The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-12
LITTLE DEMAND,
WEAKER PRICES
Iron and Steel Buyers Still
Holding Off.
SPECTATORS WAITING
Wheat Weaker on Favorable Govern.
ment Report of Crop
RETAIL TRADE REPORT NOT so VERY BAD
Relatively the Best Trade Reports Still Come
From The Pacific Coast Markets. The
Weather Con 'itions Tend Now
10 Hello Southern Markets.
TO Help Southern Markets.
(By the Associated Press.)

New York, May 11.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
1.-The trade situation this week may be
summed up in the phrase: Inactive de-
mand and weaker prices.
while in many respects the Industrial
situation is easier than it was; there is
an unsettled demand for building material
and weaker prices for lumber and for
many products used in the building in
dustry.
Iron and steel buyers are still holding
off, most of the business done being for
small lots for immediate consumption.
Further declines are noted in steel
billets and for some finished products.
while sympathetic weakness is reported
in other metals. such as copper, lead and
tin. There was a slight increase of the
output of pig iron during the month of
April and a small gain in furnace and
other stocks. Steel rails and structural
material are conspicuous exceptions TO
the weakness above noted. prices for
these products being firmly maintained.
I'm speculative markets dullness has
been the feature, wheat. after consider
able steadness, weakening on the favor
able government crop report, which is
taken to indicate yield Of winter wheat
100, 600 bushels larger than year ago
notwithstanding immense damage from
winter killing in the Central Western
States, apparently Offset, however, by high
condition in States west of the Mississ-
ippi. Corn has been weaker than wheat.
rejecting the less active export demand
and sympathy with the lowered price of
provisions, the latter due to heavier re-
ceipts of hces and lessened demand for
pork and lard.
Relatively good reports come from the
retail trade at most centres, notwith-
standing the backward spring, but as yet
the volume of recorder business from
wholesalers and jobbers has proved dis
appointing Finished cotton and WOODEN
products remain steady, and raw cotton
is even shade higher, but wool is weak
er, owing to restricted demand from man
ufacturers and in sympathy with the low
err prices set for many grades at the Lon
don wool sales. Primary wool markets
are higher than in the East. Print cloths,
though nominally held firm at Fall River.
continue to be offered below the pool
price.
Coffee is rather weak owing to lower
quotations in European markets and SUI
gar is also shaded owing to receipts ex-
ceeding requirements. Relatively a good
report comes from the distributive trade
in shoes, but manufacturers are hanging
back in their purchases of leather and
hides are rather weaker.
Relatively the best trade reports still
come from the Pacific coast markets, but
better weather conditions at the South
have tended to brighten trade reports
from that section
Wheat, including flour. shipments for
the week aggregate 3,430.574 bushels,
against 1887 OPP bushels last week. 1884
1872 bushels in the corresponding week Of
1899, $685. 43 bushels in 1898, 21S3,S7
bushels in 1897 and 1908, 225 bushels in
1896
'Since July 1st this season the exports
of wheat aggregate 169, SOC, 006 bushels
against 203, 05S, 7S4 bushels last year, and
202, 523 004 bushels in 1878.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
4,63S,140 bushels, against 3,411 ,015 BUSH
els last week. 2,76S,694 bushels in this
week a year ago, 6,077,27 bushels in
1898, 3096.S34 bushels in 1897 and 1861
5S1 bushels in 1896.
''Since July LIST this season corn ex-
ports aggregate 177.751,2 bushels,
against 527S, S07 bushels during the same
period year ago and 1853, 412, 500 bushels
in 1S97-98.
Business failures in the United States
for the week number ia as compared with
1853 last week. 169 in this week year ago.
25O in 1898 251 in 1897 and 265 in 1896.
Business failures for the week in the
Dominion of Canada number 10 as COM
pared with 10 last week 81 in this week
year ago, 25 in 1898, 81 in 1897 and "a
in 1896"