Evening star., 1943-05-23
Business Briefs

Almost Fully Recovered from er-
ratio effects of the coal stoppage
and delay in iron ore shipments,
Business Weeks index of general
activity advanced in the last week
to 204.7, compared with 2O4.4 in
the preceding week and 204.8 four
weeks also. Six months ago it
stood at 1912 and year ago at
1884. "This marks the first small
plateau in a production rise that
has averaged p of a point a week
since the start of the year." the
magazine commented. "And it raises
the question whether a several
month period of leveling off-if not,
indeed, a minor recession-may not
be at hand. Manufacturers have
been using up in production the
excess inventories they boarded be-
tween mid-1941 and mid-1942 and
when the surplus is gone output
must readjust down to intake"
Wholesale Trade advanced only
slightly this week over peak levels
of the previous week, according to
Dun & Bradstreet. Inc. According
to spot reports, the gain for the
country was limited to to 10. Es-
timated sales in New York markets
ran somewhat higher than for the
country. The increase was limited
by scarcity of merchandise and the
practice of alloting shipments rather
than by a slackening in demand.
Orders for fall goods dominated
central markets. Demand was heavy
for all types Of suits and coats.
Women's dresses picked up in i'm
portance as an increasing number
of fall lines were offered"
The Commodity Price Index COM
piled by McGill Commodity Service,
Inc, advanced to 104.6 in the week
ended May 81, compared with 1O4.1
a week earlier, 1907 at the start of
1943 and 97.4 year ago. Both in
dustrial and agricultural prices were
higher.
A Shortage Of Accountants to tally
orders and billings, cash receipts,
income, taxes and hundreds of other
tasks, IS reported by the Wall Street
Journal. This year the lack of help
delayed the issuance of many an
nual reports. Next year these de-
lays will be much more serious. Some
accountants already have warned
that it's impossible to see how re-
ports for 1943 can be prepared with
the reduced supply of accountants,
the Journal declared.
Reliable Stores Corp. reported
Federal tax returns, prepared under
regulations recently issued by the
Treasury Department, show taxes
presently payable approximately
$400,0 900 less than amounts provided
out Of 1912 profits. Funds not re-
quired for current taxes will be
retained as a reserve for future
taxes.
Superheater Co. reported net
earnings of $459,819.5 or So cents
a share in the first 1943 quarter.
Liquid Carbonic Corp. declared a
common dividend of rs cents share,
payable July l to holders of record
June Is, and a regular quarterly
dividend of $1.121a a share on the
4h% preferred, payable August l
to holders Of record July IS.
Missouri Public Service Co. de-
clared dividend of 20 cents a share
on the common, payable June IS to
holders of record May ~. In 1912,
payments were 16 cents in July and
"a cents III November.
The World Cotton Congress to be
held in Dallas July 8 and 9 will be
high-lighted by discussions of the
role Southern farmers will play in
postwar reconstruction. Leading cot
ton growing and textile organiza-
tions will be represented, declared
Capt. Burris G. jackson, prominent
Texas cotton man and one of the
organizers Of the two-day meeting.
Now In the Army Postal Service, he
Is stationed at Fort WASHINGTON. Md.