Evening star., 1948-10-18
Business Briefs
Retail Buying .now takes 69To

Retail Buying snow takes 500 OF
the consumers income compared
with 60T before the war-Com-
merce Department. Grocery stores
and women's wear stores are get
ting most of the increased spend
ing. Mems wear and durable goods
outlets are getting about the same
percentage as before the war.
Business Activity has increased in
the usual seasonal manner and gives
promise of a sustained high aggre-
gate volume, but price trends are
more irregular, with industrial
prices higher and farm prices lower
Commerce Department.
Gas Companies will spend about
$1,000 10000 for plant expansion
and improvement in five years end
ing in 1952-American Gas Associa-
ton. This will be equal to about
$50 Of the industry's present S.
600, 600 900 investment.
Plate Glass Production in Sep.
tember totaled 20.774,233 square feet
VS.. 24,475, ,403 in the previous month
and 20,648,053 in the same 1947
month-HugheS Statistical Bureau.
For nine months the total was 198,-
421 1856 square feet VS.. 0,18S, 1852 in
the same 1947 period.
Montgomery Ward & Co. is now
mailing to customers the biggest
Christmas catalogue it has ever is
sued. Prices are about the same
as a year ago. The biggest section
devoted to toys covers about a third
of the book.
Pan American Always reported
its Atlantic division carried 1,784
persons in the week ended October
., new record. The increase was
attributed to better weather, move
ment of Government personnel and
resumption of business activities
following the summer months.
Electric Power & Light Corp.
earned s4,S04,846 in three months
ended August 81 VS.. s4,111,3l3 a
year earlier.
Container Corp. Of America profit
for three months ended September
80 was $3,361 $40 or 1929 a share VS.
$2,337,973 or 1925 in the same 1947
period. Net for nine months ended
the same date was .$7577,72 or
$7.35 VS.. ss,0O2,641 or $3.50.
Caterpillar Tractor Co. earned
s6,421, $50 or $3.41 in nine months
ended September 30 VS.. $5,376,178 OF
$2.S5 year earlier.
Alan Wood Steel Co. profit fol
nine months ended September 80
was $685., 800 or $4.3S VS.. $1,433,12l
or s2.42 in the same 1947 period.
Admiral Corp. earned $2,O37, ,786 OF
1925 in nine months ended Septem-
Der 80 VS.. $l,185,44s or $132 year
earlier.
Alpha Portland Cement Co. net
income for IL months ended Sep.
tember 80 was $2,347,132 or 1898 VS.
$1,732,544 or 1924 in the preceding
fiscal period.
Florence Stove Co. earned $1,817,.
126 or s5.26 in nine months ended
September 80 VS.. $1,027,882 or $29s
Q year earlier.
Interstate Bakeries Corp. profit
for 40 weeks ended October 2 wa.
$l,537,71S VS.. $l,044,672 in the like
1947 period.
American Box Board Co. earned
$1,199,4 ,422 In nine months endee
August 81 VS.. $1,1l6,6s4 a yea,
earlier.
MacAndrew g. Forbes Co. net TO
nine months ended September 8
was $S42, lat or $2.4S VS.. $685., ,070 O
$2.62 in the same 1947 period.
Walter E. Heller & Co. earne,
$613,085 or $144 in nine month
ended September 80 vs.. $468, $50 O
90 cents year earlier.
Associated Telephone & Tele
graph Co. net for nine months ende,
September 80 was $399, ,486 VS.. $235,
302 in the same 1947 period.
Seagrsve Corp. earned $1S5, ,69l O
$1.51 In nine months ended Septem
Der 80 VS.. deficit Of $70,131 a yea
earlier.
Tide Water Power Co. net for /
months ended September 80 wa
t464,1l4 or SLOT VS.. $441, ,458 or $40
In the preceding fiscal period.