Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-27
CHRISTMAS TRADE
IN LARGE VOLUME
Reports Show Sales Were
Fully Up to Those
of Year Ago.
BY J. C. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star

SpSCIdi blSphtCn TO Inc star.
NEW YORK, December 27.-After q
thorough study Of sales receipts. the
merchants of America in general are
highly satisfied with the profits they
piled up in the holiday season. In only
few sections was the volume of BUSH
ness unsatisfactory. Even in such ter
rltorlal divisions. the falling off COM
pared with 1928 was slight and to be at
tributed not to general conditions which
now exist but to the weather or some
ton alone.
In most of the larger trade centers
the dollar volume Of business done was
well above that of 1928. There was a
iaIllng OH in purchases of some of the
nlgh-priced articles usually listed In
the luxury class, but this was counter
Dalanced by buying Of large number
OF gl1tS OF moderate cost. The depart-r
lnent stores did an excellent business
ana the specially shops came in for a
pig !ast-minute rush by those who
hoped to avoid the crowds in the large
general establishments.
Post Christmas Rush.
Sales efforts did not relax a moment.
E1aIoly nad the doors closed on Christ
advertising departments Commenced 10
get busy for the post Christmas rush.
Inere are always large number of ex-
changes looked for in the week follow
ing CHRISTMAS. These in the old davs
were regarded as anything but an ur-
mixed blessing, but today merchants
[eaIlze That the serve to bring large
t1 OF customers to the stores. In
IaCC, Cney act exactly as does the special
sale in one department from which ali
otner departments benefit to a greater
OF less degree. If a merchant can at
tract sufficient number of people To
the store, sales are bound to come.
Preparations are already in hand for
tne January sales and in most stores the
pupiIC was greeted today by lines little
ti \ the holiday goods to which
r ~ nag become accustomed for the last
month: Advertising has been of snlen-
olo volume, according to reports from
various sources, and there is evidence
IllaG IL VIII continue at q high rate for
weeks to come
In the industrial centers. mills and
Idctories are back in full swing TODAY. .
VIII inventory season past and with
new equipment installed or old euuip-
1 anenI put INTO shape for heavy runs.
Inc steel mills probably will not be
Iully up to their present quota rate nm
III tne end OF the week, but orders are
reported coming in in excellent shane
me automobile producers are gradually
taking on few more men and are
making preparations for the shows and
1or the shipment and delivery of new
MODELS after the shows. Merger rumors
asan are popping up through the au-
tomoo1le map, but no negotiations have
as yet reached stage where their sue
cess or failure can be definitely pre-
dicted. - =
the farm equipment makers and the
producers OF electrical equipment are
working at high rate. What the holi-
DAY season meant to the electrical equip,
ment men can be estimated by the fact
that 100000 Christmas tree lamps
were turned out. The industry counts
on making about 10000 900 bulbs for
automobile lights in 1880. The demand
Tor household electrical equipment has
been exceedingly heavy, in the last
month.
Mining Industry. ~
The statistical position of copper is
such that strong buying Is anticipated
in the not distant future. The lead
producers are in fine shape, but zinc
men are not expecting any immediate
move upward. Coal mining is in better
shape than last year. but movement of
coal will be on decreasing scale from
now until Spring. Most of the coal
needed has already been mined and is.
householders bins. =
There has been some recession in,
building, which is normal at this sea-.
son. Speculative construction is being
held back in some sections, but there IS
huge amount of work in progress;
which will keep the industry busy for
some months. In the meantime build
ing material prices have shown a soft
ening tendency.
The textiles anticipate a renewal Of
activity after the first of the year. At
the moment cotton, wool and silk mills
all are holding down production. This
of course, means corresponding les
sening of the margin of profit, which is.
widened under capacity production.
Stocks Of cotton goods are fairly heavy,
but there is a good margin of untitled
orders. Shoe factories and hat facto-
ries are working at fair rates.
Copyright. 1921