Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-21
CHAIN STORE SALE
VOLUME INCREASES
September Figures Show
Total Of $3.50, 6e4, 1873; Gain
Continued in October.
sp.cial Dispatch to The star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, october 21.-September
chain store sales recorded a marked
change in the monthly trend and also
a gratifying improvement in volume.
according to a survey Of results OF 30
reporting companies issued by E. A.
Pierce a. Co. This group represents a
cross-section of chain store operations
in this country both as to class OF
business and geographical location.
The showing for September is s1gnih-
cant for two important reasons-lrSt
it was the first evidence OF improve
ment in the monthly sales trend since
in the face of further decline In the
commodity price index.
The fact that business in September,
with four Saturdays, was greater than
August business, which in most OF the
reports covered five Saturdays, ana
considering that prices of many COM
modities were lower last month, LENDS
itself to the Interpretation either that
people bought more freely or that the
chains received great zeal OF pusl-
ness from new sources. support TO
this theory is given by the informa--
ton on September employment and
wages recently published by the Bu-
reaIi of Labor Statistics. This bureau
reported that returns from 40,775 eS-
adjustments in Is major industrial
groups indicate an increase in Septem-
Der, as compared with August, OF per
cent in employment and IA per cent
in pay rolls.
in September were $3.50, 694,1 83, COM
pared with $257,590,133 in August,
1880, and $265,562,279 in September,
1929. The decrease in September this
wear. compared with 1929, was 1888 per
cent. Total business done by the same
companies in August was $3.50 per cent
below August, 1929. This comparison
is not Influenced either way by the
Saturday factor, September this year
and last year each having four Satur-
days, while the August months had five
Saturdays each.
The cumulative total sales for the
nine months ended September 30, 1890,
were $2457, 339 ,488, an increase OF 2.62
per cent over the corresponding period
Of 1929.
Betterment in All Lines.
The improvement In chain store
business last month was not confined
to any particular line, but extended, IN
more or less varying degree, to prac-
tically every class of trade.
The most significant sales reversal
was recorded by group OF flve shoe
store companies, which changed an
August decline of 6.42 per cent into a
September increase of ga per cent.
The variety of and 10 cent store
group, comprising IL companies, re-
duced its sales decrease in September
to SO per cent, compared with 7.58
per cent in August. The combined
@aln Nf frfn 6VII0 increased
400 per cent in September, against q
gain of 1886 per cent in August Other
lines which reported smaller recessions
last month were the apparel, restau-
rant and miscellaneous groups.
Eleven grocery chains reported
slightly larger sales decline in Septem-
Der, as compared with August, the per-
centages being ~ and "a, respec-
lively. However, an analysis Of tndi-
vidual results will disclose that many
companies actually reduced the spread
between this year and last.
While individual results were still
more 'or less spotty, 1t Is interesting to
nota that business last month Of ma
1ority Of the reporting companies was
at greatly accelerated pace. To be
exact, "a Of the so reporting chains
showed better compartive results in
September than in August. In August
less than 10 companies made better
comparative showings than in July.
Six companies actually changed Au-
gust recessions into gains in Septem-
Der. These were Woolworth, Kress,
Fishman, Be Sandwich, Melville and
Diamond Shoe. Eleven showed a
greater increase, including First Ma
tional Stores. Grant, Newberry, Nc
Lellan, Peoples Drug, Lerner, Lane Bry-
ant, etc. Walgreen reported no change
IN the August increase of SO per cent.
Seventeen chains had smaller de-
clines, notably Kroger. Penney, Safe
way, National Tea, MacMarr, Kresge,
McCrory, Neisner, kinney, Consolidated
Retail Stores, Childs, Waldorf System,
etc. Only Is companies fell behind the
August percentages of comparison. The
remaining 2 reported figures which
were not comparable.
October Extending Gains.
Information has come to E. A. Pierce
q Co., either through the press or by
direct inquiry, which indicates that Oc-
tober sales of many chain store con-
Germs, in such basic lines as grocery,
apparel, shoe, variety and drug, con-
tinue TO reflect the improvement which
set In last month.
F. w. Woolworth, for example, re-
ports that since the beginning of Oc-
toDer the Chicago district has joined
the ranks of those sections which last
month started on the upgrade with
sales gains by old stores over 1929 after
losses in October.
Other representative companies which
the Pierce firm personally interviewed
reported that results for the first two
weeks in October bore Evidence that
the sales pace of September is being
maintained and in some cases quick
ened.
1ApAMyC TEYTII TpAnc