Evening star., 1923-02-18
Heavy Volume of Retail Trade
indicates Greater Prosperity
Cases of Profiteering Noted-Bank De
posts at Record Leuels--Money in
Demand-RaiIrOad Traffic GrO,Us.

One of the most impressive indica-
,tions Of prosperity at this time is
furnished by the volume of retail
trade. Ordinarily, this phase Of dis
tribution shows falling off after the
first of the year. Reports from all
over the country. however, are gen.
orally to the effect that January sales
by department stores. chain stores
and mail order concerns show big
gains over the volume for the same
month last year. Wholesale distri-
scale, thus indicating confidence in
the futuf. on the part Of merchants
throughout the country.
One of the best indications of pros
perity, particularly in the agriSul-
tural districts. is furnished by the
exhibit of the mail-order houses.
The January sales of Sears, Roebuck
& Co. amounted to S1s,930.000, a
gain of 33 per cent over January last
port the heaviest January sales In
the history of the company, with
the exception Of January, 1920. The
gain over January last year is 81
per cent
The business done by chain stores
furnishes an index TO the buying
power Of cities and industrial CEN
ters. January sales of the Woolworth
Company show an increase. of l6 per
cent over the same month last year.
Sales amounted to more than sl1.000.-
600. the first time that the January
turnover has exceeded $40 ,00o,uoo.
Trade reports state that depart
ment stores in January showed a
turnover representing an average
gain of about per cent over last
year The demand from consumers
is said to have covered an excep-
tionally wide range of products. with
which are expected to be scarce or
at least higher in price late- in the
season. The mercantile position olso
Is reported to be quite sound, with
substantial depreciation Of stocks OF
goods and the apparent necessity Of
early replenishment.
Cases of Profteerins.
Commenting on the. general Sit
nation, Wollman's Review says:
"It is felt that in numerous lines
we are beginning to develop some
thing of a sellers market, out It is
sincerely to be hoped that there Will
be nothing savoring Of resemblance
10 the profiteering that was such I
scandal late in 1919 and early In !a2O.
The retailer undoubtedly has been
charging exorbitant prices for inn
ported articles. The report issued by
showing the discrepancy in the cost
of imported merchandise and the
prices at which the articles are re-
tailed in this country contains some
astounding revelations. This pamphlet
of course was issued to show that
the increased duties under the new
tariff act were not responsible for the
tremendous increase in the cost of
Imported goods We find here, for
example, table knives with a.landed
cost Of 3S5 cents including original
purchase price. freight, duty. etc.
retailing at 80 cents. ora gross profit
Of 697 per cent. Ladies gloves re-
tailed in Chicago at 447 per cent
above their landed cost. A cuckoo
clock from Germany retailed in New
York at S22. although its landed cost
in the United States was a trifle
under S1.27. A New York department
store soh buttons at 25 cents per
dozen, although the landed cost.
freight and duty paid. was less than
/ cent per dozen
In this document, the indicated
gross retail profit ranges somewhat
over 100 per cent to about $500 per
cent. In some cases the discrepancy
is so wide that it might easily be the