The Omaha guide., 1936-02-29
ECONOMIC
HIGHLIGHTS
Happenings That Affect the Din.
ner Pals, Dividend Checks and
Tax Bills of Every Individual

Now that stock has finally been
taken of industry's experience in
1895, the business experts are at
work forecasting what will happen
in 1886.
On M point, most experts
agree. They forecast that business
will be better this year. Famed
prognosticator Roger Babson re-
Gently said that, on the average,
business will be ten per cent bet
ter this year than in 1896.
A well-rounded forecast recent
ly appeared in Business Week,
which has had a good record in
peering into the future. Here are
some Of its predictions, based on
exhaustive surveys and analyses
by its experienced staff:
Farm Observation-Disclosures
ers in the field expect the best
year in their history.
Agriculture-B 9th production
and income will be larger than in
1885, despite the death of the A.
"A. at the hands Of the Supreme
Court.
Construction-Last year resi-
dental construction about doubled
1884 total. It is doubtful if such
Improvement will occur this year,
though it seems inevitable that a
gain will be made. The construc-
ton business in general was hard
est hit of any industry during the
depression, and practically reached
the vanishing point. It is slowly
recovering.
Electric Power-This industry
reached a new all-time record for
power output last year. New rec
ords will be established this year,
and will be reflected In widespread
building and expansion. The indus
try's building budget for the year
will involve the spending of more
than $500, 000, 900, and some think
this figure must be raised Before
1929, the industry was spending
around 1000 900, 900 annually,
say this figure would again be
and spokesman for the utilities
say this figure would again be
reached or passed if it were free
from political attack"
Motors-This industry was the
b~ellweather of the recovery move
ment during 1934-1935. It will con-
tinue to go places this year-mak-
ers are already laying ambitious
plans for the introduction of 1897
model cars. Machine tool makers
vii prosper as a consequence, all
car manufacturers will have to
spend heavily for retooling pro-
grams.
Steel-Will be heavy spender
during the year, as it modernizes
and extends plant capacity.
Railroads-Here is another in
dustry which has started an impor-
tant modernization program, plans
to continue it into 1896. Air-con-
ditioning of passenger trains is a
big item, and will account for a
substantial percentage of railroad
expansion budgets. And the trend
toward streamlining trains, cleo
trio, diesel and steam, is signifi-
cant.
Textiles-Forecast is that there
will be a greater consumption of
cotton, rayon and silk than there
was in 1885, with a decline in
wool consumption.
Aviation-Has big plans for
1886. Planes will be bigger fast
er safer. international air service
will be extended and improved. The
industry hopes to get a steadily in
creasing share of the nations pas
senger traffic.
Finance-E x pert is anticipate
more new security issues in 1896
than in 1895, with refunding issues
dominating the capital markets. In
general, the outlook for industrial
profit is said to be steadily i'm
proving despite new and higher
taxes.
Prices-General wholesale level
for 1886 is forecast at about ten
per cent over 1885, declines will
probably be registered in food
prices.
There you have 1886 in a nut
shell, as the best guessers see it.
They make many errors-but they