HIGHER RAIL FARES proposed by Eastern railroads would encourage first-class passengers to ride coaches or competing airlines, thus help the railroads cut down money-losing first-class service (TIME, Aug. 13). The 45% boost in first-class fares sought by six railroads (including New York Central and Pennsylvania) would add $16.30 to New York-Chicago ticket, raise first-class fare to $52.53 v. $45.10 by air.

NEW FORD CAR, to go into production next year, will sell in the $2,600-$3,700 range, the only price bracket in which Ford does not now compete with General Motors (Buick, Oldsmobile) and Chrysler (De Soto). Ford has budgeted $250 million to bring the six-model line into production, will spend up to $150 million more to build a 1,400-dealer sales and service force, may call the car the "Edsel."

FIRST ATOMIC FREIGHTER will probably be launched by the U.S. by 1959. Maritime Administration has not yet decided whether to power the $40 million experimental ship with an obsolescent, Nautilus-type reactor or design a more advanced atomic plant suitable for merchantmen.

PAY-LATER MEALS are a big new field for credit. The Diners' Club reports that restaurant and hotel checks charged by its 300,000 members (up one-third since August 1955) have increased 71% from the $7,833,559 that went on their credit cards in the corresponding three-month period last year.

CHARGE ACCOUNTS AT SEA are being tried aboard Moore-McCormack Lines luxury ships Argentina and Brazil. First-class passengers may charge up to $2,000 in shipboard tips, services and purchases (including bar tabs), pay later.

STEEL SHORTAGE, beginning to pinch just now, will continue through year's end, the worst since post-strike 1952. Lacking plates and structural shapes, some railroad car and agricultural equipment builders are resorting to production cutbacks, layoffs. Steel strike cost 11 million tons of steel, plus extensive damage to U.S. mills.

SEARS, ROEBUCK will launch its first big national advertising campaign next month, spend an estimated $1,000,000 for space in eight magazines (LIFE, Saturday Evening Post) to boost back-to-school clothing sales.

SMALL PLANE BOOM pushed U.S. exports of light (up to 6,000 lbs.) civil aircraft 25% over last year's level in first half of 1956. Planemakers expect to sell nearly 900 light planes abroad for a total of $10.5 million in 1956.

HIGHER BEER PRICES for consumer will follow increases at wholesale level. New York breweries hiked prices 18-c- a case. Schlitz, largest U.S. producer, and other Milwaukee breweries will soon follow suit.

U.S. WINE SALES are expected to increase 10% in 1956, reach an alltime peak of $660 million (v. $260 million in 1940), though the industry reports that only one out of three Americans ever takes a sip of wine.

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