Evening star., 1923-02-07
DEALERS CAUTIOUS
IN RAISING PRICES
Merchants Say Higher Raw
Commodity Prices Mean
Retail Advances.
BY j. G.. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

opecIal DlsIat tch TO The Star.
NEW YORK, February 7-Mer-
chants throughout the United States
nave not yet encountered vigorous
consumer opposition to the higher
prices for goods which have gone
INTO ERECT. representatives from q
doZen different sections here for the
meeting of the National Retail Dry
Goods Association, which began to-
day confirmed that statement
Nevertheless. they said the majority
OF retailers were proceeding eau
tlousiy' as the full advances in raw
commodities had not yet been pass
ed on to the public
Inc more farsighted retailers, they
declared, were outlining their expendi-
lures rather than in making them in ex-
tremely large quantities. Advances in
prices, IL was added, were being
made cautiously and reluctantly and
manufacturers and distributors were
oelng urged to do likewise. Never
theless, 1t was apparent that all ad-
NdhceS In costs of raw materials and
manufacture are going to be passed
down the line to a greater or. Icss
extent to the ultimate consumer.
New Weaves and designs in silk
Woolens and cottons. together with
dLterhatlons In Women's styles. mer-
chants said, would be of great adyan-
tage as the new offerings would nor
De handicapped to such a marked de-
gree by comparisons with the prices
OF previous years.
Aggressive Policy Needed.
Retailers emphasized that the year
would De one of keen competition and
close prohts. The general opinion
d Skd hN+ 4 II
mead OF a chain of stores in Kansas
and Oklahoma cities. who said:
ADoVe all. merchants must be ae-
Sressive and must divine the wants
OF OF thelr patrons more exactly than il
Ihe past. Newspaper advertising, !
Hrinly believe, will bring results
probably never equaled before in bus
ness history.
Mid-western merchants are slated
Tor a splendid year in spite of the
rack or encouragement in present
farm prices. 1t will be year calling
Tor the best of mercantile Intelligence
ana merchandising methods. 1t is
true we cannot expect much in farmer
patronage until another crop is
raised, but to balance this is the vas1
amount of building construction con
templated- Unprecedented building
programs are outlined for the mid
west and ali this activity will reflect
IN retail mercantile sales"
Dealers in mems furnishing goods
said today they expected a record sea
son with wide variation Of prices IN
dlnerent lines. especially shirts These
VIII retail in some cases as low as 81.
but Will range up to $40 and above
Heavy stocks of ties and neckwear are
being laid in by retailers.
1t is generally believed that the labor
controversy, which involves $4,000
aeeaieW ae workers here In the waist and
dress manufacturing industry. will he
speedily adjusted. The workers demand
that pay be on weeks work basis
WhlIe manufacturers declare II is i'm
possible for them to abandon piece work
1t IS understood that the sales of The.
MooiWorth stores in the first five weeks
OF 1873 fully maintained the pace whicL
made 1922 the biggest year the con-
pany ever had with total sales of s167
3ls,265 for the year. Other chain stores
are establishing remarkable sales rec
ords this month.
Auto Parts Scarcity
The purchase of the Milburn Wagon
Company's auto body plant at To
ledo by the General Motors Corpora
tion for s2.000,000 is regarded among
automotlVe experts as another step
III the tran most large manufactur-
ers are following, which leads to a
least partial independence from out
side sources for certain parts and
raw materials
Commission merchants who handI.
wine grapes in eastern territory are
preparing for a tremendous business
this year in view of the success or
shipments from California made by
steamer by way of the Panama canal
Some dealers declared today they ex
pected their 1923 sales to increase at
least 20 per cent.