,t) 'V~szF TEXAS BUSINESS REVI'.8W7 ~ Bureau of Business Research The University of Texas JAN l l 19115 Vol. XVIII, No. 9 -.0-ctoher, 1944 '~ ·• A Monthly Summary of Economic and Business Conditions in Texas By the Staff of the Bureau of Bwsiness Research, The University of Texas F. A. Buechel, Editor. ESTIMATED TEXAS RETAIL SALES 1943 1943 By Estimated Dollar Retail Salee CROP REPORTING DISTRICTS In the 15 Leadina: Counties 1. Harris -------8326,150,000 Bureau of Business Research 2. Dalla• -------287,375,000 The University of Tex as 3. Bexar 168,025,000 --·--------­ 4. Tarrant 151,525,000 5. Jef!ereon -----83,050;000 6. El Paso 64,900,000 HAU 7. Travis 62,425,000 8. Nueces --·------56,925,000 9. Galveston ------46,750,000 JO. Wichita 45,375,000 JI. McLennan 45,375,000 12. Potter --------40,700,000 13. Lubbock 35,200,000 ··-·-------­ QAU'IU 14. Gregg --------34,100,000 JS. Hidalgo -----29,975,000 DISTRICT 1-HIGH PLAINS 1 • N·NORTH E RN SE:CTION 1-S-SOUTH Ef\N SECTION 1943 DISTRICT Z-RED BEDS PLAINS Estimated Dalla:r Salee by District• DISTRICT 3-WESTERN CR OSS TIMBERS D;.,trict DISTRICT 4-BLACK AND GRAND PP.Al RI ES 1-N $ 116,050,000 1-S ------lOJ,062,500 DISTRICT 5-EAST TEXAS TIMBERED PLAINS 2 -----J78,502,500 3 -------86,900,000 • DI STRICT 6·TRANS-PE.COS 4 709, 750,000 5 305,525,000 DI STRICT 7-EDWARDS PLATEAU 6 110,330,000 7 -----·-· 90,450,000 DISTRICT 6-SOUTHERN TEXAS PRAIRIES 8 -----412,225,000 9 ----534,600,000 , DISTRICT 9-COASTAL PRAIRIES 10 53,652,500 I<>-A -----60,500,000 DI STRICT I 0 -SOUTH TEXAS PLAI N.S TOTAL ___$2,759,547,500 10-A·LOWER RIO GRANDE V.t>.LLE Y Entered as second class matter on May 7, 1928, at the poat office at Austin, Texas, under Act of August 24, 1912 TEN CENTS PER COPY ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR Compliments of THE REPUBLIC NATIONAL BANK, DALLAS, TEXAS TEXAS BUSINESS REVIEW - Business Review and Prospect Termination of the war in Europe this fall is no longer as uniformly predicted by high military authorities as · it was in the recent past, and current reports indicate that Germany's fall may not come until 1945, while the defeat of Japan may ·require two In.ore years·. It is thus_ apparent that war production can no longer be allowed to lag-a tendency which had become quite noticeable during the summer months when victory in Europe seemed imminent. Chairman Krug, of the War Produc­tion Board, while calling attention to the temporary failure to meet the monthly quotas which had been set, recently reported that improvement is taking place and that total war production for the year will come within two or three per cent of the scheduled quotas. He em­phasized .the need, however, for concerted action in the production of combat transports, combat cargo carriers and a few other such items. As a result of the modification in the military situa­tion, it appears that there is now a more relaxed attitude toward problems of reconversion than there was during the late summer. This situation does not necessarily mean that the reconversion problem is to receive less attention. On the contrary, it probably means that a more systematic procedure is being worked out for the change-over from a war to peace economy and that fear of a violent shock to our economy when Germany col­lapses is subsiding. It is imperative that the leadership of the country working on the various levels of our economy-local, state, national, and international-de­velop concrete plans for meeting the transition problems which are already upon us. · SMALL BUSINESS IN THE ECONOMIC PICTURE OF TEXAS AND THE SOUTHWEST For many decades Small Business has been declining in relative importance as a segment of our national economy and this trend has been greatly accelerated since our entrance into the war. Although this down­ward trend in the relative importance of Small Business has been less marked in the Gulf Southwest than in the industrial regions of the North and East, it has become sufficiently apparent in Texas and this entire region to arouse considerable apprehension among large numbers of the more thoughtful citizens who class themselves as small businessmen. Many individual small businessmen in this region are giving a great deal of thought to ways and means of meeting the economic problems which they see coming i~ the immediate postwar period. As a_first step in meeting these problems they favor a .closer co­ordination among agencies designed .to work out .these problems on the local, regional, and national levels. Clarification of Government policy regarding ·disposal of that part of the surplus war property which will di­rectly afiect the interests of small business is being emphasized. They urge that a system of disposing of surplus war goods be set up by which each small businessman may have a clear-cut understanding of the steps he must take to gain access to surplus goods, ·And they ask that his rights to bid for the goods he may want shall he protected against more powerful buyers. Substantial businessmen who class their operations as small business 'do not feel that expansion of mass produetion industries in this region need necessarily · · men·ace the economic welfare ·of small business groups.On the·c-ontrai-y; the-y take the position that while certain phases of industrialization must necessarily be on a mass production basis, innumerable opportunities for small business will inevitably result from such industrial de· velopment. They believe, however, that control of the impending industrial expansion in Texas and the South­west should be kept firmly in the hands of the industrial and financial leaders of the region, who have at heart not only the success of business in the conventional sense, but also the promotion of higher standards of living. These representatiYes of small business point out that notable advances have already been made in the develop­ment of mass output by chemical industries in this re­gion, and that the products thus introduced will furnish the raw materials for a wide range of new industries. During the past three years, of course, the results of these developments have necessarily been limited to their use for the prosecution of the war, but as peace comes into view, increasing attention is being given to utilizing them for production of civilian goods. It would be difficult to overstate the potentialities which the conversion of these new chemical raw mate­rials into consumer goods affords to the people of this region. The benefits would take the form of more jobs, new pay rolls and a wide range of goods produced near the points of consumption with consequent lower costs to the ultimate consumer. The automobile tire plant and the glass plant in the city of Waco, are current examples of what may be looked for in the way of new developments in consumer goods industries. Other new industries may be expected to follow in that city as well as in many other cities throughout the State and region as a result of intelligent and persistent effort on the part of local, State, and re­gional leadership. No other ·· section of the country enjoys such natural advantages as does the Gulf South­west in the production of chemical raw materials upon the basis of which a wide range of · consumer goods industries may be created. RETAIL TRADE IN TEXAS Retail, wholesale and manufacturing establishment!! in Texas combined number more than 100 thousand and of ~h.is total approximately 85 thousand are retail establishments. .. These figures fumish numerical evi· denctf of-the importance of small business in this State. ill 1943 these -retaiLestablishme.iits distributed goods in Texas· to the value 1)£, approximately $2% billion and ·dµr!ng-:th~ cu(reiit ·-Y~iir.. the · tota_l \\::m reach nearly $3 billion.-Retail sales during .the past two years have aniounted to about ·one half of· the i:otal income of the State,-which illcome in.1943 was approximately SS% billion as compared with retail sales amounting to two -thirds of the total State income during the immediate prewar years. It is probable that the ratio of retail sales to total income will increase with the restoration of our economy to a peacetime basis, so that the prospec­tive decline in total income may not result in a corre­cponding decrease in retail sales. Accumulated buying power, together with a huge deferred demand for goods which have not been available during the war, are basic reMons for expecting a high level of retail !!ale!! during early po!!twar year11. DisntIBUTION OF RETAIL SALES Retail sales are very unevenly distributed over Texas, almo!!t three fourths of the sales occurring in the eastern third of the State. The chart on the cover page of the REVIEW gives e1ttimated retail dollar sales for each of the crop reporting districts of the State and the total for the State for the year 1943. Although districts 4, 5, 8, and 9 repre!ent only about 30 per cent of the land area of the State, they account for approximately 70 per cent of the retail sales. Further, evidence of high concentra­tion of retail sales is found in the fact that four coun­ties-Harris, Dallas, Bexar, and Tarrant-account for one third of the retail sales of the State. Growth of retail sales in Texas and in each of the crop reporting districts during the past ten years is evidenced by· the following figures. The data for 1935 and 1939 are taken from the United States Census of Distribu­tion, while tho!!e for 1943 are estimatea based upon data obtained by this Bureau. RETAIL SALES (In Thousand! of Dollars) Di1tri1t1 1935 1959 194' 1-N ---------54,392 76,255 116,050 1-S -------------35,699 66,203 101,063 2 --------------89,802 112,547 178,503 3 -43,922 56,747 86,900 ----------·---­4 ------------­ 344,510 465,301 709,750 5 --------­ 162,947 200,246 305,5256 ____ 48,027 72,102 110,330 7 44,664 59,253 90,450 195,432 270,094 412,225 9 ------~--­ e -------------­ 219,709 350,394 534,600 10 23,161 -----------34,931 53,652 10-A 26,999 39,643 60,500 STATE 1,803,716 2,759,547 __________l,289,264 The variation in concentration of retail sales in Texas is a result of the sharp difference in the geography of this State giving ri!!e to a number of major natural regions, each of which is characterized by its own peculiar type!! of natural resources and industries based upon these resources. Thus, in addition to the retail merchandise common to all sections of the State, there are many lines of merchandise which are designed to meet the peculiar need!! of different sections of the State resulting from these geographic differences. For example, geographic conditions in the Northern High Plains give rise to wheat farming, a type of agri­culture which requires specialized mechanical equip­ment, as well as many other classes of merchandise adapted to this 1:.ind of agriculture; while adjacent to thi1 area on the south ii a highly specialized cotton sec­tion with its own special needs for retail merchandise, both with respect to carrying on production and the mode of life associated with this type of farm activity. Similarly, the need1 for 1pecial types of merchan­dise come as a result of peculiar needs in the highly specialized wool and mohair region of the Edwards Plateau, the citrus area of the Lower Rio Grande Valley and the general farming areas of Central and East Texas. In the same way, differences arising from variations in natural resources and assocfated industries are to be noted in urban areas and these too are reflected in the type, variety and quality of retail merchandise. Wide differences may be noted even in cities which are rela­tively close together. · These few illustrations suggest,'t~,~~efore, that in addi­tion to facts relating to income or • ' asing power as a sum of money, it is important to know as much as possible about the activities which brought this purchas­ing power into being and the sources from which this income is derived. As changes occur in these factors. they should be noted both qualitatively and quantita­tively so that the kind of merchandise a1 well as the necessary quantity may be provided. CURRENT BUSINESS ACTIVITY IN TEXAS Retail dollar sales during the past month and for the year to date were more than 11 per cent above those of the corresponding period of last year and there is every indication that this margin of increase will be maintained through the remainder of the year. It is upon this basis and assumption that the estimate of Texas retail sales at approximately $3 billion for the year 1944 has been made in the foregoing discussion. Increases in sales over a year ago prevail in practically all lines of merchandise. Establishments handling dur­able goods such as hardware, furniture and farm imple­ments are showing substantial year to year gains in spite of the shortage of labor and materials for making the.se types of goods. As labor and materials become available for the production of civilian durable goods of all kinds, even greater year to year increases in retail sales of·all lines of this type of merchandise are a practical certainty. In addition to the high level of sales in the retail trade, other evidences of gains in business and industrial ac· tivity may he noted. Postal receipts in upwards of 40 Texas cities were up 25 per cent during September from the corresponding month last year. Power consumption also gained substantially; commercial power consump­tion during September was up 9.0 per cent from a year ago, residential gained 7.5 per cent and industrial 20.4 per cent. FARM CASH INCOME Cash income from agriculture in Texas during Sep· tember as computed by this Bureau (~ee note under following table) totalled nearly $118 million compared with nearly $144 million during the corresponding month last year, a decline of 18 per cent. Aggregate farm cash income during the first nine months was nearly $734 mil­lion, a slight gain over the $728 million during the cor· responding period last year. ' The following table reflects changes in income for the State and for each crop reporting district during com· parable periods. . The sharp decline in farm cash income during Sep· tember in comparison with September last year was the .. '" result of the sharp drop in cotton ginning!!. During September, 1943, ginnings totalled 766,303 hales, wher~as in September this year ginnings amounted to ~nly 460,217 hales, a decrease of 306,096 hales. At INDEXES OF AGRICULTURAL CASH INCOME IN TEXAS (A,erago Month 1928--'32 equals 100%) Cumulath·e Cuh In1ome (in Thou1&nd1 of Dollan) Jan.-Sept.• Inclusive llbtrl•ll Sept., 1944, Au1., 1944 Sept., 1943 1944 1943 1-N __· 321.0 ·· 'J~E7 213.5 102,728 77,807 1-S __ 438.:Jl::raJSJi6:3 536.4 51,813 50,852 2 ------105.3 222.8 147.7 59,961 59,938 3 ----178.5 325.2 207.5 38,597 33,111 4 82.3 54.5 111.8 107,951 126,236 5 42.l 43.0 81.8 44,620 61,267 6 -------208.9 144.5 232.9 24,251 32,441 7 __· --133.3 209.6 138.9 53,471 52,724 8 ----152.9 108.6 135.5 73,388 88,228 9 -----155.9 116.9 194.2 49,482 56,862 10 ----162.5 153.2 160.7 22,102 26,158 10-A ---324.4 579.9 69.4 95,409 62,413 STATE --105.4 145.6 129.0 733,773 728,037 Non:: Farm cub income as computed by the Bureau uoderatatea actual farm cHh income by from aix to ten per cent. Thia situation results from the fact that mean• of 1ecurin& cempletc local markctincs, e1pecially by truck. havo not yet been fully developed. lo addition, meana have not yet been developed for computinc cuh income from all a1ricultural 1pecialitie1 of loca_l importance ia 1eattered areu throua:hout the State. Thh 1ituation, howeTer, does not impair the accuracy of the intlt•H te any appreciable extent. current farm prices of approximately SlOO per hale this amount of lint is worth approximately $30 million. The value of seed associated with thii amount of lint at the current price of nearly $54 per ton i! about $7 mil­lion. Thus it may he seen that the decline in income resulting from a decrease in ginning!! of more than 300,000 bales during September as compared with lMt year, amounted to approximately $37 million for cotton and cotton1eed combined. Although the cotton crop during the current year wa1 substantially below that of a year ago, the lag in gin­nings during the current year to date, as compared with last year leaves more of the current sea!on'! crop to be ginned than was left to be ginned at this time in 19-1-3. Hence, income from cotton and cottonseed during the remainder of the cotton sea!on will he greater than it was during the corre5ponding period a year ago, provided the estimates of production made to date by the United States Department of Agriculture are substantiated in the final ginning!! reports. Slight increases in the September income from cattle, calves, and sheep were almost completely offset by the sharp drop in the income from hogs; while income from dairy products, poultry, and egg!! remained at almost the same level as a year ago. F. A. Bui:cH!L. Postwar Employment 1n Texas Whether individual liberty shall be restored and !!Ur· vive in this country after this war will depend on how we solve the problem of employment. Full employment in private industry will be the price of freedom after this war. It is possible to make a reasonably close estimate on the size of this problem. According to the War Manpower Commission there are 375,000 persons employed in Texas in the four major war activities ofr aircraft, ship building, munitions and civilians in war,agencies. It is estimated that only about 25,000 of these ·will he employed in these activities in Texas in peacetime. The manager of the Texas Un­employment Compensation Commission estimates that Texas has about 600,000 in the armed services. These two figures give us a base for estimating the over-all size of the employment problem in making the transi­tion from the war to peacetime economy. PREWAR EMPLOYMENT JN TEXAS Prewar employment and trends of employment in Texas give us a starting point for thinking and planning concretely about postwar employment. According to the 1940 Census there were gainfully employed in Texas at that time 2,138,355 persons 14 years of age or older, and of these 639,114 were in agriculture, forestr y and fishing; 61,052 in mining; 110,734 in construction; 211,591 in manufacturing; and 1,115,864 in various service trades and industries broken down as follows: 140,277 in transportation, communication and other public utilities; 381,260 in wholesale ~nd retail trade; 56,249 in finance, imurance and real estate; 42,715 in business and repair service; 236,726 in personal !'enice; 16,367 in amusement recreation and related services; 138,336 in professional and related services; 79,033 government; and 24,901 in industry not reported. From 1930 to 1940 there was a decline of gainfully employed in agriculture of about 200,000, an increase of about 9,000 in mining, a slight decrease in manufac· turing due largely to reclassification of some busine!-s from manufacturing to service and repair industriei;, and an increase of 153,000 in service indmtries and trade.. EMPLOYMENT l!-iDIVIDL'U RESPO'.'l~IBILI'fY Ma5s figur~ given above indic:!te the !liu of the un­employment problem and give in perspective the major field!! of employment. The 11olution of the problems of unemployment in a democracy be;::ins at the other ex­treme of these data, or with the individual and the local community in which he li·;e~. There is then not one problem of employment adju!5tment, hut a!! many a! there will be unemployed. The job of finding employ­ment for one individual is rather !!imple eapecially when we realize that the job ii parcelled out to every com­munity and practically every home in Texas. To a large extent our success in goh-ing the!e problems when the war is oYer will depend largely on ou r ap­proach. If each individual, each family, and each com­munity involved simply leaves it to the State and Fed­eral Government u:e shall lose the vttry thinis for wlzich. we are fighting. PROCEDURE The first responsibility in securing employment be­longs to the individual seeking employment. The fact is, a very large per cent of the potentially unemployed after the war already know what they are going to do and have their plans made. Another large per cent will be able to take care of themselves in a family enterprise or with some aid from the family. The re-employment provisions of the Selective Service Act will take care of another relatively large number. Th~ development of sources of employment for the remamder, and there will be a substantial number is first of all a responsibility of business men in the l~cal community. Surveys made by the Committee for Eco­nomic Development reveal that in every community there are peacetime enterprises temporarily closed, or operating with insufficient personnel, or have many who will wish to retire at the first opportunity. Many com· munit~es, large ~~d small, have already made surveys of their communities and are ready to render immediate aid. Communities which have not assembled such useful data can secure aid in doing so from the Committee for Economic Development and the United States Emplov­ment Service. · . Community and business responsibility in reconver­s10n and re-employment does not end with the creation of jobs: These .comm~nities and ?usines~men must play the ma1or .r~l~ m ~olvmg veterans problems of readji.Ist­me~t to c1v1han hfe as well as civilian jobs. It is the busmess of the local community to co-ordinate the efforts of euch agencies as the Veterans Administration Selec­tive Service System, The Red Cross, Veterans of Forei"'n Wars, Committee for Economic Development, chamb~rs of commerce, medical societies, schools, labor unions and churches in solving these problems. ' FEDERAL Arns . The l.ocal community can aid its returning veterans m helpmg them avail themselves of the various aids offered returning veterans such as the opportunity to return to. school _to finish. ~heir college training or to take special vocat10nal trammg. Many will need to take advantage of this generous offer to prepare themselves for available jobs in the community, and it will spread the employment problem over a longer time. The Govern~ent is also offering to aid those returning from war service to buy farms or get into business by furnish­ing loan capital to the extent of $2,000. In many in­stances veterans have developed skills needed in the community. A community thus has the rare opportunity to help itself as well as a veteran. The Federal and ?tate e~ployment.agencies can help communities greatly m workmg out this phase of readjustment. OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPANSION Texas communities and business executives will have the greatest opportunity in the history of the State to advance Texas industrially. Public welfare makes die responsibility for this development equally as great as the opportunity. It is estimated by the Employment Service that we have about 400,000 more workers in Texas with skills than we ever had before. Industrialists who have spoken are enthusiastic about this skilled labor in Texas. There are hundreds of millions of dollars worth of plants, machinery, and tools put here by the Federal Government to produce war goods. Many of these buildings, tools, and equipment can readily be adapted to production of civilian goods. The Federal Govern­ment is anxious for all of these things to be used to produc~.useful good~ to give additional employment op· portumt1es. They will be sold at very reasonable prices on credit if desired. The business managers of this State who have die "know how," and the vision are presented with a good business opportunity and a chance to render a great publi~ service by buying these war plants, tools, and supplies and converting them with the employment of t~1ese _newly .trained skilled laborers into going peace­time mdustnes. The Smaller War Plants Corporation and. the Reconstruction Finance Corporation are eager to a1~ management in financing such a program, and in workmg ou~ layout designs, and problems of processing and marketmg. TOP PRODUCTION AND FULL EMPLOYMENT . It has been s~id very truly that employment is a func· tion ?f pr~duct10n. Instead of limitation of production to raise pnces our efforts must be directed toward low· ~ring costs .and improving products to expand markets m order to mcrease employment real income and stand­ards of living if we are to save' at home tha~ for which we are fi ghting abroad. A. B. Cox. Director COTT.ON BALANCE SHEET FOR THE UNITED STATES AS OF OCTOBER 1, 1944 (In Thousands of Running Bales Except as Noted) Year 1935-1936................................______________ 1936-1937_________-···-·---·-····--·-----··-···-----··-·­1937-1938....------·---·-···----··-·----·----·-··--­ 1938-1939________ ______ _______________ __ _______ ~t~~~~==:==:::~~:=:=~~~=:=~~~=:--­ 1942-1943.____________ _ _ ig:tig!t::::=:=~-:::::_-:::::::=:===~~::=~~== The Cotton Year h91in1 Au(ll1t I. •Fiforee are in 478 net peund balee. Carryover Imports to Gov. Est. as Con. to Exporta Balance Aug. I Oct. 1• of Oct. 1• Total Oct. I to Oct. I Total Oct. I 7,138 14 11,464 18,616 859 728 1,587 17,029 5,397 22 11,609 17,028 1,205 752 1,957 15,071 4,498 14 17,978 22,490 1,206 838 2,044 20,446 11,533 29 12,212 23,774 1,093 590 1,683 22,091 13,033 22 11,928 24,983 1,255 644 1,899 23,084 10,596 14 12,741 23,351 1,289 156 1,445 21,90612,376 69 11,061 23,506 1,750 255 2,005 21,50110,590 13,818 24,408 22,517 1,891 1,89110,687 11.478 22,165 1,714 1,714 20,45110,727 11,953 22,680 1,634 1,634 21,046 EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS IN TEXAS September, 1944 Estimated Number of Percentae-e Chana:e E1timated Amouftt o{ Pereent•&• Chance Worken Em•loyed• from from Woeltly Pay Jloll from from Aug., Sept., Aug.t Sept., Aue.• !ept., Au1., !ept., I944(1) I944<'1 I944 I9'5 I944(1) I944<'1 I944 I943 MANUFACTURINC All Manufacturing lndustries____ l72,220t 172,22ot (5) + 3.0 $6,054,867 $6,000,585 -0.9 +12.9 Food Products Baking ____ 10,500 10,449 0.5 +29.4 392,772 448,915 +14.3 +80.0 Carbonated BeTerage1 _____ 4,166 3,871 7.1 -12.6 128,924 115,641 -10.3 -4.6 Confectionery 1,339 1,537 +14.8 +25.2 19,818 21,723 + 9.6 +35.3 Flour Milling --------2,366 2,278 3.7 + 2.9 74,914 81,5% + 8.9 +24.6 Ice Cream -----------1,655 1,527 7.7 + 3.1 43,621 40,995 6.0 + 9.0 Meat Packing ___ 6,755 6,594 2.4 + 3.3 220,093 214,611 2.5 + 2.4 Textiles Cotton Textile Mills --------5,100 5,119 + 0.4 -10.3 117,790 119,435 + 1.4 7.6 Men's Work Oothing ---------4,193 4,068 3.0 -2.0 75,382 74,016 1.8 + 7.0 Forest Producu Furniture ----------1,21~ 1,179 2.7 -28.5 32,303 33,210 + 2.8 -16.0 Planing Mills 1,833 1,788 2.4 -14.7 56,840 55,208 2.9 + 2.4Saw Mills ________ 14,568 15,043 + 3.3 3.1 290,077 297,302 + 2.5 + 1.7 Paper Boxes ---------------857 894 + 4.3 5.7 21,417 22,210 + 3.7 + 8.7 Printing and Publishing Commercial Printing ____ 2,339 2,237 4.4 5.2 82,657 82,591 0.1 + 8.1 Newspaper Publishing ______ 3,832 3,977 + 3.8 4.5 112,664 123,048 + 9.2 + 1.7 Chemical Producu Cotton Oil Mille 1,949 2,625 +34.7 -26.1 30,272 51,990 +71.7 9.3 Petroleum Refin'ing ---------25,517 25,245 1.1 +10.l 1,453,005 1,435,689 1.2 +10.8 Stone tJnd Clay Products Brick and Tile -------1,656 1,584 4.3 + 6.2 30,004 31,013 + 3.4 +32.0 Cement ---------------742 732 1.4 -33.2 28,884 28,515 1.3 -31.5 Iron and Steel Products Structural and Ornamental Iron __ 2,508 2,240 -10.7 -21.9 80,579 75,429 6.4 -7.6 NONMANUFACTURINC Crude Petroleum Production __ 28,156 28,011 0.5 + 8.9 1,578,467 1,568,822 0.6 +16.8Quarrying ----·--·-----------(3) (3) + 3.1 8.9 (3) (3) + 3.0 -0.9 Public Utilities ---------(3) (3) 1.3 + 0.8 (3) (3) 0.6 + 2.5 Retail Trade ____ __ 203,994 211,006 + 3.4 6.8 4,947,717 5,240,337 + 5.9 + 7.7Wholesale Trade ----------61,978 61,494 0.8 + 1.8 2,474,804 2,442,197 1.3 +10.6Dyeing and Cleaning ------2,902 2,845 1.9 2.4 67,871 68,740 + 1.3 +12.7Hotels ·--·-------------------·--·-----20,042 19,617 2.1 + 0.4 364,437 353,861 2.9 +10.lPower Laundries ------------14,573 14,672 + 0.7 + 5.0 255,628 253,579 0.8 + 7.9 CHANCES IN EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS IN SELECTED CITIES«> Employment Pay Rollo Em•loyment Pay RolloPercenta£e Cha nge Percentafe Chant?e Percenta1re Chaaa:e Percenta1e Chaaae Aug., I944 Sept., I943 Aui:., I944 Sept., I943 Aui:., I944 Sept., 19"3 Aue., I944 Sept., I9"3 to to to to to t• to t• Sept., I944 Sept., I944 Sept., I944 Sept., 1944 Sept., I944 Sept., I944 !e,t., I944 !ept., I944 Abilene ______ + 7.8 + 3.8 + 1.9 + 15.5 Galveston __ 10.2 13.6 0.7 +. 15.2 Amarillo __ 4.4 1.9 1.4 + 1.3 Houston 0.4 17.0 15.8 18.2 Austin + 8.7 0.8 + 4.9 + 0.3 Port Arthur _ 2.1 + 8.0 2.7 + 15.7 Beaumont _ 0.8 + 3.1 + 0.5 + 5.0 San Antonio _ + 0.7 0.2 + 2.1 + 5.2 Dallas 0.1 + 12.2 + 2.0 Sherman __ + + 38.9 5.4 + 42.2 + 1.7 + 57.3 El Paso ___ 2.8 + 3.5 + 3.1 + 20.2 Waco + 0.9 1.5 + 2.5 + 12.7 Fort Worth _ 1.5 22.3 0.1 17.6 Wichita Falls_ 0.3 12.9 5.9 9.5 Corpus Christi 0.4 (3) + 0.2 (3) STATE __ 2.4 5.3 5.4 3.3 ESTIMATED NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN NONAGRICULTURAL BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHMENTSm I942(1) I943(l) I944 I942<1) IHI I944 January ------------1,170,000 1,385,000 1,429,ooo<•> July ------------1,317,000 1,450,000(l) 1,448,00000 February -------------1,199,000 1,397,000 1,433,000(1) August ________ 1,352,000 1,441,000(1)March ·------------1,226,000 1,415,000 1,433,00000 September ___ 1,373,000 1,448,000(1) April -------------1,222,000 1,433,000 1,435,ooo<•> October -------1,384,000 l,455.000(1)May -----------1,251,000 1,458,000 1,435,000(2) November _______ 1,389,000 l 461 ()()() June ----------1,291,000 1,478,000 1,448,000(2) December _ ___ 1,413,700 1:410:00o00 •Doe" not include proprietors, firm memben. officen of corporation1, or otlaer principal executil'e1. Factory employment excluclet ai10 05.ce. •lea_ tMbJeal aod profeuional • et1onnel. t Doe1 not include 1trictly war induetri~. ma ..;...i. (S)Subject to revision. <•>Not available. «>Bued on unwei1hted ficures. l.llLeao than I/ IO of one per cent. N•t includinc 1elf-employed pcnon11, cn1ual worken, or domestic 1en1nt1 and exclusive of military and maritime peraonnel. Tha e lc-ree are furnlahed by the Bureau of Labgr Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. ' Prepared from report• from representative Texas eatabJishmenta to the Bureau of Busine11 Reaearch col5peratinc with ~e Buree.11 of La•• Statletloa. Dao to tho national emergency, publlc•tlon of data fof certain lpduotrln. lo being wltbb414 until hrth~J n.U~.. DAIRY PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED IN PLANTS IN TEXAS Product and Year Jan. Feb. March April May Juno July Aue. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total CREAMERY BUTTER (1000 lb.) 1944* 2,126 2,765 3,535 4,008 3,527 3,569 2,792 2,535 -------2,043 1943* -------2,636 2,743 3,076 3,652 4,544 4,120 4,363 3,584 2,621 2,581 2,236 1,924 38,0711930-39 average _____ 2,074 2,109 2,392 3,138 3,556 3,166 4,113 2,867 2,513 2,608 2,301 2,211 32,048 ICE CREAM (1000 gal.)t 1944* 1,115 1,211 1,520 1,687 2,491 2,944 3,200 2,997 2,193 1943* --1,125 1,187 1,396 1,770 2,302 2,478 2,778 2,898 2,125 1,622 1,443 940 22,2371930-39 average ___ 215 262 434 570 752 893 904 845 686 460 259 205 6,486 A.MER/CAN CHEESE (1000 lb.) 1944* 902 956 1,229 1,884 2,273 2,159 2,076 1,621 1,372 1943* 914 948 1,063 1,594 2,010 1,866 1,782 1,319 984 819 621 800 15,2721930-39 average _____ 554 590 737 1,050 1,215 1,129 1,119 1,025 866 852 718 641 10,496 MILK EQUIVALENT OF DAIRY PRODUCTSt (1000 lb.) 1944* ________67,873 71,783 92,663 119,889 144,977 137,502 140,357 115,184 97,137 _ _______ __80,106 1943* 83,301 94,470 118,447 149,577 139,948 147,397 126,028 92,753 85,084 73,290 62,253 1,291,709 1930-39 averai:e ___54,675 57,139 67,456 89,641 104,323 97,562 97,075 89,185 76,165 73,444 60,119 55,872 922,656 •Estimate• of production made by the Bureau of Bu1ine91 Research. tMilk Equivalent of Dairy products was calculated from production data by the Bureau of Business Research. Uncludes ice cream, sherbets, ices, etc. Non: 10-ycar' a•era;:e production on creamery butter, ice cream and American ehee&e baaed on data from the Agricultural Marketinc Se"ice, U.S.D.A. SHIPMENTS OF LIVE STOCK CONVERTED TO A RAIL-CAR BASIS* Cattle Calvea !!wino Sheep Total 1944 1943 1944 1943 1944 1943 1944 1943 1944 19'5 Total Interstate Plus Fort Worth ____________ 6,295 5,842 1,615 1,348 846 1,281 1,313 1,555 10,069 10,026 Total Intrastate Omitting Fort Worth _____ 471 471 85 -120 40 54 531 235 1,127 880 TOTAL SHIPMENTS_____· ____ 6,766 6,313 1,700 1,468 886 1,335 1,844 1,790 11,196 10,906 TEXAS CAR-LOT• SIIlPMENTS OF LIVE STOCK FOR YEAR TO DATE Cattle Caboo !!wiao !!beep Total 1944 1943 1944 1943 1944 1943 1944 1943 1944 19'5 . Total Interstate Plus Fort Worth________ 44,776 45,874 8,135 6,879 12,112 12,782 11,693 10,609 76,716 76,144 Total Intrastate Omitting Fort Worth___ 5,181 6,126 968 1,558 766 578 1,315 819 8,230 9,081 TOTAL SHIPMENTS______________ 49,957 52,000 9,103 8,437 12,878 13,360 13,008 11,428 84,946 85,225 •Rail-en 1Sui1: Cattle, 30 head per car; calves, 60 ; awine, 80; and aheep, 250. Fort Worth 1hipments are combiued with interstate forwarding• in order that the bulk of mark.et disappearance for the month may be 1hown. Nen: Thue data are fumiabed the United Sta tea Bureau of Agricultural Ee onomic1 by railway officiala tbrou1h more than l,500 1tation a1ent1, repreaeatlq nery li'fMtock 1hippi11.1 point in the State. The da.ta are compiled hy the Blltea u of Bu1inee1 Research. SEPTEMBER, 1944, CARLOAD MOVEMENT OF POULTRY AND EGGS Shipments from Texas Stations Can of Poul try Cara of Ecp Shell Chicken• Turkey• Sholl Frot:en Dried EqolYAloott •De1tioatlon 1944 1945 1944 1943 1944 1943 1944 1~3 1944 1~3 1944 19" TOTAL -----------------~-17 10 l 3 20 31 108 35 137 79 1,332 733 Intrastate 8 1 0 0 16 31 42 19 14 17 212 205 Interstate 9 9 1 3 4 0 66 16 123 62 1,120 528 Receipts at Tex11S Stationa TOTAL 22 1 1 0 161 64 111 4 19 0 535 72 Intrastate 8 0 1 0 23 12 49 2 12 0 217 16 Interstate 14 1 0 0 138 52 62 2 7 0 318 56 *The destination above ia the first destination aa ahown by the original wayb ill. Changes in d e11tination brought about by dbereion facton are not ahowa. tDried egg11 and frozen eggs are converted to a shell e1g equivalent on the f ollowing basis: 1 rail carload of dried egp-=8 carloads of 1hell ec:p, and l carload of frozen ee:e:s=2 earl oada of shell eggs. · . Non: The1e data furniahed to the Division of A{Ticultural Statiatic1, B.A. E., by railroad offi.cialt throua;h ac•ntl at all atatlona which oricinate and rectl'fl carload 1hipmenu of poultry and ~gg1. The data are compiled by tho Bureau of Businets Research. SEPTEMBER CREDIT RATIOS IN TEXAS DEPARTMENT AND APPAREL STORES (Expressed in Per Cent) Number Ratie of Ratio of Ratio of of Credit Sales Collections to Credit Salaries Store• to Net Sales Outstanding1 to Credit Salee Reportin( 1944 1943 1944 1943 1944 1943 All 'Stores __ 62 47.9 47.8 64.7 62.7 1.0 1.0 Stores Grouped by Cities: Austin --------------------­ -6 39.8 42.9 74.6 73.4 1.0 1.0 Corpus Christi ---------·-------------------3 44.9 42.3 78.0 67.l 2.3 1.3 Dallas 9 53.3 58.2 62.5 64.1 0.7 0.7 El Paso -------­ 3 39.l 42.7 63.2 64.3 1.2 1.3 Fort Worth-----------6 43.4 43.8 62.9 57.2 1.3 1.1 Houston -------8 50.5 43.9 64.7 56.6 1.1 1.3 San Antonio -----------4 36.7 38.7 66.4 67.0 1.2 1.4 Waco ____ 5 47.4 47.4 64.1 57.7 LO 1.0 All Others ----------­ 18 42.3 42.8 72.3 71.2 1.1 1.0 Stores Grouped According to Type of Store: Department Store (Annual Volume Over $500,000) 20 46.2 46.4 66.5 63.0 1.0 1.0 Department Stores (Annual Volume under $500,000) ____ 9 41.9 42.0 65.0 64.8 1.2 1.2 Dry-Goods-Apparel Stores _ 3 37.3 41.0 70.0 66.3 1.5 1.5 Women's Specialty Shops _ 16 50.2 54.7 59.0 62.2 0.8 0.7 Men's Clothing Stores _ 14 43.4 44.7 69.2 63.7 1.2 1.2 Stores Grouped According to Volume of Net Sales During 1943:* Over $2,500,000 ____ 19 47.6 45.7 66.3 64.9 0.9 0.9 $2,500,000 down to $1,000,000_ 12 39.6 40.5 72.6 67.8 1.3 1.3 $1,000,000 down to $500,000 12 46.4 44.1 69.6 67.0 1.2 1.1 Less than $100,000 -----19 31.3 29.7 66.9 62.0 2.4 2.2 Non: The ratios 1hown for each year, in the order in which they appear from left to richt -.re obtained by the followini:' computations: (1) Credit Sale1 diYided. by Net Sale1. (2) Collection1 durin& the month divided by the total account1 unpaid on the first of the month. (3) Salarie1 of the credit department divided by credit ulet. The data are reported to the Bureau of Bu1ine11 Research by Tens retail atorea. SEPTEMBER RETAIL SALES OF INDEPENDENT STORES IN TEXAS Percentage Chaneea Number of in Dollar Sales E1tab­Sept.• 1944 Sept.. 1944 Tear, 1944 li1hment1 from from from Reponin& Sept., 1943 Aq., 1944 Tear.I~ TOTAL TEXAS --------------------­990 + 11.2 + 11.8 + 11.4 STORES GROUPED BY LINE OF GOODS CARRIED: APPAREL -----------------------­ --109 + 16.l +23.6 +13.9 Family Oothing Stores_________________ _ _ ____ 22 + 5.8 + 15.9 + 9.4 Men's and Boys' Clothing Stores _ _____________________ _ 34 + 7.0 +34.l + 6.2 Shoe Stores -----------~---17 + 6.5 +20.0 + 6.5 Women's Specialty Shops ---------------------·-----­36 +24.0 +20.2 +20.1 AUTOMOTIVE* ----------83 -5.8 -8.0 + 6.0 Motor Vehicle Dealers__________ 75 -7.5 -6.9 + 5.9 COUNTRY GENERAL 99 +10.2 + 7.2 + 9.8 DEPARTMENT STORES ____ 62 + 12.8 + 16.l + 14.3 DRUG STORES -------------105 + 12.9 + 1.3 + 11.7 DRY GOODS AND GENERAL MERCHANDISE 33 + 4.1 + 12.1 + 8.2 FILLING STATIONS 25 + 3.7 -12.4 + 6.1 FLORISTS ---------------­21 + 32.3 + 13.7 +27.6 FOOD* 131 + 13.0 + 1.2 + 11.9 Grocery Stores ----------33 +10.8 + 0.3 + 7.3 Grocery and Meat Stores ___________ _ _ 92 + 13.3 + 1.2 + 13.1 FURNITURE AND HOUSEHOLD• 80 + 11.1 + 3.7 + 0.4 Furniture Stores ____ -------------------72 + 12.3 + 4.6 + 1.7 JEWELRY -----~---------------------­25 + 0.1 + 4.6 + 1.4 LUMBER, BUILDING, AND HARDWARE*------------­164 + 6.6 + 2.3 + 4.6 Farm Implement Dealers --·--------·---------­13 + 18.4 4.5 +27.0 Hardware Stores -----50 +15.4 5.3 +21.7 Lumber and Building Material Dealer8 --------------­98 0.2 + 4.6 -2.8 RESTAURANTS --------36 + 7.0 7.3 +12.1 ALL OTHER STORES ----· 13 + 7.7 + 9.9 + 6.2 TEXAS STORES GROUPED ACCORDING TO POPULATION OF CITY: All Stores in Cities of­ Over 100,000 Population 161 + 14.0 + 15.8 + 13.8 50,000-100,000 Population ---------------------130 + 9.9 + 7.5 + 9.1 2,5~50,000 Population 470 + 6.9 + 9.0· + 8.8 Less than 2,500 Population_·----~---------~-----229 + 6.8 + 0.7 + 11.6 •Croup total include• kinda of bu1ine11 other than the cla11i6catlon listed. Prepared from report• of in9.ependent retail ator.. to the BW'eau of Bu1ineH R eeeucb, eoOpentinc with the U.5. Bureau 0£ the Cen.1us. BUILDING PERMITS Jan. Thron1h Sept. SeJ>t., 1944 Sept., 1943 Aue., 1944 1944 1943 Abilene _ S 12,325 s 3,588 s 59,335 $ 327,590 $ 171,404 Amarillo ------ 96,504 39,043 119,415 . 1,006,041 504,230 Austin 97;308 64,653 40,675 515,865 278,066Beaumont _____ 32,235 25,018 151,061 657,692 956,602 Big Spring ------------------------------­17,925 11,565 123,875 258,418 122,362 Brownsville ----------------------­13,240 12,281 3,615 58,227 86,497 Brownwood ----------------------------­2,045 875 28,500 181,042 16,533 Cleburne -------------------­5,875. t 6,01s• t t Coleman __ 0 ISO 0 5,350 1,950 Corpus Christi 137,109 147,265 202,015 1,495,782 2,863,194 Corsicana 275 1,080 7,350 13,632 26,933Dallas _ _ _ 251,909 359,791 323,110 4,993,551 2,830,697 _ Del Rio -------------------------------------------2,195 6,880 1,605 t 86,969. Denton ___ _ 4,770 6,300 3,930 19,615 19,360 Edinburg ---------17,300 10,255 10,260 56,978 35,102 El Paso ---------69,518 27,807 179,776 1,152,375 366,283 Fort Worth 193,616 750,935 293,998 2,654,999 5,369,050 Galveston 55,202 70,667 11,055 623,869 765,915 Gladewater -·------7,550 2,540 2,000 13,045 14,550 Graham_ ______ ______________________ _ 1,390 1,580 4,000 19,444 8,875 Harlingen -------------­16,050 0 140,662 324,285 5,448 Houston 653,049 673,520 678,420 .7,066,363 6,768,400 Jacksonville 7,750 1,025 9,750 53,175 12,625 Kenedy 0 1,500 0 8,450 5,365 Kerrville -----1,700 365 3,500 15,807 55,261 Longview ------------------------­16,630 2,705 3,160 47,712 62,095 Lubbock 117,131 27,283 80,049 865,599 185,063 McAllen ___ 50,805 24,125 26,675 178,905 59,048Marshall 19,771 5,760 9,203 123,687 321,657 Midland -·---------------15,430 1,600 19,550 406,425 33,444 New Braunfels ______ 3,600 4,088 3,505 37,844 10,482 Palestine -----------------------------· 2,207 330 700 10,617 24,544 · Pampa ------·------------4,700 2,450 1,400 23,955 204,400 Paris 4,150 17,500 10,445 162,576 157,680 Plainview 15,975 7,000 2,650 34,246 33,805 Port Arthur 19,762 19,348 27,040 248,294 135,575 San Antonio 463,162 291,672 482,886 3,263,208 2,155,089 Seguin -----------------· -----------6,9so• t 3,878. t t 12,010 11,370 16,858 Shennan -------------­ 106,565 103,005 Snyder 0 0 0 0 0 Sweetwater -----------------­1,705 1,520 10,730 119,375 22,170 Tyler _ 18,411 14,424 15,776 181,876 86,106 Waco --·---------------43,333 37,397 24,539 1,304,918 630,471Wichita Falls -------20,007 16,817 58,925 216,057 163,860 TOTAL --------------2,512,754 $ 2,704,072 $ 3,291,998 $28,753,454 $25,673,196 •Not included in total. tNot available. NOn: Compiled frem .reporta from Teu1 chamben of commerce to tho Bureau of Bu1ine11 R11earcb. LUMBER TEXAS CHARTERS (In Board Feet) Sept. Sept. Aue. 1an. Tbron1h Sept. 1944 1943 1944 1944 l!MS !ept. 1944 !opt. 194S Au1. 1944 Domestic Corporations: Southern Pine Mills: Capitalization* ____ $1,135 $ 805 Sl,042 $8,344 $6,948 Average Weekly Production Number 48 316 -------37 71 489 per unit ------201,770 222,702 213,400 Classification of new cor- Average Weekly Shipments tions: per unit ----------214,581 244,757 230,299 Banking-Finance 3 2 17 0 13 Average Unfilled Orders per Manufacturi-ng. ___ __ 2 3 8 49 45 unit, end of month ___ 1,443,752 1,482,516 1,440,172 Merchandising ____ 15 3 13 120 54 Oil --------2 1 6 30 27 ­ Non: From Southern Pino Anooiatfon. Public Service _____ 0 0 4 13 2 Real Estate Building_ 4 -15 15 86 96 Transportation _ ___ 3 1 3 18 10TEXAS COMMERCIAL FAILURES All Others -----19 12 22 160 65 1an. Throu1h Sept. Number capitalized at .Sept. 1944 Sept. 1943 Aue. 19« 1944 1943 less than 5,000 __ 10 12 22 139 123Number 0 0 0 1 9 Number capitalized atLiabilities• 0 0 $243 0 $8 $100,000 or more__ Assets• 0 2 2 4 21 11 --------0 0 6 198 Average Liabilities per Foreign Corporations failure• _ _ (Number) 0 0 0 8 27 ---15 14 11 136 68 •In thQu11nd1. •In thou1&od1. Non : Compiled froa recordo ef the !!leeretary of !!ltate. Non: From Dua and llraiotrHt, Ine. POSTAL RECEIPTS January Through SeptemberSeptfl'lllber, 1944 S;eptember, 1943 Auiiuat, 1944 1944 1943 Abilene ----·-·s 56,474 $ 39,372 s 49,669 $ 416,727 $ 358,560 Amarillo____________...:.___ __________ 56,544 51,041 59,386 504,675 447,.177 Austin 108,651 86,103 94,833 875,339 779,258 Beaumont ____ 46,508 41,503 51,449 462,245 . 363,785 Big Spring -------. 11,814 8,765 12,523 99,517 83,447 Brownsville -----------------11,606 10,036 11,122 104,349 -. 86,900 Brownwood · 26,591 24,615 23,345 215,398 .. . . 421,321 Childress 6,172 6,243 5,932 50,570 40,403 Cleburne ---------------5,933 4,632 5,980 51,791 42,841 Coleman --------------------­ 4,246 3,450 . 4,208 39,858. . ;!4,345 Corpus Christi ------------­70,076 56,073 71,812 597,303 . 481,516 Corsicana -----------------­ 10,562 8,186 .9,759 90,168 73,269 Dallas __ 579,075 502,831 547,917 4,789,245 4,095.792 Del Rio ------~-----------· 6,552 ,5,271 6,855 59,299 49,132 Denison _ _ _ 10,043 8,308 10,632 79,692 78,702 Denton --------------------~­ 10,088 9,707 10,660 100,984 81 ,592 Edinburg ---·------------4,629 4,220 3,989 38,422 31,962 . El Paso __________:..___________ 96,848 83,060 95,075 853,818 779,893 Fort Worth _ 313,315 215,465 263,633 2,173,311 1,783,264 Galveston _ _ 49,890 43,754 55,618 454,626 400,505 Gladewater 4,068 3,404 4,765 38,340 32,059 Graham -------------------3,814 2,783 3,274 31,193 21,872 Harlingen ----------------13,930 10,749 13,712 124,966 93,845 Houston ___ 399,297 315,296 400,478 3,397,026 2,819,070 Jacksonville ---------.--·------­5,031 6,623 5,461 49,445 94,718 Kenedy -----------·----­2,162 2,385 2,658 22,213 19,882 Kerrville' -----------·----·----­4,329 . 3,581 4,844 36,804 31,346 Lubbock 33,559 29,134 36,350 303,136 257,924 Lufkin ------------------------------------7,742 6,247 7,737 68,301 55,035 McAllen _____ 7,132 5,392 . 6,829 66,182 51,856 Marshall ---------ll,089 9,192 11,971 98,547 79,185 Palestine · f!,564 6,768 8,231 72,378 61,213Pampa _ ___ __·----10,270 8,827 11,308 76,309 82,459 Paris _ ____ -25,073 19,868 24,847 202,924 166,644 Plainview 6,394 4,850 6,260 53,449 45,051 Port Arthur --·----------­28,232 22,981 27,040 244,481 206,411 San. Angelo_ 69,082 18,290 23,176 243,562 164,857 San Antonio ____ · 270,2ll 225,856 252,130 2,302,995 2,039,600 Seguin ---------------------------­4,479t • 4,887t • • Sherman -----12,829 11,255 12,641 111,214 96,108 . Snyder ---------2,763 2,224 2,249 21,638 17,696 Sweetwater ______ 7,329 6,463 7,401 75,733 64,816 Temple ------------16,078 14,828 15,498 138,397 . 123,587 Tyler _______ .:..______________ 30,528 29,089 29,596 266,098 257,211 Waco -------------------------------54,553 46,534 53,607 471,507 403,583 Wichita Falls _______ 41,390 39,810 40,173 374,337 370,747 $ 2,561,066 TOTAL ----------------------$ 2,065,064 s 2,406,033 $20,948,992 $18,170,439 •Not available. tNot Included In total. Non: Compiled from reports from Texas chambera of commerce to the Bureau of Bu1ineaa Research. PETROLEUM Daily Average Production (In Barrels) Jan. Through Sept. Sept., 1944 Sept., 1945 Ang., 1944 1944 1943 Coastal Texas•·--------·---.--------'-------.-.--.-.--,,.--.... 543,050 483,200 -535,2()0 .4,726,450 3,452,350 East Central Texas ______________________ 149,800 . 130,550 147,650 1,196,350 1,038,390 East Texas --------------'-----------------------370,950 379,050 371,700 "3,319,050 3,095,000 North Texas. ______________________ 147,750 140,550 148,750 1,310,350 1,226,500 Panhandle ------~-----98,700 103,350 98,700 854,400 827.850 Southwest Texas·~------------341,750 260,400 321,650 2,768,200 1,843,200 West Texas __________________________ 504,050 325,050 ~!H,9!?0 · . 3,.761;700 . 2,130,450 STATE --------------. -2,156,050 1,822,150 2,108,600 17,936,500 13,613,740 UNITED STATES_______________ 4,735,250 4,327,400 4,665,150 .40,628,2~0 36,144,800 Caaol!no 1&!01 .. indicated by .taxes collected by the State Comptroller were: AUiU•t, 1944, Ul,393,741 gal.; Auguat, 1943 ua 582 993 ,.1 . July 1944 ll3 • 616,721 pl1. . . . . -.' . . . ., , • , ~It11le1 of ca1oline to the United State. Government H recorded by motor fuel distributors in Texu were 270,656,672 gallons. •Include1 Conroe. Non: From American Petroleum ln1titute. See accompanyinc map 1howinc the oil producing di1tricts of Texas. SEPTEMBER RETAIL SALES OF INDEPENDENT STORES ANNOUNCEMENT IN TEXAS TEXAS WHOLESALE TRADE AND COMMODITY (By Districts) . SALES IN THE GULF SOUTHWEST Number of Percentace Chanceo E11ab· Sept., 1944 Sept., 1944 Year 1944 The Bureau of Business Research has recently issued Jlohmenll from from from Reportin1 Sept., 1943 Aus., 1944 Yoar 1943 in mimeograph form a publication, by A. B. Cox and TOTAL TEXAS _______ 990 + 11.2 + 11.8 + 11.4 Clara H. Lewis, on Texas wholesale trade and commodity TEXAS STORES sales in the Gulf Southwest. It is a compilation and sum­ . GROUPED BY mation in convenient form of data on the wholesale trade PRODUCING AREAS and commodity sales as revealed in the census on dis· District 1-N -----------71 +15.4 + 0.2 +U.7 tribution. Amarillo -----------·------25 +23.7 + 0.2 The publication is in two parts. The first gives an Plainview ------------14 + 3.1 -11.6 All Others ---------~--32 +13.1 -0.6 analysis of Texas wholesale trade broken down by lines District 1-S ------------31 + 4.0 + 4.9 +11.8 of business and gives such data as number of establish· Lubbock --------------16 + 3.9 + 7.3 ments, amount of sales, operating expenses, number of All Others ___:________:__ 17 + 4.1 +13.6 employees, etc. The second part is a summary of whole­ District 2 -------------------80 + 5.4 + 11.6 -0.7 District 3 ----------------------33 + 13.6 + 11.3 +13.0 sale sales by commodities in the Gulf Southwest, includ­District 4 ----------·----235 +14.8 +19.8 +14.3 ing the States of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Dallas ----------------33 +22.2 +27.0 Louisiana, and shows the amounts of sales by types Fort Worth: -------37 + 9.2 +13.9 of stores through which these sales are made. Waco -----------27 +11.9 +12.7 All Others _______ 138 -1.4 + 8.1 This publication is of special value to those interested District 5 --------------101 + 2.4 +15.0 + 10.4 in wholesaling as a business and to those interested in +16.5 . +11.1 +15.9 District 6 ..!..~-----------43 the region as a market. The price is $1.00 per copy, District 7 ----------------49 +19.6 +10.3 +16.4 postpaid. District 8 ---------------176 +11.7 + 4.2 + 9.1 Austin -------------16 + 7.1 +10.9 San Antonio ________ 45 +16.0 + 5.6 PERCENTAGE CHANGES IN CONSUMPTION All Others ---·----------115 + 5.3 + 0.3 OF ELECTRIC POWER District 9 --------------------104 + 2.9 + 8.8 + 8.8 Houston ---------------44 + 4.8 + 10.7 Sept., 1944 Sept., 1944 Yeor, 1944 All Others ----------------60 + 1.5 + 3.2 from from from Sept., l~ Aus., 1944 Yoor, 19'5 District 10 --------------24 +22.6 + 7.4 +16.0 District 10-A -------------43 +15.2 + 6.7 +13.8 Commercial -----------------+ 9.0 -0.3 +17.5 Industrial ----------------+ 20.4 · + 1.2 +22.5 Non: Prepared from report• of independent re tail 1tore1 to the Bureau el •ul· Residential -----------------+ 7.5 -:-0.2 -7.3 0.1 lletearch. col5peratin1 with the U.S. Bureau of the Cenw.1. All Others ----------------27.6 -14.6 -4.5 TOTAL ------------------------+ 6.:f--1.9 +13.0 COMMODITY PRICES Prepared frem reporta of 10 eloetrlc power com,anleo to the Burooe ef Blllla•Sept., 1944 Sepi., 1943 Aus., 1944 •••arch. Wholesale Prices: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CEMENT (1926::;:::100%) ---------------·--·----------104.0 103.1 103.9 (In Thomands of Barrels) Farm Prices: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Au1ust, 1944 Au1ust, 1943 July, 1944 (1926=100%) ---------------------------122.7 123.5 122.6 Texas Plants Production --------------------_______ 554 821 530 Retail Prices: Shipments ---------------------------560 811 575Food (U.S. Bureau of Labor Sta­ 843 Stocks --------------------------837 770 United States tistics (1935-1939=100%) ________ • 137.4 137.7 Cost of Living Index (1935­1939=100%) ------------------------------• 123.9 126.3 Production ---------------------------9,003 11,673 8,516 Shipments _________________ ________10,758 12,625 9,377 Department Stores (Fairchild's Stocks _____________________18,478 20,590 20,147Publications Capacity Operated ------------------44.0% 56.0% 41.0% January, 1931=100%) -------------113.4 113.1 113.4 •Not nailahle. Non: From U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Mine1. TABLJI; OF CONTENTS Bu&inN1 Review and ProaptJct, F. A. BueoheL S 1 Commodity Price Index.. -----l: Po&twor Employment in Tes..a.&, A. B. Cox 5 Cotton Balance Sheet -------------­LIST OF CHARTS Credit &tio1 in Texas Department and Apparel Stores----9 Estimated Texas Retail Salen, 1943--·--·--·--··-·----1 Dairy Producta Manufactured in Plants in TexH----·--------; Ind&s:ee of Busineea Activities in Tex&e-----··----...-·--·-2 Employment and Pay Rolla in Texas -----JO LIST OF TABLES Building Permit• ---------------In ~~~::~ag;-"Chang;-Tu-Co~Ption of Electric Po;;~==--= 12 Carload Movement of Poultry and Eggs. --~--8 Petroleum ------R Cemellt __.,________. -------------12 Postal Receipt• -----·---12 Charters -----·---·-....... 10 Re~ail Sa,les of. Independent Stores in Texas..-..-------9, 8 Commercial Failures ----··---------------·-------·----10 Shipment of Livestock -···-··-----------·----­