The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-12-07
RETAIL TRADE IS
! BETTER THAN
" IN 1928

NEW YORK, Dec. 1.-THE sea-
Ronal process of evolution of
trade and industrial activities
has pushed retail buying. includ
ing holiday purchasing, into the
foreground, whereas wholesale
and jobbing trade, except in
holiday supplies and industry,
also tends TO lessen in activity,
BradStreet's reported today.
Even within the separate lines
OF distribution or manufacture,
however, there have been cross
currents which render general
Characterization somewhat diff
cult. AS near as can be def
nitely fixed at this time, how
ever, retail trade seems to be
somewhat better than a year
ago, whereas wholesale and job
bling distribution and industry
seem to be CORRESPONDENCE below
last years concededly active pace.
Cold weather, the distribution
Of holiday savings funds and
som ewhat better demand at
slightly higher prices for farm
produce, but especially wheat
this notably in the Southwest
has made for a rather distinct
forward movement in retail buy
ing in most areas.
Perhaps the most marked ex-
ception to this is found in the
Pacific Coast States. where the
Iong-prevailing dry weather has
been a bar to crop work and
growth and to retail trade.
In the greater part of the coun-
try, between the Atlantic Coast
and the Rocky Mountains, the
prevalence of real winter weather
has speeded up buying OF seas
onal goods, especially heavy wear
ing apparel, shoes and rubber
footwear.
Wholesale and jobbing trade is
of purely seasonal character and
mainly of a fill-in nature, alike
in staples and in holiday lines.
Industry shows variations OF
marked degree within the differ
ent lines. Pig iron production Is
tapering off rather rapidly, the
decline for the lonth Of Novem-
Der from that of october having
been the heaviest for any month
in years. Scrap metal prices
have sagged slightly further also.
On the other hand, the rail
ways again have bought freely OF
rails and cars, and the pace OF
rail-u1ill work and the shipments
of their product have been excep-
tionally high, despite the fact
that steel mill operations, as a
whole, have ranged between 90
and 10 per cent, which is well
below year ago.
A new note is struck IN the
reports that the leading manu-
facturers of low-priced automo-
biles have begun work on new
models; that specifications for
sheets have loosened up a tritle,
and that some automobile parts
makers are reassembling forces
for work. A good authority says
December output will exceed that
of November. Some Southern
steel centers report very fair
operations.
Cold weather has given an i'm
petus to coal buying. mining ana
shipping, this applying to both
anthracite and bi tum n Gus
grades. The common brick sit
Gation improved during October,
and shipments exceeded those OF
the like month a year ago. The
reports from the lumber districts
vary.
Raw wool is quiet and easing
in prices is reported from Lon
don. The leather trades are
rather quiet in the manufacture
ing division, with ease in raw
stock tending to make for softer
quotations Cotton mill curtail
rnent is an accepted fact, both
North and South. Quite num-
Der, of reports quote the demand
for radio as not up to recent
weeks.