Evening star., 1922-12-20
CHRISTMAS TRADE
BEST SINCE WAR
Peak Year of 1920 Already
Passed by Splendid HoIi-
day Business.
Df J. G. ROYI.E,
Special Dispatch to The STIR

Special Dispatch to The STIR
NEW YORK, December 1G-Foot
pail may be over on the grdiron for
this season. but II is in fun swim.
IN the packed aisles of the stores 81,
the. country today The Christma4
trade is in the swirl of the biggcSr
volume Of buying that the country
mas seen since the war. There is ever,
evidence that the total sales recorded
viii exceed those of the peak year ,,r
1920, in spite of the fact that the cal.
endar has shortened the holiday se.t-
son decidedly this year.
Purchases of the more expensive
gifts for Christmas already have tak-
en- place in many localities. but this
week the volume of smaller articlel
sought is maintaining the totals fn-
each day well up to the top. In tia
larger cities, the sales are running -
high as 20 per cent above those ot
last year.
More Goods Ordered.
Retailers are not in sole possessi.
OF the field. JObberS, whole eSalcrs ant
, manufacturers are being besieEed ~
merchants for prompt shipment &c
rr-pfders to replenish empty shelve-.
THIS trend is especially notioeat.s
riaration in This column that lis
/ farmers are in much better coudi-
tlon financially than is generally
known Is finding ample confirmation
, IN Inc now of orders to rural mer-
! chants ad mail order houses ;td d.
/ mands for additional goods from tia
farm centers
The demand for toys has been 49,
traordinary ard many toy depart
Tents face the last days bct"lss
q d n 4krt 1.
Sporting goods dealers have had oira
| of the best seasons in their histor..
and sport garments continue 10 h,.
/ mainstay Of the clothing trade.
Clothing Sales Heavy.
! Perhaps the only line which has IA
| kept pace with the general iicrtaS.,
/ i'll sales is winter clothing for l,ntn
men and women. The warm wealth.
Of the early winter checked ear"
| purchases. and, while sales now are
running well up to normal. it 8
doubtful if the lost volume of trans
actions will be made UP. An indica
. tion Of the tremendous yolum, e
buying Of small articles is seen il ;lis
/ sales OF the WoolwOrth stores n
| widely separated localities. X Il.
! probable that the December sales viii
! exceed those for Move mber. which
were $1isS4,3s6. by at least $1,000
| 900
The mems speciality shops are ro'p
in the midst Of a rush for last-nlir.
ute gifts and firms handling leather
goods, especially travelling bags and
| trunks. are doing Il rushing busineS.
Many Back Bills Paid.
As result Of the big voium" a
holiday trade, retailers 4" ho have
been indebted to wholesalers and
| manufacturers for many months are
! already paying up. There is every
, Indication that the merchants Will lie
able To start out next year free from
debt in many cases and in excel ll'nt
credit situation This trend is re-
garisd as extremely important, as
many manufacturers ana Wholesalers
| hay" been carrying some Of their re-
taller friends for longer than they
care 10 think about.
Reports from Kansas City. Chi.
cago. the southwest and the PaClht
coast; confirm assertions from til
south and east that the year will end
with the retailers shelves well
cleared and with no great volume a.;
stock TO be listed in the inventory
| period.
The volume OF December retail
trade has been sustained by strong
and attractive advertising campaigns
and these undoubtedly win 10. mail-
taiEed in most instances until the an.
nual while sale. Perhaps The most
important special sales ot the yeas
are over Many merchants have had
difficulty in securing goods for ih">a
sales at previous low prices because
of the advances in raw and nnisi,d
cotton products in the last six week ks
and many merchants predict marked
| advances in retail prices for suca
goods early next year