THRIFTY AMERICANS are putting more into long-term savings than ever before. Institute of Life Insurance says that savings accounts, insurance policies and U.S. savings-bond holdings of average American household hit $5,100 at midyear v. $5,000 in 1956 and $4,000 in 1950. In 1957's first half, U.S. total swelled by nearly $9 billion to total of $253 billion.

DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND, new U.S. program to lend $300 million in fiscal 1958 to spur private enterprise abroad (TIME, Sept. 30), will be bossed by Dempster Mclntosh, 61, now U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela. A Republican and foreign-trade expert, he was president of Philco International Corp. from 1943 to 1953.

SAIL NOW, PAY LATER will be transatlantic ship companies' new bait for tourists. Following the airlines' passenger-luring lead, Moore-McCormack Lines got Maritime Commission's approval to sell tickets at 10% down, the balance in 20 months, and other lines are also expected to start installment plan.

BASIC-METALS SLUMP will cause American Metal Co., Ltd., one of the biggest international producers of lead, zinc, silver and copper, to merge with fast-growing Climax Molybdenum Co. American will swap $141.3 million worth of stock for Climax, merge it into new company called American Metal Climax, Inc. American Metal's nine-month earnings slipped to $8,579,062 from last year's $14,869,617, but Climax's net for same period rose to $11,443,953 from $10,984,817.

ECONOMIC BOYCOTTS by unions representing only a minority of a company's workers are illegal, says NLRB. Board found such campaigns constitute the same kind of economic pressure as picketing by minority unions to force recognition, which NLRB also ruled unfair. Rulings are expected to upset nationwide boycott of O'Sullivan Rubber Corp. by United Rubber Workers, which recently lost right to represent O'Sullivan employees.

CHARLES E. WILSON is buying back into General Motors for first time since he became Defense Secretary in 1953 and was forced to sell his 39,470 shares for $2,500,000. A recently elected G.M. director, Wilson bought 500 shares worth $19,062.

SURPLUS-DISPOSAL program, whereby U.S. sells excess farm goods for foreign currencies, will be extended one year beyond current cutoff date of next June 30. Administration expects congressional approval to ship goods worth at least $1 billion. Money will be used in foreign aid or to pay for running U.S. agencies abroad.

BRITANNIA CRASH, which killed all 15 of test crew aboard prototype of medium-range model, darkens future of Britain's big commercial turboprop. Cause of disaster is still a mystery, and drawn-out investigation on top of previous production delays (TIME, Sept. 23) is bound to discourage buyers.

CAPITAL AIRLINES, whose British-made Viscounts pioneered turboprop service in the U.S., is in such deep trouble that it has asked CAB to restore subsidy and shuck off some money-losing short runs. Capital, basically a line of short routes with high operating costs, expects to lose $2.5 million this year, $7.5 million next year. CAB is likely to refuse subsidy plea, but may let line drop some routes.

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