Alaskans who have been Outside from time to
time during the last few months come back with simi- j
lar reports from the States. In this they are supported |
by such comments as the following made by the maga
zine Business Week:
All the dire predictions of a slump in busi
ness activity this summer have gone by the
boards. If August witnesses any slackening,
it should be a mild one. Backlogs of most
Industries are sufficiently large to insure a
good pace right through the third quarter,
normally the quiet months of the year. Most
producers are more concerned about getting
out business already booked than about any
lag in new orders. This is particularly true in
steel, machine tools, and rayon.
That is general, one may say. But the magazine
goes on to special cases when it comments after its
monthly survey as follows:
Not since the first flush of NRA days have
so many wage-rate increases and bonuses
been granted as in the past two or three
months. An impressive list of companies has
stepped up wages or granted special bonuses,
or both. Many have resumed vacations with
pay, which were suspended back in 1930, or
inaugurated a policy of vacations with pay
lor the first time.
Outstanding in generous distribution of
record earnings is the Chrysler Corporation
which in May announced the third increase
since August, 1933, which brought wage rates
back to above the 1929 level. In addition,
a $2,300,000 bonus was distributed in February
and another of $2,000,000 was distributed Aug
ust 10.
