Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-08
WEEKLY BUSINESS
SURVEYS CHEERFUL
Continued Gains in Trade
Revealed With Improve
ment in Conditions.
Special Dispatch to The star.

opeClhl DlSpAtCn 10 Inc StaT.
NEW YORK, February 8.-Phases
which are natural to periods of eco.
nomic transition are conspicuous at
present in business and trade, with
cheering reports Of steady gains in in
dustrial activity. according to the week
ly review of business and trade. Less
favorable reports come from wholesale
and retail trades which are suffering
from such things as inclement weather,
unsettled prices for grains and cotton
and disappointing results of clearance
sales In department stores, it is stated.
r. g. Dun & Co.'S weekly review Of
business says, in part:
Such a situation was to be expected
during an area of adjustment to new
conditions, yet response to seasonal fac
tors has been reflected in more definite
evidences OF recovery in some basic
lines. Comparisons with recent low
points of activity disclose a considerable
revival in certain cases. but a wide
spread betterment, such as would indi-
cate general recuperation, remains in
allegiance.
1.-The sharp breaks in prices for some
Of the major staples, notably wheat and
cotton, have been unsettling, but the
stock market has been progressively
more buoyant and active, and sentiment
has been favorably influenced by expec-
tations of an early lowering of the
Federal Reserve rediScount rate, full
filled by action taken on Thursday.
THE main progress thus far has con-
tinued in the steel industry, which has
been stimulated by an increase in auto
mobile manufacture and stable de-
mands from the railroads, building con-
struction interests and farm machinery
makers, and mill schedules averaging
approximately n per cent represent
decisive upturn in a little more than
month.
Conversely, textile output, especially
in the cotton goods section, has been
further curtailed, while footwear fac
tories also are working at a reduced
rate. Those are a few instances OF the
prevailing irregularities in the pro-
| ducing field, and similar lack OF uni
formity is common in the retail divi-
sion, where more than the usual diver
gence in results is shown.
Pressure to move merchandise into
consumption has led to special price
concessions in stores, but there was a
distinct check this week to the fall In
wholesale quotations, with advances
closely balancing declines in compre-
| henSive list. The slackening OF the
downward trend apparently implies
that at least temporary sterilization is
being reached in some quarters"
Bradstreet's State of Trade says, In
part:
| ing, shoes and cry goods Is not better
| than fair, with the late date OF Easter,
which enables retailers to spend more
time in shopping for their requirements.
offered as one reason for the present
Sluggishness The outlook for womens
clothing for the coming season Is re-
garded as fair, however, with manufac-
turers of silk dresses and hosiery book
ing good orders. Trade in mems cloth
| ing appears to be somewhat more ir-
regular. Shoe manufacturers are In
creasing plant operations and 1oobers
| are doing more. Markets Tor leatner
and raw wool are quiet, but fairly
| firm.
Generally speaking, the Southeast
ern quarter of the country has suffered
from cold and rain, while the Central
| North and East have had snow and very
low temperatures. Moisture conditions
| in the Pacific Northwest have i'm
proved, helping the outlook for crops
and hydroelectric plants. FrostS we're
reported to have damaged vegetables
and strawberries on the Gulf Coast.
Automobile manufacturers, particu-
! larly those making lower-priced cars.
are stepping up operations somewhat
and are calling for more steel sheets
and other material. The outputs OF
iron, steel and automobiles are still.
however. below the levels Of q year
ago. while showing good gains over
recent preceding weeks.
I'm the nonferrous metal markets the
chief feature has been the improved
demand for copper. Tin and zinc prices
are lower Heavy SHOWS and low tenn
peratures in the Middlewest have slim
ulated the production of coal, and the
general call for domestic fuel in the
Northern half of the country has been
good"