The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-02-02
REPORT FEDERAL
RESERVE BANK
Conditions in District For February
lst Issue of Federal Reserve
Bulletin.
nv Associated Press)

10y ASSUClhLcu I 1881
St. Louis, Feb. 2-It is the general
rule that after the holiday buying,
business pauses for rest. But this
year, the dullness following the
Christmas season has not been pro-
nounced. This, too, in spite of the
fact that, as stated in my last report,
this district did record breaking hol-
iday business.
Prices on the whole are still in
creasing, but seem at last to have
reached a point where buyers are
thinking carefully over their purch-
ases. In the latter part of last year
the public desired the best and seemed
not to think of price. There are now
indications to the effect that while
the public is still satisfying its de-
sires without much hesitation, at the
same time, before buying, it considers
whether a cheaper article will not
serve the same purpose as the more
expensive one.
1t is reported that retailers are not
hestitating to buy to care for their
estimated ordinary demands, but they
are being conservative as to this es-
innate and, as a rule, not buying more
than this. 1t would seem that specu-
lative buying has practically been
eliminated from this district.
A number of our large manufact-
urers and wholesalers are not urging
customers to buy goods, but are rath-
er discouraging the buying Of any
more goods than the customer is GER
tain Of selling. One large manufact-
urer explained that his concern did
not want to have it's customers loaded
up with its product at the prevailing
high prices, with the possibility of
their having to suffer loss later on.
Some houses are not selling for deliv-
cry at a later date than May.
In several instances, it is reported
that merchants are buying we'll ahead
OF their actual needs and are being
allowed to do so, but this does not
seem to be the general rule in this
district. The general attitude seems
TO be conservative one on the part
OF both the seller and the buyer, and
the general public, while buying free
", is not reckless, but is beginning to
think Of price before buying.
Throughout all sections Of this dis
trict, reports just received indicate
That the last quarter Of 1916 was q
record breaking one. Those report
ing uniformly say that agricultural
and other conditions are good, and
mat the present prospect is that there
Will be a good business throughout
oil this year, though as large bus
mess as was done during 1916 does
noHseem t ODE anticipated.
According to the report Of the St.
Louis National Stock Yards, during
december there was considerable in
crease in the receipts and shipments
oi live stock over the corresponding
month of 1915, with the exception of
sneep, for which the market has been
quiet.
6uilding operations in this district
Aave not beA SO active during the
past thirty days, and reports would
indicate that the activity is even
soYewhat less than it was this time
Year ago.
There have been substantial In
s1eases in the amounts Of postal re-
ce'pts for December, 1915, over the
corresponding 4 month Of previous year,
\. " the principal cities Of thiS dis'
-. ~ q d -