Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-27
BUSINESS UPTURN
NOTED IN REVIEWS
Bradstreet'S and Dun's See
General Progress-FaII
Outlook Better.

UQcCAdl Dlapbtcn 70 Inc HIhfs
NEW YORK, September 27.-More
active buying in wholesale and jobbing
lines, increased employment in seasonal
industries and the promise of cooler
weather are emphasized among the ia
Vorahle factors in the weekly reviews
of the commercial agencies. Against
these, however. are cited the slackness
in retail trade due to unreasonable
weather, reduced automobile production
and the low price of farm products
While there have been numerous
croSS-currents visible in general BUSH
ness, this especially displayed in lower
prices for many staples. and religious
holidays and warmer weather have been
additional drawbacks, the necessities
nave on balance made for a further
moderate advance in Fall trade" says
Bradstreet's. This is especially notice
able in wholesale and jobbing lines
where buying has had to be done and
in small but none the less encouraging
acceSstons to working forces employed
In seasonal industries.
The situation in retail trade is, per-
haps, best summed up in the reports
reaching the dry goods trade that cool,
snappy weather Is much TO be desired
That such change impends seems
possible from reports OF light snowtalis
IN Canadian and our own Northwestern
Siam A4N4N41f WA4CAC Vic bhAh Va eRAG AAACAS
threshing seems to have been done.
Taken as a whole, the situation may be
said to grade as nearer fair than for
some months past, but with industrial
output and general trade volume still
leaving much to be desired, as compared
with a year ago. Bearing on this latter
point 1t might be well to remember that
comparisons for the remainder of the
year should tend to favor this year
more than for many months past.
Steel Trade Irregular.
"In the iron and steel trade cross
currents seem particularly present when
the sight is afforded of bars, structural
shapes and black sheets stiffening in
price. whereas pig iron has gone on
about so cents This Is explained by
steel trade authorities as being due TO
an expansion OF ordinary general tax
ings of steel, not for automobile or rail-
way account; and as regards pig iron
easing, the intimation is that this has
aided in causing the placing OF some
really good sized orders.
I'm the list of favorable features,
sight should not be lost OF the TACT that
raw cotton moved abroad in larger vol
ume in August than in recent months
or than in August a year ago, but the
lower price ruling robs this OF some OF
its comfort, although the fact remains
that domestic buying OF cotton goods
was better following the fixing OF the
lower price level.
"In the automobile trade, estimates
of September output are in continuation
Of earlier advices that that months pro-
duction will drop below that If August.
There is, however. some evidence in the
trade reports that retail sales have i'm
proved slightly. Among the other in
dustrieA there are signs of slight lift
ing Of operations at Southern cotton
mills, tins tending to confirm reports
last week and this Of better buying OF
yarns
Trend Moderately Better.
r. G. Dun g. Co.'S weekly review Of
business says in part;
Even in a situation which still has
many confusing and uncertain elements,
with accented unsettlement in specula-
tive markets, the more promising signs
in business are not obscured. Surveys
Of individual lines continue 20 disclose
numerous irregular and unsatisfactory
phases, but conditions viewed in their
entirety reveal q moderately better
trend. Reports from the different Sec
tons OF the country, covering widely di-
versified trades, reflect . maintenance
OF the gradual gains that began with the
passing of the Summer.
Nothing in the current dispatches
warrants other than conservative ex-
pectationS, yet the composite sentiment
Is more cheerful. Since confidence is
essential to commercial progress, par
ticularly after a period of stress, the
present disposition to regard the out
look more hopefully Is encouraging.
Considerable already has been accom-
plisIed In laying a foundation for ulti-
mate general economic recovery, and
the adjustments which yet remain to
be completed appear to be, as whole,
less disturbing.
That certain raw materials and
semi-finished products are believed to
be an advantageous purchase at ex-
listing low prices is indicated by the
willingness of some buyers to contract
ahead, but various other commodities
are in q more unstable position and
forward commitments are discouraged.
Even eliminating foodstuffs. Dun's list
of wholesale quotations lacks evidence
that a definite turning point has been
reached although declines recently
were not so preponderantly in the ma
jority It was not to be anticipated,
following q pFotracted transition, that
a single month would bring decisive
business revival, and the factor Of sea-
sonal stimulus is not to be disregarded
in Septemher'S betterment
ANY change in the right direction,
however, Is something gained, and some
additions to factory forces, although
scattered, are favorable augury, Thus
far, only a few of the statistical ba-
rorneters have reflected a reversal OF
the prolonged recession, yet steel out
put has risen little more without the
support of important orders from some
of the larger consumers, and rallroad
freight traffic is showing the tendency
toward upturn which normally comes
ARTSs