New-York tribune., 1920-05-19
Goods Reduced From Is
Per Cent to Minus Profit
Biggest Reductions
on Women's Garments
Tight Money Given
As One of Reasons
'iivstericaI Demand Nv
Public for Lower Costs
Also Cited as Effective

CHICAGO, May 1S.-A wave of price
cutting in retail clothing costs, reach
ing from the Mississippi Valley to
the Pacific Coast, was reported to-
day Dispatches from twentyfour
cities in that territory told of prom
ranging from Is per cent 10 minus
profit.
Financial authorities here said the
indications were that the price de-
cline would be limited to ready-to-
wear clothing, principally women's gar
ments and silks. Shoes were in the
list affected.
Tight money and sinadequate trans
portation facilities were cited among
the prime reasons for the movement
among merchants. Delays in delivery
of goods in which much money had
been tied up, together with inability
of farmers to get grain and livestock
to market, were said in many instances
to have worked hardship Oh mer-
chants.
Terms Public Hysterical
An officer of one of the leading
department stores of Chicago declared
the price reduction now being report
ed meant also that merchants were
trying to satisfy what he called "a
husterical demand from the public for
lower prices These current reduc-
tions, he said, might be only tempo
rary.
A financial authority here said that il
reports of price cutting were depend
able they indicated a tendency toward
reduction in inventories. Though this
might be temporary, he declared, it was
undoubtedly good, in that it suggested
that merchants were going ahead more
cautiously. Sales are being held under
various names.
In Topeka, Kan, mems clothing firm
announced a mo profit" sale, declaring
that it would back its promise at the
commissioner or a committe named by
him take possession of its books and
accounts.
Cnderselling in st. Louis
Department stores in ST. Louis adver-
tised "underselling campaigns"
Twenty per cent cuts We're the most
popular. On the Pacific Coast dealers
announced cuts from 20 per cent fiat
to "prohtless sales" declaring that on
some women's garments prices were cut
virtually in half.
Three Seattle retailers cut clothing 20
per cent. In San Francisco one retailer
has announced 20 per cent cut in all
lines, another cuts of 20 to so per cent
in certain commodities At Everett.
WASH, two mems stores announced 20
per cent clothing cuts.
Three large Omaha stores several
days ago announced fiat reduction of
20 per cent and other Omaha stores
have followed. Several Omaha stores
sald their cuts in prices of silk goods
were so per cent. In York, Neb, a 20
per cent decrease in women's silk and
Woolen garments was made In Wichita.
Kan, silk shirts have been reduced
Cotleyvillc, Kan, reported many cut
price sales.
Sale in Minneapolis
In Minneapolis a large department
store has announced q general cut of
20 per cent. At Knoxville, Tenn. one
OF the city's largest department stores
to-day made d general discount of 20
per cent on its entire stock, except
Few contract price articles. Shoe re-
ductlonS also were announced.
AT Oklahoma City, sales offers at 20
TO 80 per cent reductions were reported.
AT Ardmore, one retailer announced a
20 per cent reduction. One mems
store at Muskogee cut everything 10
to 20 per cent and other houses adver-
tlsed sales of spring and summer
apparel with reductions of 2Osper cent.
AT San Antonio, Tex, two department
stores announced sales with reductions
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