Milford chronicle., 1939-09-08
Economic Highlights
HAPPENINGS THAT AFFECT THE DINNER
PALS, DIVIDEND CHECKS AND TAX
BILLS, or EVERY INDIVIDUAL
National and THferHafioHai Problems
IHJebarable from Local Welfare

NaI0Hal and fHfeTHdfI0Hdf PT0bIemS
IH'efarabie from Local Writare
The most remarkable thing about
business recently has been the lack
of remarkable happenings. For
some years we have been accustom-
ed TO rapid fluctuations in the in
dustrial cycle, with a bewildering
succession of ups and downs holding
the stage for their little hour. Now
IL seems that dramatic period is at
least temporarily over. We have
apparently settled down, and the
prospect Is that there will be a
lengthy period of calm on the COM
mercial front No one anticipates a
major upturn in business-and no
one anticipates a major drop.
AS Business Week observes, there
las been an interesting recent
change in the character of the re-
covefy." Activity is today most
marked in the durable goods indus
tries. where yesterday it was the
most marked in the fields OF nom
durable, or consumers goods,
Steel, for instance, recently touched
its highest rate of production in al
most year. Production OF the ba-
sic metals. copper, lead and zinc,
Las tended upward, and prices have
held firm. Main reason for this, of
course, is the armament race, both
here and abroad. Nations which are
engaged in war or are preparing for
war have Unsuitable appetltes. And
that has been a stimulating factor
to our long dormant heavy indus
tries.
On top of that, there is a cOnsid-
cradle amount of industrial expan-
sion going on IN many lines, and
this means heavier orders for ma
chimes, tools, supplies of all kinds.
1t is believed that this expansion
will continue, and that the index OF |
industry this fall will reach level /
materially better than was touched /
last year. /
Some business briefs Of interest
follow:
Motors
Makers think that sales of new
models will be slightly better than
last years. Production is low now,
as the new models are destined to
flow off the assembly lines IN a few
hut will he sharply increas-
ed soon.
Electric Power
Output is at excellent levels. The
industry has been doing considerable
of new equipment, and 4
expansion plans are far more am
bilious than in the recent past. Ac-
ton of Congress in limiting, to a
certain extent, federal competition
with the private industry has had a
effect on morale.
Employment
Is steadily increasing, especially
in the heavy industries. II is prob
able that the unemployed total is
lower now than at any time since
1888.
Construction
Is still well up Home building !
continues to dominate the picture.
hOugh prospects hold that there ,
will be a slackening in this type of ,
soon. There is a signifi-
>ant amount of new industrial con- ,
,,
Agriculture
The picture here is sporty Look !
ng at the country as d whole, in 2
;ome for the farmer will be rela- /
lively good this year. "
Summing up, there is every justi- n
ication for feeling that business
will keep 20 a slow and gradual \
ecovely trend. 1t should he point
ID out, however, that a general war
ould change the outlook over night,
nd make the future completely un- .
.
-oOo- d
In their public utterances, French 4
nd British statesmen said that they {,
Iere amazed" and "ast0unded" by n
be suddenly announced German s.
iussian peace pact, which followed I,
ard on the heels of SOviet-Nazi h
rade treaty. However, the fact il
GEMS to be that the more hard
eaded officials OF the world demo- n
facies were much less surprised 8,
ian they say. For it has long been ,,
'recast by realistic commentators -,
lat German-Russian alliance ~
as not only possible, but inevitable. nj
There are several reasons for this "
ussia was Germany's most dang q,
'ous potential enemy, and if Rus IL
a could be pledged to neutrality.
itler knew it would make the am 81
tious imperialist program laid y,
)wn in Mein Kampf infinitely cas- IN
T. to achieve. And Russia has long sv
zen eager to assure peace in Eu- ta
pe, sofar as she was concerned. mr.
order that she might give undi- 10,
ded attention to protecting and do
lvancing her vital interests in In
;ia 80
Furthermore. it is obvious that in no
ethod and idealOgy, the Commun- ag
e and the Nazis have been com de
closer together. In both nations nj,
private liberties have been de- M,
government rules
within the An
lte have been exiled. imprisoned A
d executed-and the state domi- an
tes all economic activities. do,
There is another side to the pic On,
re, however which is far from ba,
'Orable TO Germany. Hitler's ac- fro
II has definitely alienated Japan in
I'M the Axis, and the Tokyo cabi- ma
which favored close cooperation is
tn the Reich has been forced to ey.
'ign. ~,
More important. the opinion grows vo,
It German-Russian ''coopera- .
n" must drive a wedge between inc
Rim and ROme-and that there is ica
least possibility that in time
gsOlini NAV dppide ItaIv'a hast +.