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Show Wednesday, December Advocate, Price, Utah9C Sun 15, 1982 U.S. housing industry staging modest comeback I! WASHINGTON (AP) -Slower by mortgage purred rates, the nations housing industry is making a modest recovery. Thats good news for construction workers, for lumber companies, furniture dealers, appliance makers, Realtors and homebuyers. And that broad impact, economists say, means that a revived housing industry may help pull the whole economy out of its deep rut. I think housing recovery is a good bet for 1983, said Ted Gibson, housing economist for Crocker National Bank in San Francisco. But high unemployment, he warned, casts a shadow over the prospects. Mark Riedy, economist for the Bankers Mortgage Association, said he noted much recovery in mortgage demand and the stirring of a pickup in new construction. Lumber companies in the Pacific Northwest say business is improving. October especially was a very good month for new lumber orders, and it continued said November, J. Kirtland of the through William Wood Products Association in Portland, Ore. Im sure increased optimism among homebuilders made it Western As mortgage rates dropped, of new y houses rose 38 percent from July to October. Between June and October, housing starts rose 24 percent and building permits an indication of future construction went up 27 percent. sales single-famil- But economists say the housing rebound is not as strong as the spurts that foreshadowed past economic recoveries. Jack Carlson, economist for the Realtors association, commented, theres reason to believe were improving, but its d only a recovery ... it takes a long time to overcome half-bake- peoples fears. Henry Schechter, director of s office of housing the and monetary policy, pointed out that although interest rates AFL-CIO- on government-insure- d mor- tgages have dropped, only families in the top 30 percent income bracket can afford to buy. I look for some improvement (in housing) but not much more, and if interest rates dont come down some more, the recovery wont be sustained, Schechter said. Although a housing recovery may be under way, it alone is not strong enough to lead the entire economy out of recession, said Donald Straszheim of Wharton telephone communications Econometrics Philadelphia. The key to all this recovery is (that) interest rates have been more of a positive than the unemployment rate (of 10.8 percent) has been a negative, Our exStraszheim said. pectations are that mortgage rates will decline further. Robert Ordway, chief Commerce Department economist, differed with the private economists about the magnitude of the housing rebound. Its starting to shape up as a fairly Si normal Vi FUN WITH PHONES Unique Christmas Gift Personalized Phones For Ideas... All Ages -- recession recovery in housing activity, he said. I think it will be one of the leading and strong sectors in ! Z'i- !- -' 1983. Jim Young, a Kansas City developer, says hes returning to building after a hiatus even though the recovery in his area is so minute its hard to know its happening. In Joliet, 111., where hard times for Caterpillar Tractor mean a 25 percent jobless rate, builder Lynn Krausee said that the drop in interest rates prompted increased sales of d houses. two-ye- Phones PAC-MAN-SNOO- ar Come In lower-price- Also reporting an upswing in business were contractors in Houston, Grand Junction, Colo., and Los Angeles. take off. to an informal The Associated survey Press, many in the industry are bullish about 1983 because they expect interest rates, which began declining last summer, to hold or drop a bit. According by But economists industry worry that recovery may be retarded if potential buyers back off because they fear losing their jobs. And they say the recovery could be halted if huge federal budget deficits push up interest rates. Sales of new- and existing homes neared 6 million units in 1978. Three years later, sales - as mortgage rates climbed above 17 percent. For 1982, the National nose-dive- d Association of - Realtors existing projected sales houses at only 1.9 million, with housing starts at 1.1 million or of less. Some relief appeared in late summer, when interest rates began dropping to their current levels of 12 percent for government-insured mortgages and about 13 percent for conventional loans. Open house to celebrate 80th birthday The children of Irene Burnett invite her friends to an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Sat-- u rday, ..Pec. 18, to celebrate her 80th birthday. The en Irene Burnett op- house win be held at the home of her daughter, Melene Norton, at 447 E. Main in Wellington. Irene was born in Wellington and has lived in Carbon County most of her life. An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints, she has served in many positions including stake Primary president. She was married to Daniel A. Burnett on June 22, 1921 in the Manti LDS Temple. He died Aug. 25, 1980. They served on an LDS mission in New Zealand from 1950-5She has four children, Dr. Durward A. Burnett, Evanston, Wyo., and Lila Golding, Melene Norton and Phyllis Bradshaw, all of Wellington. She has 20 grandchildren, 47 and two 2. CHANGES FOR MOUNTAIN BELLS RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. New Years Day, 1983, will be a day of changes for Mountain Bell. And that means changes in the way you'll do business with us. Some of these changes you'll like. Some will take getting used to. But all rrr' are the result of a Federal Communications Commission decision to increase competition in the telecommunications industry. This should result in a greater choice of products and services. I leres how the changes will affect you. ORDERING PHONE SERVICE Beginning January 1, you wont be able toorder service or pay your bill at a Bell PhoneCenter. Thats because Bell PhoneCenters will no longer be owned andoperatedby Mountain Bell. Theyll he part of American Bell, a new AT&T subsidiary created to compete in the sale of telephone equipment. Some of the existing Bell PhoneCenters will be converted to Mountain Bell Service Centers which well operate to do business with you. So youll still be able to do business with us in person. Although j youll probably find calling us is a faster, more convenient way to take care of your service needs. Just call your Service Representative to order new service or make changes in your service. Youll find the number listed on your phone bill or in the Customer Guide section in the front of the White Pages Directory. Well continue to repair or replace equipment purchased or leased from us after January ( )ur repair service numbers are listed in the Customer Guide. Kquipment obtained from other suppliers should he returned to them for repair. PAYING YOUR BILL 'I . he easiest way to pay your bill is to mail it. Call your Service Representative for questions about your bill or for the nearest location to pay in person. The number is listed on your bill and in the Customer Guide. USING THE CUSTOMER GUIDE Most of the information in the Customer Guide section of the White Pages Directory will continue to be helpful when these changes occur. low ever, some changes may have been made after the Customer Guide went to press. Your Service Representative will always have the latest information and is ready to I help you. As you can see, many of the coming changes will mean more choices for you. But whats best about your service wont change. You can always depend on our continuing commitment to excellence for quality, reliable-servicin the future. e CALL 1 We know- 0 - you may have other questions. Call us toll free any time between a.m. and "'p.m. Monday through Frietay. Or send for our free b oklet, Let's Talk About Change. Find out how we re ringing in the New 3 ear. Mountain Bell youll still be able to get phone from us at our Service Centers. But your choice of certain styles and colors will be limited to our current supply. You can also get phones from other suppliers. When you get telephones from us. you can either pick them up or have them delivered. Delivery will take a few days and there is a charge for this service. 555-500- AND LETS TALK GETTING TELEPHONES AND REPAIR SERVICE In 1983, 800 S ml me Ilejse ur hje s free booklet H S A K MV )l ( H3N(,F iitic ne t ill im v$ uh inlornuiion on Mtenu l w .ns ire best nitigs ire PeM Resident e i ustomer Business i ustomer Srml mnt.iin Hell I'O lunS PiM strrft I n v Room lion M ( t )r.ulu hi ijuj LET S TALK great-grandchildr- Hearing impair cil She requests no gifts. r STOCKING I I Y i i Him S.O K iist (lien STUFFERS Custom Wheels starting at $24 DINOSAUR TIRE 200 E Main, Price 637 2J80 4 a aw , mifu pU .i'-- i all |