The foregoing shows that there was. little improvement In August in. the general economic situation which closely affects the livelihood of workfers. The "prosperity" evident carlier in the year was due nol so much 10 actual consumption as to overstocking when the purchases of large quantities of goods by hoarders created a seeming buying power. This early "prosperity", due also to increase in population, heavy demand for manufactured goods locally and abroad, exchange fall, holding" of goods rather than cash, has, since the stock fall in May, given way to depression. Political situations in China and abroad have contributed to the new situation, There is abundant capital but little opportunity for new Investment. Hence it is apparent that the rapid expansion of industrial and business activities. in the earlier "prosperity" have been followed by. curtailed production and consequent unemployment with unfortunate effects on livelihood. Continuing high prices "have further reduced the' ability of the people to buy. Tu gen: eral retail prices in August showed tne tendency to become lower, despite the fact that wholesale prices, as already evident during the past three months, remained lov.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.