The Washington times., 1923-02-03
TRADE BOOMING,
BRADSTREET
SAYS :,
Week Sees Gains in All Lines,
But Some Flaws Are Noted
In Outlook.

NEW YORK, Feb. 8. Brad
streets Weekly Business Review
saya today:
events of the week have been
mainly favorable. Spring trade with
jobbers at the larger cities has ex-
panded, collections are a little bet.
ter, and industry has kept up the
fast pace previously noted. Rela-
lively, most activity is noted in
large Eastern markets and In cen.
trail and Southern centers. Retail
trade has, relatively speaking, tend
ed to- lag, which is only natural at
this season, but still exceeds q year
ago, and reports from the larger
markets are quite unanimous that
january showed a big surge for
ward in jobbing and wholesale buy
ing as compared with January a
year ago. gains of rs to so per cent
being instanced Mail-or6er sales
in January were So per cent above
January, 1922.
Failures Decrease.
Confirmation of this favorable
trend is to be had in the January
failure report, showing one-fifth
fewer failures and one-half the liza
bihties of January, 1922, while the
country's clearings totals expanded
by almost one-fourth as compared
with that month, with a grand to-
tai larger than in any month since
October, 1920, and PERCENTAGES of
gain exceeding that shown by any
month in 1922. These happenings,
with the good feeling evoked in coal
and iron regions at the passing of
the soft coal strike menace, and the
reports from parts of the West and
southwest that the farmers are
buying more literally of implements
than for two years past, have made
Tor quite cheerful tone in affairs
as q whole.
ut needs to be observed, how.
ever, that there are some flaws in
the outlook, these having to dc
largely with the foreign trade out.
look and the disturbed political and
economic outlook in Europe These
occurrences have had some weight
as affecting the outlook for the
marketing of this country's surplus
food, mostly meats and grains, of
which it will be recalled Europe
took and is taking lightly, as for
six months past. In view of all
the circumstances, the prospects OF
more of our steel being called for
abroad as result of the tie-up OF
industry in European countries af.
fected is not regarded as AN espe
cially favorable feature.
Fear Buying Slump.
Back of the present exception
ally active trade and industrial stu
alton, too, is the reiteration by
some sellers as we'll as buyers in
domestic markets Of misgivings as
to how far the present exceptional
strength of prices may affect con
sumpt4ge buying.
Rains have been beneficial to Pa,
cific coast crops and hydroelectrit
plants, and some snow is noted in
parts Of the Northern winter wheat
belt west of the Mississippi. A
good part OF the central plains
however, needs moisture for the
best interests of the crop. Cali
fornia building as whole is said
to exceed all records. Crude oil
prices have been again advanced
with benefit to Continent Oh
drilling interests.
Good prices for cotton and
plenty of moisture are said to favor
a big increase in the Texas cottor
area. Detroit automobile factories
are active and strenuous efforts
have been necessary to avert q
traffic blockade at that city, whert
employment is at its peak. Scarcity
of labor in iron and steel mills ant
| more activity in shoe manufactur
ing are additional points brought
out in the weeks dispatches"