IMPORT SURGE in December, to a record $1.5 billion, cut U.S. trade surplus for 1959 to the lowest amount since World War II, $1.1 billion--even though December exports rose to a two-year high of $1.7 billion. U.S. wound up 1959 with commercial exports of $16.3 billion, imports of $15.2 billion.

$12 BILLION FOR ADS is expected to be spent in U.S. this year, following last year's record $11.09 billion. Ad gains in 1959: newspapers up 10%, TV 11%, magazines 13%.

BURLINGTON INDUSTRIES will merge with rugmaker, James Lees & Sons Co. (1959 sales: $84 million).

GERMANY'S ALFRIED KRUPP will never have to obey Allies' postwar order that he sell the coal mines and steel plants in his big empire, say top West German businessmen. Krupp has won his second one-year delay of sale deadline. If anyone bids for properties (worth more than $750 million), Krupp can legally claim that bid is too low, or (if it comes from a foreigner) that it is not in the interests of Germany.

NEW LENDING AGENCY will make it easier for underdeveloped lands to get loans. World Bank submits plan for new $1 billion fund, International Development Association, to its members this week. They are expected to approve IDA plan to accept payments on loans in soft currencies as well as hard so that nations can get financing on projects now turned down.

BLOW TO FEATHERBEDDING was delivered by New York State's Public Service Commission, which unanimously urged state legislature to repeal 47-year-old full-crew laws for railroads. It said that laws, which add extra members to train crews in New York, fail to improve safety but cost railroads about $4,400,000 a year, lead to "a waste of manpower and money."

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