Evening star., 1933-05-31
BUSINESS BETTER,
us. SURVEY SHOWS
Employment, Production and
Sales Have Increased,
industries Report.

ditions In many lines of industry have
improved in recent weeks, Secretary
Roper announced today at a weekly
press conference.
He presented newspaper men with
letters received from every section of
the country in which gains were re-
ported. The letters were in response to
a query sent out by the department
to business leaders for facts and con-
servative opinion"
A week ago, Roper addressed the
query to all National Trade Associa-
tions as follows:
"To help meet the public demand for
factual information regarding current
conditions and trends in leading indus
tries, it will be appreciated if you will
wire brief resume pertaining to en-
ployment, production, sales and prices
in your industry. The department is
seeking facts and conservative opinion
rather than optimistic views for use with
full credit to the reporting agency and
your cooperation will be sincerely ap-
preciated."
Gains Are Noticeable.
The trend of the replies, more than
100 in number, showed the various In
dustries had noted gain-slight, for
the most part, but noticeable. Most
responses said employment was increas-
ing in line with the upward trend Of
business. Several expressed hope the
Roosevelt legislation to bring about q
partnership" between the Federal Gov
ernment and industry would be has
tened
Industries in which improvement was
discerned included leather, wool, cotton
textile, electrical appliances. automo-
biles. Office equipment, furniture, paint,
Steel dry goods and meat packing.
Based on information from 1877 afili-
ated organizations, the National Asso-
citation Of Credit Men said inquiries
and requests for credit information
established. "a new peak, indicating un-
usual interest and accelerated volume
Of business with emphasis on busi-
ness placed by houses previouly practi-
cally out Of the market"
Auto Output Gains.
The National Automobile Chamber
of Commerce said:
Since the low point of the bank
holiday, production and sales of motor
vehicles have shown steady increase.
some of which was no doubt due to
the postponed demand resulting from
closed banks and some due to the usual
Spring seasonal rise.
However, plOeue.,on of lbs, ,284 units
in April, exceeded April a year ago by
% per cent, indicating an upturn great
er than seasonal"
Employment and production in the
cotton-texrile industry this month were
said to compare favorably" with con-
diticns prevailing in 1928, and the
Cotton Textile Institute said:
For the first time since 1929. prices
for the average cotton mill reflect re-
placement cost"
The National Association of Wool
Manufacturers said, general conditions
are improving more people are EN-
ployed, production is increasing, sales
are larger and prices have been ad-
vanced TO meet the advancing price Of
wool"
Substantial increases" in sales were
reported by the National Electric Manu-
facturers' Association, which said minor
general increases are probably occurring
in employment and production
Former Secretary of Commerce Rob-
ert p. Lamont, now head Of the Iron
& Steel Institute, said:
Steel operations have increased con-
tinuously since the last week in March
and prices Of numerous products have
strengthened slightly during the past
month
Increased operations, Mr.. Lamont
continued. have resulted In employ
ment gains and larger earnings for
workers. Most steel executives are fair
ly optimistic and hopeful for the flu
ture, although lack OF large scale con-
struction and railroad buying, coupled
with other unusual factors, makes con-
tinued upward trend uncertain"
VIII H. Hays, Postmaster General in
the Harding cabinet and now president
Of the Motion Picture Producers & Dis
tributors Of America, Inc. said his in
dustry has not shown any marked Ma
tion-Wide improvement, but:
This is not especially discouraging.
because We are moving into our usual
seasonal decline"
A doleful picture was painted by the
American Petroleum Institute, which
seid betterment would become imme-
diately apparent upon rational control
of crude oil production without which
further distress Is inevitable
Dry Goods Sales Rise.
The National Retail Dry Goods As
sociation reported definite upturn in
sales" and a favorable trend in both
production and employment.
Sales have been fairly well main
tanned" said the National Gamers As
ISOLATION, "and In some lines, such as
corn, the movement of products from
Gamers hands has been somewhat
above the average In recent months"
Volume Of sales Of meat has been
maintained" the Institute of American
Meat Packers said. while the National
Association of Manufacturers of the
United States reported that there Is q
very general and growing feeling Of
optimism that has developed since the
new administration went into once.