Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-06-26
BUSINESS SHOWS
IMPROVEMENT IN
UNITED STATES
Failures Decreased in May
and Building Activity Is
Nearly Double the Nor
NAL Volume.
Especial Correspondence to The Journal>

Especial Correspondence to The Journai)
New York. Juno 25.-The bust
ness outlook in the United States
steadily improves. according to the
National Retail Dry Goods asso-
Citations June review of trade, COM
pretending not only retail condi-
lions but interpreting them in the
light of general industrial revival
and suspicious farm prospects.
Throughout the country the fig
ures at the beginning of May DEM
onstrated decided betterment in re-
failing. AS compared with April of
last year the figures assembled on
April 80 in the twelve federal re-
serve district from 461 department
stores showed a decrease in sales
values OF only 6 OF 1 per cent.
Since April. 1921. practically all
prices of merchandise in depart
ment store lines have markedly de-
clined, so that the actual sales vol
ume, as we'll as the number OF
sales transactions, made large gain
in April, 1922. Some, but by no
means all of these games are attrip.
uted to postponement into April OF
much of the March trade because
of bad March weather and also toy
the coming, this year, in April of
Easter, q potent seasonal buying
factor.
BY classes of retailers. the great
est gains were made by department
stores and the greatest declines IN
sales volume by mail order houses.
Not only did the department stores
increase SO per cent over March,
1922. but they gained 90 per cent
over April, 1921. Mail order houses
dropped TO per cent below March,
1922, and 81 per cent below April.
1921, Increasing business is noted
in and 10 cent chain stores, and
grocery chains gained slightly more
than | per cent during April as
compared with the month preced-
ing. Chain drag stores fell off In
April fraction of per cent from
March.
Stability Of Prices.
The increased stability or prices
noted in the associations May re-
view, embracing trade conditions
covering the spring season, has
since been noted by the United
states department of commerce
and the deduction is drawn that
very encouraging auguries are war
Tanted from the fact that business
is advancing in less spectacular put
more substantial manner.
" Numerous factors have compined
Ia force this broad conclusion. me
decrease in failures, noted IN the
NAV review of trade, continues.
from Nav l to May 81 they drop
ned 10 1860 as compared with 2'loI
d,rinr April, with liabilities OF
onlv s44,4O2,SS6 as against April
tnta, of s7s,O5S,627. This is a re-
sI,ct,on in number Of 9.5 per cent
ana in amount of about 40 per ce,t.
n Buildinp activity, as reported oy
tbe bureau of economics or the Ma
eionaI Lumber Manufacturers as
sociation June I, is nearly douple
rhe normal volume-199 per cent.
n he exact. The significance OF
this revival extends beyond the
q tisfaction of the nations urgent
need of housing of all kinds ana, as
annIving to one of the key indus-
,ries' is significant of wide release
81 funds and greatly increased con-
III ING luNuiS. -. |
9onnection with April lumber snip.
'nents is per cent above normal. 20
oer cent increase in bank clearlnss
INA so per cent increase OF capital
authorized for new corporations. II
aon stitutes evidence that the coun-
Irv is returning to its stride IN
varied fields of production ana
trade. a,
Z The postoffce department. In It's
nostal receipts. affords impressive
Fifty cities show an
increase for May over last year OF
or 14.42 per cent
whereas May, 1921, fell off las per
cent from the postal receipts OF
May. 1920.
4 Grain Prospects.
Grain prospects, according to U.
s. government expert opinion as
late as June Z. are for an America
plenteous and thriving, although
Europe may be in straits for food.
The winter wheat crop estimate
here is for 600,000.000 bushels. ex-
ceeding that of 1921. while spring
wheat is expected to total 250,000,-
600 bushels, rs per cent above the
gpring wheat crop Of last year.
Corn, its planting delayed by wet
weather, may show a decline in
small measure, and oats are ex-
pected to be light. for the same rea-