Evening star., 1925-12-05
CHRISTMAS SALES
co ON WITH RUSH
Business Good Except for
Seasonal Slumps in
Some Industries.
BY j. {. RONLE.

NEW YORK, December 5.-The i'm
Grant workers of the country are com.
mencing to move into the cities ana
out again. bound for Winter Jobs. but
the volume of industrial employment
remains undiminished and purchasing
power is tremendous. Evidence OF
that fact was given in the stores of
nearly every section of the country
during the week. Christmas buying
already has reached a volume where
merchants expect to extend store
hours. Extra employees. put To work
hy the thouSa ndS. have nCt been on
tirely adequate to handle the crowds
Of customers in some cities.
Auto Sales SlumD.
As was to be expected, the volume of
automobile production is falling on
slightly. Industrial employment in
Detroit. which reflects the trend of
that industry fell off 2,626 in the last
week 10 264,426. which compares with
197.075 a wear ago. Some new car
models, which will he offered shortly.
are expected to spur sales of couple
Of the quantity producers. There is
a marked trend toward making stand
ard equipment of many accessories
formerly sold separately from the car
itself.
Steel continued to show improve
nent and the back log of orders for
1926 delivery will suffice to keep Oper-
atiOnS active for weeks to come. In
fact. some companies are not opera'-
Ing ut capacity. only because some
furnaces are down in repair. There
was no change in the uncertainty
which is upscttin" conditions in the
coal Industry. but bituminouS pro-
duction continues at a slightly high
or rate and anxiety of consumers l.
not acute. SLOW Improvement is max
nl itself felt in the petroleum in
duSlry although better weather con-
diticnS have assisted in keeping pro-
duCtion high.
Metal Markets Quiet.
The non-lerrous metals have been
depressed i'm = measure by the weak
ness in the foreign markets. Con
sumption j. as high as ever, but buy
ers have turned cautious. hoping for
advantage ~ prices. The market was
virtually bare Of SPOT tin.
business meH interested in cotton
waited anXiouSlv for the Government
report which viii be issued DeCem
her and which may determine price
trend Tor the near future.
The general textile situation. eSpe-
ciar' in New England. is much
imp hvNa. with mills opera ting At
hi@t ~ rae than for a long time.
Attention iS being turned toward re
duci.. costs by individual worker
efficiency. This has resulted in some
Iahnr disputes between employers and
op,!atives Mergers of several textile
concerns also are being talked of. The
trend toward mergers is also shown
in the ice cream trade.
Tobacco Sales Heavy.
Cigar and cigarette factories con
tinue ex5re mcly active with demand
exec llent. Furniture factories are
we'll engaged. Wheat shipments have
been stimulated py the sharp move
mente in the MAJ kets which, in the
last week. have shown an unusually
wide daily range of prices. Building
aCuvlIies suffered only such reduc-
tigrs as were necessitated by weather
conditions with few changes in the
prices of building materials. or cost
Of labor.
Wool was in active demand in the
West ana most OF the stocks in that
territory have been cleaned up by
Eastern buyers at prices ranging
alcund 38 70 ioc a pound IN the
crease. For markets were strong
with demand for fur coats as We'll aS
tun-trimmed garments exceedingly
brisk. Sugar found itself in slightly
stronger position owing 10 weather
and labor conditions in Cuba,
tCcpyrl%ht. 1921