The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-08-27
BUSINESS
Summer Dullness Giving
Way to Fall Buying in
Retail Centers.

DALLAS. Texas.-Midsummer clear
ance sales. which were pushed with
unusual yigor and preparations for the
expected expansion in business this
fall, were the principal activities in the
retail trade field during July. according
to report of retail and wholesale trade
conditions in the Eleventh Federal Re
serve district for July, gwen the AS.
sociated Press today.
Although summer dullness had the
effect of cutting down the volume "
sales, this reaction was expected at this
time of the year, the report summar'
izes. Retailers made drastic cuts ON
late spring and summer seasonal mcr.
chandise. which has moved slowly early
in the year on account of unreasonable
weather.
A summary of the report follows;
Decrease Shown.
Sales of 20 department stores reg
stered a decrease Of 27.3 per cent as
compared with last month, and 81
per cent as compared with July. 1921.
The liquidation OF stocks through
clearance sales and the replacing of
same with only small amount of fan
merchandise brought the stocks Of
these firms on hand at the close OF
July down to point 81 per cent be
low those on hand at the close Of
June and rs per cent below those ON
hand at the close of July, 1921.
The ratio of stocks to sales during
July was 559.7 per cent. which shows
a slower turnover during that month
half OF the current year the ratio for
that season being 1868 per cent. A
lower turnover. however, Is generally
obtained in July due to the smaller
volume of sales in that month
The ratio OF outstanding orders AT
the close of July to last years pur.
chases was 1917 per cent. which reflects
the natural increase at this time of The
year on account Of the fact that retail.
ers are placing their forward orders
for fall merchandise.
Partially Recovered.
Partial recovery from summer dull.
ness characterized the July trade con
ditions in the wholesale channels OF
distribution. Optimism was the key.
note OF trade reports az the closer ap.
proach of the fail season gives promise
of fairly good crops which In turn
augur well for a more normal business
this fall. An encouraging feature of the
situation is the fact that sales of dry
goods. hardware. drugs farm nipple
ments. and groceries. We're practically
the same as last year. However. buy.
ers are operating conscrvatively in that
they are buying for immed' late or near
by delivery in the face OF probable
higher prices on many items and =
shortage in some items.
While collections In most lines are
slow at the present time this is a
natural development and the COLLECTION
situation seems to be satisfactory un.
der present conditions
A lively demand under the stimulus
VI iHS was III tN.utUtt III INV
wholesale dry goods trade during July
Sales OF l2 firms We're not only t2a
per cent larger than last month. but
were 23 per cent larger than the same
month year ago. On July q. the fall
buying season in some centers opened
and many firms report that their sales
were very gratifying during the first
two weeks OF August. Buyers OF retail
establishments from all parts OF the
dstrict are visiting the market centers
in large numbers and while they arc
buying cautiously. many appear TO be
SPREADING their business over larger
field than was the case year ago. In
some cases where small stocks hereto.
fore have been carried. complete line
is being ordered this year Although
orders for future delivery are bc.ng
placed on somewhat restricted basis
the steady rate at which orders for i'm
mediately or nearby delivery are being