed and instead of the usual
1u1l or let-down in heavy lines it is
evident that the present activity will
carry right through the holiday sea-
son.
Bank c1earings for November were
over 19,0OO.00O,OOO compared with
Sill O00, 100000 a year ago. The gain
for New York city alone was 119 per
cent. and for the country outside OF
New York city the increase was 33
per cent, making the increase average
for the entire country rs per cent. Out
Of 16o principal cities only Is showed
smaller clearings than a year ago
while III cities set entirely new high
records.
Stock transfers on the New York
Exchange during November totaled
nearly 100000 shares compared
with less than 100000 shares in
November, 1913 (the Exchange was
closed in November 1910. Stock
sales for the first II months of the
year were 159, 100000 shares compar-
and 100000 shares the previous
year. The average price of a. select
ed list of 81 investment stocks is 10S
compared with 50 a year ago.
November bond sales tota1ed $780,
100000 against $32, 100000 in Novem-
Der, 1913. For the first II months
Of the year bond sales were nearly
$841, 000,0o compared with $427, 900,
900 a year ago and 100000 two
years ago. For the same period of
1909 bond sales tota1ed $780, 600
which. remains as the high record.
The average price of selected list +
high grade bonds is 90 compared with
So a year ago. and 81 two years ago.
The average price Of rs selected rail
road bonds is nearly "a compared
with ~ a year ago.
Dividend and interest disbursements
for December will amount to $147,-
100000 compared with $133, 900 a
year ago. Dividends will total $751;
600, 900 compared with SAT, 0O0,OO0 a
year ago and interest will. be $40, 0O0,-
900 compared with 100000 for the
same month last year.
Maturities for january will amount
to $66. 900. 900, the total naturities for
next year being less than 1901. 900, 900
compared with maturities for the cur
rent year amounting to $s76. 100000.
The major part Of the nlaturities in
January are railroad securities.
Financing by operations during
November totaled $17s,OOo,oo0 com
pared with $31, 100000 last year and
$87.0O0,00O two FyeaTs7ago.
The number Of business failures
during November was 1,4S1 compared
with 100 for the. same month last
year and the liabilities of the failed
concerns were less than $1S,0o0.O0O
compared with liabilities of over $685.
fof IN
November, 1914. The assets of the
concerns failing last month covered
more than one-half of the liabilities,
the net liabilities being only about
$syOO0,0oo
The total amount OF money IN cir
cu1ation on the first of December was
$3, SIS, 0O6. 900 compared with. $780,
0oO, 900 year ago. The per capita
circulation is $500 compared with
$36,40 year ago. the present per cap
Hita circulation being the largest ever
recorded. The Federal government
estimates the present population of
the United States at <1O1. 435sO0O per-
sons compared with es.7ss.Ooos a year
ago.
Building operations for November
in $50 cities aggregated $73, 900. 900
compared with $49, 100000 a year ago,
SIS. 100000 two years ago and ST.
900. 600 three years ago. Out OF 1eo
cities 12s show gains over last year
for the month and the decreases re-
corded in 80 cities are slight
Gross earnings for all steam rail-
roads for October were $311, 900, 200
compared with $274, 100000 for the
same month last year, an increase OF
$S7,000,0o0 or nearly 1 4 per cent. Net
earnings were $119. 900 compared
with $50, 100000 a year ago, gain
of $3,OO0,00O0 or nearly "a per cent
An inc Of NJ ito
was shown in operating expenses. Sc
far as reported gross earnings for
Noernber show an increase of 80 per
cent over last year with q very slight
increase in operating expenses SO that
when all returns are in net earnings
for November Will probably show an
increase Of between 35 per cent. and
40 per cent. over the corresponding
month a, year ago, The increased
earnings of the western roads are
largely due to heavy grain movement
and this applies to a number of the
big eastern lines. The cotton move
ment was small and yet the southern
roads were able to make a, better
| showing which promises well for earn
ings of the southern lines when the
cotton movement increases.
During the month of November the
number of idle cars increased by near
1y 10000 leaving $1,000 cars idle on
the first of this month. The increase
in idle cars was wholly in flats and
coal cars. the number of idle box cars
decreasing for the month largely be-
cause of heavy grain shipments.
During four, weeks ending Novem-
Der 27, we exported from the 10 prin-
cdpal customs districts a, total value
of 5000. 900, 900 and imports arriving
at these same ports tota1ed 1925, 0oO.-
900, creating a favorable trade balance
for us for the four weeks of nearly
| $184, 100000. For the two weeks
ending December IL, exports were
$1S9seO0,oOO and imports less than
$74.00O,00O, creating a favorable bal
ance for the two weeks of $115, OOO,-
00G. AS these ports normally handle
| 80 per cent. Of the country's foreign
trade, our total exports for the six
weeks ending December IL were about
$54S,00o,00O and our imports $219,-