CHEERFUL SPIRIT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 23 December 1933, Page 7

CHEERFUL SPIRIT

BETTER TRADE CONDITIONS GENERAL CONFIDENCE IN BRITAIN (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, 22ml December. The people of Britain have good reason to celebrate Christmas in a cheerful spirit, for conditions arc now much better than a year ago., and indeed for some years past, and there is general confidence that the improvement will continue. The feeling is strengthened by the multiplication of encouraging signs from all parts of the country. Trade has continuously improved. Unemployment, although still large, lias substantially diminished. Revenue returns show that the finances of the country compared with a year ago have improved between £60,000,000 and £70,000,000. The Budget outlook is distinctly bright. Railway traffic returns, one of the most reliable indices of conditions, have been distinctly favourable, and the tone of the stock exchange is unusually firm. The improvement in trade, particularly in the retail trade, is borne out by the expansion in note circulation, which last week rose to £389,863,916. This is the highest figure publicly recorded since the amalgamation of Treasury notes with the Bank of England note issue. The total compared with £370,097,554 last year.