Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-20
Indications During Week Re.
veal Upward Trend in
Industry Has Started.
COMMODITY PRICE GAIN
is BENEFICIAL FACTOR
Retail Sales Show Seasonal Ad-
vance and Foreign Trade
Is Better.
BY J, C, ROYLE.

Employment reports made public
throughout the entire country in the
last few days indicate that the low
point of labor depression has been
passed and that pay rolls are now in
creaSing, both as to number Of work.
erS and to amounts received by them.
Industry in general showed a re-
markedly small effect from the drastic
drop in copper prices from 18 to IA
cents. The mining industry, Of course,
was the most seriously affected The
drop will probably necessitate the clos
ing of some Of the higher cost pro-
ducers unless the ground is recovered
rapidly.
Radio Deal.
On the other hand, curtailment al
ready was in effect in most of the
mines. The trouble was that the cur
tailment had not been sufficiently long
in operation to prevent consumers from
anticipating market prices In view OF
the heavy increase in stocks on hand.
The absorption of the radio equip
ment manufacturing facilities of Cen
eral Electric and Westinghouse has
raised many legal questions and may
lead to long-continued litigation since
some of the problems involved are eS-
SCilClhlly IlcW anu lldfC IlOL previously
been ruled on. Violent opposition I'M
doubtedly will be brought by the So
called independent radio manufacturers.
Easing of the money market con-
tinues, with funds readily available for
legitimate purposes. The steel industry
is maintaining steady pace with
prospects of improvement in the not
distant future.
Most of the difficulties have been
ironed out in the employment situation
in automobile centers, although the
operations of the various units in the
industry vary widely, some being on a
strong production basis and others &C.
cupying far less enviable statistical
position.
The electrical manufacturing con-
Germs are still actively engaged, but
orders have been 10 per cent lower than
during the record-breaking first quarter
of 1929.
Car loadings are increasing and in
general the agricultural situation Is
fully as good as was expected.
The cotton textile industry has i'm
proved its position decidedly and pro-
duction now is running about 10000, 900
yards a month less than sales. The
latter aggregates nearly 112 per cent
of production. Shipments have been
Adl LI1dn SUOChS
consequently being reduced at the rate
OF about 100000 yards a month.
Building Picks Up.
Building construction has undoubt-
eddy taken q definite turn for the
better, according to latest reports
Building materials are firm and some
Of the standard commodities used in
construction are showing an upward
trend in price.
Commodity prices in general have
advanced in the last week. Production
continues to show a slight increase,
despite restrictive measures. This is
balanced, however, by the approach of
the period of greatest consumption.
The insurance companies apparently
are unworried concerning their real
estate mortgage loans, since these loans
are being increased by some of the
companies.
Retail trade through the week has
been of splendid volume. This, how
ever, is natural the week before Easter
The expenditures have shown little
falling off as compared with the last
two years. The largest increases have
been in women's wear, although the
sale OF mems wearing apparel also
showed decided advances.
Some industries are discounting in
advance the effect of the tariff bill
now pending in Congress as a result
of the action of the conferees on some
schedules. This has been apparent in
the shoe industry and some others.
Foreign trade is speeding up. The
other nations were seriously affected by
the drop in the prices of American
securities last Fall, and this served as
a check to foreign buying for time
The effect is now passing.
Copyright. 1930.)