The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-20
RETAIL LINES SHOW
GREATER ACTIVITY
Has Been Brought About at
Expense Of Prices, Reviews
Of Trade Say.

More activity has been experienced in
retail trade and in jobbng lines during
the last week than in a long time, al
though II has been brought about at the
expense Of prices. according to weekly
trade reviews. Colder weather has aided
materially in the movement of goods
but manufacturing curtailments have
been more widespread than usual The
encouraging features of the outlook are
being stressed more freely and sounder
conditions for the future are fore
Swallowed
There is more life In some branches
OF trade" says Bradstreet's state Of
Trade notably in those catering to
final distribution and consumption, but,
on the other hand, big wholesale busi-
ness and manufacturing show less do
ing with a rather pessimistic feeling
ruling and prices of commodities sag
ging further. The bulk of the improve
ment where manifested quite widely. as
1t Is at retail and to a lesser extent with
jobbers, IS unquestionably at the ex-
pense OF prices, though colder weather
with the advance of the season Is hav-
Ing its effect upon reluctant buyers of
necessities in apparel lines and furnish
ings
In cases where retailers, jobbers or,
as In the case Of clothing and related
lines, wholesalers and retailers have
gone after business In a determined
way the response has been encouraging
from the standpoint of future stability
in trade and manufacture. In other
words cooler Notwithstanding or be-
low that point being noted as far south
as TeXas--and cut prices have proved
that there Is a demand at price.
Hence 1t is that BrddStreets reports as
70 retail buying are now about fair,
whereas wholesale and manufacturing
lines still return a majority of reports
Indicating continued dulness. Collec-
tons do not seem to have improved,
however, but are still undeniably slow
Dun's Rerieto says: Certain changes
for the better have appeared in business.
The Improvement is slight and none at
all IS visible in various quarters, but
some of the indications are more favor
able than in recent weeks. Sentiment
among some interests has strengthened
even without appreciable gain In &C
tlvity. and the encouraging features In
the outlook are being rather more freely
stressed. While immediate commercial
revival is not expected, sounder condi-
tions in the future are foreshadowed
ana q long range view OF lHe slluttllpl
gives rise to confident hopes.
with lower temperatures in most
sections, demand for seasonable goods
has moderately increased, and offerings
Of merchandise at lower prices seem to
be meeting with a somewhat broader
response. At the best. however. the
buying is still conservative and re-
stricted, and curtailment of production
through lack of new orders has not yet
ceased.
"A resultant decline I'm employment
with reduction of wages in some indus
tries in turn tends to limit consumptive
purchasing and preparations for the
coming holiday trade are on smaller
scale.
Liquidation In commodities and Sc
curities is serving to lessen the monetary
stringency. yet this does not mean that
there has been any departure from the
prudent policy in banking circles, or that
credit restraints have been relaxed. The
attitude nearly everywhere is one OF
caution, but optimism regarding subse-
quent progress along more wholesale
lines is in many quarters well defined