The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-02-22
REVIEW OF TRADE.

X. g. Dun s. Co.'s Report of the Bust
ness or the Past Week
New York, February 17.-R. G.. Dun &
Co, in their weekly review of trade, say
sit can not be said that business has
changed for better or worse during the
past week. Causes of recent dizziness and
of deprets sion in markets become more
clearly visible, severe weather, prolonged
strikes, and reaction from the last years
overbopefulness being prominent. The
effects of speculation based on hopes of
foreign wsrs are made plain by preliminary
sccounts of January exports, showing
loss OF So 400, 600 in breadstuffs. 81 500 600
IN cotton, 81 500 600 in provisions and
$500, coo in oil, compared With
January. 1887. But improvement lie
items ard partial returns for February
show q better movement. The markets con-
tinue unusually stagnant, and prices vary
but little on the whole, The average price
of stocks hss not changed half of one per
cent since the year opened. The general
average Of commodities is less than an
eighth of one per cent. lower than Janu-
airy or higher than February l, the actual
advance OF the season in some products
being balanced by lower prices in some of
the commercial staples. The shrinkage in
exports forces slow reaction in wheat, TO-
000, 600 bushels less having gone out in
seven months this year than last year; at
this date about Sc, 900 600 bushels remain
for export, in excess of supplies for seed
and food, whereas last years exports after
this date were $4,000 600 bushels. The
general reduction in elevator rates is ex-
pected to help trading and to benefit pro-
ducels.
"Pork products have neither advanced
nor yielded, though hogs are lower; oil
has declined &c, and sugar from 156Lc.
The operations of trusts turns some 10 favor
lower duties. The recent increase in con-
fdence in tie a has been lost, and coffee OPP
tions are pressed for sale. Butter Is frmer
for good grades, with no change in cheese.
1.-THE dry goods market shows great
strength in cottons, though prices of many
qualities are already high enough for one
cent further advance in raw cotton; there
is talk of further advances. The demand
for wooIens continue moderate, though
better than ii was; and wool is firm, but
buyers are still unusually cautious.
THE consumption of pig iron last year
exceeded 6,SOO,OO0 tons, and of all iron,
domestic and foreign, over 100, 600 tons.
But the shrinkage of 10000 tons weekly
in production barely keeps prices steady.
and in bar iron cut by q large Western
establish ment reflects the sbrinkage in de-
mand. Prices are now S1.50 lower than a
year ago for pig, So for bar, Sc to 81 for
plates, and 81 for nails Added to the
light demand, as q cause of weakness, there
lie the statement that the coming tariff bill
will reduce duties on ore to 80 cents, on
pig TO 8. 90 and on rails to $11.
"At st. Louis, Kansas City, and some
other Western towns, lower rates have
caused a considerable increase in business
activity, bat at most points trade is re-
ported quiet or dull, with unfaverable
weather and impracticsble roads common
ly assigned as the cause throughout the
West and Southwest. In Southeastern
6ra;es business opens with bright pros
poets.
THE business failures dnring the lest
seven days number for the United Sts,es
236; for Canada, thirty-seven, total 273; as
compared with $50 last week, and 267 for
the corresponding week last year."