BUSINESS TRENDS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 94, 21 March 1939, Page 5

BUSINESS TRENDS.

ACTIVITY IN JANUARY

RECESSION MORE MARKED

The customary recession in internal business activity during .January would appear to be more marked than usual when judged by the volume of cheque transactions, states the latest Alistract of Statistics. The average weekly value of debits to customers’ accounts with tlie trading banks in January was 26 per cent. below the December figure, compared with recessions of 16.6 per cent, and 10.4 per cent, in the two previous years.

The December average was a particularly high one. but the January figure is £849.835 less than that for January, 1938, and £737.848 lose than in January. 1937. On the oilier hand, the active hank note circulation fell comparatively little, the average for January being the second highest. monthly average on record. Totalisator investments reached almost record proportions in January, the total for the month at £1.053.239 being the highest recorded since January, 1930. Building activity was particularly brisk, the number of permits issued in the larger centres in January for tne erection of buildings having been exceeded on only one occasion, March. 1926. since this information was first available in 1925.

January was a comparatively quiet month in regard to export trade, the value of shipments overseas being £1,281.648 less than in .January, 1938. Dry weather conditions were experienced in most districts, exceptions being Otago and Southland. Dairy stock is reported to be in good health, but the dry conditions in many districts have affected milk yield. In spite of the wet weather, heavy killings of sheep and lambs are reported from the works in Otago.