THE ECONOMY.

The article discusses the state of the U.S. economy as of January 1, 1955. Merchants predicted that Christmas sales would rise by 5% to 10% based on day after Thanksgiving 1954 sales. Economists explained that consumers were spending more because of an anticipation of a rise in business in 1955, rising payrolls and drop in unemployment. Signs of an upward swing in the economy included the rise in production from steel mills, rise in lumber production, and increase in construction spending.