Industrial Depression Spreads in Shanghai As Outlets of Goods to Interior Are Closed Shanghai, Aug. 6. \HE closing of French Indo-China and Burma routes and blockade of Fukien and Chekiang ports has depri ed local productions of their main outlets and cent muting factor to the trade depression her according to the report for July issued by the industrial section of the Shanghai Municipal Council.
The report, discloses that prices of certain commodi including meat and rentals, have kept soaring for the past six months, An index showing the cost of living of foreigners here registers an \erease of 3.74 per cent over June while the purchasing power of the local dollar was reduced by 35.65 per cent in July in comparison with the October, 1939 base. the course of six months it was shown, the rent for a standard sized room in a detached or semi-detached house has gone up by 17.74 per cent. and rents for apartments and ats Increased. by 9.70 per cent. terrace houses 1968 por cent. and single rooms 411 per cent. Munieipat rates for the' Settlement have. gone from 18 to 27 per cent. for extra Setlement road areas from 16 to 24 per cent. and French Concession from Yr'to 22 por cent. effective from July Surcharge on electricity has been reduced. from 180.07 to 170.93 per cent, and electric power for heating from 81612 to 28043 per cent, The effect has been partially offset by the Increase inthe gas surcharge which has risen from 80 to 158 per cent. effective after July 16.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.