Henderson daily dispatch., 1938-12-30

wages may edge higher IN 1899, but
[ do not expect any general increases,
such as we had two years ago. Hourly
rates will be marked up only in spe-
cial instances later in the year. More
jobs and slowly rising wage rates
should add up to the biggest payrolls
and best urban buying power since
the boom. These payrolls would even
exceed 1929 were it not for the new
| Wage and Hour" Act which is a ball
and chain on most workers.
Farm Outlook Better
Farm income should also be better
Farm products prices can score mod
crate advances led by wheat, corn,
| fresh vegetables, and potatoes. But
ter, eggs, and milkashould not sell
for much more than they did in 1888
Cattle will feature .the livestock pic
ture, while bigger supplies of lambs
and hogs will hold down their prices
With wood demand thigh, and world
supplies not burdensome, higher
/ prices are logical
Indications now are that production
of farm products, while less than last
year, will again be above average. So
barring drought or other abnormal
weather conditions. farm income may
jump 10 per cent above 1898. Far
! mers' profits will be somewhat better
than this year even though the goods
which farmers must buy will cost
more Because the outlook is only
moderately better, see no reason for
farm land values to change greatly.
Food To Boost Living Costs.
Food eats up practically 40 per cent
of the average familys budget. Hence
the Strengthening of farm products
prices is the biggest factor in the liv-
ing cost outlook. In addition to big
ger food bills, clothing will also cost
more in 1889 perhaps per cent. An
advance in fuel oil prices from cur
rent low figures by Spring is a dis
tinct possibility. Soft coal PRICES NAV
rise slightly. The demand for coal NAV
increase as people find that fully
automatic stoker gives certain sec
lions cheaper heat than does oil =
| Rents should not move much in
either direction except in the case of
especially desirable urban properties.
Taxes, of, course, will be no lower.
/ Electric light and gas rates will con-
tlnue their long-term downward trend
] Home furnishings, in general, will
cost more. Adding up all these various
items, my estimate is that by nexi
Christmas we may, find total living
costs 5 to per cent above present
| figures
| Higher Wholesale Prices.
| Before leaving living costs, indus
trial commodity prices should be men
| toned. They have been trailing re-
| covery to date. In fact, they are ac-
| tually lower on the average than thew
were when business started to sky
| rocket last June. So an advance is in
| cards for prices Of such raw materials
rs hides, leather rubber, gray goods.
zinc, lead, lumber, and the like. Thes,.
Gains mean that retail prices during
939 will reverse their long down.
rend. That is why I predict that
home; furnishings and clothing will
ost more next year
A Jump in retail pricct~~s and in
'ousehold bills ordinarily means cut
ing into consumer purchases-but in
'959 increase in payrolls and farm in
| ONE should offset them. Consequent
| Y, | expect merchants, WHOLESALERS
nd jobbers to have a better year than
n 1888. Dollar retail sales ought to
L
lst twelve months with the best com
arlsons coming in June and October
MT sales will mot rise quite so much
ecaalse Of the higher prices.
store profits should increase ever
lore than dollar volume of trade be
ause there need be no stock write
'wns in 1889 as there have been dur
lg the past twelve months. A heavy
L i
,erchandise is logical. Charge account
'slness will expand and whi'e do
ot like to forecast it, think that in.
aiment sales will probably increase
.sIer tnan cash business. With tie
LOOK Tor higher retail prices, wise
op ao1 VIII stock up during early
clearance" sales
w GOOD Year For Statesmen.
While 1889 looks like . oood vaar
merchants, it can be a boom year