Basically the screen can be read as follows.
The top row (1.) shows all resources at the start of the turn. These stockpiles can be increased or decreased through their use for structure upkeep and production (2) or by exporting to other nations (3). Furthermore any of these resources used in conversion to other products (or used in other gameplay) is shown in (4). The overall expected change in the stock-levels for each resource is shown in (5).
Perhaps row 4, together with comparing rows 1 with row 5. is the most important rows for seeing if you need to begin importing additional resources from abroad because you are not generating enough of these. Or if you can begin to export any surplus of resources in order to generate income to fund other elements of your nation such as the military, infrastructure or colonial actions.
There are five actions associated with this screen. Each can help maintain some aspect of the economy if and when required. These are:
A. Turn on/off all structures – to reset industry if it is failing, so you can start to manage it again piece by piece.
B. Convert food-stuffs in Preserved Food. Which can be good if the price of this commodity exceeds those of other food groups.
C. Convert gold & gems into state funds, if your capital is a little low and you need the money urgent.
D. Convert supplies from stock-piles to supply on the map. When your military machine is large and war is perhaps in progress.
E. As D, but for munitions.
My initial GOALS in terms of the economy are to:
i. I switch off autoconversion of supplies and munitions to the map.
By pressing buttons D & E.
ii. Covert all surplus raw foodstuffs into Preserved Food products.
To that end I click button B. Immediately there is a change in row 4, as the number of resources for Food Groups increasely negatively (and consequently the excess that would have increased the stockpiles or would exported at the end of turn are reduced). As shown in row 5. Except for the column where Preserved Food is this is raised from 5 to 13 as they are to be exported (row 4).
iii) Turn off any structures that are not in profit.
By clicking on F11 and turning off the strucutres not making a postive margin (see above screen shot). Then moving the switch to off for all buildings in the red.
iv) Get the imports/exports levelled so my stockpiles are not going towards zero.
Once the above three things are done, click on the Industry and Commerce Ministry Screen F4 and check the difference between rows 1 & 5 for each resource and product. We want to get as many of these items levelling off in terms of stockpiles (rows 1 and 5 should be the save value).
Where we can and for a few important items we want to increase the stockpiles (row 5) by +1 or +2.
Depending on the situation we may want to reduce or increase stockpiles. When an item for instance is exporting for a lot of money, we want to export as many numbers as possible. (esp. if when we produced or purchased them the cost was less – shame PoN doesnt keep track of this).
When we are a peace for instance, but plan on going to war, we may want to increase stockpiles in munitions and supplies. Or increase luxury goods to keep our pop content/satisfied.
Though most importantly we will want to import any items we require for our structures but cannot generate within out territory.
v. Sell off any excess resources (and some products) in order to maximize income for private capital and state funds.
These are resources with a much larger value in row 5 than in row 1.
In order to effect imports and exports we must double-left-click on the resource icon on the map when the trade Economic Screen is in play. Depending on the trade area of the region clicked on, the brings up the TRADE SCREEN for the relevant trade area.
When clicking on a trade area where one of your regions is located, you will be able to sell (or EXPORT) any commodities you do not need. While any regions in that trade area that do not belong to you, can have any commodities purchased they wish to sell. See the screen below to see the MARITIME TRADE SCREEN for Scandinavia.