Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-12
RETAIL TRADE LAX
SPRING BUSINESS IS NOT ACTIVE
MARKET STRONG.

NEW YORK, January 12.-Bradstreet's
today says:
There are some cross currents in trade
which prevent generalization but as a
whole the situation loses little by COM
parlson with preceding years at this early
stage of the season The need of seasonal
BILE weather is noted Throughout the coun-
try In wholesale and jobbing spring sea-
son activity is not marked as yet but it
Is to. be noted that number of lines of
cotton goods have been advanced, that
eastern shoe manufacturing centers are
filled with buyers looking around, and that
shipments of goods orders are being
called for.
THE western centers also report rather
more buying from country merchants, and
some liberal purchases of agricultural i'm
plements.
In industrial lines previous activity con-
tinues without change. Some few lines
of iron and steel, notably structural shapes
and cast iron pipe, are in less active re-
quest. but other finished Ines are active,
and the market whole is strong. with
leading authorities making optimistic pre-
dctions as to the coming years trade.
Shading of Prices.
Some shading of prices on far-off de-
liveries is shown The open winter allows
not the unanmity as to the predictions of
record-hreaking construction noted a year
ago The car shortage question is still acute,
though mild weather helps the railroads.
Special complaint of trouble from this
source comes from the northwest where
the fuel and grain movement is checked;
from the Pacific coast. where the supply of
fuel is scanty; from Oklahoma, where build
ing in the new cities and towns is affected
by inability to get material: from the iron
and steel centers, where mill operations
are hampered by slow arrival of supplies,
and from the cotton and lumber producing
sections. which complain of the car short
age affecting shipments.
THE money situation is easier in few
centers, notably the southwest, where the
banks reported we'll supplied with
money, but collections in the northwest are
affected by backward grain movement,
fecting trade settlements. AS a whole the
market is firm and higher than year ago
at this time.
Best Reports From Southwest.
Summed up the situation is that retail
trade is backward, that some few lines of
wholesale trade seem to be taking breath
ing spell, but that the heavily sold-ahead
condition in most lines guarantees future
large turnover. Relatively the best reports
come from the southwestern states; the
northwestern reports rather irregular.
but the only poor reports to trade and
collections come from the south Atlantic
states, where crop returns were below early
anticipations.
Leather moves freely on past orders.
Patent and enameled leather manufacturers
report the wea Their retarding the manufaC-
ture and shipment Supplies of these and of
finished split feathers very scarce.
The situation in raw and manufactured
textiles is very strong one. Relatively
best reports to current trade come from
the dry goods lines. Heavy clothing feels
the dulling effect of mild weather. Dress
goods are in good shape, and fancy woolens
Wool markets are very firm in sympathy
with foreign markets, though transa actions
are not heavy.
Sugar is without much change. except
that one refinery has cut prices of refined
IS cent. Coffee has eased slightly, futures
being rs to 80 points lower on large move
ment.
Bank Clearings Larger.
Bank clearings for the week ending with
January 10 aggregate S3,473, 055, $685. 90 per
cent over last week, but Q per cent below
the same week last year. Excluding New
York city the total is 81 ,22S, 145 sos, % per
cent in excess of last week and per cent
over last year. Canadian clearings for the
week aggregate $751;, 102,540. a gain of ~ per
cent over last week and of &c per cent over
this week a year ago.
Business failures in the United States
for the week ended January 10 number 271
against 1s5 last week, 2S6 in the like week
of 1906 295 in 1903, 315 in 1894 and 234 in
1903.
I'm Canada failures for the week number
"a, as against 1G last week, and 46 in this
week a year ago.
Wheat, including flour, exports from the
United States and Canada for the week
ended January 10 aggregated /, 07311O bush
els, against 255 go last week, 4, 1853 T12 this
week last year. 700,950 in 1863, and 3, 567 10
in 1902. For the past twenty-eight weeks of
the fiscal year the exports are 101 906 GA
bushels, against 10, 1888, 792 in 1995-06, &c.
SIC 224 In 1994-C5, and Ash in 1901-O2
$50 year ago, and 1882, Ola in 1903. For
the fiscal year to date the exports are 81
1C0215 bushels, against As, $50, $50 in 1vO5-O6
and d G1S $50 in 04-O5