Evening star., 1929-12-13
BUSINESS
TREND IS REVEALED
Various Branches of Indus
try Show Return to
Steady Increases.

The train Of business Is back on the
main track with speculative hot-boxes
cooled and the wheels newly fabricated.
1t would be q mistake to infer that it
has gathered the speed at which it was
running when it struck the faulty joint
Of stock speculation disaster, but there
seems little doubt that it will regain
that speed in the immediate future.
This Is adequately shown by the
maintenance Of the upward curve Of
power consumption. The steel mills are
picking up steadily and there is q
tremendous volume Of business shortly
to be placed. The automobile industry
| now is busy more with the future than
with the past. It now seems certain
that 1929 motor vehicle production will
exceed 100000 units.
Motor Industry.
Today many of the producers are
putElng the last touches on their new
models, which will be shown inside of
the next three weeks. There are manu-
1acturerS who do not put out new
models at this time Of the year and
| they are holding special exhibitions.
with satisfactory results in sales. It Is
notable that more than O million cars
have been sent abroad this year, or 20
per cent OF the output. Requirements
| IN the next year will account for 2,75O,-
600 cars. There is no reason to an
ticipate drop in foreign trade, so that
the automobile industry will start the
year with practical assurance of a de-
mand for at least 3,750,000 cars without
counting on a single new domestic
| owner. Automobile finance companies
report that failures In payments have
been negligible.
| COngtruction in Taroraadiue ,orv.oli,,
ior THIS time OF year. Undoubtedly the
industry has received a stimulus from
tne announcement Of sharp costs in
construction machinery announced by
one OF the manufacturers this week,
THESE price receSsions extended to the
farm machinery field, with cuts an
nounced for combines, tracots and
headers. Lumber markets in the South
reported an increase of the week of
| 12.S per cent in new business, but
production still Is in excess Of new
orders.
The oil industry is gradually curtail-
ing production as the year draws to q
close, but gasoline stocks on hand are
heavy Sales Of industrial alcohol and
radiators have taken o big jump The
drug industry Is still proSpering widely
and no anxiety is felt by the cosmetic
ana toilet article manufacturers over
| the 1act that there is considerable dis
cusSlon OF tax on their articles. This
discussion has solidified into a bill now
oeIore the Tennessee Legislature.
Sales OF non-ferrous metals are still
being sharply restricted because con.
SumerS are confident they can obtain
Cne necessary supplies any time they
want to have them, without danger of
any immediate or sharp increase in
price. Despite this the demand for
Aeao ana copper Is fairly satisfactory.
Cotton and Textiles.
With the last forecast Of the cotton
crop out Of the way, cotton growers and
textile manufacturers are In q position
to determine their future policies and
70 make the necessary purchases hang
ing tire up to this time. The dairy
industry is at a high state of eficiency
on both the production and distribution
Slde ana satisfactory profits are now
being returned.
Demand for silk fabrics Is undimin-
ished, but the wool industry is still de-
| pressed.
The Bureau Of the Census shows that
the. earnings of investors In American
business in the month Of November were
| oecloedly better than year ago.
Earnings and interest payments on bus
mess investments for November, 1928,
! were SAT-, $4,000. For November, 1929,
they totalled $514,450,000. Bond sales
showed an increase from 1921, ,466, 900 to
$291 ,034 000 Sales of stocks, however.
declined from lis, ,435, 900 shares, to To-
455,O00. Business failures showed A
crop in number of A as compared with
last year.
Mail Order Sales.
Mail order sales of two selected firms
increased approximately So 1000 900 over
the month Tor last year and the total
business Of the four biggest IO-cent
store chains rose from $46,s77, 900 to
say, 900. Check payments increased
over $1,000 600 900. Brokers loans fell
on over $4,000, 200, 900, while the Gov
ernment's gross debt dropped over a
billion. Production of Portland cement
showed a decrease Of 6:8 and thereby
nettered the statistical position of the
| industry.
Copyright, 1s2e)
METAL MARKET