Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-01-28
TRADE OUTLOOK IMPROVES
More Orders Coming In to Manufae.
turers for Short. Time Delivery

There Is an optimistic tone In many
lines OF business, according to the
phia district by r, @. Dun 4 Co. More
Inquiries arc coming In and orders are
deliveries.
receiving q number OF orders for imme.
Sn.,ns.s S,ate delivery together With some future
are working on full time and the general
trade consulted in this line speak en-.
eouragingly Of the prospects for future
business. While the orders received at
present are small, appearances indicate
more steady market
manufacturers Of dresses report that
many or the plants resumed business on
full time and are receiving orders enough
to Justify continuance Of steady opera
tons.
The review, continuing, goes on to
Wholesalers and jobbers OF cottons
and woolens report sales have picked up
within the last week or ten days, while
prospects for the future appear encour-
Manufacturers Of shirtwaists state
the trade continues quiet, although there
Is demand for the better. grade OF
merchandise; Some OF the plants have
OF, their plants on half or part time to
take care OF immediate orders. Col
lectlons In this line are slow.
The iron and steel market continues
quiet os regards new bushes Some
foundry iron and In tin plate. Pipe is
also reported moving fairly freely and
automobile manufacturers are return.
Ing to the market In a moderate way.
Wire products are in fair demand
and structural steel more active on
small tonnage. II is anticipated that the
opening spring season will cause q re.
yival of trade, but at present the situa'
fIOn 10 yan a,uItlru
THE hardware line shows little change
In general business conditions There
appears to be n fair amount Of activity
and purchases are in moderate quanti-
ties An early Increase In the volume
OF business Is anticipated. There Is
little change in prices and collections re-
main good
The electrical trade notes n good
volume OF business In household special
ties, wherein n brisk demand Is reported
on labor.saving devices, both jobbers and
retailers being we'll employed. Some
activity Is also noted in connection with
pated that the spring season will bring
considerable business In this line, al
though at present a waiting spirit ap:
pears evident Prices are steady and
collections fair.
The stove trade report a fair volume
OF business. In staple goods with consid-
erable activity In supplemental heating
apparatus. Foundries are operating at
about 80 per cent capacity and jobbers
and retailers are fairly busy. Prices
are reported firm and collections show
an Improvement.
"The leather market continues dull.
Sales are In such small amounts as not
to affect the large stock on hand and
prices offered necessitate a sacrifice
There is shown a slightly better de
mand for glazed kid, but not sun fcent to
affect tho market. Shoe manufacturers
are working on novelties. having moder.
SI1nA priAra haliyarv
Staple shoes for spring trade are being
purchased. but in small amounts There
appears a growing scarcity Of mems
shoes and prices are firm.
the spring season and report good-sized
orders.
THE local lumber market Is reported
quiet. there being no demand of mo.
inquiries are being received. There is
no change In the price OF lumber and
some OF the manufacturers report their
mills are still inactive.
change OF moment In the bituminous
fields. The lack Of industrial activity is
retardng coal In this direction, but there
is 3 fair demand otherwise.
THE anthracite market is fairly nc
tive, with an increase In demand, owing
to the weather conditions lately. Prices
are about the same.
THE general condition In the build
ing trade shows very little improvement
and. while materials in some lines are
getting lower, others are still holding to
the old high figures. The aggregate vol
ume OF new business for the last week
amounted to s276.s1O, while the CORE.
apondng week of 1920 showed sl,67S,.
115
"The local conditions are not favor
able to the starting Of activities in this
line just now and the brick manufac.
turers at n meeting held recently agreed
that there could be no reduction in the
cost OF bricks at this time"