The Washington times., 1922-10-07
TRADE REVIEW
SHOWS STEADY
IMPROVEMENT
Bradstreet's Reports Favor
able Industrial and Busi-
ness Conditions.
BY Cosmopolitan News Service.


NEW YORK. Oct. 7.-Bradstreet's
Weekly Business Review today says:
Trade and industrial conditions
continue generally favorable. restrtc-
tive features noted having 10 do
mainly with the superabundance of
traffic Of all kinds offered the coun-
trys transportation interests. Fur
ther growth in the volume ot fall
jobbing trade, with a little more con.
fidence in the placing OF business for
the near future; fair to good retail
trade, this latter despite unusually
warm weather; a better pace to In
dustry, except where car shortages
prevent free movement OF raw ina
terials TO markets or finished goods
to consumers, and slightly better col
leCtions. stamp the situation as su-
pefior to that Of early summer, and.
past.
Prices Advance.
"The early compiled measures OF
September movement generally agree
in showing the marked resiliency OF
trade and industry now that the fuel
and rail strikes are out OF the way.
The ebbing tide In failures and iiabil-
tiles finds further illustration In the
calendar months figures. az do the
maintenance Of most OF the gains
hitherto shown in bank clearings.
TIE monthly price review shows a
very general advance in commodity
prices coincident with the numerous
wage advances granted to coal min.
ers, cotton mill workers. steel mn
In hi
"Bradstreet's Price Index Number
is now at the highest point since Jan
uary /. 1921.
Reports from leading industries
are OF expansion in most directions.
notably In pig iron production. which
In now back at the level OF July as
regards active furnaces; and in build
ing.
dustry has not expanded grea'ly'
and weekly output is still slightly
below lO, ,0O0, 900 tons. For this warm
weather, something like indifference
On the part of industrial consumers
and last, but not least, inability 10
furnish cars as fast as needed, are
held responsible. The so-called buy
ers' strike in coal, in fact, Is CLAIM
ed TO continue 80 far as Industrial
users are concerned. but household
ers find their supplies limited Ly
the accumulation In cars OF steam
grades TO the exclusion OF domestic
sizes. Lack Of cars Is also held
responsible for a slower pace rc-
ported in steel mill operations In
various sections. owing to piling Up
OF finished goods. Orders for l,bOO.'
900 tons OF rails and track material
are said to have been placed by
railways before the rise OF October /.
Need Cars.
I'm California, lack OF cars I'm
perils the movement Of the grape
crop, and Bradstreet's Is informed
that growers. despairing of quicker
Transportation, have used the Panama
Canal for eastbound shipments OF
that fruit with success. Lack OF
cars also delays lumber shipments
on the Pacific coast and at tie
South. Cement is another product
whose movement is delayed in the
face Of eager demand, while coal
has piled up at lower lake ports.
owing to inadequate shipping fscili.
ties, this partly, however, the re-
suit OF a strike OF lake seamen.
There is a very general agree
ment that common labor for heavy
work Is in scant supply, but touch
ing this, il might be observed that
seasonal influences are expected u
possibly shortly release a great deal
Of labor now on farms. on road
work or open air buildings"