The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-25
Indications Point to Improve
ment in Trade.
FINE CROP PROSPECTS
Continued Increase of Demand
in Retail Lines.
PRICES ARE LOWER THAN EVER
Money is Moving Freely and Sec urI-
ties are in Demand With Rail-
way Earnings Gradually
increasing.

New York, April 24.-R. G. Dun 4
Co.'S. Weekly Review of Trade, which
issues tomorrow, will say:
Prices of commodities are on the
whole lower than ever before, having
declined about per cent since April
i. and n per cent since July, 1890 or
October. 1892. The fall in manufactur-
ed products is a little less than it was
April 1st. but in farm products great
er.
A single enterprising buyer was able
to push up the price OF cotton an
eighth, though the progress OF planting
gives promise of a large yield and the
receipts continue as large as In 1898,
though about $4,000 bales larger Tor
the year thus far.
Cotton goods were bought less freely
last week, and the Northern mills
have taken scarcely any cotton this
month The feeling is more hopeful
because retail trade is better. The
situation in wooden goods does not inn
prove, though women's dress goods
are selling fairly
Failures for the week have been 238
in the United States, against 230 last
year and 44 i'm Canada, against 81 last
year.
BRADSTREET' REVIEW.
New York. April -Bradstrets
tomorrow viii say: The feeling is more
hopeful at many trade centres, owing
to continued improvement in demand
in retail lines, better weather, gener-
ally favorable crop prospects and the
activity which naturally follows re-
newed building operations, distribu-
tion of implements and farm supplies,
and attendant activity. More favorable
reports from commercial travellers are
from those. representing Pittsburg, ST.
Louis, Kansas City, Omaha and Mil
waukee houses. Moderate improve
ment is shown at a few other Western
centres. but at most of the distributing
points throughout the country the
movement of merchandise, on the
whole. shows no material change. At
almost all cities mercantile collections
continue slow, remaining relatively the
mot unfayorable feature of business,
even where the tendency in other direc-
tions is toward improvement.
Exports of wheat flour included as
wheatl. from both coasts of the United
States this week are the smallest since
the third week in July, 1895, and, with
that exception, the smallest in any
week during the past six years, amount
ing to only 1,2S6,000 bushels, compared
with 2,017 900 bushels last week, 2,43I.
600 bushels in the week one year ago.
2,727,000 bushels two years ago, and
with 2,507,0 900 bushels in the cores
ponding week Of 1893.
HEsTER's COTTON STATEMENT
New Orleans, April 24.Secretary
Hester's cotton statement shows a de-
crease in movement for the week COM
pared with last year of 5000, and an
increase over same time year before
last of 5000.
For April the figures show q decrease
under the same twenty-fouf days OF
last year of $1,000, an increase over the
same time last year of 5000.
For the eight months of the season
the aggregate is behind last year 2,845,-
600, and of year before last 487 900. The
amount brought into sight the past
week 59.315 bales, against 55,127 last
year. 53,031 year before last. Including
stocks left over from the last crop, and
all in sight Of the new crop the supply
is 6,927,000 bales, against 9.707 900 last
year