Norwich bulletin., 1920-05-20
PRICES Of Wearing apparel
SLASHED 20 TO 80 PER CENT
Price Cutting Wave Mems and Womens Clothing, Shoes
and Hats Sweeping the Country Exered by
Banks in the Wholesale Dry Goods and General Mer
chandse Districts Said Be Responsible Spread Of
the Movement to Other Lines is Indicated.

Chicago, May 19.-The wave of price
cutting in wearing apparel continued to-
day TO sweep the country. merchants in
many cities and towns announcing re-
ductions in mems and women's clothing,
shoes. hats and other articles. While
some merchants said the reductions
could not be maintained after present
stocks were exhausted. others declared
the price cuts were the logical outcome
OF breaks in the eastern market, back
ward season and large stocks on hand
Owners of department stores in scores
OF cities and towns today announced price
reductions in mems and women's apparel
ranging from 90 to so per cent. while in
some places shoes and other articles were
cut.
While the movement, which assumed
nationwide proportions yesterday, contin-
ued TO spread. banking interests in New
York today extended their campaign of
defiation of credits and high commodity
prices, carrying out their pledge to the
federal reserve board Pressure exerted
by the banks in the wholesale dry goods
and general merchandise districts was
said to be responsible for the wave of
price cutting in the retail trade.
Banks were reported TO have notified
importers and dealers in luxuries, arti-
cles of apparel and manufacturers of So
called non-essentials that only moderate
financial accommodation could be expect
ed now.
The price cuts largely were confined to
wearing apparel. but a spread of the
| movement to other lines was indicated by
the action of Omaha dentists in reducing
the price of dental work.
| For newspaper advertisement today a
Newark clothing concorn denounced price
! cutting as ''an economic mistake" assert
| ing lit is economically unsound to sell
merchandise today for a price which is
| less than we can buy it from the makers
| anywhere. What the world needs is
! greater production. not the drastic sacri-
| fee of retail prices Several Milwaukee
"a circus stunt"
In St Paul, where marked price reduc-
I tions were announced. the largest whole
| sale millinery concern in the northwest
| stated it would open its doors to retail
| trade and dispose of a s1.3oo,0oo stocf
| at prices so per cent. below those now
| prevailing. One large mems furnishing
establishment, which operates stores II
several cities, announced a general reduc
tion of Is per cent.
Price reductions ranging from Is to 81
per cent. were advertised by a number
OF Boston retail stores. While most re
1
store announced reduction of % pc
cent. in cottons. blankets. linens and sim
liar materials. Some women's store
marked prices down one-half
At ST. Louis three department store
cut clothing prices Is to % per cent.
while several mems stores announced
33 1-3 per cent reductions in mems suits
a Texarkana. Ark. shoe store announced
a sale of s12 shoes for s4.s5. Othei
stores advertised larger reductions.
Virtually all leading stores in Chatia
nooga. Tenn. advertised 90 per cent dis
counts on ali goods except contract com
modities one Columbus; o.. store re
duced women's clothing one-third and an
other ccnducteu 4. ..--il price" sale OF
spring suits,
Price cutting in the sale Of textile
materials. hats and furnishings, put int
effect in many San Francisco establish