The Washington times., 1925-01-24
TRADE REVIEWS
REPORT GOOD
GAINS
General Business Outlook
Continues Favorable,
Survey Shows

NEW YOESh, Jan. 14.-W III
strong basic conditions maintained,
the general business outlook con-
tinues favorable, Dun's Review OF
the trade says. Despite increased
irregularity in both demand and
prices, there are still more points
Of gain than Of loss, and the I'M
usually large consumption of goods
remains a prominent feature. Sue
cessive weekly returns Of freight
traffic show conclusively that dis
tribution of merchandise Is excep-
tionaHy heavy, car loadings being
without precedent for this season,
and most Of the other statistical
measures also make satisfactory
comparisons.
Notwithstanding a sharp decrease
in stock market operations, bank
clearings at New York city this
week are 1871 per cent in excess. Of
those of q year ago, while outside
centers report an increase OF 1913
per cent. Improvement In Inercan-
tile collections is a phase COM
mented upon in dispatches from
various cities, with liquidation OF
old indebtedness in the West and
Northwest rejecting the strength
ened financial position Of the grain
farmers. The augmented public
purchasing power in those sections
is being manifested in broadening
of retail trade, and a. similar ten
dency appears at different manu-
featuring centers, where emplyo-
ment Of workers has risen appre-
Gladly since the election.
Although new business in the steel
industry has lately diminished, this
condition is not surprising in view
of the previous transactions, which
largely covered first quarter require
ments, and there Is active specify
ing against contracts already placed.
Requests for quick shipments in
certain instances give further PROOF
that supplies are in need OF replen-
ishnent. but buyers in some lines,
particularly in textiles, seem to be
diisinclined to make normal forward
commitments. Broadly considered,
the commercial situation discloses
number of contrasts, but the main
trend is toward progress, and con-
fidence is the prevailing, sentiment.
Wintry weather has hampered
trade and some Industries, but
while the general report Is or fair
trade. the advance in spring buying
is perceptible at wholesale, and lead
ing industries, barring such outdoor
activities as building and its kin
dred trades, are seemingly well
employed the country over. In re-
tail trade, the aid given seasonable
goods, footwear and auto accessories
has seemingly been balanced by re-
auctions caused in northern rural
areas by cold and snow, sleet storms
in middle regions, and heavy rains
with swollen rivers in the southeast
and parts Of the middle gulf area.
The coal trade has been benef1ted
by recent cold weather reducing sup
plies on hand and causing more
activity in the sole coal areas OF the
Middle West and Southwest. The
outlaw strikes of anthracite miners
has been confined to one section:
More has been done at q number OF
markets in spring goods, with the
textiles, especially clothing and
shoes and hardware noted as bene-
fitting. Hardware prices tend. up
ward.
Cheerful reports come from the
Grand Rapids furniture industry.
Car loadings are at their peak for
this season of the year, this not
entirely due to local loading. Coke
is easier in price, as are copper and
zinc. Large sales Of tobacco are re-
ported at Kentucky markets. The
oyster industry along the Atlantic
seaboard has been demora1ized from
New York south to Virginia by talk
of typhoid infection, causing a stop
mage Of buying and the idleness OF
thousands of workers. Electrical
goods, and especially radio material,
n still very active. Some cities, re-
mort all available automobile chains
sold out and rubber footwear is