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Show Q As result of analysis of business prospects for next few months, economists are advising private pri-vate business to start tightening prosperity belt along Main Street because about January there is expected an easing off in prices and sharp tightening tight-ening of credits . Wise merchant will start getting get-ting his house in order, analyzing inventory, getting collections up to date and holding slow-moving slow-moving items to a minimum. O This easing off may not come on all lines, but according to indications in retail field position posi-tion of clothing, including underwear, hosiery, and shoes is weak, and such " " items in home appliance field as refrig- gflt?t erators, television, washing machines, fohiifti stoves, sweepers, dishwashers are due STRE&T for a break both in buying and prices. FEATURE COST OF LIVING TO INCREASE O Cost of living is expected to inch up despite de-spite attempts of OPS to hold the line BUT INCREASES IN-CREASES WILL COME OUTSIDE JURISDICTION OF OPS IN RENTS, TELEPHONE, TELEGRAPH, GAS, LIGHTS AND OTHER UTILITIES AND FARM PRODUCE WHICH IS BELOW PARITY. Beef prices are among those seeping through OPS fingers. OPS now says slaughterhouses and packing pack-ing plants have boosted total law violation to ' 2,804 in 2,482 plants inspected. However, Chicago Chi-cago report indicates 95 of leading packers in one recent week were only able to buy 65 per cent of cattle they bought in comparable week a year ago although more cattle were brought to market. Conclusion: Producers and feeders in small town of country are NOT going bankrupt as result of ceiling prices on hoof, but are selling all grades at "prime" beef prices. GROCERY SALES UP 8 PER JENT Q Department of Commerce reports sales in grocery lines up 8 per cent above previous month, "but 9 per cent below a year ago. Cumulative sales for first eight months of 1951 were 5 per cent ahead of last year, due largely to increased prices. The same holds true in dry goods with cumulative sales 5 per cent higher than a year ago. While crop estimates this year are of bumper bump-er variety there are approximately a million less workers on American farms than 1945-49 average of 12,744,000 and 300,000 less than last year. Department De-partment of agriculture reports August farm employment em-ployment was 11,719,000. Composite wage rate per hour was 62 cents as compared to 47 cents in 1950. Q Federal reserve board reports farm mortgage debt is on increase despite fact more cash sales are reported than ever before. Reason given is increased land values. Department of agriculture reports dollar volume of farm mortgage during first four months of 1951 was 18 per cent higher than a -year ago and higher than any year since records have been kept. However, number of mortgages shows no great increase. Prepared by the Washington Bureau of WNU Features. |