New-York tribune., 1922-12-31
See Rising Prices
AS Chief Retail
Problem Next Year
Otherwise the Outlook Is
Bright, Resident Buyers
Finad After a Personal
Survey of the Field

The oaly cloud on the retail horizon
AT preset is that Of rising prices, IN
the opinion OF Arthur Wicsenbergor,
general manager, and J. Z. MaulS,
divisional merchandise manager Of Al.
fred Fantl. Inc, who have Just returned
from a 5,000-mile trip as far West as
Dea Molnes. Iowa, during which they
visited retailers who operate In the
New York markets through the Fant
organization.
Store owners everywhere reported
Christmss trade the biggest In the ir
experience, with stocks NJ piece goods
everywhero low. indicating large sales
I'm the New York wholesale markets
during January There we're some few
exceptions 20 tho rule of unprecedented
sales volumo-localities such as loungs-
town, Ohio, Pittsburgh and other war
time boom districts. where volume was
40 enormous during the holiday season
Of 1919 that. while this Christmas vol
umc cquallcd that 81 the banner year.
IL did not surpass it.
"All lines" Mr.. Wiesenbergef stated
"were very active throughout Decem-
Der. except ready 90 wear, which mas
A seasonable lull al this time. Yet IN
many OF the larger cities, such as De
trolt. Chicago and Pittsburgh, ready
70 wear maintained a volume that was
more than satisfactory.
"It Ia apparent that the coming year
is 10 be ono OF unusual prosperity for
retailers throughout the United states.
There Is full employment everywhere.
Wages In many lines are still inereas-
ne Voluntary advances, such as that
announced for the steel industry re-
Gently, show that employers are m
nosition 10 reward their workers and
are disposed 20 do so. Stocks on hand
are reported BY all merchants we met
as being very low; indeed, the tre-
mendous sales volume Of December
has reduced them 20 the last e6b.
Under these circumstances, the whole
sale markets bid fair 20 have January
trade in volume greater than ever De-
fore seen.
"The only cloud on the prospect Is
that Of rising prices. Low stocks, com
bined with the now assuring optimism
OF retail merchants in all sections OF
the country. cannot fail 10 make you
buv heavy. RI manufacturers and whole
saiers refrain from taking undue ad-
vantage Of this eager demand, II they
will only deal fairly with the retail
ers coming TO the markets, very pros,
porous conditions can be looked forward
10. But IL, as is too often the case
In keen buying markets, prices should
be suddenly and unwarrantably raised
A reflex action may very readily set IN
the and public may be stirred 10 another
buvers' strike. The retailer, confront
ed with merchandise prices which ne
must meet or go cmpty-handed, has
no option but 10 pay; and the retail
or, 10 al intents and purposes Is tne
consuming public, because he can 90
no more 20 mitigate the situation
forced on him than pass on 20 the pub
lie the advances he Is required 70 meet
AT this time. with the new year be-
ginning and with buyers by the thou
sands on the eve Of making thei great
great L5mi-Annual purchases OF stocks
tits subject Of Wholesale prices Is one
that merits considerable concern on the
part of manufacturers and wholesalers
as well as retailers"