Evening star., 1922-10-30
HEAVY GAINS MADE
IN CASH BUSINESS
Wide Range of Merchandise
Now in Demand All
Over Country.
BY J. 4. ROYLf..
p,snat..h To The Star,

SPECIAL Dispatch TO The Star
NEW YORK, October 30.-The wid-
cning price range of the merchan-
disc now demanded by the American
tblic is the most significant com =
rnercial indication of today. 1t is
oven more indicative of prosperous
merchandising conditions for the Win
ter and next spring thar the volume
If business now being done both at
retail and who .csa.e. which III many
localities is surprising that of last
year by 20 to 80 per cent.
Medium priced lines still are as
popular as ever. but buying is no
longer confined to goods OF middle
price ranges 1t has spread with the
tdvancc in wages au1 increase in
'uyinE power 20 the more expensive
goods Consequently merchants are
carrying Il wider variety and selec-
tIon OF articles thau at any time in
over two years. cash transactions
rs indicated by hank clearings. will
"o 80 per cent greater this month
tlau last in some respects.
Clothing In Active Demand.
tiothing this week continues the ac-
i've leader of retail trade. Apparel
manufacturers. Wholesalers and re-
iail"rS are doing 20 to 30 per cent
more business than at this time last
ear. shoe factories are working on
JUll ti!a- schedule aud pay rolls are
Icing augmented rs rapidly as skill
ID WORKERS can be secured. Leather
markets are hu"yant after dra rging
f'r the last w" years and While
JldeS ar.s quiet they az moving into
assumption channels.
Wool j. seeking higher price levels
and as It result of this trend of the
market there is considerable specula-
i've buying in evidence Household
1oodS are NyIug with apparel in pop
rllarity.
Men heavily interested in building
construction would he glad to see q
-ur.hcr check III that business tha IN
has already occurred. y slackeninG
now, they asserted today, would per
nit producers OF building materials
-" catch up with orders and lay up
surplus stocks in preparation for
ItAt springs program.
Price Jump Feared.
This would result in stabilizing
construction costs and prevent a
lump il building commodity mar
bets which might have a disastrous
effect ON the whole industry. Brick
ililns and lumber and cement mills
al" running full blast. Lumber has
not yet caught up with accumulated
demand. but is gradually bringing
shipments above new business.
Real estate values are becoming e
stabilized in nearly every section. but
wages continue high in the building
rades. Rents III general are slightly
lower
southern mills are hard pressed 70
get raw cotton and are sending truck :
throughout the farming districts and
i.uyiug direct from the planters. The
spot cotton shortage is becoming e
acute. Growers have sold enough of
their crops TO cover Immediate needs
and pay their debts. but are holdin e
tho remainder for further price ad-
ydnces.
Grain Rushed to Market.
Grain men in the northwest. how
ever. are selling their product as fast
as they can get it to market, and
here is less speculative holding than
Tor some Years. Milling wheat. how
eNer, is at a premium in some CEN
tcrs. Drought is acute in some of the
aliS in the next ten days both live
stocil and grain losses probably will
he heavy. Fall plowing is being held
back by the dry weather. The potato
EarveSt has been exceptionally heavy,
hut demand is slack and many grow
vr,- caunct get their tubers to market
Steel production would bound for
ward were it not for the checks i'm
rroSed by labor shortage and trans
portation difficulties. Many firms from
other sections have sent representa-
tives to the Pittsburgh district in the
hope of speeding up deliveries
Cold weather and heavy advertising
have been aids to retail trade in the
Ia