Evening star., 1922-01-07
BELGIAN INDUSTRY
HOLDS|TS GAINS
American Traders Show Con.
fidence in Stability in
More Activities.

The Belgian industrial revival Is be-
ing maintained in spite Of the usual
slackening of business due to annual
stocktaking and a somewhat smaller
holiday trade than is usual at this
season. says the Department Of Com
merce. in a survey of that country's
business conditions. Unemployment
shows a considerable decrease, par
ticularly in the metal industries. Sew
eral blast furnaces have been re-
lighted. A favorable feature Is the
fact that many mills are working on
orders for the export trade. The sit
uation in the window glass industry
is even more favorable. Coal pro-
duction for October registers an In
crease of 10000 tons over the pre-
vious month. The retail price in
dex, which has been steadily advanc-
This is probably due to the recent
appreciation in the Belgian franc.
American traders in Belgium have
indicated their belief in the stability
of Belgian industry by their increas-
ing interest in trade promotion &C.
tivitieS.
General Trend Favorable.
Aside from the usual slackening OF
orders preceding annual stock-taking.
which is particularly felt by textiles.
the general business and industrial
trend for December maintained the
favorable showing of the previous
month. Renewed attempts of Ameri-
through the mediums of projected
sales organizations and general ac-
tivities. especially noticeable among
american motor and tire producers,
are reflections of the industrial re-
vival and confidence in the mainte-
Of Gil Pnl a.
ing power.
An encouraging decrease in unem-
ployment has proceeded steadily since
october. Conditions in the metal in
dustries are generally favorable. and
iron and steel production has shown q
considerable increase as a result OF
the relighting of number of blast
furnaces and the resumption Of &C
tivities at the Ougree-Marihaye plant,
which has been practically closed Tor
some time due to a strike among the
employees. On account of increased
rolling mill production. prices of
finished steel. which advanced during
November. are now stationary.
Optimism Is Noted.
Notwithstanding the seasonal slack
ening of orders. a distinct feeling of
optimism is noted generally in the
textile Industries. and the greatest
drawback at the present time is the
uncertainty que TO the uSldOle cA-
change. The. fax market is unusually
active, and considerable export
business is being done. especially
with Great Britain.
The official retail price index (based
on 100 for April, 1910 which in
creased steadily from 379 on July 10
to 394 on November Is. has registered
no further increase and stood at 1898
on December Is. Imported foodstuffs.
except coffee and American flour. all
declined in price during December in
harmony with the improved Belgian
exchange The market for American
staple foodstuffs is satisfactory and
competent observers state that an op-
portunity exists for bringing about
an increased use of corn products. II
efficient demonstration and instruc-
tion methods are employed, Hide
stocks further decreased during the
month to 162. 800. and the market con-
tinues active. Rubber stocks nave
been decreased to 1905 tons. A regu..
lar increase is noted in the sales OF
American machine tools. although n
some dealers still hold stocks which
will require several months for liqui-
latiOD