The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-01
RETAIL SALES
 SHOW ADVANCE. IN DIST RECT
Farmers Are in Much Better Shape to Begin Preparing Spring Crops Than Last Year. Decrease Shown
 in Bankruptcies

ATLANTA, Ga. March 31.- Bug fness conditions throughout the Sixth federal reserve district are better than they have been in three years" says the February review by the Att lanta Federal Reserve bank, made public today,I which quotes reports from business houses in the district Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Misss<- sippi, Louisiana and Tennessee com prise the Sixth district.
 Despite interference by weather conditions during February and early March. which effected commercial ao- tivities and farming, there are evil Fdences of continued progress, the re- port says. Recent sudden tempera- ture drops failed to hinder the buy Ing of spring goods, retail merchants reported to the bank, and dealers are looking forward to good business during the Nring months.
 O o O
 Retail Sales Increase.
 Retail sales during February, re- ported by representative stores in the district, showed an increase of s.o per cent in dollar value over sales for the same month a year ago. The February sales increase was slightly under that of January, however. Five department stores in Birmingham re- ported sales increase of 34.5 per cent, with Atlanta reporting an increase of 22.I per cent. Slight decreases in retail sales in Savannah and New Or leans are laid to reported unsettled employment situations. The rate of stock turnover during February was 2.3 times per year, only slightly less than recorded for January, the review shows.
 Shoe and farm implement wholesal- CTS recorded increases in sales during the month, while firms engaged in ]. six other lines of merchandising re- ported sales at a decline from Jan uary. All lines, however, recorder a greater volume of sales for the month : than for February of last year, fur niture dealers leading with an in- crease of 52.4 per cent.
 Manufacturing Conditions.
 Manufacturers of cotton cloth, yarn, hosiery, overalls and in brick in the district reported their activi- ties in Ferbruary were not up to the volumne registered in January, but were appreciably greater than dur ing the short month last year. This increase was registered in produc- tion. shipments and orders on hand at the end of the month.
 Recent cold spells, the Reserve bank believes. based on it's advises boil weevils. The Review estimat- ing damage to the cotton crop this season by the boil weevil will be materially reduced. Florida citrus s trees are reported in excellent condi- tion, with the harvesting we'll ad- , vanced. The Louisiana sugar cane crop did not suffer from the Feb ruaryi tempera'"re drop, the review repo IS. ,.Ihougli the mercury fell to % y~e.s il the northern portion of he sugar belt. Practically all the spring planting is reported com 3 pleted. yer an extended area.
 Earn ora are in better shape finan- cis' tu orc pare for the season than Il have been in several years, the rev 'w asserts. quoting reports from correspondent banks. Figures avail able indicate a small but fairly 4 steady rease is taking place in f both demand and savings deposits, showing favorable comparisons with the same period of last year.
 Commercial failures in the Sixth district in February were PA per cent less in number than in January, but liabilities involved were nearly 90 per cent lower, the report shows. The number of failures were 50 per cent lower than in February of last year and in liabilities, decline of 24.4 per cent was registered.
 Furth = increases in the number of workers employed in the district were registered during February, the report asserts shortage cf building craftsmen being reported at several erations are underway.
 New Orleans and Satannah have some little empolyment, the banks report. but employment In most cities of the district is favorably re- ported.