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The government reports supplies of 22 kinds of vegetable seeds as "being 

 15 percent greater than in 19^2. Each grower should order what he needs but no more. 



Exports at record hifih . The Department of Ccanmerce announced that the 

 total value of exports from the United States during the 19^4-5 calendar year will be 

 the largest ever recorded in the country's history. Exports for the first 11 months 

 were in excess of 11 billion dollars. That included lend-lease shipments to the 

 united nations but excluded shipments to the United States armed forces abroad. The 

 11-month total in 19^5 vas 59 percent above the corresponding 11-months total for 

 19^2. 



Government releasing; commodities . Hoarding of foodstuffs resulting from 

 the fear of future scarcities of commodities is ^"probably at an end. The successes in 

 the European phase of the war have led to optimism regarding the duration of the war. 

 At the same time the government finds that it has accumulated excessive supplies of 

 some c-:-::nodities in light of present circumstances. Arrangements are being made, or 

 will be made, to relieve government holdings of many staples, including wool, textile 

 mineralc, and metale, as well as foods. Imports have also expanded as shipping space 

 has become available in the ships returning from transporting men and war materials 

 to alLiOst every section of the world. There was a great increase in our imports of 

 sugar in 19^3; cocoa imports exceeded k million bags as compared to 1.6 million bags 

 for 19^2; even so, the supply may be short until the new crop beccaaes available in 

 mid-summer. If shipping space permits, civilians are expected to receive 7^ million 

 poundr of tea in 19^^, or about I6 million pounds more than they received in 19^5, 

 according to the War Food Administration. In addition, the armed forces and war 

 services will receive more than Ik million pounds of tea this year. The release of 

 metals has made possible the manufacture for domestic purposes of a number of items 

 badly needed by civilians. A new item released during the current week frcxn any 

 restrictions on manufacture was razor blades and straight razors. 



The shifts to the manufacture of goods for civilian consumption that are 

 taking place before the war ends will make the transition easier after the war. 

 Manufacturers have been warned that the time is near for reconversion. It is hoped 

 that this reconversion can take place gradually and absorb laborers that will be 

 released by war industries and also absorb a fraction of the discharged service r^en 

 who will be returning to civil life in rather large numbers in 19kk. 



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