Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-24
RETAIL BUSINESS
HAS GOOD OUTLOOK
Weather Has Been Dominat-
ing Factor in Trade in
Past Few Days.
BY J. G. ROYLE.
pecial Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
NEW YORK, July 24.--The weather
has been a dominating factor in bust
ness. industry and trade in the last
few days. Terrific heat waves, spread
ing over wide areas, undoubtedly have
affected industrial production and ac-
tfVity in many lines. On the other
hand, they have stimulated the sale
of seasonal goods.
Retail trade, that backbone of the
business structure, not only has been
good. but the outlook for its future
in the next three months Is bright.
Chain store and department store or
CARNATIONS are making preparations
to expand sales in even larger ratio,
as compared with last year, than OBJ
tanned in the last three months. Foot
wear and apparel sales are mounting
steadily and the volume Of bathing
suit distribution In the last week was
tremendous. Prices i'm general are
mounted somewhat, profits are better
than year ago
Ice Companies Benefit.
None benefited to a greater extent
from the heat wave than the ice and
refrigeration companies. New York
City ice consumption ran up above
10000 600 pounds a day. Officials of
the American Ice Co.. which makes,
cuts and distributes ice from Washing
ton, ID. c., to Maine, state that people
are using more ice per person this
Summer than ever before. No short
age developed, but it was necessary
in some areas to draw on storage sup
plies.
Electric and gas refrigeration is
actively employed. Sales of electric
refrigerators advanced sharply, while
use of current for refrigeration be-
came a noticeable current load factor.
1t Is estimated that over $50, 900 cleo
trio and gas refrigerators have been
sold so far this year. 1t is probable
that this has had something to do
with the strength Of the nonferrous
metals, especially copper. Stocks of
copper are sufficient only for about
half months supply. but production
Is going on at a rapid pace.
The radio business Is running at a
higher rate than a year ago. with
specially sharp gains in parts and ac-
cessories sales. IT is believed the
volume of business next Fall will be
exceedingly heavy.
Automobile production is falling off
at some factories, as Is usually ex.
pected at this time of year, but others
are doing remarkable business and
the industry seems more and more to
be passing into fewer and stronger
hands. Steel operations are continu.
Ing at surprisingly high levels In the
Clevela nd, Mahoning Valley and Chi.
cago districts. and in most districts
schedules call for hea vier production
than during any summer since the
war.
Canned Goods Production.
Tin plate has been aided by the
growing size of canned goods pro-
ductiOn. In California, output this
season Is expected to exceed the
record production of $4,000 900 cases
in 1925. Two hundred cars of fruit
are moving daily to canneries in the
San Francisco and peninsular region
alone.
Actual construction contracts are
running about 81 ,000.0 a week high
er than at this time in 1925. This
has stimulated lumber sales, orders
and production, but has not served
to raise lumber prices.
Railroad freight movements are ex-
tremely heavy, and owing to the con.
gested lines farmers in the Southwest
have checked wheat harvesting oper-
atoms. Crews have been laid off tenn
porariiy all through Texas. but this
Is counterbalanced by the statement
that $4,000 American harvest hands
will be required to gather the Cana
dian wheat crop.
The Government cotton report did
little 10 stabilize the market for the
raw staple or for textiles in view
of the fact that much uncertainty
existed as to the "parS on which the
Federal figures were based.