Of one thing there is. little doubt—costs of making automobiles are mounting sharply. Materials have gone up all along the line. Steel prices are up substantially, with two increases since last October, and there is about a ton of steel in each car. With labour rates constantly advancing and hours of work shortening, unless overtime is paid, the labour expense of building motor cars is mounting too. The net result is that the consumer might as well məke up his mind that before long Hhe'is going to have to pay more for a new car.
One independent car maker reports that its costs have increased $28 a car in the last 90 days. That is more than ihe company has been making per ce". Obviously that situation cannot R on much longer without the extra-coot burden being passed along to the consumer. Thus far attempts at jacking up prices have been confined largely to truck builders, with three companies boosting delivered prices about 5 per cent. The question is whether passenger-car makes can stave off higher prices until the 1933 model season. It is against the policy of most of them to change prices during a model year, but this time it may be necessary,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.