JET TRANSPORT RACE is spreading fast among foreign airlines. Holland's K.L.M., first foreign line to sign up, has ordered eight Douglas DC-8s, worth $50 million (total Douglas orders so far: 61 planes v. 50 Boeing 707s), for delivery starting in March 1960. Scandinavian Airlines will soon order from six to ten jets, while Air France, Japan Air Lines and Swissair are all negotiating with Douglas or Boeing.

BUY-AMERICAN POLICY will be toughened up to double the price edge given some U.S. firms competing with foreign companies for Government contracts. Instead of the previous 6% differential, the Interior Department will award future contracts only to foreign firms that underbid U.S. companies in surplus labor areas by 12% or more. The Defense Department and General Services Administration, which do most of the business with overseas firms, will probably follow the new ground rules.

RADIO-TV welfare fund, first for the industry, will be set up nationally by the networks under a contract signed with the A.F.L.'s Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Program will be entirely employer-financed with contributions equaling 5% of the gross pay of all performers. It will cover everyone making over $1,000 annually with a pension plan (up to $7,500 a year) and such welfare benefits as "catastrophic" medical insurance up to a maximum of $5,000 a year.

COFFEE PRICES are going down for the first time since spring. General Foods, Beech-Nut and other big roasters have cut wholesale prices because of heavy imports from South America and good crop prospects for 1956.

TRUCK MERGER is in the works between White Motor and Diamond T, two of the oldest firms in the business. White Motor will buy Diamond T's assets for about $9,000,000 ($23 a share v. current market price of $21) for the 421,259 shares outstanding, combine research and engineering facilities.

COPPER PINCH will get worse in 1956. Defense needs are so high that the Commerce Department will order producers to set aside another 8,000,000 Ibs. of copper-base products ln first-quarter 1956 for military and AEC orders, bringing the three-month total to 116 million Ibs.

UNION GROWTH has slowed to the point where it is barely keeping pace with the increase in the U.S. labor force. After zooming from 3,500,000 to 14.5 million from 1935 to 1945, U.S. labor unions gained only 1,000,000 members in the three years from 1952 to the start of 1955, most of the increase coming in independent unions. Total current union strength: 18 million, or one out of every three non-farm workers.

ATOMIC POWER PLANT, Europe's first completely privately financed nuclear generator, will be built in Belgium by Westinghouse Electric. A syndicate of 20 Belgian firms has signed a $5,000,000 contract with Westinghouse for an 11,500-kw. plant to supply electricity for the Brussels World's Fair.

PORK GLUT is getting worse despite a Government buying program. Farmers are sending so many hogs to Midwest markets (170,000 head in a single day last week) that prices have slumped to $12.75 per 100 Ibs., down $1.25 in a week and the lowest level in 14 years.

COCA-COLA earnings are fizzing up despite competition from Pepsi-Cola and other soft drinks. Third-quarter sales were 13.4% better than last year, will help push Coke's full-year earnings to nearly $30 million (almost $7 per share), nudging 1950's $31.8 million. Next year should be even better: Coke's new large bottles (10 oz., 12 oz., 26 oz.) are catching on so fast that eleven company-owned plants report sales 13% to 77% better than last year.

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