Evening star., 1931-11-22
Commodity Price
Trends of Week
BY n. n. McoTLL

bI n. ~. McOILLS
Editor, McGill Commodity Service.
AUBURNDAIiE, Mass, November 2l
Commodity prices continue their
upward trend of the past two weeks, as
indicated by the index Of "all COM
modities" Considering IL individual
groups, advanced, remained the
same and declined.
All Commodities.
After a slight reaction last week, due
solely to a decline in live stock prices,
al commodities again went upward un-
der the leadership Of agricultural prices
and hides and leather. Other groups
TO advance were chemicals, fuels and
paint materials.
Industrial Prices.
Due to decreases in the non-ferrous
metals, fine and coarse textiles, vege-
table oils and fb7ilding materials, In
dustfial prices SNgclined fractionally.
Non-Ferrous Metals.
After showing pronounced strength
In the previous week, non-ferrouS
metals recorded extreme weakness,
making another new low point. The
decline was quite general, including
copper, lead, tin, zinc, antimony and
silver. The failure Of the important
copper interests in conference to come
to an agreement regarding production
schedules was reflected in the decline
Of copper to Q new all-time low Of 61a
cents. Conditions In this country have
been bad, but with the failure of the
conference, the situation is certainly
desperate, with stocks already at un-
equalled levels and with no prospects
of cooperation between producers to
bring output in line with consumption.
Building Materials.
A new low also was made by building
materials, due to another decline in the
price of lumber. With building condi-
tions in such poor state and the out
look during the next few months no
more favorable, it is to be expected that
there will be no immediate improve
ment in the prices Of these materials.
Hides ana Leather.
The only group to show more than a
fractional gain was hides and leather.
This index after declining from $50 the
last OF July to 63.6 october 16, has
registered continuous advance for
five consecutive weeks.
Agricultural Prices.
The elevating influence in the upturn
Of this weeks index was agricultural
prices. Better sentiment in regard to
grains has continued, and although
some setback has occurred in wheat
prices. yet all of the gain has by no
means been lost
1t is interesting TO note the position
Of the individual indices as recorded in
the week to week figures "All COM
rnodities" is in healthier position than
it has been for many months. Since
the middle Of June the drastic down.
ward trend has been halted Prices
have moved in a more sidewise trend.
Although a new low point was made
the first week in October, from then
until the end of October the trend was
horizontal, and in the first three weeks
Of this month, marked strength has
been in evidence. In regard to the
individual groups, all have followed this
trend with the exception Of live stock
building materials, non-ferrous metals
and paper. The fuel index has made
the most favorable showing, as a heal
thy upward trend has been in evidence
since the last of July, and Is now at a
point over 1S per cent above the low
point.
Most Important Price Changes.
The McGill Weekly commodity price
4ndtceS, 1926-100: