New-York tribune., 1920-08-09
WOOlens

for future delivery.
WOOlene
No progress was reported in the
woolen or worsted goods market last
week toward revving interest in
heavyweight goods or in going forward
into the spring lightweight season.
Both buyers and sellers apparently are
awaiting the action of the American
Woolen Company. One of the big con-
Germs mills, it is reported, will re-
open to-day for the finishing of spring
sample pieces, but it is felt that moth
ing definite has been considered toward
resuming actual production. Some buy
ers feel that the American as we'll as
other prominent producers have fairly
large stocks Of fall goods on hand which
will be thrown on the open market be-
fore the spring selling season is in
augurated. Mill selling agents, how
ever, scout the idea that there are
large accumulations of goods in first
hands.
Some activity in women's cloakings,
suitings and dress goods was apparent
last week, but it was being done most
ly by the jobbers, who took liberal re-
ductions on their merchandise.
Furs
The fur trade is still awaiting the
end of the strike in the plants of
manufacturing furriers which has been
in progress since May. About twenty
manufacturers are reported to have
reopened their shops on an open shop
basis in defiance Of the strikers. Local
retailers are swinging into line on
August fur sales to a greater extent
than last year. Some of the sale prices
quoted appear to be much in advance
of prices for similar articles in 1919
Buyers are still proceeding cautiously
in stocking up with goods for sale next
the trade, quotations on raw and
dressed skins are little moro than
nominal.
Leather
The manufacturing end of the shoe
trade and consequently the hide and
leather market continued to await the
resumption of buying of fall shoes by
the retailers. While some orders were
placed last week, they were small and
tailers are carrying over fairly heavy
stocks of fall and winter footwear
fl ON last season and will be able to
offer seasonable merchandise to their
customers without buying new stock
for several months. Manufacturers
are bringing out many novelties to at
tract trade, but nothing that bids fair
to become extremely popular has made
its appearance yet.
In the hide and leather end of the
trade some export business is being
consummated, but it is of compara-
lively small volume. Tanners are still
running on curtailed schedules and the
demand for hides is light.
Jewelry
Conflicting reports continue to come
out Of the jewelry trade. On the
whole it appears that business is dull
in manufacturing and wholesaling
circles and that retailers are expert
encing falling off in trade. Also it
is apparent that the retailers are
fairly we'll supplied with stocks at
present and will make no rush to re-
stock in the near future. No further
declines were noted IN silverware
prices, which are believed to be fixed
for the remainder of the year at least.
Soft platinum was advanced from
SS5 to $105 an ounce last week, and
other grades in proportion. Bullion
dealers report almost no call for gold,
silver and platinum at present.
Diamond prices are firm on first class
stones Of good size, but dealers
pressed for money are sacrificing
some of the smaller stones and those
of inferior quality.
Apparel.
Manufacturers and jobbers Of
waists appear to be doing more busi-
ness than most other factors in the
dry goods trade, but even in this
branch of industry there is lack of
snap to the buying of fall garments
now in progress. Demand for the ex-
tremely expensive garments has shown
a great falling off compared with pre-
vlous, seasons and many manufacture
ers have eliminated such numbers
from their sample lines The makers
Of the low end merchandise are mot
getting much business, with the result
that prices have broken sharply. In
the medium priced lines there is still
uncertainty. although the manufactur-
ers have shaded profits considerably.
At two meetings of organizations in
the cloak and suit and dress industries
last. week discussion revolved on the
advisability Of curtailing production
or closing the plants altogether. '''''
In the mems clothing trade busi-
ness is still at low cbb and two of
the largest local producers announced
partial close downs of their plants.
Unless the retailers come forward
With more orders soon it is expected
that more sedowns will result.
Trading in hosiery and underwear
continued light with more knitting
mills closing down or curtailing pro-
duction. Manufacturers of underwear
continue to insist that spring prices
must be advanced. Buyers are still
hoping for further reductions in both
cotton and silk hosiery, but producers
assert that the bottom of prices has
been reached.
Garment Makers Optimistic
BUSINESS men throughout the United
States and Canada who are members
OF I the International Association of
Garment Manufacturers are optimistic
concerning the business outlook despite
the falling off in the number of orders