TOLD IN STATISTICS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 11, 13 July 1939, Page 12

TOLD IN STATISTICS

DOMINION POSITION

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

"Evening Post," July 13,

That business man's vade mecum, the Government's Abstract of Statistics for June 26 summarises data which, to the end of May last, show some significant changes when comparison is made with returns for May, 1938. ■ The external trade position for 12 months is as follows:—

1939. 1938. . £XZ. £XZ. Exports ... .v r>5,619,700 61,500,134 Imports ...,...:.... 54,555,159 . 57,920,066 Decrease" hi exports, 4.7 per cent.; decrease in imports; 5.2 per cent. 1939. 1935. _ :■ • fiNZ. £NZ. Bank debits ...... 951,381,000 940,363,000 Increase , 1.2 per cent. Batio of advances to deposits 53.U7 52.70 Bank deposit rates for 24 months at 2% per cent, .and minimum overdraft and discount rates at 4% per cent, are as last year. : ■■ - May, 193!). May. 1938. £NZ. £XZ. Reserve Bank notes .. 13;560,5G5 U. 553,334 Increase in bank-notes, for Ma.\, 1!)39, 17.4 per ceiit. '•.-'■.'• May, 193.». May, 1938. £]N"Z. £KZ. Reserve exchange .. 4.705/J2.S 17,563,5CS Decrease,-, 1939. 73.G per cent. May. 193!).' May, 1935. ' ' - > SXZ. £NZ. Ket note .circulation . 11,098,558 9,545,374 Increase in circulation, 18.8 per cent. '..'.-'.'.' May. l'J3!>. May,l93S. _ : ..V ~./.. .'■• £XZ. ' . £XZ. Ivet overseas funds-of : ■ '• "banks', :.'...-.... 7,394,139 28,103,748 Decrease in funds, 73.7 per cent. . • ' - 5 mos.. r> mos., • 1939. ' 1938. £XZ. . £NZ. Sales tax collected ..% 1,520,122 1,301,151 . . "" ' ■ April-May, April-May, •■'.■■■■-; 1939. 1938. Kailt traffic: net tonmiles 04,641,000 !).7,515,000 Decrease,- 1939, 0.9 per cent. Motor vehicles licensed— 1939. 1938. Gars 212,500 190,554 All vehicles ... 307,931 280,327 Increase in cars. 11.6 per cent. : increase all vehicles, .9.8 per cent. For five, months ..of 1939 increases over. 1938 were registered in coastal cargo tonnages of 5.5 per cent, and overseas 4.4 per cent. Retail food prices in May last were up~ by 4,2 per sent, on May, 1938; and wages rates, for adult males were more by 3.2 per cent, than May, 1938. Declines in London market prices for May, 1939, compared with those for May last year were as follows:—New Zealand butter, down 15.5 per cent.; Newi Zealand white cheese, down 23.6 per cent; New Zealand lamb (361b and under), down 11.3 per cent. For five months ended May, 1939, permits issued for dwelling houses were 2912 or 25.6 per cent, more than for the same period of 1938. To taUsator 'investments for five months- ended May, 1939, amounted to £4,061,404, or 15.9 per cent, more than for tge-corresponding months of 1938.