Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-11
15Key Groups
IN Industry See
SO Sales Boom
BY STERLING F. GREEN

1856 will be easily the biggest
sales and production year in
history.
Ohicials Of national trade as
sociations. covering the fields Of
manufacturing, building, food.
trade and transport, presented
their findings at o symposium
arranged by the United States
Chamber of Commerce.
Most foresaw Q rising price
trend. AL forecast high level en-
ployment. Some expected lower
profits because Of rising wage
and other costs.
Summing up their reports,
Emerson P. Schmidt, the cham
ber's director Of economic re-
search. offered his own opinion
that the industry forecasts Of
auto production and home build
ing were q little too optimistic, I"
ne COncluoeQ:
Next year may very well be
the best year for total economic
activity. -.
But We now have an econ
omy operating at very nearly
fun capacity. The rate Of growth
In 1856 can not be as great as
In 1885,"
New Car Decline Seen
New car dealers may not
sell as many cars next year as
the industry Is producing this
year. according to James F..
Cousins, comptroller Of the Ma
tional Automobile Dealers Asso-
citation. Output this year is esti-
mated at nearly eight million,
and Mr.. Cousins figured there
may be 5 per cent decline next
year.
Sales may be between ia and
3 million, Mr.. Cousins said, but:
If we use sound credit and ad-
vertising policies, which the
NADIA is trying to encourage. we!
don't believe we can dispose Of
as many cars In 1856 as this
year."
Mr.. Schmidt foresaw lower
auto sales and housing starts
largely because. he said, both in
dustries have been buoyed on a !
wave Of credit expansion which
can not be maintained"
He met some disagreement
from the National Association Of
Home Builders represented by
John M. Dickerman. executive
director. Mr.. Dickerman fore |
cast 1900. 900 to l,250,00 hous-
Ing starts. whereas Mr.. Schmidt
foresaw about 100000. This
years total will be about l,300,-
900.
Several of the industry reports !
supported Mr.. Schmidt's view
that the consumer will meet
slightly higher prices-"perhapsl
one or two percent at the most"
the Chamber economist pre-
dicted.
The industry-by industry APP
praisals Of the coming year in
cluded:
Retail and Wholesale
The National Retail Dry Goods
Association said most storemen
expect sales gains Of 5 per cent
In the first half Of next year.
The National Association Of
Retail Grocers was very optim-
istic." forseeing larger food pur-
chases. Food prices should be
stable next year: this year they
have been running one and one
fourth per cent below 1854.
Manufacturing
A $500 million industry wide
gain in sales was forecast by
the acknowledgements Television
Manufacturers Association. The
scrap iron and steel industry,
considered a business barometer
because 1t reflects the state Of
the basic iron and steel industry.
foresees activity at least equal
to II not slightly exceeding the
booming rate Of the last half
year.
The National Electrical Manu-
facturers Association forecast
that its shipments next year
will top 1885 output by 7hI
per cent"
TRANSPORTATION
The trucking industry Is gem
orally optimistic" and expects
higher business volume next
year. The Association of Amer
lean Railroads said I'VE hope
and believe our volume will con-
tinue good in 1886"
Food and Agriculture
The National Retail Farm
Equipment Association, repre-
senting $4,000 dealers directly
dependent on farm prosperity.
reported this years sales might
represent q new high and next
years volume should be about
the same.
A slight increase in meat sales
possibly l per cent above this
year. but still q record - was
foreseen for 1856 by DR.. Wesley
Hardenbergh, president of the
American Meat Institute.
Construction
The Associated General Con-
tractors Of America predicted
total construction activity next
year exceeding the $44-billion
level which has been forecast
officially by the Commerce De-
partment.
William Dooley. jr., speaking
for the general contractors, pre-
dicted that nonresidential con-
struction will run Q to 10 per
cent above this year.
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