Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-01
BUSINESS REVIEWS
REPORT RECOVERY
Progress in January Exceeds
Earlier ExpeCtations-Re-
tail Trade Irregular.
Special Dispatch to The star.

SPcSidl AylSphJCn 10 0tals
NEW YORK, February 1.-Although
further progress has been made toward
emergence from the slump late in 1929
trade and industry are affected by the
the irregularity of January weather and
are still to be claSsed as spotty, accord
ing the the weekly business reviews
While improvement in activity and
sentiment has become more distinct
and there is definite expansion beyond
the low levels of December, operations
are not so active nor is buying so well
advanced as a year ago,
r. G.. Dun 81 Co.'S weekly review saws.
in part: with recognition of the fact
that broad recovery from a recession
of major proportions would not be
likely to come otherwise than SLOWLY
and unevenly, results in January have
been encouraging and in certain re-
spects more favorable than was antici-
pated. The decisive revival in the great
steel industry is not representative of
the situation generally, yet is clearly
evidences a betterment in some other
manufacturing branches, including au-
tomobile production, and is obviously a
promising augury. That upturn, which
has been more rapid than was COM
monty looked for, implies a larger en-
gagement of workers in different lines,
and the trend of employment is being
watched closely as an indication of the
probable public buying power.
THE statistical barometers of BUSH
ness still show the adverse influence of
the late speculative upheaval, but the
higher totals of failures, the smaller
railroad freight traffic, the decreased
bank clearings and other similar rec
ords reflect phases which should be
modified with the extension of the
present process of recuperation.
The status of retail trade, which
is naturally governed mainly by the
purchasing ability and disposition of
consumers, reveals many irregularities.
but in numerous cases stable reductions
have been made in dealers stocks
through offerings Of attractively priced
merchandise,
Depression in major farm products
TINS week contrasted with the stronger
undertone in the stock market. Both
wheat and cotton fell sharply in price.
the former to a new low level for the
season and the latter to a point not
previously touched in several years"
Bradstreet's State of Trade says in
part:
The weather in recent weeks has
been decidedly against building and
building materials, and curtailment is
stu on in cotton and wooden lines, and
IN jewelry glass and tile making, Fur
niture trade reports are mixed, some
manufacturers being active, while others
are rather slack. The weather has con-
tlnued to help the coal trade, as a whole
but prices are more spotty.
Excessively cold weather. snow
clogged highways, muddy country roads
and high water are still frequently men
TONED obstacles to wholesale and lob
ping trade IN the central valleys and
westward.
The automobile manufacturing trade
ike iron and steel, is adding to its EN-
ployes, but is still well below a year ago's
flowing tide of operations. Shoe manu-
1acturers have expanded operations and
machine tool makers, especially of cleo
trlcally driven lines, all note more do
ing. Clothing and dress manufacturers
Al some not all, cities are active, as are
makers of bathing suits and sonne tvnes
OF hosiery. There is talk of a strike
OF clothing workers at New York CITY. .