Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-12-04
FINAL MONTH Of THE
YEAR HAS GOOD START
Retail Trade is Stimulated by
Weather and Other Favor
able Conditions.


Dun's Review, begins with the usual
seasonal characteristics of stimulated
retail distribution and diminished de-
mand in most other channels. With
lower temperature and development of
holiday requirements, the movement
of goods to consumers is expanding,
and favorable results in the field are
foreshadowed."
A composite pig iron rcice Is nearly
Sc ton below the basis at the end
of September. For the first time in
about n month. a composite finished
steel price shows a recession.
When ii is remembered that the
general level OF prices, as measured
10y Dun's index number, has recovered
about Is per cent from the low point
or last year. the easier conditions now
manifest do not seem surprising.
The beef cattle markets have been
suffering from too many half-hnished
cattle. but prime corn-fed cattle have
been bringing good prices.
From the standpoint OF production,
November closed with the steel in
dus,Cy in strong position. Output
AT approximately an so per cent rate
had not been expected this year, and
further additions have been made TO
active blast furnace capacity. A re-
cent feature has been more interest
in the pig iron market.
cit is now inventory time in primary
textile markets. and new business in
this quarter is naturally quieter," says
] nttps. paxsiaxn sNfannuhifa fffrf har
readjustment OF prices has occurred
on many finished goods. in keeping
with the high levels OF raw materials
The f0trics on which prices have been
advanced include mapped cottons and
some OF the specialties. and the trend
of wooden prices Is upward With mills
in a well-sold position. additional con-
tracts for early delivery cannot be
taken in various instances"
The improvement in trade con.
ditions that began several months age
still holds, in spite OF the fact that tn,
situation is complicated by numerous
problems. according 10 J. II. Trcgoe
executive manager OF the National AS
sociation OF Credit Men.
The lead market continued {,
strengthen, setting new peak quo
tations at 7.35 cents pound for New
York delivery. the highest price since
October. 1920. Small volume OF offer
ings is quickly absorbed. and the sta
t.stical position OF the metal is still
excellent. The encouraging futur'
outlook is reflected in London quota
tions. Is. Cd. higher for futures thar
for spot deliveries. at : &c So. per ton
The advance OF agricultural prices,
says the National City Bank OF New
York, has put new life into busines
in sections where depression has eN
isted. and the volume OF business be
ing done in most lines in all parts o
the country is now very satisfactory
As a rule, prices on manufacture
have not advanced enough 20 cover IN
advances in wages and raw materials
with the result that complaints c
little or no profits are common"
l Price index OF all crops on Novembe
I was 11.2 per cent more than a yea
before and 40.2 per cent less than IN
average OF the preceding five year.
The production index wac about u pc
cent more than last years aggrega;
| production and 0.3 per cent more tina
the average OF the preceding fiv
years.
!. Dun's Review SAYS: There woul
be larger buying now. even with ar
nual accounting in progress, II need
for some time ahead had not bee
well covered in many cases by r,
| cent commitments. or IL difficulty va
not being experienced in securing SUI
plies OF certain commodities. TIL
! transportation congestion. IL still n
main drawback. is not the only oil
stacle 10 the prompt delivery OF mel
chandise. for some producers are c
| fully engaged on previous busine,
that additional orders cannot I
| readily filled"
| The favorable features as we 81
them" says the National Associate
j OF Credit Men. are: Improved COZ
: ditions in fuel supply that would |
st!ll better but for car shortage; n
trade volume as reflected by car loa,
.ngs. bank clearings and other indie.
% business; general belief that an Il
alton would be easy TO accomplish tu
row; increased buying power OF a
| wage-earner geneally; upward prs
% some farm products. such as cotto
tobacco, etc; increased buying of ra
II NammH a mHH.Ma