LOWEST-PRICED U.S. CAR of standard size will be Studebaker-Packard's new "Scotsman," which will go on sale this fall. Prices, including heater, defroster, excise taxes, delivery: $1,776 for two-door sedan, $1,995 for two-door station wagon.

FIRE INSURANCE RATES will go up because underwriters took a 3.4% loss on record $989 million fire damage last year. National Board of Fire Underwriters says 1957 fire loss will probably top $1 billion for first time.

TURNPIKE BOOM is worrying Massachusetts. New 123-mile Massachusetts Turnpike got so much traffic on first Sunday that cars piled up for five miles at toll stations and exits.

U S. HIGHWAY PROGRAM will probably be expanded by Congress this session to meet states' requests for 13,500 additional miles of road financed 90% by Federal Government. Senate subcommittee voted to boost planned 41,000-mile highway net to 48,000 miles add $15.4 billion to cost, delay completion from 1972 to 1979.

LEVER BROS, will market its first low-suds powdered detergent for automatic washers by taking over Monsanto's ALL. Monsanto will continue making ALL for Lever, but lacks sales force to stay afloat in detergent race. ALL was major part of Monsanto s consumer-products business, which slid 9% last year.

SLUMPING FRENCH FRANC is selling at 415 to $1 (v. official rate of 350) on Manhattan's free market. Tourists can take all the francs they want into France.

WORLD'S OIL USE will more than double by 1965, hit 32 million bbl. a day v. 15 million bbl. now, predicts Standard Oil Co. (NJ.) President M. J. Rathbone.

U.S. AIR ROUTES will be granted to more foreign airlines. State Department has tentatively decided to recommend that CAB permit Belgium s Sabena to fly beyond New York to San Francisco.

GERMANY'S ALFRIED KRUPP, moving into Middle East, is expected to help finance $125 million, ten-year Turkish industrial buildup on 50-50 basis with Turkish government. Krupp has drafted deal with government to 1) boost output of Krupp-built iron works at Karabuk from 400,000 tons to 750,000 tons a year; 2) supply some building equipment, material for $80 million Turkish rail-highway improvement plan; 3) build plants in which Turkey will make ammunition for new West German army.

IMPORT QUOTAS are being put on woolens and worsteds by President Eisenhower, will help struggling U S. textile industry somewhat but hurt British exporters. Imports above 14 million Ibs. a year will be taxed at 30-c- to 37 1/2-c- a Ib. plus 45% ad valorem, almost double the usual tariff. Britain alone sends about 10 million Ibs. a year worth $35 million.

ATOM ENERGY INVESTMENT by private U.S. industry will top $500 million this year, says AEChairman Lewis L. Strauss. Companies are spending $270 million to build power reactors and $33 million for parts, $200 million for uranium mining, $25 million for research.

PROMOTER BENJACK CAGE, boss and founder of multimillion dollar ICT Insurance Co. that crashed and caused heavy losses to policyholders (TIME Feb. 18) was indicted for embezzling $500,000 from ICT. Dallas grand jury charged that Cage, who fled to Brazil, used funds to buy stock, which he later transferred to his own management company.

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