Vernal Express | 1982-04-22 | Page 2 | Plus and minus Factors

PLUS AND MLNUS FACTORS Items ranging on the plus side are few and not likely to show enough strength to tilt the quarter to the upside. up-side. They include further easing of inflationary pressures, moderately lower money and credit costs, the beginnings of a turnaround in inventories, in-ventories, little change in industrial prices, lower quotes for oil and oil products, and a somewhat better tone in autos and steel. On the minus side, we must take into account the lack of support from housing, capital outlays. and production in general. Negatives outnumber positives and a reversal of this is just not a second-quarter prospect. The profits outlook, too, is bleak. The rippling out of earlier wage boosts, still rising costs, plus tight and expensive money and credit have been hurting corporate profitability for many months. There will be no early betterment bet-terment here; instead, the April-June span will see additional squeeze on margins.