The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-17
TRADE HAS SIGNS
OF IMPROVEMENT
Further Lifting Of Artificial
Price Restrictions Has
Beneficial Effect.
EXPORT CALL INCREASES
Return Of Iron and Steel to
Competitive Basis Is Help
to Industries.
EXPORT CALL INCREASES

An important and ENCOURAGING safn :,
business occurred during the last veek
according TO weekly trade reviews thu
chief reason for which was further re-
moval Of artificial restrictions on price,
The return Of strictly competitive coma.
tons to the iron and steel industry es
q result Of the abandonment Of the Red.
field price stabilization plan has had a
marked effect on that line. says Dun's
Review, and the copper industry also IL
showing new signs of Improvement
with a freer functioning of natural
economic forces, permitted by the fur
Their removal of artificial meaglrea-
Dun's Repteto says, "discordant note, in
business are becoming fewer and fainter
and are being replaced by more frequent
and clearer expressions Of optimism re-
garding the future. The great iron and
steel industry. for months depressed BY
price uncertainties. now gives indications
Of n reawakening under the return OF
strictly competitive conditions, and the
copper trade, although slow to experience
recovery. is also beginning to show siEns
Of rer ewed animation.
while the gain in these lines Is ",
mainly one of more cheerful sentiment.
there are multiplying evidences OF a de-
cided increase of actual orders In some
other leading branches, as in textiles
reports that transactions are running be-
yond calculations are growing more
common. This is not only true OF de-
mands to meet certain needs. but also OF
purchases in anticipation of forward
equipments, and the change OF buying
disposition suggests reversal OF the
former impression that waiting for addi-
tional price declines would prove a profit
able policy.
No Drastic Price Drop.
THAT there has been no far reach.ns
and drastic break in prices, such as It
was thought in some quarters would fol-
low the wars ending, the index numbers
Of wholesale quotations have demon
strated and Dun's list of commodities
this week. for the seventh consecutive
week, discleses more advances than re-
cessions. The rise has occurred. not only
in staple foodstuffs, but also in some ma
terials that enter into the manufacture
Of wearing apparel. and recent predic-
lions that consumers would benefit ap-
probably from general price reductions
do not now seem likely of early fulfil
ment"
A stronger demand for American ex-
port products Is aiding the general re-
covery OF business. according to Brad
streets State Of Trade. which says;
Good wholesale and retail trade.
more activity in industry. continued good
collections. strong demand for American
products for export. stubborn strength
of most foods. textiles and leather prod
ucts. better weather, with some regain
ing OF lost time in crop growing areas
and 4 better feeling. though not much
increase In actual buying. in the iron,
steel and fuel trades, are among the sa-
lient features in week notable for its
variety of trade and industrial happen
ings.
Bond Market Gains Strength.
I'm purely financial lines exceptional
activity. with fairly we'll sustained
strength. IN most securities, a strong
bond market following the successful
floating, with a heavy oversubscription
of the Victory Loan, firmer rates for
call money, but rather more ease In
business loans. sharp rise and later
reaction In silver, and flrmer copper
metal and stock prices. were objects Of
interest.
while optimism was more evident
than for many months past and there
was disposition in trade circles TO ad
init that past overconservatisIn had been
revealed in present broken jobbers' and
retailers stocks of goods there was 4
feeling nevertheless that in some lines.
notably wool. an immense amount o.
material had been absorbed recently at
high prices. and that a chance for its d.
gestion should now be afforded, Wills
some large dealers in cotton goods eH-
pressed the view that recent advances
had outrun the limits OF conservatism.
Hence the reported unwillingness Of
these latter dealers to sell as heavily as
they might in such an eager market.
Some disturbing or at least unsettl!nS
elements, OF course. presented them
selves. The vital needs of the country
for additional dwellings and housing "a
cilities are to certain extent thwarted
by new demands from building hands FOR
high wages and a shorter week. while
prices of material, especially lumber,