The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-02-17
FEDERAL RESERVE
BANK REPORTS show
BUSINESS INCREASE
Debit Index Indicates Bismarck
Led North Dakota Cities
In January

Business in Bismarck showed q big
+, increase in December and January
over q year ago, according to figures
released Saturday by the Federal Re.
serve Bank of Minneapolis.
The bank debts index rose from
}6,412.000 in January. 1888, to $ll,-
$3.50 In 1894. In December, 1882,
bank debts in Bismarck were g.
$4,000 and in 1888 @8,78S.000. The
bank debit index for Fargo was
SIC, 301 900 in January this year -
compared to $9,246O00 q year ago.
Most other cities in the state showed
raise in the debit index. Incident
ally the figures for Bismarck were the
highest for the state.
The summary discloses business to
be better throughout the ninth federal
reserve district, which includes North
AMI South Dakota, Minnesota, Mon.
tana and part of Wisconsin and
Michigan. The level Of business for
January showed an increase over De.
cember after allowance Is made for
seasonal changes. The bank index
rose from 81 in December to So In
January.
Country Checks Rise
The country check clearing index
rose from 80 In December to IS in
January. The index Of less-than-car
lot freight movement increased from
63 in December to "a in January. A
reverse trend occurred In u1iscellan-
eous freight carloadings, for which
the adjusted index declined from Is
in December to II In January, but
the December index had shown q re-
markable rise over the level Of the
preceding months.
Trade Of the district continued
stimulated by the spending Of federal
funds. Throughout the district CWA
expenditures continued to be made,
and in the rural portions Of the dis
trict, the funds received from the fed
eral corn loans, federal land bank
loans and other disbursements by
government agencies had q beneficial
effect.
City department store sales were -
per cent larger in January than in
the same month last year. This COM
pared with 10 per cent increase in
December and q three per cent de-
crease in November as compared with
the volume in the corresponding
months Of the previous year.
Many Increases Recorded
Other records of northwestern busi-
ness showed increases In January over
a year ago. Bank debts increased is
per cent, country check clearings Is
per cent, freight carloadings (exclud-
ing !. c. ID, 20 per cent, building per-
mits 1875 per cent, and building con-
tracts l62 per cent, as compared with
January, 1888. Increases also &C.
CURED in flour shipments, linseed
products shipments and the move
ment Of cattle and hogs to market
Decreases occurred in grain market
ings, butter output and market re-
ceipts of hogs and sheep.
Farm income from seven impor-
tant items was Is per cent smaller
than in the same month last year
Farm income estimates for these
months did not include payment
from the federal agricultural adjust.
ment program. Decreases were due
to smaller marketings Of grain, small.
er butter production and reduced
market movement Of hogs.
The majority Of prices Of north.
western farm products strengthened
in January. Durum wheat rose Il
cents to the highest level since Jan.
uary, 1880. The price Of butter haltet
the decline of the preceding twt
months. Prices Of all grains and mos
classes Of livestock were higher Il
January than year ago. The prices
of butter and eggs were equal to las
years prices. and the price Of hem
was below last years prices.