Wholesale commodity prices as a whole as measured by the index prepared by the National Tariff Commission, declined slightly during the month of September. The only group In which price advances occurred was that of food products and provisions, (other than cereals) "and Yullding materials. Despite the fractional recession to 140.1, index numbers. of Import prices' are twenty points higher than in September 1935. The Index of export prices fluctuated narrowly around 95.9, a slight decrease compared with the previous month and a substantial advance over ha of @ year ago. The trond of the cost of living index was downward, It is believed, however, that the rising tendency now displayed in food prices and plecegoods will be follow-
ing.
by am Increase the cast of lv-
The value of building permits awarded by the SM.C. recorded a moderate. increase while the other two muntelpalities showed a decline, Chinese Commodity Markets Two factors have: been the domin" fant Influences In the price movements en the Chinese commodity markets during the past week, One "the: efforts of the short interest to cover brought about spectacular rises in yarn prices which reached $249, surpassing the 1920 price of $227 which was the highest in years, The other cotton mils operating heavily during the last part of the season, owing to the increased demand in the interfer, so result of which a shortage in yarn stocks Decame apparent. Flour soared to $3.72 and as dry weather will affect the crop of next year high prices may be expected.
Electricity output in September amounted to 77,888,090 kilowatt hours, again over August of this and September of last year. This high rate of production is due to the present rate of industrial activity which is particularly heavy in the cotton industry. Production cotton yarn, flour, match and cement industries was considerably higher than during the previous month.
Security prices were well sustained and sales in shares were running well ahead of last year. There was noteworthy drop in business fall-lures and suspensions, particularly in the group of business firms, from 21 in July fo 11 in August.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.