St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-26
TRADE PROSPECTS.
Indications "a Triffe Uncertain
i'm Dun.S Opinion.

NEW YORK, March 25.-R G. Dun & Co. s
weekly review of trade says: Business indica-
lions are not quite so clear. There is, on the
whole. less evidence of improvement i'll dis
tribution, and yet the prospect in the great
industries seems brighter. The movement of
grain and cotton falls off and the sharp de-
cline in prices is felt in many quarters, but
the tone in iron, wooden, cotton and shoe
manufactures is rather improved. Tho
money markets are abundantly supplied.
With unusually conflicting signs the conf
dence which prevails in business circles is
still undated
Wheat has dropped to 951sc, decline of
nearly 3 cents for the week, though stronger
i'll tone at the end, receipts having been
2.500000 blu and exports only 0,0O0 bu i'll
four days. Corn is nearly cent stronger
with exports of 1,544.000 bu in four days; but
oats are Ac lower; pork and lard shade
lower; oil has declined ss4c, and coffee, lscc.
Cotton is down to Gaze for middling upland;
although receipts this week have been much
and exports greater than a year ago, the
stocks at ports have diminished, but are
Still Az, 600 bales greater than at the same
date styear. Silver has fallen TO ~. AID per
ounce, the lowest ever quoted, ana at New
York only SS14c is paid for bullion. Prices of
commodities as a whole have declined "a of ]
per cent during the week, and are now Is per
cent lower than year ago at this time.
At Boston bad weather affects the dry
goods trade. which is yet quite satisfactory.
AT Bridgeport plush orks are stopped by a
strike. AT Hartford the wool trade is fair.
At Philadelphia sales of dry goods are small
er than OF late, though equal to last years.
At Baltimore manufacturers of cotton duck
and agricultural iron are busy with abund-
ance of orders At Cincinnati machinery is
brisk. surprising the trade of former years,
and retail business brighter.
At Cleveland roller mills are full of work.
though ut prices 10 10 ID per cent lower than
ever before: business in dry goods and hard
ware is good and III other branches fair. At
Detroit trade is equal 10 last years, but has
no snap. At Chicago increase is seen in re-
eeipts of breadstuffs, dressed beef, cheese
and butter, but decrease in provisions, cattle,
hides and wool. Merchandise sales are
equal to last years. Unfavorable weather
affects spring trade at Milwaukee and
seriously hampers trade at st. LOUIS, though
the feeling is hopeful.
At Minneapolis trade is good, though flour
is very duh, and at St. Paul business IS brisk
at Omaha very active. and at Kansas City i'm
proving in the retail business, though re-
ceipts of cattle and hogs are light. Improve
ment is seen at Denver, and also at Louis
vile, but Memphis reports no improvement,
Montgomery moderate trade and Savannah
some decline. At New Orleans business is
quiet though there is a better movement of
cotton, and sugar is active.
The iron trade shows better tone. in spite
of very low prices Sales Of pig are reported
better since the recent decline, and there is
less pressure to SELL Structural iron is active,
with better prospects: bar iron is more active
and there is an improved demand for plates
The stronger market for copper here and
abroad is proof that combination
has been formed. Tin is stronger,
and lead fairly active. The wooden
manufacture is doing unusually we'll tor the
season, though very low prices and sharp
foreign competition, in some branches. are
seriously felt. The cheapness of cotton helps
the manufacture the more because the de-
mand fairly sustains the price of goods.
Merchandise exports exceeded imports last
February by SI25j l24 The exports of do
nestle products have fallen off.and for three
weeks of March are about S6j600 larger at
New York than year ago. while imports
have been 81, 500,0 900 larger, indicating for the
month a considerable excess i'll imports. But
for the unceit ainty how far foreign relations
will affect money and business here, the gen.
eral confidence in the future of trade would
seem to be justified.
The business failures occurring throughout
the country during the last seven days num-
Der 93l, as compared with totals of 240 last
week. For the corresponding week of last
year the figures were 256.