Show Interesting Comment On n Business in Utah to I The report on first quarter economic conditions in in Utah just released d by the bureau of economic and business research research research re re- re- re search of the University of Utah school J f of of- business includes several interesting comments regarding business conditions First is the fact that nonferrous j metal mining in fn the state is at a high highpeak peak peak 8 8 per cent greater than the first quarter of 1947 and 15 per cent greater than the last quarter of 1947 That is encouraging as as an indication of the economic soundness of this important Utah industry Encouraging also is the comment that development work in inmany inmany inmany many of the mining areas had been bee completed That is an indication of confidence confidence con con- 1 in the future and continued good production and employment Next was the report concerning Utah's coal industry It said that until the coal strike began on March 16 coal production was near an time all-time peak Shortages of workers and of coal cars had practically ended That comment is both encouraging and discouraging It is encouraging because it is evidence of the possibility of steady employment and pay rolls in a major Utah industry It is discouraging ds because it indicates the disastrous effect of National a labor dispute on Utah's economy conomy We can have our prosperity seriously checked or even turned into depression by y conflicts conflicts conflicts con con- and problems which only very i in indirectly indirectly in- in directly are of concern to Utah Last interesting comment was the J statement that despite higher employment employment employment employ employ- i ment the thc first quarter of this year there therel l was an increase in bank loans an increase increase increase in in- crease in borrowing on life insurance I policies in installment b buying ying and other I I forms Of tf consumer credit and a decrease in the rate of saving That has a rather ominous sound If such a trend continues it co could ld mean trouble in the future The Utah Economic Economic Eco Eco- and Business Review in commenting commenting commenting com com- on the situation does not make an any flat predictions It notes that divergent trends in the delicately balanced balanced bal bal- l. l economy make predictions cult But the review does say that there are indications the height of postwar business activity has been reached I There are arc s so many complicating factors factors factors fac fac- tors in the states state's and the nations nation's economic economic economic eco eco- picture today that it is impossible to be sure what the future will bring There is good reason to doubt that we weI weare weare are headed for a real depression but there may be some falling off of prices as the era of plentiful consumer spending spending spending spend spend- I ing money comes to an end If such a R readjustment doesn't get out of hand it could be beneficial Lets Let's hope it works 1 out that way meanwhile keeping a aJ weather eye on such business figures as J those prepared by the university's bureau bureau bureau bu bu- bu- bu reau of economic and business research They are very much worth while and the university is to be commended on its excellent economic studies I |