Off to a Good Start WASHINGTON (UPI) - the American Economy La Off to a Belter Moderation from Two Previous Increase Later On
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t ’'{■ r - ’ j - .If off to a good start WASHINGTON (UPI) - The American economy la off to a belter moderation from two previous increase later on. start in 1981 than many economists months” in wholesale prices. At the White House, the ad expected, the government says, but Donald Ratajzak, director of the ministration released figures from the full impact of fuel price hikes arid project, said the direction of its audit of the economy the day oil price decontrol is Just beginning wholesale prices was sUll strongly up Reagan look office. to be felt. in January, but perhaps slightly The Labor Department today below the annual rate of about 7.4 It listed “ the most persistent high planned to release the January percent indicated during December. inflation in this century,” a growth of Producer Price Index, a gauge of Ratajazk said wholesale prices federal spending to 23 percent of the wholesale activity. The department would begin reflecting the |3-a-barrel nation s output and record interest said “ processing problems” pushed increase by the Organization of rates as major damaging influences. back the usual 9 a.m. EST release Serving The Greater Manchester Area For 100 Years Petroleum Exporting Countries, as It also cited a drop in average time by six hours. well as higher prices caused by vw kly take-home pay, measured in tightening supply lines. Meantime, analysts who studied 1972 dollars, from 1122 in 1972 to |105 And, he said, the country should Commerce Department figures parently underestimating Christmas economic strength,” she said. in 1 ^ , and an unemployment rate released Thursday on December The closely watched stock-to-sales brace Itself for fuel price increases season demand. Overall; the decline “ If sales continue level, and they nearly double that of 1968. business inventories were en- ratio showed if the entire economy of 9 to 10 percent a month due to amounted to about 0.2 percent from actually seemed to increase, sooner cduraged about the possible result: were to be considered one store, President Reagan’s decision to Press secretary Jim Brady said November, "a very nice sign,” said or late): there have to be some orders enough goods were on hand at the end decontrol ojl prices. ^ the president still hopes to have the improved industrial production and a Jill Thompson, an analyst for the at the factory,” said Adrian Cooper leveling-off of price increases at the of December to last 1.38 months, budget balanced by 1988; Massachusetts economic consulting of the Commerce Department. “ Fac Heavier-than-expected hog wholesale level. equal to the 1980 low recorded in slaughtering has brightened firm Data Resources Inc. tories have to start humming a little January. But Brady acknowledged Reagan Retailers lowered their inventories The "decumulation” of inventories prospects for keeping meat prices faster. This means more jobs and in A Georgia State University has modified some of the proposed by $1.7 billion in December, ap- is "a stronger-than-expected sign of from rising in 1981, but Georgia com e.” forecasting project sees “slight budget cuts he will reveal Wednesday State’s forecast still includes a hefty in a speech to Congress. Big giver charges deception WASHINGTON (UPI) — Former EnersvEnergy seminate miainfnt>mn41nnmisinformation. exclusively to pay fuel bills of the poor. The Department official Paul Bloom charged ‘ "rhe funds were never in a TVeasury ac today the agency was “ grossly deceptive” in charities even had to agree to absorb overhead count, never appropriated by Congress — it costs, he said. saying that he gave |4 million in government was not taxpayer monies,” he said. “ They Agency officials said the Reagan ad funds to four leading charities. were put at my disposal ... under a consent Bloom parceled out the money — paid by order.” ^ ministration learned of Bloom’s action last Monday. Telegrams immediately were sent to Standard Oil of Indiana (Amoco) in connection Bloom maintained giving the money to the the beneficiaries, asking them not to spend the with alleged price-gouging- as one of his final charity groups was a perfectly legal move to acts and special counsel for the agency in the money until legality of the move could be refund overcharges on fuel. “ Not one of these reviewed. final hours of the Carter administration. institutions will get one cent of the money ” he TTie Energy Department said TTiursday said. The Energy Department said the money was accrued interest on T1 million of a $100 B l o b ’s action was unauthorized, against Bloom, now in private law practice, dis million overcharge settlement reached with policy and extremely disturbing, and a pensed the $4 million Jan. 19, the day before Amoco in February 1980, one of many such spokesman implied the funds were “ taxpayer Ronald Reagan became president, to the money.” National Conference of Catholic Charities, the deals reached with major oil companies ac “ It is grossly deceptive to call these funds National Council of Churches, the Council of cused of $10 billion in petroleum pricing violations since 1973. public money,” Bloom said in a telephone call Jewish Federations and the Salvation Army. But Bloom said the funds were left over to United Press International today, ‘"rhey He said the money was distributed after Paul Bloom (Energy officials) have no right to dis from a separate escrow account — the other receiving guarantees it would be used $29 million of the $100 million settlement. Lawyer will limit investigations EAST HARTFORD — Corporation that he received eifts anH that he received gifts and loansin a n o ...in wastOQO irA«»trvery far ranging and time-consuming.___ __________t 1 . _ (Counsel Stephen C. Barron ITiur^ay said would only want to discourage persons exchange for job promotions. Bailey had no specific criticism for he has taken a cue from the Hartford from reporting unsubstantiated rumors Bailey bad investigated Drumm at the Dagon but he did say “ rumors, especially Ckninty state’s attorney’s office in setting a that can hurt public officials. request of Mayor George A. Dagon. those initiated or circulated by a few dis policy that “ unwarranted and unfounded” Barron pointed to the request of a Dagon had beard of the allegations from gruntled employees or former employees, Roberts Street resident to investigate the allegations will not be investigated by his reporters from WFSB-TV who told Dagon should not be dignified by such in office. role of Town Planner John Shemo in the in November they were investigating vestigations or amplified by publicity.” Barron is following a policy stated this development and passage of the town’s reports that Drumm had granted As part of the investiga^on, Bailey said week by state’s attorney John M. Bailey plan of development. He said he was provisional promotions in return for he interviewed every member of the that said in the future, “ We .will in favors. i pleased the council followed his advice not police department, former membero of to tovoBtigate Shemo. vestigate only specific allegations by iden Dagon then called for the investigation the department, members of the media Susan B. Kniep, a frequent critic of the tifiable persons claiming to have firsthand by Bailey’s office because he felt people and other interested parties, including town’s zoning process, had requested an knowledge of criminal activity.” wouldn’t be convinced by an internal in Drumm. investigation of Shemo’s role in revising a He said Bailey’s policy is “ terrific” and vestigation of Drumm’s actions. He said every person involved was parcel of property near her home where a his office also won’t recommend any in Barron said Thursday Bailey’s offered the opportunity in private to $7 million industrial development has vestigations unless there’s clear basis for guidelines will become the standard for provide evidence of illegality yet no one undertaking them. been proposed. investigations taken on by his office. presented,such evidence. Bailey announced his new policy this Bailey said Dagon’s letter requesting Barron and other town officials said the Bailey said his office would listen to many letters from Mrs. Kniep only raised week following his announcement that the information contained no specific anyone who had evidence of wrongdoing, questions about the propriety of Shemo’s Blast Hartford Police Chief Garence A. allegafiqns and no names of complainants but would not rush into a full-scale in actions, but never actually made substan Drumm had been cleared of allegations which resulted in an investigation that vestigation. Barron agreed and said he tial charges that could be followed. Louisville wakes to osions LOUISVILLE, Ky. (UPI) — A pre-dawn series of un derground explosions possibly caused by an unknown sub stance dumped into city sewers knocked some people out of bed today, ripped gaping holes in the street and tossed manhole covers in the air. At least four people were injured, none seriously. AU the injuries involved drivers or passengers in cars damaged in accidents as the explosions sent the sewer covers and debris flying. Fire CTiief Larry M. Bonnafon said the explosions may have been caused by something dumped into city sewer lines. “ We feel there is a possibility of some foreign material entering the system,” said Bonnafon, who added that city sewage engineers were checking a two-mile stretch of The arrow is going up, but not fast enough sewer lines in the city’s historic Old Louisville area, a to ease the concerns of Manchester officials neighborhood of restored homes. and water customers who continue the ef A series of minor explosions occurred three hours after fort to conserve water. When this arrow was the original blasts up to 10 blocks from the scene.