European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 10, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday april 10, 1992 the stars and stripes 0 Pago 17money matters today a tip millions of Consumers could expect their monthly Cable television Bills to fall or at least quit rising so fast under legislation that cleared a major hurdle in the House on wednesday. The House Energy and Commerce telecommunications subcommittee approved on a 17-7 vote a Bill to re regulate the nations 11,000 Cable systems. A similar Bill was passed by the Senate 73-18, in january. Key lawmakers Are looking at getting a final package merging the two versions to president Bush for his signature or veto this fall. In addition to regulating the rates that Cable companies May charge the Bill would require them to Oner Cable Only programs to potential competitors such As satellite and microwave Cable  rates London up thursdays rates for the . Dollar to other currencies. Figures Are expressed in dollars to the British Pound other local currencies in dollars Gold was quoted at $338.75 an ounce Silver at $4.11. April 8 april 9 British Pound.1.7474 1.7599 German mark.1.6275 1.6340 French franc.5.5388 5.5400 dutch guilder.1.8294 1.8405 belgian franc.33.64 33.62 italian lira.1,233.00 1,234.35 Swiss tranc.1.5025 1.4985 greek drachma.190.59 191.40 turkish lira.6,260.60 6,303.80 saudi arabian riyal.3.7502 3.7500 Spanish peseta.103.28 103.65 portuguese escudo.139.52 140.37 Canadian dollar.1.1882 1.1908 austrian schilling.11.4320 11.5075 norwegian Krone.6.383 6.424 danish Krone. 6.304 6.344 these Are commercial rates and can be related Only to the use of foreign currency by . Forces for official business. The Only official rates concerns the Sale of German Marks and British pounds to . Personnel for personal use and these will be 1.59 Marks to a Dollar and $1.79 for a Pound through Friday based on thursdays noontime Price fixings. New York Exchange new York up York Stock Exchange Stock Tel Fonos do my at amp to company Glaxo holdings ism corp chemical Bank general motors Rwjr Nabisco hid Wal Mart stores Philip Morris adv Micro docs genl electric Pepsico inc get corp Citicorp waste mgt inc ou6 the 15 most Active stocks in new composite trading on wednesday. Sales last net cat 3.888.800 55 a Quot no 3.748.500 40 % 3.528.400 26 % 3.020.100 84 % 2.998.100 29 i 2,553,000 37 i 2.505.500 9 v4 2.480.400 51 i 2.368.500 75 i 2,363,900 17 i 2.151.800 72 % 2,123,200 34% 1.981.500 29 1.919.100 15 i 1.872.100 37 v4 up % off 1 i up i 2 i 1 i off i off i off i off i unch off 1 i up i on % up v4 ofiy4 american Exchange new York american Stock Stock pm group web Wang Laos inc b Chambers Dev a Alz corp Elan corp Pic us Bio science Amdahl corp Americus Csc fruit of loom Iva corp Ipi the ten most Active stocks in change composite trading wednesday. Sales 745.800 709,600 692.100 630.400 603.100 592.800 539.800 414.400 407,700 351.100 15% 4% 8% 40% 38% 12 i 15 i 4% 33 i 28% net chg. Up on i on i offy4 off 1 % unch Ort i on i Ort 0rtv4 Dow Jones new York up now Jones closing rings of avenges wednesday 30 industrials 20 transport 15 it Lues 65 stocks 322rs 1316.89 202 60 1140.28 lev 3141.77 1283.07 199.67 111318 3161.35 1301.57 200.74 1126.71 comm off 32.20 Art 10.65 Art 1.56 Art 10.43 March prices up slightly As recovery gains ground Washington a wholesale prices edged up a tiny 0.2 percent in March As a big drop in food costs offset the largest increase in Energy prices in five months the government reported on thursday. Tie gain in the labor departments producer Price Index was identical to a 0.2 percent february increase and left wholesale inflation so far this year running at an annual rate of just 0.7 percent. Meanwhile another report showed that the number of newly Laid off workers making trips to unemployment offices totalled 432,000 for the last week in March. The drop of 24,000 from the previous week was bigger than had been expected. In a third report the Commerce department said that businesses planned Only a modest 4.6 percent increase this year in spending for new plants and equipment. The spending projections if carried out would represent a rebound from last year when recession weary companies actually Cut spending by 0.6 percent but thursdays a 5.4 percent projected increase in capital investment made three months ago. Still economists said the various reports pointed to an Economy that is finally beginning to mount a sustained recovery following a lengthy recession while managing to keep inflation under control. Rices for the entire year will Rise by around Manv analysts believe that wholesale foia .5 percent up Only slightly from last years 2.1 percent Advance and that consumer prices will remain docile As Well. The slight 0.2 percent increase in wholesale prices in March reflected a 0.5 percent drop in food costs As the Price of vegetables retreated following a huge surge in february that was caused by floods in Texas and California that destroyed Winter vegetable crops. The drop in food prices was partially offset by a 1.2 percent Rise in Energy costs the biggest gain since an identical october Rise. The government is scheduled to report on the March consumer Price performance today and analysts were looking for a moderate increase similar to the gain in wholesale prices. For the year analysts said they believed consumer prices will Rise by Between 3 percent and 3.5 percent Little changed from last years 3.1 percent Advance. A we Are forecasting Good inflation news lasting probably until 1994,�?� said David Wyss an economist at Dri Mcgraw Hill an economic consulting firm in Lexington mass. South rated Low in economic Outlook Washington a new England is Well positioned for recovery while the South lacks the resources to take full advantage of an upturn according to a private group. The corporation for Enterprise development which rated the economies of the 50 states gave High Marks to such states As Connecticut new Jersey and Vermont even though they Are among those suffering the most now. Others getting All a a and bus in three categories rated were Delaware Maryland Minnesota and Utah. The three states with the worst grades were Louisiana Oklahoma and West Virginia. The difference Between the states on the Honor Roll and those with failing grades is the capacity to Foster Long term economic growth the report said. A creating jobs Isnit the answer to the creating Good jobs that improve Peoples living standards is the answer a the corporation for Enterprise development nations economic ills. Creating Good jobs that improve Peoples living standards is the answer a it said. Here is the groups evaluation a the Northeast reflects a an underlying strength despite a a worrisome Short term  a the Industrial Midwest Quot is the turnaround Region. Hammered by the last recession it has worked on its liabilities built upon its assets and created an Economy healthier  a the Plains states have a a split personality. Iowa Nebraska Ana Kansas have rallied since the farm  but a the Dakotas and Oklahoma arc less  a the South a is less prepared than other regions to take advantage of an  a the Mountain West is the a most uneven Region. Utah Colorado and Nevada Are a outstanding performers a but their neighbors lag. A the Pacific has a More. Potential for greatness than other states. But some states like Washington with its logging and aircraft industries rely too heavily on just one or two businesses. Talk getting tougher on Japan Trade Issue by Cox news service Washington a Calls Are mounting in Washington to impose sanctions aimed at stemming the widening .-Japan Trade Gap. White House opposition to such measures has prevented them in the past and continues to head them off for now. But a broadening base of politicians has begun to embrace a get Tough approach. A it is Japan that must change a rep. Vardiss Collins d-ill., declared wednesday at a hearing on House legislation that would limit the number of automobiles Japan May ship to the United states unless the yawning Trade imbalance improves by specific percentages each year. Such politicians As House Republican whip Newt Gingrich of Georgia and former democratic presidential candidate Paul Tsongas Are also joining the Call. A you done to have to be hostile to be Tough a said Gingrich. He said Washington should play hardball with Japan by demanding that Tokyo abandon Trade practices . Policymakers deem to be unfair or be prepared to suffer reduced Access to american markets. Amid such talk Japan a Auto Industry is invariably spotlighted because Trade in cars Light trucks and parts accounts for nearly 70 percent of the .-Japan Trade imbalance. Indeed it accounts for 45 percent of the country a entire global Trade deficit which was $66.2 billion last year. The Bill a chances for passage appear Remote. But elements of it seem Likely to resurface As part of a broader House Trade package the ways and Means committee begins drafting this month. But supporters of such a package concede that legislation alone wont solve the .-Japan Trade imbalance. Business $1.32 billion in contracts awarded for 5 destroyers from wire reports Beverly Hills Calif. The Navy said wednesday it had awarded $1.32 billion in contracts for five guided missile destroyers a three to Bath Iron works and two to Litton industries. The ships Are dubbed Arleigh Burke class Aegis guided missile destroyers. Bath Iron works will build its three ships at its shipyards in Bath Maine while Litton a will be built at its Ingalls shipbuilding division in Pascagoula miss. The awards a $749.9 million to Bath Iron works and $571.6 million to Litton a brings to 22 the number of Aegis destroyers under contract. Bath Iron works will build 12 of the ships and Litton will build the other 10. Caterpillar accuses Union Peoria Iii. A Caterpillar inc. Has struck Back at striking members of the United Auto workers Union filing unfair labor practice charges very similar to ones the Union filed against the heavy equipment maker. The company accused the Union of engaging in surveillance of and privately and publicly threatening members who have crossed picket lines. The Union earlier filed unfair labor charges against the company accusing it of conducting surveillance of workers and using threats and intimidation. The dispute has entered on the unions demand for a contract patterned after the one it negotiated with Deere amp co. Neither Side has clearly explained what is contained in the Deere pact they like or find objectionable depending on their Point of View