^k We are trying to save wool by using substitutes and simplifying the 



styles of clothing* All this affects our standard of living, but from 

 the farmers* standpoint it means that consumers will have more money to 

 spend for food. Just now there is a very strong demand for women* s 

 clothing. The New York Federal Reserve Bank reports that all branches 

 of the apparel group took on workers in the New York area during 

 February, but that the largest emoloyment gains occurred in the 

 manufacture of women* a clothing and millinery. Part of this gain of 

 employment in these industries was seasonal. 



Factory employment in the United States as a whole rose 

 slightly during February, and payrolls were 2 per cent larger than in 

 January. War industries continued to expand their forces. Relative 

 to February a year ago factory employment was up I3 per cent and pay- 

 rolls were ^0 per cent greater. There was little change in the total 

 number employed in civil nonagricultural occupations in the United 

 States between January and February. Hox>rever, there was some shift in 

 employment. Employment in factories and government service was some- 

 what higher, but these gains for the month were offset by decreases in 



and 

 the number employed in wholesale and retail trade/in construction. 



Compared with February, 19^1; there were 2,^00,000 more persons engaged 

 in civil nonagricultural pursuits in the United States. A further 

 increase occurred in March. 



Crop pros-pects . Rains in this area have been favorable to 

 rank growth of wheat and pasture. However, they have interf erred with 

 the usual soring work. That is true over rather wide areas, rDarticularly 

 ^^ in the eastern half of the country. However, it has been a little too 

 dry in the southwestern area of the United States, especially in much 

 of Texas and the southwestern range area. Subsoil moisture is still 

 ample in Oklahoma and conditions are satisfactory up through the Kansas 



