PRODUCTION: Up & Down

Thanks to increased carloadings, TIME’S Index crept up to 181.2 (estimated) in the Aug. 22 week, 0.7 point above the preceding week’s final figure and 20 points above a year ago. The steel-scrap shortage plagued steelmakers; power production flattened out.

War-goods output continues upward; WPBoss Don Nelson last week reported July output 16% over June to another record. But in many industries output is headed down. Lumber output runs 15% below the 1941-42 peaks; paperboard production teeters 32% below the January high; retail sales are below recent levels and barely equal to last year.