The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-08-25
Business Swing
Is Up, Commission
Survey Shows

A definite business upturn in the
north central states with bright fu-
ture for autumn and winter was shown
by survey made public today by the
National Consumers Tax Commission
The Commission survey to ascertain
the immediate business outlook in re-
lation to it's consumer-members con-
centrated on north central area pro-
duction and trade reports but took
others into consideration also.
"Various factors have combined to
turn the wheels of industry faster and
accelerate the flow of trade it stated.
"On the other hand one factor-the
continued drain Of taxes on the con-
sumer pocketbook-has tended to re-
tard the advance.
"The fact that taxes-local, state
and national-now take approximately
25 cents from every dollar of income
has prevented the business improve
ment from being even more pro-
nounced than it is."
The survey, released in Chicago
showed optimistic reports in retail
trade, telephones, auto and truck,
building, steel, rayon, oil, paper, ma
chine tools, aircraft, freight loadings
and employment.
1t pointed out that the tendency to-
ward better retail trade conditions,
apparent in June, had been strengthen
ed further in July. 1t mentioned tee-
phone records as another Indicator of
improving conditions for the nations
consumers. Principal phone subsidi-
aries of American Telephone and
Telegraph bettered their usual season
al record in July and the Bell System
showed a pickup in long line volume
Other excerpts follow:
"Sensing the business Improvement
retailers in the Chicago area, for eX-
ample, are buying more freely, inven-
tory positions are favorable and the
trade outlook has frightened.
"This retailer preparation indicates
an expected increase in consumer de-
mand on the strength of new jobs, in
creased payrolls and enlarged pur-
chasing power.
"It demonstrates how closely general
prosperity is related to increased pur-
chasing power and how necessary it is
to eliminate as much as possible of the
tax burden on the consumer now cut
ting this power by rs per cent. -.
"The retail trade gain thus far, re-
ported in Department of Commerce
statistics, is reflected in July auto
sales. Ford and Chevrolet, to cite
two instances, had contraseasona
gains of IL per cent over June. Or,
dinarily, sales decline in July.
"This same gain was shown in to-
tai car and truck sales by General Mo
vious one.
"Engineering building awards las
week increased 80 per cent over the
comparable 1897 period for the countr!
as whole, according to the En-
gineering News Record. Awards to
tailed $57,454, GOO against $4S,716,OO(
the preceding week and 44,040,0C0 il
the like 1887 week.
Activity of the Federal Housing
Administration continues to increase
a recent statement by FILA Admins
TRAITOR Stewart Mcdonald discloses
indicating that home building is play
ing an important part in the upturn
"The increase in July in engineering
construction awards and American
shipbuilding, together with reports o
increased alto steel buying has aide
the steady rise in steel operations.
''In the rayon industry, July ship
ments were nearly double those il
June, according to the Rayon Organor
The Organon index of yarn deliverie
rose to S43, new record high for tn
industry.
'"The paper industry reports an up
ward trend. Paper board outpu
jumped IL points in production rate i
five weeks. Machine tool manufac
turers are rebuilding inventories i
anticipation Of further gains, report
show.
"Sales volume and aggregate earn
ing power of the aircraft manufactul
ing industry reached new high level
during the second three months of tn
year with an extension of the recor
indicated. Sales of planes and er
gines for the first six months of 1913
were AZ per cent above the same perio
last year. :.
Employment figures Indicate tha
the drop in jobs has been checked
The American Federation of Labo
monthly survey adds further evidenc,
The railroads, for example, put nearl
$4,000 men back to work in July, a,
cordng to Interstate Commerce Con
mission figures.
"Rairoad traffic throughout tn
country last week held up to the III
T eXpectedly large 5SS,7O3 cars loade
in the previous week, reports indicat
"John J. Peley, president of the A:
sociation of American Railroads, pr,
diets heavier freight carloadings ahea
, "Crude oil production increase
slightly last week also, according
the American Petroleum lnstitut
| Crude flow rose ,450 barrels daily
, total of 3,317,S50 barrels. :"