The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-01-01
Business Editors Predict I946 !WiH Be Busy Prosperous Year
ny 6. BURTON HEATH MA stan CorFaananaani


 The editors Of the nations lead- 1ns business papers believe that ipao sa going Co be the best year this country ever had in the manufac- tufe, distribution and sale Of con- sgHner goods. hs
 This optimism Is based upon belief that the steel strike, which could wreck the whole business, will be anorf~llved, and that reasonable working harmony between employ CTS and unions will be established early in the year.
 It is predlcated also upon hope that price ceilings, which business contends are making full production impossible, will be removed or real- isttcally revised.
 A survey of editors of the i32 bus aFess publications who are members og the Associated Business Papers produces this picture as their con- sired consensus:
 The steel strike will be called, but win not last long. They offer no predictlon as to how 1t will result. But they believe that once the mills reopen, and providing they can get sufi1clent nanpower, the antlonal production will flow along at between 90 and S5 percent of war-increased capacity. The latter figure would surpass the best pre-war year, and the backlog of orders would level 0ff production and avert the cus- tomary fluctuations in activity. AUTOS EXPECTED TO ROLL
 With steel in abundance, and its own labor troubles settled soon, the automotive industry is expected to reach full production by June and turn out seven billion dollars worth of cars and equipment during the year,
 While aviation manufacturing must drop far below war levels, the needs of the armed forces for mod ern types, plus the demands of our expanding domestic and interna- tional airlines and the desire of thousands for personal planes, should keep the industry working at Q record non-war pace. Twenty-one manufacturers already have orders for 53,00O personal planes.
 The railroads are in the market not only for new, Super-modern cars and locomotives to supplement and replace those with which they have slugged through the war, but they also have a vast deferred maintenance to catch up as soon as they can get the materials. Their freight and passenger patronage both are expected to fall off in the near future, but employment should remain quite high.
 Earlier estimates of 325,000 new homes next year have been revised upward to 100000 since word came that the government plans to place priorities on scarce h'Hlding mater iais, for the benefit l j. home build ing. son
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 New construction civssAe year is estimated at 95,70Ciar 900, half again as much as this sahr, with an all-time high spent on Maintenance and repairs that could not be done during the war. But material short- ages and an inadequate supply of skilled labor will place definite limits upon what can be done. It will be the Spring of l047 before building of homes, public and commercial buildings will get into full swing, the editors feel.
 The heating and air conditioning industries expect to put on about 30 per cent more workers, to supply de- fnands of the new buildings and of owners who are anxious to improve their structures.
 Likewise, manufacturers of home | furnishings anticipate 8 record year, furnishing new homes and re- furnishing old ones. The furniture makers anticipate 10 years of top | activity. with emphasis on use of Iaminated wood, aluminium and other light metals, white glass, plas- tics and aluminium fibre are ex- pected to be prominent in many ways.
 There are no new lines in fabrics for curtains and draperies, and | there is sucn backlog of orders for staple china and glassware that | it viii be late in the year before any | new patterns can be developed. The demand for fabrics far exceeds pro- auction capacity, and the absence of imported china and glassware combines with labor shortage to push that industry to the limit. GREAT TEXTILE OUTPUT
 The output of textiles is expected to exceed any peacetime year, but editors say that 1t would be very much greater except for labor short age, labor unrest and restraints exercised by price ceilings"
 sThere As sald to be a demand for some 50lAge00O small home appli- mnces and radios, which will bring eJ7B. 600 900 to their manufacturers during the year.
 Manpower scarcity in the shoe inc dustry is expected to ease by Spring, making possible an increase of 10 per cent in the production rate dur ing the first six months and 25 per cent increase in the second half of the year.
 The jewelry industry's reconver- eion from wartime manufacture of precision instruments is about con- pieted, and Q few new styles in necklaces. bracelets and such orna- ments are expected, but the industry Is expected % slOw down somewhat as the reappearance of radios. elec- fficai appliances and automobiles za..na.l.1aa -naakaaAe Eon enr.aa oa Aha l