The news & observer., 1897-01-23
A WEEKS FAILURES
400 in United States Against
373 Last Year.
THERE is MORE BUSINESS
THOUGH NOT AT BETTER PRICES.
SAYS REVIEW OF TRADE.
P7lCES NO HIGHER THIS WEEK
Flour, Wheat, Corn. Lard, PetroleL m
Etc, Iower--A Long List of Bus
mess Embarrassments.


mess Embarrassments.
New York Jan. pr. G. Dun x Co.'S
Weekly Review of Trade tomorrow will
say: There is more business, though not
at better prices. 1t is interesting to note
that all prices that change at all are
lower than a week ago, and yet business
is unquestionably larger. There is lar
ger production, but as yet not as much
increase in consumption and there is lar
ger buying materials, but at present only
because better prices are expect
| ed in the future. A few CON
spicuous failures during the week
have had no material influence.
| The market for securities is slightly
| stronger, and yet there is very little do
| ing. The number of hands employed all
| industries considered, is slightly larger
than n week ago, without adverse change
| in the rate of wages. All apprehen-
| sion of foreign disturbance of money
| markets has passed away. but there is
still great caution in making loans. 1t
| is a mistake to reckon these as symptoms
of depression. On the contrary, III spite
of the lower range of prices in impor-
| tant Industries, the conditions all indicate
/ larger production and consumption in
| creasing, not as yet largely. but steadily.
| Wheat. corn and cotton exports are the
key of the financial situation and during
| the past week wheat has declined &c,
and corn 5sc., while cotton is unchanged
Cotton is unchanged after an eighth
decline, but the uncertain large move
ment from plantations, and depression Of
| manufacturing here and abroad do not
encourage high prices There has been a
general reduction in prices of cotton
goods, which at present stimulates larger
| buying
| The woolen industry is as slow as ever,
and no real improvement appears in the
| demand for goods, although owing to
| the lateness of the season there is little
| more doing, both in spring and in winter
goods. without quotable change in prices.
| The iron industry is engaged in set
| tling relative prices and the slow opera
| ton retards business in many branches.
| since the future of prices is uncertain.
| The increase in manufacturing is per-
| haps more definitely shown than in any
| other way by the production of coke,
| which steadily increases, 9,S11 ovens be-
| ing in blast against S,173 idle, and the
weeks output, 100,SS6 tons is over double
| the output Of October l. Failures for the
week have been 400 in the United States.
against 1878 last year, and 65 in Canada.
against 81 last year
BRADSTREET'S REVIEW.
| New York, Jan. 22.-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say: The most encouraging
| feature of the trade situation this week
| is the increased demand from manufac-
turers for wool. The decision of print
cloth manufacturers TO curtadl the out
| put will emphasize recent sales of the
heavy surplus stock and promises q bet
ter market. To these may be added the
increase in THE volume of domestic bank
clearings, a general steadiness of prices
| and the healthfulness of general trade
| in almost all departments. Conservat-
| ism in granting credits and the prefer
ence by retailers and others to buy often
er, but in small quantities, continue to
mark the course of business as not be-
fore for years Demand is increasing in
| almost all lines with few exceptions, all
| though very slowly. A radical improve
| ment in the near future, based ON slow
but healthfu1 increase in the consump-
tive demand is, in the absence of unfore
seen obstacles, almost certainty.
Prices appear to include few, if any,
that are higher than week ago, while
flour, wheat, corn, lard, crude, petroleum,
tin, Bessemer pig iron and steel billets
are lower. Wool remains firm at prac-
tically unchanged prices, but is likely to
advance if the present demand continues.
Leather is also firm and unchanged as
are lumber, cotton, print cloths, pork, cof-
fee and sugar.
An unusually long list of business EN-
barrassments continues a feature of the
state of trade OF the week, the total for
the past six business days being 406 or
40 less than last week, SO more than in
the week year ago and lit, more than
III the corresponding week of 1895, 81
more than i'm the third week of January,
1894, and 127 more than in the hike week
of 1893