Radio today (Sept 1935-Dec 1936)

©C1B 282174 Staff— Darrell Bartee Franklin S. Irby Randall R. Irwin G. H. Mayorga M. H. Newton J. E. Osmun John F. Rider B. V. Spinetta Vinton K. Ulrich Lee Robinson Sales Manager RADIO TODAY Orestes H. Caldwell Editor M. Clements Publisher 480 Lexington Ave. New York City Tel. PLaza 3-1340 Vol. I, No. 3 Business at neiv peak * Sharp pick-up in general business has landed the basic index at a hearty 91, highest figure since Summer, 1933. A year ago the figure was a feeble 75; the current upswing is noted in all six major industrial activities as against the doings last year at this time. Most notable gain was in electrical power output and the National Industrial Conference Board reports that this figure is the highest on record, including the boom days of December, 1929. Employment, earnings, up Most recent figure puts the number of unemployed at 9,466,000, compared with 10,393,000 at this time last year; the number out of work has been cut by almost a million. Auto production now s.t a n d s at more than twice what it was last year at this time, and stimulated by the national show, predictions are that production for the coming season will reach 4,000,000 cars. Steelmill activity is well over twice what it was last year. Means radio buying Dope on retail trade, as reflected by latest total of department-store sales, has increased by slightly more than the usual seasonal proportion. Average hourly earnings are up, all over the country, indicating new spending reserves for the purchases of Xmas radio sets. Weekly earnings have risen from $19.55 a year ago, to $22.59 at the present time. Considering slightly increased living costs, increase in purchasing power is still 12 per cent ahead of a year ago — significant news for the radio dealer ! Broadcast billings * Gentle decline was expected in gross time sales by the broadcasters this month, since the totals for the season openers were recorded earlier this Fall. NBC's figure for November, it is estimated, will continue to linger around the $3,000,000 mark, 11 per cent above the total for November '34 which was $2,683,494. CBS could scarcely be expected to equal its October figure, which was a new monthly high for the web, and its estimate for November is $1,704,000 as against $1,682,959 for the same month last year. Eleven-month totals run 19 per cent ahead of '34. Cumulative estimate so far this year, for all gross time sales on national nets, regional webs, national non-networks and local has reached $82,494,000, which is well above the same figure for 1934. Which all helps sell radio sets ! Radio sets boom * In spite of unseasonable weather and spotty retail sales, spirited reports arrive from various directions that radio-set production and distribution is running 40 per cent or more ahead of last year. Philco, adding 2,000 employes, has built up a factory payroll of 10,000, reporting daily outputs reaching 7,000 sets. Camden headquarters, RCAVictor, for October, 1935, ran 146 per cent of October, 1934, and 187 per cent of September, 1935. From Chicago come such encouraging messages as "With the peak season half gone, our production figures already exceed totals of previous years." Another files the exceptional report "Our business is up 125 per cent over last year." Conservative Dun & Bradstreet, Inc., becoming bullish on radio, comments that leading set-makers have made plans to expand production by 60 to 100 per cent next year. November, 1935