New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-13
High Prices for Mcrchan.
disc So Far Have Failed
to Check Purchases
in the Retail Stores
Spring Goods Cost More
Local Merchants Are eau.
tious, but There Are No
Pessimists Among Them

ork. and reports from other cities in
este that retail business continues in a
Furnishing condition. No pessimists
esr he found among New York mer-
chants. The heads OF half dozen
eadsag stores give testimony to the
TACT that in dollars and cents most of
ne stores are selling on an average
20 per cent above last year. This is
partly owing 70 price advances. In the
agmber OF units OF merchandise sold
be- percentage is much less. of course
Eew merchants have taken the trouble
20 figure i ont. butt those who have
~ it runs about 10 per cent ahead
nf last year
While refusing 20 allov the specific
cures for fheir stores 20 be made pub
Is officials OF Lord & Taylor h. Altman
Sc GO, ODnenheinl. Collins { Co. Saks &.
ro.. cimbel Brothers and John Wana-
maker disclosed statistics which bear
out their contention that the general
rcSlic is patronlzing the retail stores as
seely as ever despite high prices in
early all lines Of merchandise. That
Ugh prices ultimately Will restrict
consumption all mechants agree, but
pparentiy. they say, the limit has not
Heer reached.
All OF them are approaching the
-eming spring season in the retail field
18th certain amount o. caution. Re-
an prices next spring VII show
srked advances over those prevail
~ now. THE retailers actually are
lying more for some lines Of mer-
aandise 20 be sold next spring than
er are at present charging FOR similar
cles This IS particularly true OF
s, oottons and shoes.
Gross Sales Doubled
10 largo department store reports
at Us gross sales Tins year viii eX-
I'd those Of i91S bv 100 per cent.
MS store normally employs about
400 people in selling and other capaci-
IS. II row has ~ more employees
an last year and ) ready 20 hire rs
NY more # it can ind then'
Another department store places its
ass gain N sales in dollars aud cents
80 per cen. ahead OF last year At
store &c was pointed out ,hat while
ssles o. ready to-wear apparel for
ueN had Increased only 80 rer cent
sale q silks had jumped 125 per
eas over lag wear. Other merchants
agreed that the sale OF piece goods
increased in greater proportion
The sale Of ready-made garments
the contention OF silk. cotton
Woo goods manufacturers that
ION are making more Of their own
hes or having them made by seam
-ses and tailors.
;, he president Of one O. the large Z
res IN the city said that the in
sed cost % readv-ilaGc Carnle ntS
out Of prJportiOn 70 Increases in
other lines He attributes n ;
tne labor conditions in the needle
ling industry and blames the manu-
furers for allowing the situation 10
out of hand.
tories OF wages Of $50 and 500 a
and even more, among the work
~ re ciorhiAg factories ne sa ID.
-. .ro.s r,tl. 80 -
~ - go :, - ,..I,,Io
- -. = -, ,''.t
" eSz. A. ~ go 80 ~ ~
ID. - ei-ber - - go ~; ;n+o tx ~
- ~ -, ~ - ne -
-. - - - -; ;a. $500.
~. -,.. ... nc l'.
-.-.,s''...,, d ~, 'oeo .'
500 r.Lor
.- r.4aif as.ahl;si. -,
,-+o -. ,,..r,'fs.,,,,.:-,-
ec- ,.9,s.i,-es an 70. >
H. ts.. "il 80 !,
eD'e .2's e%orD 1 an 'aooE cnafgs'
- f',-,,;4,,- ~ -
E'e.:,V9 ii'.
s. 80 AT Scr ,f- 10 .i Jlnc'"iS OF
NahG Nc muse a'1'Nies.
- se-i NV ZINES ~ man y
@'c P..onos 'aphs as We 90 now,
no "a sel 9' Seoie, IN "a
- .f's 90 - o' ~o'o"' .
M "ei.o.'S - ogy oi'u tuei
uouo' .i,ae 'ne teeal'
- 80 i's',',' :r CVi'q' .I lo.'
Biz sc.,-,,,,;,a 49,, ~ ,i -
The ssrse -. 49, -. 80 49, 'ss.
-, ,srf.5-,sr.. and n.hor +o;lat 49,
$50 .s+e.t - -. h,.,e;.,e : .o,''
enc, 49, .bs ~; IVY INK ''"-
"eaithy economic
: Wealthy people are not buying as
rely az formerly, according 10 c. s.
bo*ser, assistant general manager for
Ohm anamaker, but this is morv
IAN offset By higher expenditures b.
ne working classes
The wealthy woman - he said ";,
sd Of N'lying a 81 500 gown now,
uys two or three less expensive ones.
ne ot1rr hand the workingman' 5
We. Who formerly paid about S25 or
~ fol clots coat, nov thinks moth
ny OF paying $500 or $500 for fur
sarmenr. We find this all through our
re. The greatest demand in all lines
Tor the medium and better grades.
ares OF extremely expensive good
ave izlien off and 80 have those OF
ne Cheapest goods"