The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-28
PRICES REMAIN STRONG
This the Feature Of the Business
Situation, Says Bradstreet's-
Jobbing Trade Large,

New York, Feb. S.--Bradstreet's to-day says:
Springlike weather conditions have enlarged the
jobbing demand for goods In retail trade, except
where the breaking up OF country roads has oper,
ated to restrict the movement OF grain and cotton
to market Building activity has been quite
generally resumed with mofe favorable weather.
n crop M that
Perhaps the most notable feature OF the week 8
Developments IL the strength OF the price situa-
tion. this not merely with regard to producers
and manufacturers quotations, but also as to
rates paid by final consumers.
The one debatablc element in the 1909 spring
trade outlook has heretofore been the uncertainty
as to how the higher level of prices would
| act upon consnmptive demand. This situation is
apparently solving itself with astonishingly lit
tie friction.
By open weather conditions this year. as COM
pared with February year ago, and large aggre-
gate gains in earnings for the month are predict
ed The coke situation however. Is still sub
jest of complaint. Another evidence OF railroad
congestion Is found in the reports that large
| quantity of wheat still remains to come for
ward.
Notable developments in the prices of primary
| staples arc d frmer tone in pig iron at home
! and abroad. advances i'll prices Of iron and steel
bars. wire and nails, the highest, price paid for
advance If copper, which places that metal at
| the highest point for ever year past, and a re.
| newal of the advance in TIM which places that
metal well above the level OF several years:
|
to hold all their old strength, and the steadiness
| OF 80 many OF the leading commodities Is, IN
| fact feature second only to the aggressive
strength shewn by the products above NEIL
! toned.
| Reports from the cotton goods markets are al
favorable. Wool is steady. Coke, coal, frelghts
and wages have all advanced, and, as expected,
| iron ore has Joined these constituents OF iron
and steel manufacture with an advance or zoe TO
75c per ton. Pig iron is frner, foreign markets
are higher, ana finished products. such as bars:
| wire and nails. have advanced. structural
| material is active and the railroads are p9ylng
material freely. Copper is how above 13c, an
still advancing and tin is also higher. The feei'
| ing is growing that the worlds needs OF THIS
! n,eta1 are in excess Of the supply.
Building activity Is being resumed, LUMBER
Is active in all markets and paints and oils are
| improving.
| Wheat, including -four, exports for the week
| ending Feb. 26 aggregate 2,656,619 bu, against
o71a 1872 last week. g. 2s4 $40 in this week year
| ago and 5,233 a13 in 1901. Wheat exports since
July / aggregate 1ep,792.e 4s bu, against $50
! 1856 900 last season and 1874, 205,952 in 1901.
| Corn exports aggregate 2,36S, $3.50 bu, aga1ns,
3739457 last week, 3126G4 year ago anc
4 1S5 40 in 1901 For the fiscal year exports are
so. inst :o:.1Sa9O last season anc
| 131, 7So,324 in 1901.
Business failures in the United states TOT tnt
| week ending with Feb. rs number lS5, agans
1SS last week, 204 in the like week OF l9O2, ~
| in 1901, 1T3 in 1900, and 10 in 1859. In Canada
for the week ~, against 20 last week and = IL
! this week year ago.