Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-13
STATE OF TRADE.
Businsss stiii waiting for the Develop
meut Of Retail Demand.

NEW YORK, October l2.-R. q. Dun
& Co.'S weekly review Of trade to-mor-
row will say: Business IL still waiting
for the development of retail trade. There
IL little better demand in some In
dustries, but not good in others.
Wholesale dealers I'm nearly all branches
are hating because retail business does
not yet shown distinctly what It Is to be.
Lower prices for the great farm staples
and lower wages In some establishments
hinder purchases for consumption. while
political interest and uncertainty also
have some retardIng influence. Meanwhile
large imports and small exports OF mer-
chandise. with inadequate employment
for money here. are raising the rates OF
foreign exchange. so that possibilities or
gold exports somewhat affect the stock
market. The hating attitude for the mos
ment IL disturbing to those who have
looked for continued gain. though. rightly
considered. it is the natural consequence
OF conditions which were TO be expected
at this season
Reports from the different cities show
as they did a week ago. that while eX-
tremely low prices for cotton and wheat
are checking retail purchases in the West
"ii' 7phAii, lbtI'
gradual gain Monetary movements in
dcate that the expected expansion Of in
terror trade has not been wholly realized
and the demand for currency from this
city has materially slackened. The de-
mand for commercial loans is weaker
ana per cent. is quoted for prime four
months paper. Foreign imports for two
weeks have been S.SOc.W0 or &c per cent
larger than last year. while In exports
OF domestic products "A decrease of IL per
cent. appears for two weeks in October
Yet customs receipts for the two weeks
are only y2s0pD larger than last year.
and internal revenues l.2sCcO smaller
The iron industry records a larger pro-
duction in September than In any other
month this year. but as prices are gradu-
ally weakening because Of insufficient de-
mand for finished products. some works
are preparing to close or shorten time
few good structural contracts are re-
ported, two amounting 10 1j.G0D tons for
steel rails but combinations hold up the
prices OF rails and wire nails. the demand
for bar iron II unsatisfactory. and Bes-
semer pig and steel bilets are weak.
The demand for cotton goods has ma
terialiy Slackenei and prices have be-
come irregular. although the resumption
of work at Fall River and New BEDFORD
with only D per cent. lower wages, tn1i-
Gates confidence I'm the future. The wool
len mills still have numerous belated or
ders for fall goods. but the demand for
spring does not increase, though in nearly
all the lowerpriced products domestic
makers appear TO command most of the
business that exists.
Failures during the week ending Octo-
Der TN show liabilities Of $l.1lL276. OF
which $50. >S5 are of manufacturing and
$S9239l Of trading concerns. The final
report for September shows liabilities OF
only s7.3O7l2i. OF which $3.2Jt313 are Of
manufacturing and $3.70,092 of trading
concerns.
The failures this week have been 23l
In the United States against 2e3 last year,
and g in Canada against Il last year.