Show STEEL production ERRATIC steel production in the united states has fluctuated more rapidly since the beginning of the present year than ever before according to the industrial digest from tons per day in december the rate of ingot production soared to a new high hiah b record of tons per day in march and then dropped back to tons per day in april these figures represent an increase of over 40 per cent within three months and then a slump of 19 per cent in a single month pig iron followed a less erratic course the daily rate having risen gradually from tons in december to tons in march a gain of approximately 19 per cent an dothen and then dropped 36 per cent to the april rate of tons per day curtailment of operations continued contina ed through the first half of may but in the second week of that month the rate of reduction was materially lessened and the market began to show signs of recovery buying was extremely light but showed some improvement as may progressed and there was a general feeling that steel consumers would soon be obliged to come back into the market for larger quantities pig iron prices again again za declined and finished steel gave ground slightly |