The Washington times., 1922-09-17
TRADE BETTER .
ASSTR|KESEND,
. REVIEW SHOWS
Dun-Bradstreet's Weekly Re-
; view Says Business Out
look Is improved.

With the end of the railroad ind
coal strikes, the business outlook hns
improved considerably during the
trade reviews by Dun and Brad
streets. S. -.sN
Recovery has already come quickly
In some quarters where the labor
difficulties had caused q distinct set
back, Dun's Review says, and the
Increased employment of mills and
factories and the return 70 work OF
many employees who had long been
Idle will substantially augment the
public purchasing power.
, AS the end OF the summer ap-
breaches. and with Industrial dis
turbances being eliminated or modi-
fled, there Is more disposition to un.
dtrtake commitments which have
been held In. abeyance because CT
various uncertainties, and buying
In anticipation of forward require
mcnts Is now enlarging in some in
stances. While the prevailing policy
remains one Of conservative action.
confidence In the future is a con-
spicuous feature and the forecasts
OF q broadening of activities Rfter
q strengthened sentiment.
The unsettled European situa ton,
with SHARPLY fluctuating exchange
rates, is an obstacle to a full meas
ure of progress In domestic bust
ness; yet the abundant grain crops
and easier financial conditions In
this country are constructive forces
whose effects may conceivably be
manifested in further extension
of the commercial revival. Despite
the restraints and hesitation result
ing from the labor troubles. en-
couraging reports have come from
different trades and geographical
sections, with prospects IN the
South improved by the higher
prices for cotton and good returns
on some other products.
Food Index Turns Higher.
Bradstreets's Food Index number,
based on; the wholesale prices per
pound of thirty-one articles used
for food. Is $3.13, comparing with
$3.11 last> week and $2.96 for the
week en6.ng September IS. 1891.
This weeks number shows q gain
Of six-tenths of per cent over
last week and Of 81 per cent over
the like week of last year. OF the
eighty-one commodities of all kinds
quoted weekly. twenty-seven ad-
vanced as compared with last week.
eleven declined. and forty.three re-
mained unchanged.
Bradstreet's Review.
Bradstreet's general review says,
"The better feeling visible in
trade and industry as a result of
the coal strike settlement has been
increased by further Improvement
in the railway traffic situation,
while. rains and cooler weather in
large crop areas have given an
impetus to fall buying. which. 10.
however, concededly late. 1t 10
probable. too. that the apparent
approach of the end of nearly two
years Of new tariff bill agitation
has been beneficial, whatever the
immediate result as to duties may
be. There is, of course, a great
deal of irregularity still visible in
various lines, but the big salient
feature. that American industry
Is not to be longer starved in the
matter of fuel supply. has un-
doubtedly made for a speeding up
Of industry. which slowed down 80
uahseiouSiy III soHe liHeo IN Au-
gust. 49,.
wholesale and jobbing trade has
been better at many cities, retail
trade has also measurably I'm
proved industry, particularly In
iron and steel and New England
cotton manufacturing. has gone
ahead with more confidence; de-
mand from strike-ridden regions
has again begun TO manifest life.
and collections are q. shade better.
"A notable degree of strength in
prices Is shown this week, ad.
vances exceeding declines, which
were most numerous in farm prod
ucts, by two to one. The Weekly
Food Index Is higher. The expan.
sion noted in weekly bank clear
ings last week has gone further, a
gain Of II per cent being shown
0yer the nrayi0na short waek -