Evening star., 1928-12-21
HOLIDAY BUSINESS
BREAKING RECORDS
Indications Are That In
crease of 10 to Is Per
Cent Will Occur.
BY ]. 6. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, December 21.-Accord-
ing to the calendar this is the shortest
day in the year, but according to the
cash register it is one of the longest.
1t is the elimination of the greatest
period of retail buying that any holiday
season ever has seen in any country.
Volume of sales has continde to
range between 10 to Is per cent higher
than for the corresponding period OF
last year, and seems certain to con-
tinue to do so until next Monday night.
The general business outlook Is url-
doubtedly highly favorable, and the
dips and rises in the stock market have
not shaken confidence in the future in
the least. Retail trade Is being helped
materially by dividend distributions and
by the passing out of bonuses to en-
ployes. The bonus payments among
financial houses have been especially
heavy. In some cases workers making
$2,500 year have had bonus payments
Of $4,000 or more.
Jewelry Sales Numerous.
Sales of jewelry and the more ex-
pensive gifts have been numerous, but
the great bulk of the gifts bought have
About 100000 Christmas trees will
have been sold by next Monday
afternoon. OF these 100000 go to the
Atlantic Coast cities from New England
and the Adirondacks, and 100000 to
the cities in the North Central States.
Canada provided about 100000 trees,
according to report.
Toy sales have been exceedingly
heavy, especially for the wheeled goods
and dolls.
Seasonal declines in leading indus
tries are far less marked than they
were year ago. Steel, building and
automobile production all have slowed
down a little, but this check has been
as nothing to the usual seasonal dip.
Automobile manufacturers are merely
preparing for period when output is
likely to be greater than ever before.
The steel industry has enough busi-
ness booked to allay any anxiety as to
its future in the next three months.
The agricultural equipment concerns
are working at top speed.
Building contracts let have fallen of,
as Is always the case in the Winter.
The copper mines are making profits
while the mine lamps shine. The
Christmas lay-offs will be far shorter
than usual.
Exodus to South.
The annual pilgrimage of tourists to
the South has begun, and there are
more automobiles southbound on the
roads Of the country than at any time
since the bursting OF the Florida boom.
The oil industry is comparatively quiet
and stable for the time being, but con-
sumption of gasoline in 1929 will be
heavier than ever
The agricultural districts have a lot
of money to spend and are disposed to
spend it. The cotton growers have re-
Gently been aided by higher prices.
Sugar is in no better position as the
time of grinding by Cuban mills ap-
proaches. Coal is showing only regular
seasonal improvement. The paper in
duStry is taking a rather gloomy view
of things. The textile mills are profit
ing somewhat by increased demand.
There is no serious unemployment
situation in any part of the country.
The tremendous influence of the
stock market on other industries was
shown by the acquisition of two large
buildings by the New York exchange to
give it more trading floor space.
Group insurance continues to grow
in volume.