Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1922-09-21
BABSON SAYS
Good Business This Fall

Wellesley Hills, Mass, Sept. 49,
Go after business now,' says Roger
w. Babson. "Buyers during these last
two years have been following a hand
to-mouth policy. Everyone has pur.
chased as little as possible because
delay has meant lower prices and a
consequent saving. With the turn of
the business tide however, prices
again tend up and both business man
and individual will make more money
by buying ahead rather than by fol-
lowing the more conservative policy.
An analysis of seventy-six basic ma
terials, for instance, shows that for
ty-eight are higher today than they
were a year ago, twenty-four are
modities show no change. Price in
crease will be felt most on the raw
materials that have been completely
Debated, but finished goods in prac-
tically all lines will show some
during the next few
months.
cit is particularly important that
retail merchants fully grasp this
change in the situation. They must
turn with the tide. The retailer should
plan on a substantial increase in trade
between now and Christmas. If he does
not he will be caught with a shortage
rather than a surplus of goods, and
tieup will make it diff
fcult to get more on short notice.
PURCHASING POWER
"This increase in business will be
lue to a combination of increased pur.
4, no IL Ill
attitude of the general public. In
spite of the strikes and labor unrest,
there is relatively little unemploy-
nent at present. On incomes of more
han $1,000, figures show that 48 per-
,ent of the purchasing power of the
country comes to the individual as
wages and salaries. This makes up
he bulk of the purchasing power upon
which the average business man must
depend. A drop in the cost of living
md prospect of steady work is rapidly
urning a majority of these people into
eady buyers.
SIN the farming field, bumper crops
nd better prices promise to class the
armer as good prospect. He has
fought very little since 1920 and his
accumulated needs should absorb a
tremendous quantity Of farm machin-
ry and supplies. The plans of the
BUSINESS world accumulated during
hese last two years will also be put
nto operation this fall. ,
"The combination of these several
actor points to a merchandising short
ge. If I were a retailer i should cer- !
ainly buy all goods necessary for
christmas trade now and insist upon !
arly deliveries.
MONEY RATES DECREASE
"This general increased business
ctivity viii lead in turn to the in
reased business and industrial pro-
is that are already being reflected
4 the action of the stock market. In
reased profits, of course, mean more I
loney for expansion and equipment.
.ents and money rates, in the mean '
me, are tending gradually downward,
both individual and bust
ess houses in the matter of over /
cad. Banks have ample funds to l
leet all commercial and Investment 7
squirements. In many localities t
lonev is a drug on the market. The S
light seasonal tightening will doubt
IS be experienced at crop moving /
me, but taking the fall season as a v
hole money throughout the west and 0
)uth should come nearer to the New t
ork market level. a
Gin the investment market, prices o
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