
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 27, 1992                   TAG: 9203270211
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FACTORY HEADS EXPECT GROWTH

Three-fourths of Virginia manufacturers surveyed in early February expect business activity to increase both regionally and nationally in the next six months, The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond said. Only one in 10 saw decreased activity ahead.

The manufacturers expect growth in most company indicators in the next six months, the bank said. Expectations for shipments, inventories of finished goods, prices and exports changed little from December to February, the manufacturers said.

Almost one-third of the factory executives said lower interest rates have increased their profit margins and 35 percent said lower rates helped boost demand for products. - Staff report

by CNB