OCR Text |
Show Business Industry and Finance In the United States MONTHLY 8UMMARY BY F EDERAL RE8ERVE BOARD DIFFICULTIES In handling tho Increased frolght traffic duo to car shortage havo becomo an Important factor fact-or in tho current industrial situation. Tho total numbor ot cars loaded increased during Soptembor chiefly becauso of heavy loadings ot coal and livestock. Tho production of bituminous and anthracite coal was restricted in tho latter part of Septombcr when a shortage x of about 40,000 coal cars do- velopcd. A shortage of box cars appeared In tho first wook In August, and by Octobor 7th amounted to 71,063 cars. Tho difficulty in securing cars for shipment has led to somo curtailment cur-tailment of production in lumbor and finished steel products. Tho output ot pig Iron and stool ingots, in-gots, howover, has expanded steadily slnco AugUBt. Cotton and woolen mills continuo to operate at closo to capacity. Agricultural rocclpts continuo to bo heavy. Wholesale trade showed improvement im-provement during Soptembor, Increases occurred In sales ot hardwaro and furnlturo, which reflected tho largo volumo ot residential building. Soasonal docllnos occurrod in sales ot farm implements and automobile supplies, but sales wore larger than a year ago. Retail trado continued to lmprovo during September, 1021. Tbo wholosalo prlco index ot tho Dureau ot Labor statistics declined from 155 in August to 153 in Sept., owing chlofly to tho fall in coal prlcos. Prices of building materials and motals continued to rise. Dank debits in 140 cities, excluding ex-cluding Now York, wero 4 por cent larger In Septombor than in August, 1921, and 9 por cont larger than in Soptembor, 1921. Loans of reporting banks In leading cities show an incroaso of 366,000,000 for tho four weeks endod Octobor 18th, and d o m a n d doposlts advanced $245,000,000. Federal Rcsorvo Dank discounts for tho four weeks endod October 25th Increased In-creased $49,000,000 and noto circulation expanded by J5G,-000,000. J5G,-000,000. Tho rcservo ratio shows a slight decreaso from 78.4 to 77.0 per cent. |