Facts & Figures

Hunky. Over a magnum of champagne, M-G-Magnate Louis B. Mayer signed up Dore Schary, thus became Hollywood's first to profit from Howard Hughes's shake-up at RKO (TIME, July 19). As executive producer and Mayer's No. 1 man, Schary will direct production of all M-G-M pictures, draw a salary of about $5,000 a week. Punned an M-G-Mster: "Now everything will be hunky Dore."

Flabby. Jitters over steel's wage-price hikes, the special congressional session (see NATIONAL AFFAIRS) and the Berlin crisis (see INTERNATIONAL) sent stocks skidding on New York's Big Board. In five days the Dow-Jones industrial average dropped 5.72 points to 185.90, just above the June low. When the market opened this week, it plunged again in the worst break in 20 months. The Dow-Jones industrial average dropped 4.70 points to 181.20.

Steady Beat. The American Bankers Association felt the nation's credit pulse, found the beat normal. Although total consumer credit stood at a record $14,000,000,000, "it is far below the prewar peak in terms of national income," said the bankers. Best news: installment credit on automobiles, refrigerators, etc. still lagged $600,000,000 behind the 1941 peak ($3,744,000,000).

Drumbeater. Western Union joined the Association of National Advertisers in a new service to advertisers. By calling Operator 25 in any Western-Union office, any buyer can get the names of dealers for nationally advertised products. Cost of the service to the advertiser: $200 a month.

The Peak. Despite the price cuts early this year (later restored), General Electric Co. netted a record $54,602,339 on sales of $772,761,792 in the first six months, highest in its history.

Right Number. American Telephone & Telegraph Co. wound up the second quarter with net earnings of $52,190,000. Thus, for the first time since 1947, it earned a full installment--and then some ($2.32) --on its regular $9 dividend.

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