The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1954-12-31

channels.
10. Living | Costs l forecast
that during 1865 living costs vii
show little oVer-all change from,
present levels. There may be some
flrmin2 during the first half but
the late monghs may again Mi
nesS 4 minor Softenlna
70 Rents. edo | forecast rtnta
expenses may edg e someW iIai
I higher clothing costs should bt
steady TO Moderately higher
/ There is small chance that fooo
expenses can be greatly reduced
81. Money Supplies. Il forecas,
that money supplies will be
ample for all legitimate business
needs during 1855. With little
likelihood OF business getting out
OF hand on the upside, credit cas-
ing is more likely than credit
curtailment in 1855.
%. Initiation Fears. or per
haps hopes, of an inflationars
boom should be buried. Barring
outbreak Of war, our productive
capacity is sufficiently large tc
meet all demands for goods ]
forecast that no runaway infla
ton is probable, even if the
money managers increases the
supply OF money or ease credit.
%. Interest Rates.-Until the
Treasury finds way to balance
the budget. hold business at high
levels and unemployment at a
minimum, ! forecast little likeL
hood OF higher interest. rates
"a. Bond Prices With the
possible exception of tax-free
bonds, I see no reason for in
creased bond prices IN 1855. |
forecast an increase i'll the isSu-
ance Of tax free revenue bonds
Is. Stock Prices After 50
sharp rise. the market could
have 4 reaction. but | am fore
casting no crash III 1855 such as
We had III 1929 In fact. the
situation changed for the better
October II. 1854
rs. WageS-1 forecast that the
wage trend in organized industry
will continue to move higher at
least III the first half OF 1858
During the first half year, when
business will be improving, the
labor chieftains Will also be quick
to resort to the strike weapon.
27. Other Labor Gains fore
cast that the heavy guns of the
labor bigwigs viii be trained on
the guaranteed annual wage
shorter work week, and more pen
SionS. With 4 better congressional
control OF appointments TO the
National Labor Relations Board
the decisions Of that body will
swing more toward labor than
toward management
% New Inventions These Will
mostly be a labor-saving type. l
forecast a marked increase in
automation and cybernetics. and
other marvellous changes in pro
duction methods
20 Employment Unemploy-
ment outlook is brighter. since
business Will be on the upgrade
during the first half / forecast
that local and seasonal un-
employment Will still prove 4
knotty problem
30 Failures The salient bust
ness characteristic Of 1855 will be
bitter competition Many COM
panieS already weakened by COM
petitive conditions will no longer
be able to keep afloat. l forecast
a rise in both the number and the
total value of failures during
1855.
81. Mergers.-I forecast that
mergers and consultations will
be encouraged by federal officials,
if, by merging, weak company
cansb saved But while every eff
fort will be made to prevent
bankruptcies, Washington Will
frown on large mergers and con-
solidations
80 General Real Estate Sales
The time is already past due when
real estate prices should have
been falling Only fear of World
War III and easy credit have
prevented this. Therefore, I fore