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Show O Peace in Korea may have a vital effect on business along Main Street. If it comes true many in Washington say it may within weeks it will likely mean some easing up on controls and scarce material allocations. It will NOT mean any slackening of defense mobilization or lessening of manpower needs. While bureau of labor statistics reported fourth straight drop in wholesale price index and in daily index of prices on spot markets and organized or-ganized exchanges, bureau reported cost of living reached new all-time peak as of May 15. Report showed consumer price index retail prices of goods and services hit 185.4, in- crease of 0.4 per cent for the month. . A This indicates despite drop in wholesale ffiffj prices, retail prices were boosted. OPS FIXES MANY PRICES tSlktiSI On price control front, OPS fixed r"lu"t) manufacturers ceilings on paints, lacquers and varnishes, and wholesale prices on many items of mens, womens and childrens apparel. This may mean a rollback on cotton and other garments, gar-ments, but probably NOT for wool. NPA is about to issue order affecting some 30,000 types, varieties and sizes of builders finishing hardware in effort to standardize industry's in-dustry's production and to conserve scarce materials. mate-rials. FOREIGN BEEF PURCHASES HINTED UNTIL ADEQUATE SUPPLIES OF BEEF AT REASONABLE REASON-ABLE PRICES ARE AVAILABLE FROM BEEF GROWERS AND PACKERS IN THIS COUNTRY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL BUY LIMITED QUANTITIES OF FRESH AND FROZEN BEEF FROM FOREIGN SOURCES TO FEED ARMY, NAVY AND AIR FORCE PERSONNEL OVERSEAS. Department De-partment reported on June 14 it could buy only 22 per cent of beef needs in United States. INDUSTRY OUTLOOK REMAINS GOOD O According to business surveys U. S. industry will remain in high gear for balance of year, with many industries operating at near capacity schedules. sched-ules. Recent anticipatory buying that resulted in over-stocked and over-committed condition at both wholesale and retail levels has affected operations opera-tions of some companies in non-metal industries. These companies now report reduced orders and higher inventories. CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE CORRECTED SOON DUE TO ASSURED HIGH ACTIVITY' IN HEAVY GOODS AND CIVILIAN LINES. Some heavy cutbacks cut-backs are expected in air-conditioning, foundry, hardware, 'heating and plumbing, automobile and equipment, electrical appliances, machine tools, office equipment, paper and paper products and rubber industries. WOMEN JOIN FARM LABOR FORCE Farm job placements in May totaled 733,000, comprising bulk of total job placements for month, according to department of labor. More and more women are coming back into labor force. During first five months of 1950 job placement for women amounted to 912,000 25 per cent increase over same period in 1950. Prepared by the Washington Bureau of WNU Features. |
