The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-30
BUYERS AWAITING
PRICE REVISIONS
Industries Passing Through
Transition Period With
Little Friction.
LABOR SEEKS OLD JOBS
Large Wage Decrease Not Ex-
pectcd Because Of High
Cost Of Living.

while buyers are looking TO the future
with the greatest optimism there Is still
A tendency among them to await more
settled price conditions before making
large purchases. Meanwhile the indus
tries are rapidly going through the
transition period, the labor which for
-n.rly was engaged on war work drift
Ing back into the less essential indus
tries. This labor shifting process is taxi
INK place with much less friction than
Waa anticipated, according to Brad
streets Weekly Trade ReUieic, which
says:
Trade and Industrial reports are
more irregular than at any time since
the peace armistice was signed. cancel
latons Of Government orders wing in
interest with reports of former non-es-
senaai lines starting up or preparing TO
assume their old Importance, and the
general tendency is to strike a waiting
attitude pending clearer views OF future
supplies and prices OF materials and la
Dor. withal there Is apparent a we'll
defined vein OF optimism in most OF the
reports and a disposition manifested to
take hold in large lines where reasonable
assurance can be had of the near future.
There Is a good deal OF talk OF po-
tential large export trade, but as this is
complicated by doubts as to transporta-
ton facilities Offering, the tendency Is to
look more narrowly at the presumably
large volume of banked up domestic
trade waiting, to be accommodated at a
price. Supporting this view are the
known excellent returns for most crops,
especially foods. and the feeling that
world necessities offer an outlet for all
that can be spared at prices undreamed
OF a few years ago.
Much talked Of liquidation of labor
has rnaterlallzed, ito the extent that
labor Is leaving munition lines and seek
ing reinstatement in old peaceful pur-
sutts, and that overtime has been very
generally abolished: but here. however.
the fact Is perceptible that existing food
prices do not offer any very tangible
signs Of easing. and anything like a
widespread lowering OF wages is blocked
by continued high living cost, and. in
view of this fact. willingness OF for
mer highly paid labor TO come down at
once 20 lower levels"
The same conservatism in buying, be-
cause Of the expectation that a down.
ward revision OF prices will come in the
Y,
Revieir. On this subject Dun's says:
mot through the absence of important
requirements or lack of sustained pur-
chasing power. but mainly because of
expectations of downward revisions of
prices, even now being realized In some
instances, forward business is largely
held in allegiance. That many buyers
are deferring new commitments as far
as possible. awaiting the further reac-
ton OF prices which seems plainly fore
Swallowed. Is the keynote of advlces from
about every centre Of prominence, and
uncertainty regarding the exact DISPOSE
ton OF various restrictions which still
remain effective is not insignificant
clement in the present hesitation. Yet
with conservatism and caution conspicu-
Gus features. there is now clearly less
apprehension OF the results of the eco
nomic changes which must inevitably be
witnessed. and the transition to a peace
basis Is continuing without apparent
signs OF serious dislocation OF trade and
industry.
where curtailment OF Government
projects Is causing reduction OF working
torces the labor thus released is mainly
finding ready employment in other direc-
lions, and official and private interests
are cooperating with the end in view
that the readjustments may be accom-
nlished with minimum OF unsettlement
n development which promises well
FOR the future, and upon which confident
hopes are founded, Is the appearance OF
Increasing export inquiries. not only for
the products OF the farms but also for
steel, textiles, leather and other leading
n anufactured articles"