The New York herald., 1922-08-06
TRADE REVIEW AND
II BUSINESS OUTLOOK
Raw Textile Markets Kept
Firm Despite Lessened Ac-
tivity Last Week.
FABRICS AT Low PRICES
American Woolen Company's
New Spring Lines Bring Big
Surprise to Trade.
FABRICS AT Low PRICES

inere WAS little activity In the prf-
mary textile markets last week. but the
price situation remained strong. The
outstanding feature was the completion
OF the showings for next spring by the
American Woolen Company and the un-
expectedly low prices named on the
fabrics. The prices prevailing on wor-
steds will enable a clothier to produce
and place an the market next spring a
good worsted suit OF clothes at pop
ular price.
Prospects for fall in the dry goods
trade are considered extremely good in
view of small stocks in retailers hands
and advancing raw material markets
Most wholesale dry goods houses showed
~ volume of sales for the first six
months of the year which was only
slightly less than for the same period
in 1921, according to the National
Wholesale Dry Goods Association.
Rapid fluctuations In the raw cotton
market, as result of the bullish cotton
crop report of the Government, caused
an unsettled and erratic gray goods mar
ket. Quotations became firm after the
report, but toward the close of the
Many mills have Withdrawn their lines
from sale pending more settled pri-
mary market. Buyers continue to seek
goods at lower prices and In several IN
stances have been able TO buy from
second hands al lower than market quo
tations The gingham situation showed
little changes, Announcements of prices
are not expected until after Labor Day.
Percales continued active.
80 - . .erla w<1 trt n
situation, the National Wholesale Dry
Goods Associations market letter re-
ported that even IL the mills resume
operations on a large scale. 1t VIII be
several months before finished goods
begin to come through the mills
WooIens for Next Spring. .
The American Wooden Company
brought it's showings for next spring TO
a close last week, but not without
springing another surprise on the trade.
Prices named on the womens wear Tab
rcs last Monday, and on the balance of
the lines of mems wear semi-staples and
fancy worsteds which were shown last
Tuesday, were again below the estimates
OF the trade.
Prices on the best selling or repeat
numbers i'm womens wear fabrics were
from ia to per cent. lower than the
opening, despite the fact that raw wool
quotations have jumped more than 100
per cent. on the finer and medium
grades in the last year. Velours and
tricotine worsteds were shown at prices
which were the lowest for any spring
opening in the company's history.
The trend of prices named on mems
wear fabrics was also Enthusiastically
downward. three quarters of the lines
opened being priced below $3.50 yard
whereast at the last spring opening
only one-quarter of the lines were priced
below this figure,
Business in most of the lines Is re-
ported as brisk. Already certain of the
lines for both mems and women's wear
have been withdrawn from sale by the
company. Other independent factors are
preparing to wind up their spring
showings this week. All of the lines
shown so far are slightly higher in price
than last spring.
After weakening almost continuously
in the last fortnight, the raw silk
market displayed new strength toward
the close of the week prices assuming
an upward tendency. Manufacturers con-
tnue to restrict their purchases to
absolute spot requirements for filling in
purposes. A development which has
strengthened Nthe belief that higher
prices will be seen in the near future is
that Japanese interests have agreed to
curtail production about 80 per, cent.
Following this agreement the Yokohama
market showed renewed strength.
Operations at the broad silk mills
fiere continue to increase as a result
Of the consistent improvement in busi-
nness. Manufacturers are expecfed to
begin to buy raw silk more heavily for
etocls purposes. The ribbon trade was
without material change.
Fur Trade Quiet.
little business was done in the raw
fur market. although prices continue to
display great firmness Higher prices
are expected-in the near future as a
result OF the small stocks in dealers
hands Attention of the trade at present
is centered on the August retail fur
sales which began last Monday Initial
results seem to bear out the predictions
expressed by retailers that business this
month will be better than that of the
corresponding period of last year. Hud-
son seal. caracul, raccoon and marmot
are leading nj sales, while there is an
active demand for squirrel, mink and
broadtail.
The apparel trade was directly in,
terested in the showings OF fabrics for
next spring by the American Woolen
Company Garment manufacturers re-
joiced in the surprisingly low prices. for
they have been decidedly averse to
higher values. Nevertheless they may
be forced TO make slight advances in
prices TO cover the Increased costs which
they were forced to pay for fabrics
some time ago.
Low prices also have tended to change
the arguments of statesmen that cloth
ing prices next year will be much
higher. Representatives OF apparel
manufacturers ara meeting with fair
success on the road. Operations In the
ladies' garment shops are growing. as
many OF the workers have returned fol-
lowing a strike.
a continuance OF business and indus
trial activity at the relatively high rate
recently attained Is reported In the Fed
eral Reserve Boards July bulletin. PRO
duction has shown further increases In
some lines II says, while there have
benn only slight decreases in those lines
which normally would be noticeably af-
<-cted by seasonal influences The coal
and railroad strikes have served to re-
strain productive activities In various
lines. notably iron and steel.
CUTS DIPLOMATIC BAGGAGE.
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