The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-05
fHE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.

fFrom Bradstreet's Estate of Trade.)
General trade continues in moderate
volume, jobbers and wholesalers being
agreed there VIII be no business revival
TINS year. There IS some activity IN holt
day goods Rains and stormy weather
SOUTH, and cold and severe weather west
ana northwest, have checked traffic on
interior country roads, and otherwise in
terfered with the distribution of merchan-
disc. except at some northwestern CEN
tres, where more seasonable weather has
stimulated the demand for heavy tex
tiles, Clothing, hats and shoes. Through
out the central Mississippi valley there has
been. no increase in demand in wholesale
Zines, and at the south trade is charac-
terized as dull.
Jobbers of dry goods report that sales
for future delivery have fallen off. Shoe
manufacturer report that demand has
declined compared with preceding weeks,
ana eastern WOODEN malls that orders for
spring delivery are of moderate volume.
Transactions in wool have fallen off
manufacturer buying only as they re-
ceive orders. The situation in iron and
steel is less satisfactory. with unsettling
rumors as to the success of the steel pool.
comparatively few sales of staple grades.
ana TO Iikelihood OF revival in demand
Ssles of oosn-h sarth steel have been
made at a parity with grades which have
been considered cheaper; nails have again
plate prices have been cut, and Bessemer
pig iron has sold down 15c. a ton. The
weakness in hides continues. and pricas
are lower. though thus far without effect
On quotations for leather. Petroleum
prices have reacted, and quotations are
lower for coffee, lard. oats and corn. No
material change is reported in prices for
PORK POI print cloths n lumber while those
wheat and flour are all higher.
November bank clearings reflect the
speculative activity following election.
Compared with months Immediately pre-
ceding. the showing is a good one. ONLY
once before in thirteen years has the No.
yernber total exceeded tina for October.
and with the exception of January the
November total is the heaviest for any
month this year. But in spite of this. the
total November ~clearings were smaller
than a year ago, and, with New York ex-
cluded, quite a heavy falling off is report
ed The total ciearings at sixty-six cities
for November aggregate 81, 564, 307, 500. a
decrease from a year ago of 2.S per cent.
an increase over two years ago of 10 DER
cent, and oyer November, 1893, of II per
cent Outside of New York, the total
clearings at all cities fell off nearly IL per
cent. from "a year ago.
Bank clearings show a heavy gain over
iast week, "a per cent, partly owing to
the holiday last week and partly to the
usual December l disbursements. Total
clearings for the week at n cities in the
United States are S1,25S,8i5 900. one-half of
per cent. larger than a year ago. s per
cember, 1894; 12.6 per cent. larger than
1880, but u per cent. smaller than in 1892.
5 per cent: smaller than in 1891 and 4 per
cent. smaller than in 1890. Outside of
| New York there is a loss of nearly 4 per
cent. as compared with a year ago, and
only about one-third of all the cities show
Increases over the like totals a year ago.
Average daily clearings this week at all
| cities have been about sos, 900, 600, against
| S1S7, 600, 900 last week, but outside of New
| York average daily cIearings have been
only about $50. 600, 600, against SIS, 900, 900 last
week.
The most bullish feature of Brad
streets" monthly report of American
available stocks Of wheat is found in the
net decrease of $4,000 bushels on both
coasts during November. the first de-
crease during November since records
have been kept. In November, 1896. the
net increase was 10, 715.0 900 bushels; in 1894.
9,S16.0W bushels: in 1888. 16. 200, 900 bushels,
and in 1892 II was II ,747 900 bushels. Wheat
stocks in the United States and Canada
have always continued to grow from week
to week, after harvesting, until New
Years, and sometimes later. This year
the check TO supplies appears to have
arrived a month ahead of usual.
Stocks of available wheat in the United
States. anada afoat for and in Europe
December ] were 14S, 4S5. 900 bushels. 10000.
36. oo0.0 600 bushels less than in 1894. 40, 900. 00(
bushels less thar in 1893, 1890. 600 bushels
less than in 1892. and 5000, 900 bushels less
than on December ], 1891
Speculative sentiment in the New York
stock market exhibits further improve
ment, though trading Is still entirely pro-
fessional. Liquidation has ceased, how.
ever. and pressure from bear operators
is replaced by the appearance of renewed
bull manipulation In some stocks. Prices
show moderate. Irregular advance on shori
covering and some renewed activity By
pool interests. The market is inclined Il
cutiye message and decreased fears tha,
H.