To the naked eye, the skies over U.S. business were as bright as new-minted nickels. Last week the auto industry produced 102,098 cars and trucks, more than in any week since mid-1941. The steel industry, roaring along at 94.1% of capacity, was turning out far more steel than in any peacetime year. Many a prosperous company upped its-dividend, e.g., Du Pont from $1.25 to $2 and International Harvester from 65ยข to $1. Despite the worst freight-car shortage in 20 years, Barren's latest Weekly Production Index held at 117, within one point of the postwar peak.
U.S. business was, in fact, so...
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