The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-11-29
TRADE EYES
ALL ON THE
RETAILER!
Sellers Every Week More
Convinced That Consum-
erS Are in the Saddle
ny JOHN W. UfII.
Financial Editor Iron Trade Review

All eyes in trade circles are turned
upon the retailer. The next move In
the procession toward lower living
costs Is expected 70 come from hun,
Producers and wholesalers have cut
prices and taken losses. Now, they
say. IL Is up 10 the retailer TO follow
suit.
Sellers every week are becoming
more convinced that the consumers
are In the saddle. Rock bottom
prices are demanded. ON Nov. |
Hradstrcet's index number was 10
per cent above prewar levels. APP
parentiy this does not satisfy the
public. II is now giving an amazing
from buying essentials as well as
Injuries
BETrER MOVEMENT
or GOODS REPORTED
Some better movement Of seasonal
goods Is reported. however. This Il
due TO the colder weather and TO
price CONCESSIONS In the main.
trade continues under the influence
OF price uncertainty and the dead.
lock between buyers and SELLERS
The swapping back OF wheat prices
Within the last few days 60 1915
levels has carried American wheat
below Canadian quotations This has
revived buying here by England The
visible supply OF American wheat
Nov. was $1,000. 900 bushels less
than last year The worlds visible
.x.....f.. l. sea aan aAa t..sk..ta A..
Large crops In Argentina. Australia
and India however. are expected 20
provide ample wheat for the world
next year.
With flour nearly back 10 prewar
levels. bread prices have begun TO
tumble In some cities. In New York
= number OF hotels have cut feed
prices 10 per cent. A large chain OF
restaurants has announced reduc.
lions OF from 10 to rs per cent. Many
lines OF fabrics and clothing have
registered sharp declines within the
hast two weeks.
NIGH REPRODUCTION
ARGUMENT USELESS
Sellers have abandoned as useless
the high.enst of production argument
70 keep up prices. Instead. they are
endaavorsnE 10 bring down costs Tor
1871. No general reduction in wages
have occurred. Chief economies will
b. effected thru cheaper raw mate
rial and fuel and increased efficiency
o. labor.
The decline ~ foreign exchanges
continues to be matter for concern
~ the country. From Argentina.
Brazil and other South American
countries American exporters are re-
ceiving returned goods and unpaid
drafts The European situation also
conttnues grave In cuba financial
conditions are growing more In
VOWED As sugar prices continue TO
decline.
Blue denim icaped to fame last
spring with the overall parades.
Nov II Is In the van OF the low.
prtce procession. Manufacturers are
offering II at price making g. over.
ais at retail possible. Shirts at 81
are another novelty promised.
Hosiery and underwear prices have
been cut from Is to % per cent
CUTS ANNOUNCED BY
CLOTHING MAKERS
Announcement Of cuts OF from "a
to 20 per cent have been announced
BY 10 large Rochester CS. " cloth.
Ing makers. Large stocks OF unsoId
and returned goods are reported on
hand. Ore manufacturer OF clothes
predicts next springs prices will be-
within Is per cent Of pre-war lev.
els.
Despite the adverse exchange rates.
latest export figures show that
Europe has been buying cotton free
~. October exports were the largest
for the month since 1915. AZ the
same time consumption by American
mills wasf the smallest In October
since the war began.
Prices are falling because Of un.
der.demand and not over production.
Prices were pushed 80 high during
imitation that buyers either rebrIied
or were unable 10 pay them. In ad.
dition banking credit has been tern.
porariiy exhausted. Money rates are
high and loan renewals difficult. As a
result business houses have accumu.
lstions Of goods. They must make
concessions 10 get cash and pay their
debts. Also. too much faith was
pinned In autumn trade prospects
and a post-election boom. II II now
realized that excessive prices have