The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-30
BUSINESS GOOD IN 6TH DISTRICT, REVIEW ASSERTS Retail Sales Grow Despite
 Adverse Weather
 Conditions

ATLANTA, Ga. March 29.--Csenerai husiness cpndi ditiona in the Sixth federal reaeryn aistriet s:continue on q satis- fAes8rT kAsiA despite s'bAd weather conditions and the irregular cotton mar ket during the past month or two" ac- cording to the monthly business review Issued by. the Atlanta Federal Reserve bank, which was made public today.
 Although it was reported that wet weather adversely affected, to some ex- tent, both wholesale and retail trade, business for February showed flavor able comparisons in majority of in- Stances."
 Retail sales in the past month were more than per cent greater than in the same month last year, and of nine lines of wholesale trade reporting, five showed increased sales in February, compared with January, and six re- ported larger sales than in February a year ago, the review stated.
 Crop Preparations Decreased
 1t was pointed out that rains during the past month have continued to in terfere with farm operations and in most of the district, precautions for the approaching season ara considerably behind for this time of the year."
 Building permits continue to reflect 6 large program of construction and the employment situation is fairly sat |isfactory, there being very little unenl. ployment reported throughout the dis trict," according to the review.
 Conditions in the cotton manufac- turing industry, it was stated, "are still more or less unfavorable because of the irregular market for raw cot ton and the tagging demand for cotton products" R
 It was reported that ''the volume oi wholesale trade during February was not quite up to January business, but was, on the whole, greater than during February last year." The increases over January shown in dry goods and electrical supplies were small, but shoes furniture and farm implements reported more substantial gains.
 Loans Show Increase The review stated that reports from 80 banks ''showed an increase in loans on stocks and bonds between February 6 and March 5, was more than offset by declines in loans based on govern. ment obligations and other miseel- laneous loans, resulting in a net de cline of nearly $4,OOO,00O. Holdings of United States securities and other stocks and bonds did not fluctuate ma. terially, and the net results for the four weeks was decline of. $3.919,0OQ in total loans, discounts and investments in these 39 member banks. Compared with figures for March z, 1923, cur. rent figures showed an increase of SEQ, 194,000 in loans and discounts, and oi $21. .4S0,0O0 in total loans, discounts and Investments. Both demand and time deposits were larger than at the same time last year, deposits. showed decline.
 The aggregate value of building per mits for February was $S,0S6, ,773, ar increase of 6.4 per cent over figures for the corresponding month last year and Al per cent larger than for Jan uary, 1923, according to the review. Reports from 30 mills for February showed that production of cotton clotl was nearly per cent greater than thu output for the same month last year but more than 15 per cent less thaI during January of this year.