Limited economic indicators relearned last week reveal that retail sales and employment in Middletown were up slightly in August but construction dropped sharply. Business as a whole appeared to be behind the early 1953 activity but still ahead of or as good as the pace of August, 1952. This means that Middletown's economy was similar to that of the entire nation, reported by U.S. News and World Report to be “holding firm somewhat below its high rate of early this year" and to be having its “best summer yet." Conclusions from the table of indicators must be reached with caution because the August banking figures are not listed. Roy Patterson, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, which compiles the totals, reported that the Oglesby-Barnitz Bank had been delayed in turning in its monthly report this week...

related Stanley Meisler articles by topic: