The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-31
SEASONAL LULU
 SLOWS BUSINESS IN MOST LINES
Crop Outlook Bright And Savings Deposits Show
 Slight Gain
tBy Associated Press. ]

AAD1tNA@A~A
 ATLANTA, Ga, July 3O-BrighteI prospects for the seasons production of cotton at, this time than was true two or three months ago; material i'm provement in the condition of all az ricultural crops being noticeable in June and early July, while in most lines of business, there is being expert enced "a seasonal Hull" said to be usual at this time is evidenced in the month Iy business review covering the agri- cultural and financial conditions of the sixth federal reserve district. issued here today.
 Practice Rigid Economy
 Shortage of farm hands, which made is necessary for the farmers to work longer hours, coupled with the limited credit which a few have been able to obtain, has resulted in rigid economy being practiced, the review states, while the increased use of poison for insects, following last winters cold spell, has resulted in a much smaller number Of weeyils during 1924. The output of sugar and rice in Louisiana is describ- ed as being somewhat better than Last year."
 Recessions somewhat greater than probably expected because of seasonal factors, is shown in business lines at this period, it is stated in the review of retail and wholesale trade. Until more definite information is gained re- garding the output of the seasons crop, according to the review, business is described as generally hesitating."
 An increase in unemployment con- tinued in June in the Birmingham dis trict, due to part time operations in various industries, although building and road work construction still employed large numbers, the review further shows.
 Savings Deposits Grow
 Small increases from month to month are noted in the savings deposit sta tistics, while the total savings held by 94 banks at the end of June was Fl per cent greater than compared with the same period in 1923. Although reserves are high, bank loans are given as being at a low point, the same con dition being true of the Federal Re serve bank, which reserve ratio was re- ported higher in the weekly statement issued July 16 than in any preceding report date in almost a year and half. The review continued:
 Retail Trade-Sales and stocks both registered declines in June, according to confidential figures reported by 43 stores in the sixth district. The index number of sales by these 43 reporting stores in June is 96.6 per cent compared with 106.4 per cent in May, and stocks and merchandise on hand at the end of June were 6.7 per cent lower than a month earlier.
 Wholesale Trade Less
 Wholesale Trade-C Confidential re- ports made to the federal reserve bank for June, by more than 150 represent ative wholesale firms in the sixth dis trict, in nine diffefent lines of trade. show a smaller volume of business than in either of the preceding months OF the corresponding months of last year. Electrical supplies is the only line to show a larger volume of sales in June than in May or June; 1923.
 Dry Goods-Dry goods sales during June at Atlanta and New Orleans were larger than in May, but declines at other points resulted in an average de crease for the district of 1O.4 per cent. while compared with June, 1923, sales showed a decline of 17.3 per cent. Col lections were reported good by six firms, fair by 13 and poor by one.