Evening star., 1932-05-07
OUTLOOK IN TRADE
FIELDS ANALYzED.
Statistics Company Gives
Results of Survey in I'M
portant Industries.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, May Current indi-
cations of the trend in various divisions
of industry and trade are summarized
by the Standard Statistics Company of
New York from its first Of May resume
of the outlook for important lines, as
follows:
Advertising-Present evidence points
to little alienation of the rate OF con-
traction in advertising during early
future months.
Agricultural neutrality-suspicious. out
look for producers remains severely re-
Stricted.
Apparel-Prospects for heavy inven-
tory losses contribute to the likelihood
of heavy deficits for the majority of
apparel companies during the first half
of 1882
Automobiles-Mod improvement
in volume is expected during the re-
mainder of the current quarter.
Automobile parts-The indicated re-
sumption of large-scale activities by
Ford should materially bolster the
operations of some companies over the
next several months.
Automobile tireS-Prohtable opera
tions for the industry generally are not
in early prospect.
Building-A belated although slight
seasonal advance may extend over the
next several months, with near-term
comparisons beco&ing relatively more
favorable.
Chemicals-The general level OF earn
ings should remain Of relatively favor
able proportions.
Coal-The present price structure OF
bituminous does not permit prottaoie
operations.
Electrical equipment - Relatively
satisfactory sales Of domestic appliances
will partly counterbalance extreme oe-
preston in the heavier lines.
Food products-Food companies as 3
group continue to reveal unusually
strong resistance to the forces OF gen.
eral business depression.
Ieather-Lower average shoe prices
will reduce earnings of leading snoe
producers for the first six months OF
the present fiscal period somewhat
below results for the same 1881 interval;
Machinery-Prospects for substantial
gains in activity are not visible now;
Medicines and drugS-Current quarter
returns may be as much as 20 per cent
below those of the similar months OF
1881. .-.,
contraction in the earnings of leading
manufacturers is probable, long-term
nrospects are encouraging for a re-
covery of past profits.
Metals (non-ferrous) - Copper sup
niles probably have started to decline
for the first time in about year, out
prices have not yet improved. Prices
of both lead and zinc continue un-
nrofitable. Moderately higher prices
for silver are warranted upon any I'M
urovement In the general commonly
price level.
once equipment - Only producers
distributing their equipment iargeIy VI
a rental basis are likely 10 SNOW eFei'
Sair nrofits during the near term.
paper-Au branches Of the Industry
will report substantially reouceo incoile
for some time to come. M
petroleum-The statistical posltlon OF
the industry has been materially M
proved. ,, nm
Radio-Basic conditions remain un-
favorable to profitable operation.
RaiIroads-Few evidences OF improve
ment in second quarter traflc are seen,
railroad equipment - producers a., are
,,reIv IN sustain heavy losses as In 1881
PETAL trade-Profits on par Win
last wear are being experienced IN only
a few exceptional cases. . +-a@c
hinninC-Ayailable freight tramc
&c Sharnly curtailed and rate structures
remain at unremunerative Levels. :
Steel-The general price structure Is
still unsettled, although showing greater
Stability Any output improvement IN
Nav is likely to be only temporary anu
relatively moderate in extent.
Supar-Sustained recovery In raw
s,,oar markets will be considerably oe-
-A2 2Textiles-C Conditions in the trade are
wholly unsatisfactory and likely 10 con-
Theaters-The majority of leading
amusement concerns Will report nS1te LILLE
or no profits for the first hau OF 1879
Tobacco-The persistence OF tne Ie
cline in cigarette consumption, coupIeo
with the uncertainties surrounding the
nresent wholesale price schedule, con-
srtit,Itas unsettIing factors in the me-
diIIno term outlook for profits. Earn !
inos of most cigar producers probably
will remain Of restricted proportions.
Utilities-In the aggregate, earnings
NJ electric companies for the first nall
of 1882 will be some 10 per cent 10 10
per cent below those of year carrier.
Manufactured gas business Is cnar-
acteristically stable. but demand tor
natural gas will roughly parallel the
trend of electric power production.
A further moderate shrinkage In
profits of telephone companies is prop
able during early future months.
Little expansion from current low
levels of telegraph and cable revenues
Is expected until sustained general
business Improvement is in evidence.