The Washington times., 1924-10-25
TRADE REVIEWS
REPORT
GAINS
-Bradstreet Surveys Show
Improvement ii Various
Industries

NEW YORK, Oct. 26.-DesDita
the prediction hesitation progress
in business has not haltae 4
quickening Of retail Distribution I'M
der the stinas:lsfs u lower tempera-
lures early this week is not the
only encouraging feature, for fur
ther gains have come in some lines
where the weather is not a direct
influence, Dun's review Of trade
says this week. The revival in
hide and leather markets has gone
on steadily, with prices rising; pro-
duction OF footwear is increasing;
the textile industry, though stiH
operating much below capacity, ID
experiencing recovery, and such
change as has occurred In the lun-
Der trade is for the better.
A waiting attitude in iron and
steel detracts in q measure from
the improvement in some other
quarters, but the substantial .pur-
chasing Of equipment by the rail-
roads, which is an indication OF
confidence in the future, is a signih-
cant phase. There is unmistakaSe
evidence In returns of freight traf-
fic that merchandise is moving in
almost unprecedented volume; bank
clearings are maintained at high
level; employment of workers ID
larger; there are fewer failures than
q year ago. and conditions are very
favorable for crop harvesting. The
policy OF limiting commitments to
actual needs is still strongly de-
fined; yet the aggregate Of trans
actions, notwithstanding the con-
sentative buying, Is heavy, and po.
tential demands are extensive.
Food Higher.
Bradstreet,s food index .number
based on the wholesale prices a
pound Of thirty-one articles used Tor
food. is Ss.4O. which compares With
1888 last week and 1927 for the
week ended October 25, 1923. This
weeks number shows q gain OF
week and Of 4 per cent over the
like week of last year. OF the
eighty-two commodities OF all kinds
quoted weekly twenty advanced as
compared with last week, eighteen
declined and forty-four remained
unchanged. Among the foods show.
ing increases are:
Hams, sailed RIBS smoked ribs,
tallow, lard; coffee, peas, eggs,
lemons, sheep, lambs, ole0, oil,
cotton, hides, copper, lead, antls
mony, tin, spelter and rubber.
Products decreasing last week
were: Flour, red wheat, spring
wheat, corn, oats, barley, rye flour,
corn flour, butter, potatoes, prures,
beeves, hogs.
Trends in Trade.
Jobbing and wholesale trade and
industry reflect the reports of quiet
in retailing and also unsatisfactory
features growing out of the con-
tinuance of small lot buying, ac-
cording to 5Bradstreet's. Pre-elec.
ton apathy Is not especially
stressed, but seems to be regarded
rather as an annoying element, as,
Tor instance, in iron and steel, be-
cause preventing a clearer view Of
the effect OF recenI price. changes
upon that mdustry's future. -
Numerous irregularities are visible
In reports from different markets
80 NAAACACAI AAACdSuISS Oh guOVG-
ment seems most notable in parts
OF the Northwest, Wl1ere cool
weather is credited with helping
trade; in other surplus whoa. grow
ing sections, where grain marketing
IS active; in parts OF tile South
where cotton yields tend to- expand,
apd in Eastern and Southeastern
sections, where textile nlanusactur.
ing Is slowly gaining Roadway. 50
Gains in bank clearings and III
debts and close to record car load.
ings, with decreases in failures,
offer favorable comparison, oycr
against which are set very generally
reduced outputs as compared with
year ago in most lines of manu-.
featuring industry. Wheat exports
are new record, but Canadian
shipments are swelling, so that the
enormous exports Of wheat are aIlot!
as earlier in the month. to be
credited to this country's marketing
In Europe, where crops seem to
have been over rather than under
estimated. Shipments at wheat
from. Montreal this week, also break
all records, and September exports
OF American wheat were, as pre-.
dicted in this column, over double
those, OF year, ago. Prices. of
wheat, corn, and cotton. are an
lower on the week..