The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-11-06
FACTS OF STATE
By FELIX A. GRISETTE
State Capital Correspondent

spent more than IL times as
much for those two items as we
did for religion.
Total expenditures for alcohol
ic beverages during 1852 amount
ed to $151.5 million, which is the
equivalent to $37.41 per capita.
Expenditures for tobacco and
tobacco products, which includes
cigarettes and smoking materials,
amounted to 1882 million, or
$2166 per capata.
The total for these two items
adds up to $239.7 million, or
$59.07 per capita.
BY way of contrast, North
Carolina people spent $22
million for all religious pur-
poses or $5.42 per capita.
The total of $151.5 million spent
for alcoholic beverages is quite
a different figure from the total
sales of all State ABC stores last
year, which amounted to $63
million, all of which tells its own
story!
These and other figures COM
prising total personal consump-
ton expenditures have been
arrived at on the basis of COM
parable figures on a national
basis which were recently re-
leased by the United States De,
partment of Commerce. North
Carolina totals are estimates
based on the assumption that
North Carolina individuals spend
their money for the various per-
sonal expenditures items in the
same way as other Americans do.
For instance: Total disposable
income in the United States last
year was $235,0OO million, ''dis-
possible income" being defined as
income available for personal
spending, which means after in
come and social security taxes
are deducted. Total income pay
ments in North Carolina during
the same year were Ill per cent
of the national total, which would
mean that disposable income in
North Carolina was, roughly,
$4,019 million. The Department
of Commerce then proceeds to
show how the American people
disposed" of their disposable in
come For example, Pip per
cent of the total was spent for
food. Assuming that North Caro-
lima people also spent ZIP per
cent of the disposable income for
food, the total would be about
$1,000 million, or $268.34 per
capita.
Using the same percentage
calculations, the State Capital
Bureau arrived at totals and per
capita amounts for North Caro-
lima people. If the Department
of Commerce figures for the en-
tire nation are correct = and
they are the only reliable ones
available - and if the North
Carolina consumer dollar is di-
vided in the same way as the
United States dollar, the North
Carolina figures would apply
The reader should bear in mind
that the amounts are predicted
on these assumptions.
North Carolinians and Ameri-
cans spend 81 cents of their in
! come dollar for food. AS indicated
above, it amounts to $1,000 mil
lion in North Carolina, or $268.34
per capita. The comparable fig
IRE for the United States as a
whole is $422.86 per capita.
| The second largest slice of the
income dollar goes for household
operations, approximately IL
cents, or not quite half as much
as we spend for food. This item
includes furniture, the largest
single item under household
operations, appli ances, fuel
household utilities, and domestic
servants. The total for household
operations is $472 million, or tbs
equivalent to $11619 per capita
Clothing and housing, in thai
order, follow closely behind
household operations. NORTH
Carolinians spent $44O millior
for clothing, or $1O8.32 per capita
This total comprised IL cents O.
the total expenditures of SAL
million, or $101.18 per capita, o.
10 cents out of every dollar.
If North Carolinias are a
4Lr;f4,v &c ofbar Apnoriconc VI,