The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1947-11-20
Business Activity Is
Up In Mississippi
Monthly Survey Shows
Lexington Shows 40
Percent Goin; TchuIo
"a: Durunt ;

the general level of business activity
in Mississippi during September
well above that for either September,
1916 or August, 1947, according to
the Mississippi Business Review.
Based on unadjusted data collected
from the sixteen trade districts, Sep
TENDER business was approximately
IL per cent in excess of September
1916 and around Is per cent above
that for the previous month. This
increase was very general in nature
with all sixteen districts reporting
more business than year ago, and
fifteen showing an excess over the
previous month.
Each of the nine major indicators
used to calculate the general index
had better records than during Aug
ust. Bank debts, money orders is
sued. and life insurance sales, were
up nicely. Retail sales were up very
little from the August level on the
basis of sales tax data. Oil sever
ance collections were up substantial
ly indicating an increase in that very
important industry.
The comparison with last year
placed seven of the major indicators
above last September. Bank debts,
money orders issued, telephones in
service, sales tax collections, and the
other utilities were especially strong
for this comparison. Life insurance
sales continued their downward
trend. Oil severance tax collections
were 70 per cent in excess of last
September. The $310,78301 collected
during the month is the largest total
ever reported. :.
The comparison with last Septem-
Der placed general business activity
for the month on higher level
in each trade area than year ago.
The increas evaried varied from one
to thirty-seven per cent.
Tupelo Leeds
The Tupelo district led in the state
with an increase of 81 per cent. By
far the greatest proportion of this in
crease was due to the influence of
bank debts. Four other districts
Clarksdale, McComb, Memphis and
Natchez-experienced increases in
excess of 20 per cent. Here too, the
bank debts, and money order sales
major contributing elements were
reflecting the marketing of the
cotton crop. The Pascagoula-M Mobile
district, which is almost one hun
dred per cent industrial district,
showed an increase of approxima
tely per cent.
Every district except the Pasca-
goula- Mobile district, experienced a
greater degree of business activity
than during August. Largest increas-
es came in the Delta area where the
marketing of cotton was the heaviest.
Each of the three Delta districts
Clarksdale, Greenville, and Green
WOODLAND gains in excess of SO per
cent. The coastal areas-Gulfport-
Biloxi, and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
the least favorable records for this
comparison. There was a less than
one per cent gain in the former and
loss of per cent in the latter.
Other gains were in excess of per
cent but under Is per cent, with but
one exception, Tupelo, which had
40 per cent increase over August,
1947.
Greenwood District
Like the other delta districts, this
district exhibited business activity
pattern during September that plac-
ed emphasis on the l947 cotton crop.
There was an increase of about
per cent over last year but an excess
of SO when compared with the pre-
vious month. Bank debts were up
substantially throughout the area
when September and August records
were compared. This same compari-
son pushed money order sales above
the August level. Increases in bank
debts varied from low of 81 per
cent in Winona to l59 per cent in
Greenwood focusing attention on
seasonal factor, the cotton crop.
Money order sales emphasized the
same factor exhibiting increases that
varied from IA per cent in Moorhead
Individual gains for this comparison
were; Greenwood, 81 per cent: Gre
NADIA, 20 per cent; Lexington. 40 per
cent; Moorhead, As per cent; Tchulu
"a per cent; and Winona, 81 per cent.
The comparison with last Septem-
Der showed small increases in every
city, Money order and postal note
sales, postal receipts, telephones in
service and electric connections ac-
counted for most of the gain. Bank
debts were down in Greenwood and
Tchula but up elsewhere. Most of
the increases in general business
activity were under 10 per cent.
The index for general business
activity in the city of Greenwood
stood at 256 per cent on September,
30, compared with 240 per cent a
year ago.
Percent Change
S-47-9-47
S-46-8-47
Bank Deblts------------------- ------- 1889