The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-01-18 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE

MANCIIESTER.—Our market has been characterised during
the week by inactivity and unusual flatness. Transactions
have been very limited ; the extent of business being consider-
ably under that of last week. Prices, too, show a downward
tendency. Many. manufacturers, who have of late increased
their production in the prospect of a better demand springing
up at the beginning of the year, are likely again to resort to
curtailed hours of labour, should the market continue in its
present depressed condition. A general reduction of wages is
also likely to prevail. Several large establishments have already
made and carried propositions to this effect. Long cloths. T
cloths, low printers, and similar descriptions of goods main-
tain their prices, but the demand for them has been decidedly
quieter this week. Several houses which have hitherto been
making wide cloths ale now beginning to turn their atteption
to the manufacture of cloths of the descriptions alluded to
above. Yarns continue in a very unsatisfactory state. With
the exception of some counts suitable for the Mediterranean
trade, and for which some spinners are pretty well engaged,
yarns are exceedingly depressed; indeed, almost unsaleable.
LEEDS.—Some improvement, though slight, has begun to be
manifest in the woollen trade of this town and neighbourhood.
There is a much better feeling throughout the trade than has
been the case of late; and prices rule steady. There is a little
more doing by the shipping houses ; but the houses engaged in
the home trade are dull, as usual, at this period of the year.
A fair quantity of goods were purchased in the public markets
on Saturday, but not quite so much on Tuesday.
HALIFAX.—Pieces: We have had more business doing at
this market than at the last, but prices are very low, and the
manufacturers cannot replace the goods at the prices offered.
For Yarns there is only very limited demand and not much
doing. Wool continues much the same. Sales are limited.
HUDDERSFIELD.—There has been more animation in our
market this week and a better feeling manifested, although not
much business done. Prices are low, and stocks generally

BRADFORD.—WOOI : The business doing does not show any
improvement for several weeks past ; the recent failures having
tended rather to check the hope that the worst was over. How.
ever, whatever may be the condition of the spinners, there is
no disposition in the country, either with growers or dealers, to
meet the prices current here. The following are the quotations
for Lincolnshire Wools. Super Hogs, ss. per pack ; Mid-
dle Hogs, 555. Low Hogs, £lO 155.; Super Wethers,
en 15s. ; Middle Wethers, J5lO 155. ; Low Wethers,
Yarns : This branch of our trade continues as it has been for
some months past, without any improvement. The demand by
the shippers is lessened, owing to the closing of the Elbe by
frost, and the consumption for the home-trade manufacture is
not materially changed.—Pieces: Our market on Thursday was
hardly so animated as last week, but there was a fair
uusiness done. The accumulation of stock is now getting out
of fashion, as the manufacturers appear to have learned by
experience that the only safeguard to prices is, to lessen the
production as the demand falls off, which course is now gencli
rally adopted.

ROCHDALE FLANNEL MAE KET.—We have more buyers in
the market this week than we have had for the last three months
pest. There has been a good demand for fine and middle qua-
lities of Flannels, and a fair amount of business has been done
in all sorts of goods, at prices similar to those of last week.
There has been rather more business done in Wool ' • prices
firm. Monday was the first or new market, which is kept up
by operatives' attending Rochdale for ten miles round. The
town was very throng, but money appears scarce. There is
not a doubt but we snail shortly have a brisk trade both in
wool and cotton in this district.

NotlNOHAm.—There is at length certainly a slight stir in
several branches of the hosiery manufacture, which, it is hoped,
will increase as the spring approaches. The wrought cotton
hose branch was the first to feel the amendment, and this has
been succeeded by an improvement in some of the shops mak-
ing cut-up stockings, .!rawers, and shirts—this latter manufac-
ture being somewhat on the increase. The silk glove branch,
after suffering so intensely for so long a period, has suddenly
amended with some of the principal houses, and others are
preparing to set on their frames to a similar extent. The cotton
bobbin net trade, though improved, is still extremely dull.