London, Feb, 17.
Great Britain's greatest industrial production of all time was attained in the last quarter of 1037, it was revealed to-day by the "Board of Trade Journal" The index numbers for the quarter, both for manufacturing industries and for all groups, represented the greatest volume of production for which information was available.
'A deficit of £52,000,000, compared with a deficit of £18,000,000 in 1096 and a surplus of £32,000,000 in 1995, is shown in the estimates of the Board of Trade of Great Britain's balance of international payments on revenue account for the year 1997.
The deficit arose from the further increase of £86,000,000 in excess of merchandise imports, in addition to which net imports of silver were £10,000,000, compared with the larger net exports of £1,000,000.
On the other hand, however, It is estimated that invisible exports rose by £65,000,000.
British shipping earnings, with higher freight rates and more active employment of tonnage, are considered to be nearly fifty per cent, larger than those of 1936. Net income from this source is estimated at £130,000,000, or 45 per cent, higher than in 1996.
Oversea investment income is estimated to have been fifteen per cent, higher, and commissions, etc, five per cent. higher than in 1996,—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.