The Washington herald., 1921-11-02
WHOLESALE GROCERY TRADE
EXPECTS GRADUAL UPTURN
Recovery of Fundamental Industries Regarded
as Essential Factor.

The Washington Herald publishes
below the telegraphic answers from
a group of wholesale grocery and
hardware firms from several sec
tons OF the United States in re-
Spouse to q list OF six specific ques-
tons sent them.
The responses indicate an expec-
tation OF gradual improvement in
business.
This group of answers from
v holesale firms follows the three
ihstallments of answers from bank
ers to a similar list Of questions
published in the Washington Herald
on Monday and Tuesday. The opin-
ions OF other trade groups, both
wholesale and retail. will be pub
lished on following days.
The six questions were:
l. Do you anticipate pronounced
Improvement, in business this year?
.. II not, what kind Of business
do you anticipate?
3. When do you expect Pronounced
Improvement?
4. What do you consider the chief
Ietarding influences?
.. How does tine value of your
perchandisc on hand October l
compare in percentage with one
year ago? With two years ago?
6. How does the physical quantity
of such merchandise compare with
one year ago? With two years ago?
The answers fellow:
Seeman Bros, New York City.
1. We do expect pronounced i'm
proVement in our business this
year. because our business was 40
thoroughly Debated during the past
year that there Is bound to be a
reaction.
2. This pronounced improvement
does not mean that we expect our
business to reach its normal level,
although Temporarily our tonnage
seems to be running fully up to the
average.
8. We do not feel we can expect
really good business until wages,
rents and general prices come to a
new basis Of equilibrium.
4. Lack of confidence, due in
great part to the international sit
uation..
5. The value of our inventory on
October I, as compared with a year
ago, was about so per cent. The
value OF our inventory on October
1. as compared with two years ago,
was about IS per cent.
6. The physical quantity of our
inventory. as compared with a year
ago, is so per cent. The physical
quantity of our inventory as COM
pared with two years ago, is IS per
cent.
Lewis Hubbard a Co.. Charleston,
W. Va.
1. We expect a very gradual i'm
provement during the remainder Of
this year.
3. This gradual Improvement will
last for two or three years.
Retarding influences are excessive
freight rates, excessive taxation,
labor conditions, and lack of re-
duction in prices by some concerns
in proportion to reduction In other
business.
5. Our stocks are worth about 70
per cent as compared. with q year
ago and 50 per cent as compared
with two years ago.
9. The physical quantity OF our
stock on hand on October is about
rs per cent of that on hand a year
ago and about IS per cent of that
on hand two years ago.
CLARK q McCaren Co. Bad Axe,
Mich.
Business In our line Is good Ex-
pect a slight recession. which IL sea-
sonable in this section, for the bal
ance Of the year. Spring prospects
are good on account of large acre
age Of fall crops planted. which are
in good shape.
Retarding influences are railroad
rates, which are too high: unequal
readjustment Of prices in various
commodities and liquidation, which
has been forced too far in some
lines, so that there IL no money in
producing. and hence stagnation.
Our merchandise II just half last
years stock, and about so per cent
OF that held two years ago. we
have approximately so per cent of
the physical quantity of a year ago.
o. }. Moore Grocery Company,
Sioux City. Iowa.
w We expect gradual Improve
ment in business.
(3) We expect pronounced inn
provement on the marketing Of the
1929 crop.
~ We consider the chief re-
tardine influences 20 be low prIcea
on farm products.
5. The value OF our merchandise
on hand October IL rs to 40 uer
cent less than q year ago.
s. The physical quantity Of our
merchandise on hand October 4 is
% per cent less than that of a year
D.yie..strsuss-staufrer Company,
Easton, Pa.
/. We do not anticipate pro-
nounced Improvement in business
2 We anticipate business COM