Evening star., 1938-09-26
AUGUST IMPORTS
SHOW INCREASE
II Per Cent Advance Laid
to Better Demand for
Raw Materials.
b, thi Associated Press.


The Commerce Department said to-
day 1 better demand for raw mate.
fiAls caused 1 II per cent increase In
merchandise imports in the United
States In August.
While merchandise exports increased
less than the usual seasonal Amount,
they still were larger than imports
by 10B,0Sl 900. In the first eight
months Of the year exports exceeded
imports $7Sl, ,363, 900, one Of the larg.
est favorable trade balances in recent
years.
August imports totaled 41o5, SAG, 900,
compared With l140,B3e, 900 In July
ana l745. .6bS. 900 In August, 1887. III.
ports Aggregated S23o, ,621 900 tn Au-
gust. compared with &227,S77 900 II,
July and 1777,o31 900 In August Of
last year.
Trade Rise IA Factor.
The department said: import trade
expanded considerably in value dur-
inG August.
THE recent Improvement in domes-
tic business activity led to An in
crease IN imports Of raw materials,
other Industrial products and finished
goods. While prices Of some lead.
Ing import commodities averaged
slightly higher last month, most 81
this increase Represented larger quAnti-
tea M goods received.
The increase IN the seasonally Ad.
justed import index for August was the
first major Advance in over 4 year"
Among imports increasing in Au-
gust we're crude rubber, furs, hides,
fiaxseed. raw wool. raw silk. manga
nese ore. wood pulp, tin. nickel, dia.
finonds. fertilizers, linens. woolens. bur-
laps. cotton manufactures, leather
goods. sugar ana cocoa.
Among exports. shipments Of manu-
factured goods tended to decline while
sales Of agricultural products were
maintained 1t hish levels.
Leaf tobocco, wheat. corn. fresh
fruiA, meat products and hsh we're
shipped abroad In larger quantities
than . year Ago. Decreased exports
were recorded for Automobiles, rubber
manufactures. lubricitins oil. electri-
cal appliances. Agricultural imple-
fnents. naval stores. lumber. crude sui.
phur and coal tar products.
Exports Tsp Imports.
In the FIRST eight months of the year.
the United States sold $2,04S. ITO 900
worth Of merchandise TO foreigners and
bought $l.2S7. .4l0.0O0. In the similar
portion of 1897. exports amounted to
32.0Sl. .77S.o00 and imports S2,1S4, ,304-
900. While exports exceeded imports
by A7sl $4,000 In the frst eight
months OF this year. imports were
ahead BY all2.52S,ooo in the core.
spending period last year.
August gold imports. which are not
included IN the merchandise figures,
Amounted 10 s1SS, 100000. compared
With 11oS, ,ol3.ooo IN the same month
last year. Silver imports in the month
totAled S4.SSb 900. Asainst Sl.Ss4. 900
In August, 1887 August gold exports
amounted to only $4,000 and silver
exportA S4ol. 900.
Wheat Exports Gain.
August wheat exports totaled y,623.
600 bushels, compared With S,453. 900
bushels In the same month last wear,
while wheat imports for consumption
were less than 800 bushels. compared
with lol 900 In August 1897.
Corn exports last month asgrefated
12.647.000 bushels. compared With
10000 bushels In the same month last
year. Imports Of corn in August were
only 5000 bushels. compared with
1l.ls4.000 in August, 1887.
Raw cotton shipments In Ausust
were ilS.2o4,0oo pounds. compared
with 134, 4,2Ss.000 pounds in the same
month last year. while imports last
month Amounted to S.400, 900 pounds,
compared with 4.78S.000 pounds in
the same month last year.
Foreigners took 11.354,0O0 pounds
OF American meat products last month,
compared with s,397,o00 in August.
1897. while imports of meat last month
totaled 1885. 900 pounds, compared
with l5,66o.000 pounds in August,
1897.
Unmanufactured tobacco exports in
August aggregated 35,21s,0OO pounds
compared with 25.327.00O pounds in
August, 1897. Imports Of unmanu-
factured tobacco laAt month were
o.2S4.000 pounds. Compared with
CS0 f)DO r,rindA in the same month