The Washington times., 1924-12-06
HOLIDAY | RADE.
SHOWS GOOD
Gain
Retail Sales Expand and
Manufacturing Operations
Gain, Say Trade Surveys

NEW YORK, Dec. 6. Conspicu-
GUS in the line Of improvement this
week are retail, including holiday.
trade and industry. the first favored
by colder weather and the growth
OF the gift season spirit, and the
latter helped by the booking of
some good buying orders for early
months of 1925, according to Brad
streets. Conspicuous in the latter
direction are the iron and steel
trades, the report continues,
which show the most active buy
ing, the greatest relative strength
OF prices and the steadiest increase
in productive capacity. Sales OF
nonferrous metals, led by copper,
are active, and all are higher in
price. Aside from pre-inventory
sales by large dry goods wholesalers
and jobbers, the trend in the latter
line is toward seasonal quieting,
pending'a clearer view of the pro-
portions of fall and winter buying!
The cotton goods trade shows en-.
largment in operating capacity, with
slow but steady gains in sales for
spring. Wooden goods rather tend
to lag. The hardware trade in sea-
sonal lines is expanding with price
strength noted in nails and wire
goods. Lumber buying at Pacific
coast points is reported improving,
but prices and profit margins are
complained of. In the shoe trade
retail buying in New England is
better, but manufacturing opera.
tons are rather less active. Leather
generally is rather quieter.
"One of the interesting features
OF the present seasons develop.
ments are the reports Indicating
that While farmers, notably in
wheat and cotton growing areas,
have done well and sold their
crops to good advantage, they are
slow to buy and put their money
In circulation. Debts are being
paid, but the rest Of the money is
reported to be resting in the
pockets Of the growers or in their
banks" :
1.-THE month that has passed since
the election has been marked by an
unmistakable turn for the better
III business, sas reports and statistics
have shown" according to Dun's
review Of the trade this week.
Further concrete evidence of in
dustrial revival" the. report says,
appears in returns of November
pig iron outputs with the largest
daily average since last May, and
there has been recent gain of
about 10 per cent in steel mill op-
erations. Production of textiles,
moreover, is now at the top point
of the year; lumber manufacturers
are preparing for continued ex.
pansion of demand; copper is being
purchased more freely both for do.
nestle consumption and for export:
unusual activity in building con.
struction is maintained and freight
traffic is unprecedented for this
pc Rod.
"The betterment that has lately
developed has not, in all cases,
wholly offset the unsatisfactory
conditions that previously prevailed
in different quarters, but the move
ment has been such as to give rise
tn optimistic forecasts, and the
Presidents message to Congress
this week further strengthened con-
fidence. The showing down that
has come in some trades where in.
ventorying is in progress is a sea-
sonal trend and has not detracted
from the favorable outlook, and re-
tailers are encouraged by the pros
poet Of big Christmas business.
i'll which the enhanced buying power
ir the agricultural sections of the
West is Il potent factor"