Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-18

Tho outlook in the United States
steadily improves. according to tho
National Retail Dry Goods Associa-
TONS June Review OF Trade, COM
pretending not alone retail cond!-
tons, but interpreting them in tn,
light OF general Industrial reviya,
and suspicious farm prospects.
Throughout the country the fig
ures at the beginning of May den:-
onstrated decided bettermen, in re-
failing. AS compared with Anru Of
last year. the figures assembled on
April 80 in tho twelve Federal re-
serve districts from 4Gl department
stores showed n decrease in sales
values of only &c to per cent. Since
April. 1921. practically all prices OF
merchandise in department store
ilncS nave markedly declined, so that
'ne hc'uai sales volume. rs well as
the number OF sales transactions.
made large gain in April. 1890. some
hut by no means all. OF these gains
attributed To postponemsnt into
Npr!l OF much OF the March trade
because Of bad March weather. and
also 10 tho coming. this year. in
AprlI OF Easter. a potent seasonal
lnyine factor.
Department stores Gnin.
~ classes Of retailers. the ercat-
est gains We're made by department.
stores and the greatest declines in
sales volume by mail ordcl houses
No' only dli the department stores
Increase 80 per cent over March. 1922
but they gained - per cent ever
Anril. 1921. Mail order houses Iron
ped ~ per cent below March. 100
ana ~ per cent below April. 1927.
increasing business is noted in !,
ana le-ccnt chain stores. and gro
Gerry chains gained slightly more thau
per cent during April. as compared
wiz the month preceding. - Chain
HruE stores fell Oft in April fraction
OF per cent from March.
business Substantially Advancing.
ne increased stability OF prices.
noted in the associations MAY rc-
Wow. embracing trade condi,;ons
covering the spring season. has since
been noted by the United states Do.
i'ariment OF Commerce. and The do.
d.ction Is drawn that Very enco;rar
l"s auEuries are warranted from .hc
taGt mat business is advancing -
less spectacular, but more subston-
tian manner.
Numerous factors have combine,
10 force this broad conclusion. Tho
decrease in failures. noted in IN.
May review Of trade. continues. From,
May 10 May 81. they dropped 10 i
800 as compared with 2.lGi during
APRIL with liabilities Of only So.
io2'ss6 as against Apris total o,
S'"'o5S.62I. This is reduction in
number Of a.5 per cent and in amount
OF y bout 40 per cent.
hu ''d'hs activity. as reported by
the bureau OF economies OF the Ma
uonal Lumber Manufacturers Asso !
alton Jure !. is nearly double the /
norma! rolume--l93 per cent. 10 be |
exact. The significance OF this rc-
riNal extends beyond the sa,isfac- |
non OF the nations urgent need OF
housing Of all kinds and, As applv-
ing 10 one Of the key industries ;s
<!Gniilsant OF wide release of funds
ana greatly Increased confidence IN
ma future. Taken in connoc.i,.,
with April lumber shipments. is ,,or
cent above normal. &c per ccnt IN.
irchse in bank clearings. and so n,r
cent increase of capital authorized
."r new corporations. IL constitutes
evidence that the country Is return.
hs to its stride in varied fields ar
and trade.
me Post Office Department. in tic
+'N'-P'S. di0'TUS iinprES /
Fifty cities show .,
increase for May over last year o,
81 i5.i5'ie. or 1892 per cent, where.
IS May. 1921, fell off l42 per cen,
rom the postal receipts OF Mav. +
Grain prospects. aecordjnc -
rniied States government rxno-,
'pini"n. "a late as June :. are for
IN America plcnteous and thriving
Europe may be in Straits
or food. The winter wheat crop
.stimats here is for 500 600 OGn
bushels. exceeding that OF 1921. wbiIa
'pfinE wheat is expected 10 total
-oV'oVVp0o bushels, - per cent above
nc spring whea; crop Of last year
or n, ITS planting delayed by wet
Weather may show a decline in
small measure. and oats arc ak.
'ectcd to he light. for the sanc rea-
son. IHu; the country's fruit crop
promises TO be the larges, for a