European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 17, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 14 the stars and stripes Money matters monday october 17/1994 today a rates following Are fixed rates at which Community banking and credit Union facilities will sell for eign currencies to . Personnel for personal use British Pound 1.63 dutch Guilder .1.66 German Mark 1.49 note the rates above apply within Tho Host country. Figures Are expressed in dollars to the British Pound other currencies to the Dollar following Are Interbank rates that fluctuate and should be regarded As the approximate value of the . Dollar to foreign currencies a a a. A a a austrian Schilling 10.726 Bahrain Dinar 0.37701 Balaian franc British Pound 1.5905 Canadian Dollar. 1.3508 danish Krone 5.975 dutch Guilder 1.7076 French franc 5.2195 German Mark 1.5239 greek drachma  them 235.08 italian lira 1,552.32 Kuwait Dinar 0.2968 norwegian Krone 6.644 portuguese escudo 156.04 saudi rial 3.751 Spanish peseta. 126.63 Wlee franc 1.2685 turkish lira. 34,920.00 note figures Are expressed in dollars to the bullish Pound other currencies to the Dollar Gold quote $387.10 an ounce. Silver quote $5,38 an ounce. Sources merchants National Bank amp Trust co. And the associated press Clinton to Host Trade conference Washington a president Clinton is following his summer visit to Central Europe by helping to organize a Central and Eastern european Trade in vestment conference in Cleveland on Jan 12-13.business leaders and government representatives from the United states Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia the czech Republic Estonia Macedonia Hungary Latvia Lithuania Poland Romania Slovakia and Slovenia will be invited said an announcement from the White House. Clinton who will participate in the conference first proposed the meeting when he met with Central european leaders in the czech Republic Latvia and Poland earlier this year. A president Clinton witnessed firsthand the impressive Progress made so far in political and economic reforms in this dynamic Region a press Secretary Dee dec Myers said in a statement. A the president believes that through increased Trade and investment the gains of 1989 can be made More secure and the benefits of economic dynamism can be spread More widely to the Peoples of that  the conference is designed to reduce obstacles to private investment and Trade a Remote direct contacts with potential . Exporters and investors and identify the types of businesses where increased commercial activity is most Likely. Social Security benefits to Rise 2. Next year Washington a americans 45 million recipients of social Security arid supplemental Security income will get a 2.8 percent increase in benefits next year to keep up with inflation. A a that will mean an average $19 increase in monthly checks. A major organization representing the elderly complained that younger americans with disabilities and Many older persons still will lose ground to rising health care costs. The social Security administration announced last week that the average Benefit for retired persons would Rise from $679 to $698, effective Jan. 3. Maximum ssi payments a which go to poor people who Are aged Blind or disabled a will climb from $446 to $458 for individuals. And from $669 to $687 for couples effective dec. 30 a. The annual Cost of living adjustments which began in 1975, Are designed to keep inflation from eroding the value of benefits. A this latest increase ensures that social Security will continue to provide inflation adjusted economic Security to millions of senior citizens who depend on it in their retirement years a said social Security commissioner Shirley Chater. But because it reflects the Overall increase in the inflation rate the 1995 increase will be the third smallest in 20 years. For the last four years prices have been rising at the lowest rates in three decades. A a a a the labor department reported Friday that the 0.2 percent increase in  september consumer Price Index meant prices were rising at a 2.8 percent annual rate for the 12 months ended sept. 30. The social Security and ssi adjustments Are calculated each fall from the Chi increase Over the previous four quarters. The american association of retired persons acknowledged the adjustment permit Many beneficiaries to keep up with inflation and remain financially secure. A a a a a a. A a a. A without this Small annual adjustment. Americans of All Ages who rely on their social Security income would face economic hardship a contended Horace b. Deets the associations executive director. A a a a a a a a. A unfortunately this cola will not be As much help for younger americans with disabilities nor for Many older americans because this increase will not cover rising health care costs a he added. A health care costs for these populations routinely outstrip the cola with the Price of Many retail prescription drugs twice the cola and Overall health care costs More than triple the  the social Security administration gave these examples of How the 2.8 percent increase will affect average monthly payments aged couple both getting benefits up $32 to $1,178. A widowed Mother and two children up $37,to $1,365. A aged widow or widower living alone up $18 to $656. A disabled worker spouse and children up $30 to $1,118. A All disabled Wrork Kors up $18 to $661, men h h p t a a it i i k a .  co Ltd 0027 what a for Dinar a newly printed bosnian dinars Are shown Friday in Sarajevo out War torn Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 500-Dinar Bill is the Money replaces several different currencies in use through Worth about $3. A Wolfeboro . A that bottle of Mountain Dew that cd old you off in the summer May keep you warm six months later. Wickers sportswear inc. Is working to Lessen both Winters cold and americans Landfill use by making Thermal underwear and other products from recycled plastic. Wickers is among a growing number of . Companies turning recycled plastic into underwear to shirts backpacks and other products. Navy Blue Anu Mountain Dew Green arc the Only colors available for  thermals a Green because of the bottles color and Blue because that is the Only environmentally Safe Dye the company has found said Quality control Man Ager Carol Metivier. In november the mail order company lands end will begin Selling 100 percent recycled underwear made by Wickers. Quot Wickers president and owner Anthony Mazzenga Hopes to have the underwear in specially shops by August and september next year. Tops and Bottoms for men and women will sell for $22 each the same As comparable Thermal Underw ear made of no recycled material. The Commack  company makes  thermals at a Wolfeboro factory where most of  75 employees work. It expects to sell about $400,000 Worth of thermals this year. Overall sales at Wickers have nearly doubled since 199 and sales this year Are projected at $20 million Mazzeng said. He declined to disclose profit figures for the privately held company. The fabric Wickers uses for  thermals comes from the fiber fort Rel eco spun made by Wellman  plastic recycler and polyester producer. The garments Are a warm As Thermal underwear made from Virgin Materia Mazzenga said. Wellman has been making  recycled product out c used soda bottles since 1979, but it Wasny to until two year ago that it produced a fiber soft enough for clothing Sai spokeswoman Judith Angan. A a