Show BUSINESS FINES fh tt 2 7 IS GOUD monthly tilly report Ilc nort ot of Rc reserve erve district 31 mailed improvement the monthly report of the federal reserve bank of san francisco to the federal reserve branch shows that business luring during the period covered has improved to a marked degree prices for most of the principal farm products of this district have risen materially since the first of the year wheat wool and all kinds of livestock benefited particularly as did also the citrus fruits but the latter at the expense of damage by killing frosts and winds estimated as high as 50 per cent of the anticipated crop commodities such as barley rice and cotton which did not participate in the general rise are nevertheless at prices comparing favorably with those of a year ago since a large part of last years crops is already out of the farmers hands the recent rise in prices will not operate primarily to increase returns to producers it is significant however in its bearing upon returns t to 0 be received irom crops now in the ground that the increased prices have however low resulted in considerable marketing of products would appear from the condition reports of the 06 G member banks in the principal cities of the district the decline in their loans and discounts between january 4 and february S was slightly over or 69 per cent and they reduced their borrowings from the federal reserve bank to a decline for the month of or per cent bills discounted by the federal reserve bank for all member banks on february S were per cent less in ill amount than they were nere on january ii 11 and constitute a new low figure for the readjustment period employment conditions during january were practically unchanged as compared with december with much unemployment in mining centers metal trades at the shipyards and among unskilled workers real improvement is anticipated with the resumption of farm work and other outdoor out door labor in the spring in the field of commerce and trade improvement is apparent in the returns covering the movement of exports and imports through the principal ports of the district during the last six months of 1921 both imports and exports in the month of december 1921 exceeded in value those of dee december ember 1920 the former by per cent and the latter by 1 per cent the greatest improvement is reported in the trade with japan and the united kingdom retail trade as reflected in reports from 33 department stores in the leading cities of the district continues to ex e aeed in volume that of a year ago |