The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-26
TRADE CONTINUES
SLOW RECOVERY
Optimistic Views Of Future OF
Business Are Becoming
More Common.
TRANSACTIONS BROADEN
Improvement and Expansion
Are Key Words in Retail
and Wholesale Lines.
TRANSACTIONS BROADEN

Business continues TO show recovery
from the low point to which It has fallen
since the beginning OF the year and opti-
mism lie becoming more and more dom,-
nant in trade and Industrial circles. ac-
cording 10 the weekly trade reviews
Commercial exports are declared to be .
distinctly favorable feature OF the last
weeks developments, while an unmistak-
able broadening OF actual transactions In
the manufacturing centres of the East IL
reported.
Recovery in business, irregular and
checkered. yet nevertheless constant"
says Dun's Revfec. as again the record
OF the week While faith in the future
continues more conspicuous than salts
faction with immediate conditions. the
recent advance in activity Ia being grad
ually extended. and tho gain should be-
come more sharply defined when existing
political and economic obstacles are di-
unfinished or eliminated. The complex
and uncertain international situation.
with Its formidable problems pressing for
solution. remains a barrier to that full
trade development which seems now TO
be In process OF formation, and divergent
cause for hesitation In some of the Lead
ing Industries Yet commercial reports,
with all their variation and disappoint-
ing features, sound q distinct note of OPP
timeTn and a strikingly favorable ele-
ment is the remarkably light business
mortality. failures In the United States
this week, under 100 in number. being
the smallest reported for a single week
In a great many years.
Textiles Are Improving.
Sentiment In some OF the larger man.
ufacturing cities Of the East responds to
an unmistakable broadening OF actual
transactions and the growing repress Iotl
in iron and steel. where the price ques-
ton yet acts as check to progress. 10
offset by the continued Improvement In
certain other quarters, as IN textilea
Generally the menace of idle labor d.
minishes as peace time production rises
and resumption of private building oper-
atoms and work on public betterments
become more widespread. and the large
Easter turnover testified to a we'll sus-
tatned purchasing power In retail chan
nels. Notwithstanding the high prices.
With all the fundamentals of prosperity
present. there seems reason to anticipate
n more rapid expansion of business once
the various elements which now impose
restraint on activities are rendered lesu
influential"
Improvement and expansion" says
Brddstreets State Of Trade. ARE tho key
words as to ordinary distributive trade,
wholesale and retail and moro import
ant industries send cheerful reports, but
as heretofore the big basic industries.
iron and steel and coal. while displaying
a shade more life In isolated Instances,
are running at slow speed comps red
with the feverish activity Of last year
and price unsettlement or uncertainty
still constitutes the apparent chief brake
on all operations.
Building II More Active.
"Winter wheat crop prospects are
still highly catering and clearing
weather is permitting more activity in
Western grain fields and Southern cot
ton and corn areas. The price situation
is stronger certainly as regards foods.
textiles and foot coverings The stock
market despite realizing Is strong and
active and reports rs to unemployment,
except at debarkation and large indus
trin, centres, are more cheerful
Building is more active. but reports
of scarcity OF houses and apartments are
still practically universal Wheat cx-
ports FOR the week are the largest OF the
present year and promise 10 grow still
further. The fact that the wheat crop
OF the country has hecn either consumed,
exported or promised coupled with scar-
city Of milling wheat, has started new
Upward movement In wheat -four. which
Is 40 cents to 81 "A barrel higher. ard
alphabetically in other grains, Reef
animals are strong and hogs are at .
new high price.
I'm distrlbutive trade retail business
| has the right OF the line and tho anal
distribution OF all kinds OF wearing no
/ parel millinery. :" ing shoes. iewelrv,
! automobiles. ms al Instruments harl-
| war; and '.4plements Is sustained
despite the Easter trade rush. which w
. the way was large, being over, There 10
/ failly general agreement indeed that rs-
! tail trade is better than n year ago