New-York tribune., 1920-03-15
Trade e Review
termined when better shopping wealth

termined when better shopping wealth
er sets in.
Retailers last week showed no more
anxiety to load up on spring stocks Of
women's apparel than they have since
the first Of the year. Business in
wholesale circles is not at n dead halt,
normal and is far below what it was at
this time last year
In some quarters the retailers are
pushing spring business by Opening of
season snles" Illustrative of the neces-
sity for this, the manager of the
women's apparel section Of leading
New York store said that she had been
forced to reduce tricotine suits, figured
to sell at $50, to $40, in order to get the
stock moving.
The fairly brisk, trade in knitted
cloth suits for women, which can be
produced more cheaply than most other
varieties, indicates to some extent that
the women are not losing sight of
prices in their purchasings.
With the bettermcnt in the rate Of
British exchange last week, buying of
American furs for European account
by British commission merchants be-
came active. One dealer alone reported
the sale Of more than 100000 worth
OF skunk, Op0ssum and raccoon skins
to London commission merchant
Much of the British buying, according
to dealers here, is for the account OF
Scandinavian, French and even Ger
man furriers, as we'll as English deal
ers and manufacturers. The British
buyers are paying cash in American
hai hoe ,1
mating exchange and credit difficulties
for the American dealer.
With the beginning Of European
activity, tho local market struck a
flrmer tone, although manufacturing
furriers are not yet buying in large
quantities.
Leather
The sheepskin and the glazed Kid
markets were the features of the
leather trade last week Business was
very active and prices strong on all
grades. ID most instances tanners
these skins and tanneries were pushed
to capacity. Dealers reported
scarcity on all grades Of sheepskins.
The top grades of color were held at
80 and SO cents, with some tanners
quoting 38 and 40 cents for choice
leather in chrome tannaees. The
medium grades sold at 80 to 81 cents.
Some good lots of colors were listed,
however, at 26 to % cents. Russet
sheep was scarce and the best grades
closed at 20 to "a cents. The lower
grades sold from ID to IS cents.
Skivers were sold ahead by most tan
ners and top grades were quoted at
26 cents foot. The lowest selections
brought from 18 to 20 cents. Tanners
declared last week that few accumula-
tlons of skivers were to be found in the
New York and Boston markets.
Owing to the advance in the price
OF glazed and mat kid, buyers substi-
tuted cabarettas wherever they were
able to reduce the cost of cutting
upper, leather. Glove sheep was firm
on all finishes and coat leather was
offered on the various grades from 45
to 30 cents foot Suede finishes also
were firm and prices were listed from
80 to so cents a foot. Some choice
lines OF glove leather sold as high as
60 cents foot.
The arrival of the representative of
forty-two large English shoe manu-
facturers in New York last week with
900 worth of British footwear TO
DC placed on the American market was
the topic of much discussion in foot
some
concern over this British competition
manufacturers declared that the
American buyer will never be a large
purchaser of English footwear. even
though the price may be lower, be-
cause OF their lack Of style.
Jewelry
The prices of jewelry, it is believed.
Will continue their upward tendencv
during the year, since fine gold and
silver show no signs of halt in their
rise. Gold particularly, it is thought.
Will 60 considerably higher. A mum,
per OF foreign buyers now are in the
local market, and more are expected
shortly. Already large export orders
are being received and indications
American exporter of jcwelry.
AT present manufacturers are en-
ploying a considerable amount of fe-
male labor, which, they declare, is 60
ing lar to strengthen the labor situa-
ton. Through their employment man
ufacturing costs have been materially
reduced, since female labor in this
country still is considerably cheaper
than male labor
Manufacturers of jewelry were
greatly encouraged last week by the
n,i'nou''ceHleht from fehnerS stating
that the price Of platinum in all forms
had been reduced. The soft metal
dropped from $155 an ounce to S145.
while platinum containing 5 per.cent
iridium now is selling at S155 an
ounce. compared with S165 demanded
in the preceding week There also was
a reduction of $40 in the price of metal
containing 10 per cent iridium, bring
ing 1t to $165 an ounce. Owing to the
fact that the jewelry workers have
been on strike for over five months.
the consumption of platinum has been
reduced to minimum, and as a result