Evening star., 1923-04-28
BUSINESS SHOWS
SLIGHT LETTING UP
Wholesale and Retail Sales
Slightly LoWer-Biggest
Trade Factors of Week.
BY j. T.. ROlI.E.

Special Dispatch TO The star.
NEW YORK, April 2S.-There has
teen a slight easing of the load on
rhe bearings OF the business machine
in the last week. As consequence
the wheels Of commerce and industry
ere turning more easily but none the
less effectivelN Some of the basic
materials have softened in price.
notably coal. coke. rubber. oil. cop
per, lead, zinc. cotton and some
others This caused no uneaslness
lven among producers of those com
modities who are not anxious to lace
the results of a runaway market ana
who prefer healthy TO hectic
rrice level
There also has been Il falling off
IN wholesale and retail sales in Il
lumber of important lines and
slight check to building construction.
This slight slowing up does not in
dictate a slump in business ON the
contrary, it is regarded as an as
surance that trade will remain both
steady and prosperous throughout
the remainder of the Year and that
commercial stability will endure.
Merchants aver that slight decline
in public buying was to be expected,
IS consumers had purchased luXuries
and necessities in large quantities for
many months.
Plant All tilized.
This tendency is distinctly notice
able in steel, yet full plant capacity
is being utilized to meet demand.
Premiums for immediate delivery are
less prominent a feature of the mar
ket today. bur basic prices snow an
upward rather than downward
tendency. In opening their hooks for
third quarter business, steel compa-
MES emphasize. the fact that prices
are not for fourth quarter deliveries,
Vet so heavily are the order books
hurdened that it is probable delivery
cannot he possible until the last
quarter of the year. Production costs
in steel have advanced and are eN-
pected to continue even further in
that direction and mills are not anX
ious to book heavily now at prices
that may yield no profit later.
Sugar advanced to new high levels.
III spite of agitation for lower prices.
Auto Output Expected to Drop.
AS April draws to a close il is es-
tnated that the Ford automobile
output will be about ) per cent larger
than in March. or about 100, 600 cars
and trucks. The total production
for the country is estimated at be
tween $4,000 and $50 cars for the
month. Sales figures probably Will
run higher than this figure through
sale of cars stored in January and
February. The peak of production
is not far off, however, according to
many manufacturers.
Ford has ordered built another
battery of dry kilns at the Iron Noun
tain body and lumber laill. making
the enterprise the largest of its kind
In the world
Textile Buying SIackens.
Buying Of wooden. worsted and cot
Tn ole L.s 80
but mills still are heavily engaged
and far behind i'll meeting their de-
liveries. The lack of effect on prices
Is shown by the fact that the Amer
ican Woolen Company has advanced
quotations of repeat orders for fall
ii per cent over opening prices. Raw
wool is still strong with growers in
the west. holding for high prices and
getting them. Slightly less advan-
tageous weather conditions have
helped the position of raw cotton.
Silk rose to new high levels for
the last three years The NXA grade
was extremely scarce and the bid
ding for this product. which touched
1919 a pound, carried the remainder
Of the market up with il. Production
and sale of finished silks. however,
was not checked.
Paper production is at new high
record figures and the fiVe-cent-au-
hour advance already granted by
some companies. il is expected, will
he generally followed by other en-
pioyers.
Workers still i'm Demand
Whatever check there has been in
sales there has been none in demand
Tor labor. Turnover of labor is in
creasinS. for lahorerS are placing
slight value on their Jobs, as they
feel that they can always get others
without delay
one large department store in AN
industrial center is Offering bonus
for every new sales person secured
by an employe. with Il prize TO the
employe bringing in the greatest
rumber. Still the store is short
banded.