The sun., 1919-07-12
PEACE BRINGS Big
DEMAND ON TRADE
Calls for Various Products Are
Heavier Now Than Dur
ing the War.
MANY SHORTAGES FOUND
Large Number Of Domestic and
Foreign Consumers Send
Heavy Orders.
MANY SHORTAGES FOUND

Contrary to general expectations
peace time demands for various products
are proving moro urgent than those Of
the war period, and instead of having
great reserves OF unsought supplies on
hand manufacturers and merchants are
facing an even greater shortage Of COM
modities than that which marked tho du-
ration Of the war. according to weekly
trade reviews. A large number OF domes-
tic and foreign consumers are ordering
to meet their wants with even more than
usual liberality, 1t In declared. while the
customary summer let up in business
has not become as apparent as usual
THE demands Of peace time, aug
mented with the widening of interna-
tional channels of commerce." says
DHn's Revieto, "are already proving
even greater than those of the war pc
riod In not few branches of business.
and shortages of goods and sharply ris-
ing prices are again conspicuous fea-
lures. That mercantile and Industrial
activities now disclose less than the
customary summer hating. and are ao-
tualiy broadening in many quarters,
exemplifes the urgency of present re-
quirements. and more pressing calls are
being made upon the agencies of pro-
duction and distribution as needs
grow in magnitude.
THE unusual numbers of domestic
and foreign customers who are in the
country's leading markets are not only
ordering literally, but In many cases
are making requests for supplies be-
yond the ability OF manufacturers to sat-
isfy, and allotments of outputs are be-
coming necessary in some lines. Tho
buying, moreover, centres in the more
expensive classes of commodities and
Is not only based on immediate wants
but Is also to cover future consumption
and to forestall further price advances
while instances are not lacking
where the extreme costs compel economy
and reduce the purchasing power vet
the increasing conviction that high prices
are to continue indefinitely finds refiec-
! ton In the release of much business that
had been deferred In expectation of
| concessions. and the existing situation is
clearly one In which the seller holds
the commanding position. The wide
spread construction revival, of which
| there Is concrete evidence in the sta
tistics OF June building permits, Is q
demonstration alike OF the great pres
sure for housing accommodations and
OF the changed attitude of buyers re-
Sarding the price question and there in
more OF disposition nearly everywhere
to go ahead with important undertakings
| on the present basis"
Active wholesale and retail trade,
more so indeed than usual at the mid
summer PERIOD" says Bradstrcet's Stute
or Trade, Increased activity and output
in Industry. but especially in iron and
steel and In building lines, in which lat
ter a great boom is on new high levels
OF prices, especially for foods, following
rise In all prices In June. some shading
or crop estimates, especially of wheat
and oats, but marked Improvement in
corn and to a lesser degree In cotton: an
irregular stock market. due to vagaries
Too nnh IT.
as 20 per cent, the highest in four years
and half. and the lowest prices for
British demand sterling exchange IN
forty years are the big outstanding fea-
lures of the weeks report
"In wholesale and jobbing trade a few
markets note that the turnover Is not az
large as few weeks ago, but nearly all
report that II is in excess OF a year ago,
with raw textiles, manufactures thereof.
wearing apparel of all kinds shoes,
leather, jewelry. automobiles and Access
sories, lumber other building materials
and building hardware showing most ac-
tivity.
Most textile centres report mills
taxed to fill deliveries. and few signs OF
J the usual summer dulness are visible
Retail trade is as good as ever, with
light wearing apparel leading, and with
shoes, Jewelry and automobiles and ac-
J cessories selling we'll In the automobile
trade. while deliveries of some moderate
priced cars are reported improving. buy F.
J ers of many other makes are reported
; on virtual waiting list.
! Among tho big industries the feature
J Is the steady enlargement OF demand for
J iron and steel. both on domestic account
; and for export. bar iron and steel. nuts
. and bolts. wire products and structural
: all doing well, though of course nothing
like the feverish activity OF a year ago
1 is noted In the lines in which war de-
J mand was then so influential. Export
: demand for plates and for rails is re-
I ported larger, and builders hardware
manufacturers are reported buying raw
| materials,
"Unhled steel orders as of July 81
1 show n gain OF 6O5.000 tons. the first
gain since last autumn. Pig iron fur
4 naces are more active and prices are
7rmer. Coal shows more life, the output
? for the latest recorded week marking tho
: best output In months. Coke is flrmer
I in price also. In the building industry
) the boom is on in earnest. with expendi-
2 lures for June three times those for June
a year ago. and the half year record
4 shows that 1919 Is fast overhauling thu
| high records OF 1916"