Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-02
OUTLOOK IN MAJOR INDUSTRIES
INDICATE VARIED PROSPECTS
Standard Statistics CO. Reviews Leading
Glasses of Business to Interpret
Trend of Trade.

lead is a distinct probability before a
sustained uptrend Is forthcoming. Cur
rent quotations seem to have well dis
counted the adverse situation In the
zinc industry.
Leather-1t seems unlikely that hide
prices will stiffen sufficiently to permit
tanners to show any material income
during the early future.
achinery.-EarningS during the
current half year will probably fall
we'll below the levels reported IN the
first six months of 1890.
Meat packing-Until comparative
price stability prevails. packers viii
have little opportunity to operate at .
satisfactory rate prohtwise.
once equipment.-Only those pro-
ducers distributing mainly on a rental
basis will show even relatively salts
factory profits.
Paper Business Better.
Paper.-A continued favorable show
ing is expected for the tissue paper
and other speciality divisions.
Petroleum demoralized situa-
ton in crude oil prices continues TO
overshadow the industry with no def
mite signs of alienation yet apparent.
Radio.-Profit margins for even the
strongest tube producers have been i'm
paired by price cuts. No substantial
recovery in the volume OF business in
| the radio receiving field Is likely dur
| ing the near future.
Railroads.-The total volume OF rail-
road freight traffic continues at an I'M
usually low level.
Railroad quipment-Severely cur
| tailed profits on the part Of practically
all companies manufacturing rail equip
ment, seems likely in view OF the al
| most negligible orders being currently
| placed: a more favorable situation pre-
walls in the signal equipment depart
ment and operations Of car leasing
companies are being relatively well
! maintained.
RayUn-No early expansion Of pro-
duction Is likely. .
Retail trade.-No sustained upturn
in retail volume may be expected prior
to next Fall.
| Rubber. Of the prospect
that further rise in rubber stocks will
be registered this Spring and Summer,
it seems probable that prices for some
time will show more weakness than
strength.
Shipping. builders should
experience profits nearly on q parity
with those of last year, although repair
organizations will be unable to make
as favorable a showing.
Silk.-MoSt silk goods companies have
been prevented from maintaining OPP
| Grating profits at the full level Of early
| 1880, and substantially more favorable
results are not expected in the current
quarter, although inventory losses are
likely to be smaller than In the same
period OF 1880.
Steel.--Production in the next month
should hold comparatively stable.
Sugar Situation.
Sugar.-Profits of most producers will
probably remain at greatly depressed
levels. The outlook for domestic re-
finers is considerably clouded by the
threatened dissolution Of the Sugar In
stitute.
Nineteen thirty-one In
come will probably fall below that OF
1880.
Tobacco-Though an earnings re-
duction for cigar companies is ex-
pected during the first half year, the
decline should not be unusually severe
Utilities.-Production of electricity Is
currently running close to the levels
prevailing a year ago and evidence al
hand indicates that moderate improve
ment may be witnessed during the nexl
several months.
Relative stability may be expected
in manufactured gas companies profits
during. the first half of 1881, while in
the natural gas division further mod
crate contraction may be witnessed.
Telephone companies continue to
reveal relatively strong opposition to
the general depression and it now seems
that the worst Of the decline in this
industry has been witnessed.
Telegraph and cable companies, in
direct contrast, continue to suffer
acutely.
Wool-Rate Of mill operations dur
ing the early future should compare
faVorably with that Of year previous.
Firmer raw wool quotations and smaller
stocks will abate former heavy in
yerltory losses.