Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-11-27
PRICE SOON GETTING sHAkY.

The boom in prices has not yet
bursted but there are indications that
the market is getting nervous. Buyers
in many lines are beginning to fear to
stock up. Speculation in stocks on the
stock exchange has become nervous
and erratic. Money is tightening up
and concerted efforts in some lines are
| being made to bear the market on
commodities. Iron, steel and leather
seem to be advancing without control
bat IN most other lines the market
SHOWS indications of getting groggy.
Duns review of trade for last week
| reports that:
Inability TO meet requirements is
becoming more pronounced and gen.
eral, ana an increasing number Of SELL
ers endeavor to, repress demand Ia an
effort to control prices. Yet the up
ward movement in many lines is un-
| checked, as buyers, findlng supplies
scarce and fearing greater shortage
next year, are competing more actively
| IL the markets for raw materials and
| finished products. In all leading
branches the rush to cover forward
needs continues and steel and iron,
| textiles, hides and leather, and foot
wear have gone still higher, with no
sign even now that the crest has been
reached. Rising costs Of production
have an important influence in deter
mining present and future quotations,
but the further wage increases at steel
works, cotton mills, and in other quar-
tiers tend to offset the advances IN
prices Of necessities. Evidences OF a
contrac elton in buying are not wholly
absent, yet, under the conditions, con-
sumption is sustained in remarkapie
volume and the preference for the bet
ter classes of merchandise remains =
conspicuous feature.
Distribution of holiday goods has
already become factor in some sec
tions, as a result Of the agitation FOR
early trading and the movement gen..
orally is expected to reach exceptional
proportions. With business booming at
high and advancing prices. and specu-
lation continuing active, bank clearings
naturally make a phenomenal exhibit,
being $50 per cent larger this week
than a year ago, when the exchanges
were unprecedented for the period.
Moreover, the increase would be even
greater were manufacturers in posi-
ton to accept all the contracts offered.
AT this time last year railroad earnings
were also record breaking. yet the rev.
enues Of systems reporting for the first
two weeks of November show gain OF
81 per cent over 1919.
That buyers Of general merchandise
have begun to pause and hesitate Is
reported by Duns which states that:
The abnormal rise in dry goods val
ues in primary markets is being check
ed so far as 1t may be BY merchants who
are discouraging many late commit
ments and placing goods at value, or
withdrawing them for sale for time.
The rush to place later commitments
than has been the practice in recent
years is not wholly checked, but signs
of a possible restriction in consunp-
tion because Of the current high
values are beginning to be noticed.
Wherever seasonable engagements
must be made, such US in mapped cot
tons, blankets, mems wear and under
wear, sellers are not offering to take on
a full product at present levels ana
in many instances when large orders
are pressed very firm agreements are
made concerning the matter OF can
cellations. Despite all that mill agents
can do. values are still moving upward,
quite as much because Of higher pro-
ducing costs as from any element in
the demand and state of supplies.
In Boston the leather market is re-
ported firm with prices advancing be-
cause of the offers made by exporters.