The Nome Nugget

Two Top Officials Say Economy Trend Is Rising

WASHINGTON (AP) - Two top officials of the Kennedy Administration told the nation's Newspaper Editors Saturday the economy may be snapping out of the recession.

But they cautioned that it is too early to say the economy is entirely out of the woods.

These estimates came from Secretary of Commerce Luther H. Hodges and Secretary of Labor Arthur J. Goldberg in addresses prepared for the annual meeting of the American Society of Newspaper Editors.

The two cabinet officers stabbed warning fingers at unemployment. They asked the editors to support President Kennedy's long-range economic program aimed at cutting jobless rolls - now about 6.9 of the labor force - to a level consistent with growth and prosperity.

Hodges cited March gains in retail sales, factory production and workers' income but told the editors:

"Although these signs are promising, there is no guarantee that the recovery will be rapid or adequate."

"The administration . . . seeks to promote a favorable climate for business opportunity and advancement, but Congress has not yet acted on much of the President's anti-recession program."

"We cannot afford to wait-and-see attitude when opportunities for employment and progress may hang in the balance."

Goldberg also repeated signs of an improving economy - an increased work week, a halt to production decline, a drop in the number of workers drawing unemployment benefits, among others - but he cautioned:

"Let me say, however, that while these indications are welcome, it is too early to say that we are entirely out of the woods."

"And certainly no one can argue that we are near that rate of economic growth we so badly need."