(3 of 4)
In March 1929, U. S. steel production, for the first time in its history, topped the 5,000,000 ton mark (by 49,000 tons). At this rate, 1929 would be a 60,000,000 ton year, more than 10,000,000 tons over 1928, previous high year. Record-breaking activity in the automobile business (TIME, April 15), now the steel industry's best customer, helped make the outstanding March record. Resumption of large-scale purchasing by railroads (third best customer) also aided. Steelmen questioned, howeVer, whether record-breaking production could well continue; saw some slackening in even the near future. The building industry (second best customer) is in something of a slump, and the automobile second quarter cannot be expected to equal its first. Yet unfilled steel orders were unusually large and steel remains brightest as well as largest U. S. industrial spot.