The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1921-06-02
WHAT THE FUTURE PROlfIs-


Els.
AS harvest approaches the out
look blightens for improving
business especially in the agrieul-
tural sections. This impression
comes through information from
the four corners of the country
and is well set forth I'M the fol
lowing extract from the June
Business Forecast issued by the
Old National Bank at Spokane:
AS the prosperity of any large
country is vitally affected by its
agricultural production, the re-
ports coming from many author
itative sources indicating a big
crop of winter wheat, rye and
hay must be considered an ex-
ceptionally bright spot on the
horizon Of business. The fact
that spring blowing and spring
planting have progressed much
farther than is usual at this time
of the year is good evidence that
the farmers are on the job and
that those, who are short of mon
ey because of falling prices on
their products, have found some
way to employ and pay addition
al help. Agricultural reports for
the first of May were never more
promising and, although the
fruit crops have suffered the us
ual frosts and freezes, and the
grain and hay crops have gone
through sudden and severe
weather changes. the outlook for
the year is enough to gladden. the
heart of every farmer and every
business man in the country.
Once these crops are harvested,
business must improve.
The average price of all COM
modities, according to the Bank
ers' Commodity Price Index, on
the first day of May was $401 SO
compared with $415.70 month !
before. $723.58 year ago and
$358.77 on August /, 1914. The
drop in the average wholesale
price Of all commodities averag- ,
ed for all markets would appear
to be nearing completion. A
drop of 1870 in the average price
of all commodities would put the
index figure below prewar or be- !
low August /, 1914. A number !
of prime commodities have al ,
ready sold at wholesale below the !
prewar price and many others !
are likely to follow suit. 1t IS i
hardly possible. however, that all
IF the prime commodities could Il;
De at the bottom at one time and, !
IS prices decline ON some, adj 4
yances will occur in others so !,
hat the general or average price i
II all commodities is not likely to !,
20 much lower, or to remain even !,
IS low as it is now for any great i
ength of time. The trend of re- ),
all prices of most commodities -
$ still downward and retail =
'rices, if they follow the natural
curse, should continue to shade
downward until late next year
nd should be below today's av- Ii
rage for the next two or three c,
ears. The trend described is the z
atural courses which could be al
isarranged or upset by unusual
but, although sucn hi
encouragement may affect indi- ID
idual commodities, it is hardly al
kelly to affect the average. tn
mong those prime commodities sh
hich are now selling at whole TO
lie at prices which are below tn
primal might be mentioned corn. OF
IT'S, rice, eggs, milk, sugar. cof- qu
e, wool, cattle. sheep, hogs, hor. to
$, chickens, silver. tin, copper, tt.
'elter, lead and rubber Prime WI
which still whole- ins
lie at abcye normal prices in
lde paper, lumber, cottons.
oolens, feathers, petroleum. al los
hol and coal. Commodities du
lich are wholesaling at lust the
out normal as measured against ev,
her collateral conditions in adj
lde wheat, barley, rye, beans, pre-
k, and tobacco. the
IT pre-