BUSINESS ACTIVITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 50, 28 February 1942, Page 10

BUSINESS ACTIVITY

REVIEWED IN FIGURES

"Despite difficulties in regard to shipping,' states the Government Statistician, "exports during 1941 were valued at £67,479,413, the second highest total yet recorded for a calendar year."

Banking statistics for 1941 were marked by record levels for bank debits, deposits on current account, and net bank-note circulation: The aggregate amount *to credit of depositors in the savings-banks continue to mount, although substantial investments had been made under the national savings scheme. During Christmas week of 1941 the . active bank-note circulation reached the highest level yet attained. Fixed deposits with the bank were comparatively stable. Savings bank deposits exceeded withdrawals by £6,972,000. Total investments in the national savings scheme amounted to approximately £4,000,000 to the end of December last.

Sales tax receipts for 1941 were £3,509,429. The rate was doubled in July, 1940, and the additional revenue received for financing the war effort amounted to £4,961,038 to the end of December, 1941. Complete ' statistics of factory -production for 1940-41 are not yet available, but for industries where the tabulation of returns has been completed a definite increase in the number of employees is suggested. The downward movement in the number of Public Works employees continues. ■ , Persons in receipt of unemployment benefits under the Social Security Act numbered 1408 in November, 1941, in comparison with 2620 in November, 1940 and 4924 in November, 1939. Taking 1000 as the base for August. 1939 the Government Statistician shows that in December. 1941, retail food prices had gone up to 1094, and all croups to 1105: imported goods prices had advanced to 1350 (or 35 per cent.) on wholesale prices.