FARM INCOMES are rising steadily. With farm assets at an alltime peak (TIME, Sept. 9), index of farmers' prices jumped 1% in August--the sixth straight monthly rise--to reach highest level in three years.

NEW LUXURY BUICK will be brought out next month in $5,000 class to compete with Cadillac, Lincoln and Chrysler Imperial. Dubbed the "Limited," car will measure 223 in. from bumper to bumper (8 in. longer than Roadmaster), will come in hardtop or convertible models with power windows, power steering, air-suspension ride and automatic transmission as standard equipment.

"NO-SHOW" PROBLEM is being whipped by U.S. airlines, which last year lost $10 million on people who made reservations but missed flights. Lines report substantial success with new rules that tickets must be picked up in advance and return reservations must be reconfirmed at least six hours before trip. Now lines will start fining no-shows $3 each.

AMERICAN MOTORS "cannot lose money in 1958 and stay in the automobile business," warned usually confident President George Romney. Riding in red since its birth by merger three years ago, company this year will also "show substantial losses." Romney is setting 1958 sales goal of 150,000 cars--about 50% more than American will sell in 1957.

PAY TV will get under way in Washington, B.C. area in next year if District's commissioners approve. Washington Broadcasting Co., operator of station WOL, plans to string coaxial cable along telephone lines, charge subscribers $8 to $10 a month for first-run movies, operas, Broadway plays, sports events. System is same as one tested in Bartlesville, Okla. (TIME, Sept. 16), and company will need 200,000 subscribers to make profit.

PANAMA OIL hunt is exciting wildcatters. Although country has no producing well, U.S. combine of Champlin Oil & Refining Co. (50%), Kerr-McGee Oil Industries, Inc. (25%) and Southland Royalty Co. (25%) has picked up 870,000-acre concession, plans to drill two wells early in 1958. Also in the search: United Fruit Co., which recently got 1,000,000-acre concession.

HUGE REAL-ESTATE DEAL will bring Boston syndicate into West Palm Beach, Fla. to put up $350 million new city with 10,000 housing units, two shopping centers, one of biggest industrial areas in South. Group includes Developer Martin Cerel, Lou Perini of Milwaukee Braves baseball club and Boston's Perini Corp. (heavy construction). They bought a 4,000-acre tract for $4,352,503, will start work within six months.

NEW BANKING GIANT to be formed by merger of three California banks will rank No. 7 in U.S., with assets of nearly $3 billion. If shareholders approve, as expected, Security-First National of Los Angeles (assets: more than $2.6 billion) will link with Security Trust & Savings of San Diego (assets: $152 million) and Citizens National Trust & Savings of Riverside ($202 million).

ELECTRONICS BUYING will be stepped up by Air Force, which this year is budgeting about $3.5 billion for it (close to 20% of Air Force spending v. 10% a few years ago). Pressure will be on manufacturers to turn out more reliable, easier-to-maintain equipment because Air Force complains that upkeep per year is twice the original cost, and some complex electronics systems need three hours' maintenance for every hour of flight.

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