The Washington herald., 1920-03-22
UPWARD TREND
In. BUSINESS
Weeks S Survey Shows Con-
ditions Good for This
Time Of Year.
IRON AND STEEL LEAD
Increased Output Continues
Notwithstanding Fuel
And Car Shortages.
IRON AND STEEL LEAD


Business in general is of good
proportions for this time of year
and the weeks trade advices point
to some Improvement over the con-
ditions reported the week before.
speaking broadly. wholesalers and
Jobbers are doing a satisfactory
business. though there are fndica-
tion in dispatches of the persist
ence OF the disposition to limit pur-
chases to nearby needs, and to ex-
ercise caution as to future require
ments. For the satisfaction of i'm
mediate requirements consumption
Is of good volume and in most
cases taxes the ability Of distribu-
tive agencies. There are, of course.
differences growing out of local
conditions, but these are more no
ticeable in respect to retail trade.
While there are centers which re-
port that branch of business as
quiet owing to varying causes such
as inclement weather, bad roads or
strikes, there are more in which
conditions are the reverse and a
number in which retail trade Is
feenng the stimulus OF the APP
preaching early Easter season, the
holiday itself being only two weeks
of. An early effect of the latter
influence is seen in the reports of
activity in spring millinery and no.
lions which are beginning to come
In. Manufacturers are meanwhile
proceeding at a very active pace.
apparently straining every nerve to
put production abreast of demand.
though hampered in many cases by
difficulties in obtaining raw mate
rials and by inadequate car service.
In transportation facilities some
Improvement is noticeable though
much remains to be achieved in
that direction before the situation
is entirely relieved.
The production of iron and steel
Is increasing in spite of fuel and
car shortages and in the Pennsyl-
vania district of food conditions.
Pig iron production, however, is
stiu below demand and the leading
interests are we'll sold up. The buy
ing of steel is in large volume with
values showing more stability.
Raw wool is at a standstil1 the
trade having been unsettled by gov
ernmeht auctions. Producers are
looking for new high prices and
dealers are not buying. Woolen
goods are - moderate demand with
stocks in hands of jobbers and cut
ters larger than normal. Cotton
goods are steady to firm with the
supply for immediate purposes linn
tied but the future somewhat un-
certain.
Raw silk tends to ease and other
grades are reported sympathizing
with the decline in Japanese. The
leather market is irregular. Pc
troleum producers and refners are
very busy with prices rising and
1t
oils are in active demand lettering
with the opening weather. There
il steady call for Building mate
rials, including lumber and build
ers' hardware, though in localities
activity has been checked by high
labor and material costs and bad
weather. With the approach of
spring has come an unusual demand
for fertilizers and reports of prog
ress made by farmers in their work
in preparing the soil and planting.
In general, satisfactory progress
is being made. though complaints
of lack of moisture come from some
localities while others tell of pro-
longed rains hindering the farmers
in planting. The Southwest needs
more rain to give winter wheat a
good start, and the Central Western
crop is spotted. More growing
weather is needed TO determine its
actual condition and the amount of
loss from winter killing which is
expected to be large.
Food prices are slightly up. 1 per
cent on the week, though live ami
mails, except hogs. are lower.
Among the influences affecting
trade, mention must not be omitted
of the Tightening of credit. which
affects wholesalers more than re-
tailers, the latter, however, having
had the worst kind Of weather for
over two months. Another factor
worth noting is the longshoremen's
strike at New York which has had
the result of checking shipments to
southern ports.
Weekly failure reports have be-
gun to run above the like totals a
year ago. and II seems probable
that these will induce a reverse
movement in monthly totals, which
have been dropping monthly and
yeatly for four years past. Totals
are still far below all years pre-
vious In 1919.
Bank clearings for the week show
expansion, being Is per cent larger
than last week and 80 per cent
over this "7eek year ago.