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Show O According to experts in Washington, business in 1952 on Main Streets of the nation will be good probably not abnormal profits which have been made during past few years but more like pre-war normal. Reasons for this line of thought Is continued prosperity with plenty of jobs and good over-all income. Office of Business Economics Econom-ics of Commerce department says personal income in December was at annual rate of S257 billion, slightly above November, and full year of 1951 personal income amounted to 251 billions as compared com-pared to $225 billion in 1950. O Wages and salary receipts for 1951 were $166 billion compared to $143 ' billion in 1950 and private industry fit tin payrolls increased from $123 billion MmS in 1950 to $140 billions in 1951. These were brought about both by higher FEATURE wage rates and increased employment. ' O Labor Bureau statistics show-average primary market prices declined 0.3 per cent over week ending February 12, second consecutive week of decline. Largest commodity declines were in grains, livestock, fresh fruits, meats, some hides and skins, print cloth, burlap and linseed oil. Advances were reported in onions, motor vehicle and most of edible fats and oils. O Insofar as congress is concerned, controls picture likely will remain about as is. Congress likely will extend Defense Production Act and manufacturers will continue to reap benefit of so-called so-called Capehart amendment which permits them to add higher costs to production. Price and wage controls will remain in picture, including rent control. NEW PRICE SUPPORT PLAN FOR WOOL O Of interest in many sections is announcement announce-ment by Department of Agriculture that price support sup-port program on shorn wool in 1952 will operate through a loan program rather than a purchase program as in recent years. Average level of support sup-port has been announced previously at 90 per cent of parity and details with dollars-and-cents support sup-port price will be announced about April 1 when wool marketing year for price support purposes begins. be-gins. Price of pulled wool will continue as in recent years to be supported through purchases. PAINT, VARNISH, LACQUER SALES INCREASE Sale of paint, varnish, lacquer and filler for 1951 was $1,181,009,281 as compared to $1,-127,757,273 $1,-127,757,273 in 1950 according to Commerce department. depart-ment. Production of synthetic fabrics continues to replace cottons and silks with 425 million linear yards of broad woven rayon produced in fourth quarter of 1952, plus 43 million linear yards of 100 per cent nylon fabrics, highest quarterly production ever reported. Production of woolen and worsted fabrics for fourth quarter was 90 million linear yards, 6 Der cent increase over third quarter. f Prepared by the Washington Bureau of WNU Features. |