DOMINION TRADE.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20271, 13 August 1937, Page 9

DOMINION TRADE.

REVIEW OF STATISTICS. OFF SEASON DECLINES. LEVEL ABOVE LAST YEAR. Statistics Illustrating the state of i business in .Tune reveal the normal t off-season declines due to the winter 1 slackening In farm production, states g the Abstract of Statistics. The value c of exports shows a material decrease from the May total, while statistics of t bank debits, note circulation, and t transport activity indicate the seasonal slackening In internal business activity 1 characteristic of this season of the 1 year. ! While statistics of bank debits and i other indicators of the state of Internal i business activity show seasonal de- 1 creases, comparisons with June of re- i cent previous years indicate a considerably higher level of business • activity generally during the off sea- ' son than has been the case for 1 years past, The Production Year. Since June virtually marks the close of the export season, trade statistics for the twelve months ended on June 80 possess a special interest. The export season was definitely favourable, the marked rise in wool values being the outstanding feature of the season. Although wool production was somewhat lower in 1936-37 than the record level attained In the previous year (315,400,0001 b in the grease as compared with 316,500,0001 b), the value of exports of wool in the productiop year Just closed was 47 per cent. ' higher than in the previous year. Ex- , ports of butter and cheese show increase in quantity and value as compared with the figures for the previous June year, the aggregate value of exports of butter being 11.1 per cent. , up, and of oheese 17.1 per cent. up. ‘ The value of exports of lamb showed a 17.2 per cent. Increase, and pork an j 8.2 per oent. increase, while exports of mutton were 8.2 per cent, lower value than in 1935-36. , External Trade. In terms of New Zealand currency, and excluding specie, exports during ■ the six months ended on June 30 were valued at £42,100,357, an increase of 23 per cent, over the total during the same period of last year. The excess of commodity exports over commodity Imports was £16,372,956, as compared with £14,321,004 during the same period of 1936. Prices of New Zealand products on the overseas markets have been substantially higher during this period than during the same six months of 1936, export prices of major commodities showing the following increases in the 1937 period:— Percentage I Increases. I Butter .. .. ». 1.5 j Cheese .. .. i». 5,8 ' Frozen beef .. .. 5.8 J Chilled beef .. .. 4/8 Frozen lamb .. .. 4.3 I Wool (greasy) .. .. 71.5 j The increase in wool prices is particularly marked, while stocks of wool in New Zealand (sold and unsold) are substantially lower than was the case twelve months ago (31,500,0001 b in the grease, as compared with 43,700,0001 b). The value of imports during the six months ended June 30, 1937, was £25,727,401, an Increase of 29.2 per cent, over the total in the first halfyear of 1935. Despite this considerable increase in imports the excess of i commodity exports over commodity imports during the 1937 period was £2,051,952 higher than in the same j period of 1936.