Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-02
REVIEWS OF TRADE
SHOW SLIGHT GAIN
Better Wholesale Inquiries
and Vacation Purchasing
Reported in Week.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, August 2.--There has
been little change in the last week in
business conditions, according to the
weekly reviews. While hot weather has
stimulated some lines, especially light
clothing and vacation needs. other de-
partments of trade report the heat as
having discouraged buying. Industrial
operations continue at slow pace, but
inquiries show some improvement, al
though where sales have increased 1t
has been due more to aggressive selling
methods than to better demand, 1T is
stated.
Dun's Review says, in part:
Much of the further recession that
has appeared in business Is clearly due
to the usual Midsummer curtailment.
ReadjuStments have made some addi-
tional progress, and generally in the di-
rection of partial recovery. There has
been an appreciate gain in retail dis
tribution. partly the result of the ex-
ceptionally hot weather, also for vaca-
ton needs and as a result of the ag-
gressive sales campaign by merchan-
diSerS.
I'm industrial lines operations are at
slow pace. The fact Is emphasized
that production has been limited so
rigidly to immediate requirements that
any turn for the better will be reflected
at once in increased manufacturing ac-
tivity.
THE tenor of reports this week indi-
Gates additional inquiry in some Of the
wholesale markets. In the primary dry
goods trade, while some moderate gains
in the volume of business are noted, it
is by no means very widespread. I'M
proVement is also noted in the inquiry
for raw silk. Production in the wooden
goods industry is still limited, but has
shown some increase of late. The hides
and leather markets continue disturbed
by unsteadiness in prices and the usual
seasonal condition in shoe production is
more accentuated than heretofore. The
situation in the steel industry remains
dull, with the demand still sharply re-
stricted.
Statistics Encouraging.
"Such indicators of trade movements
as building contract, freight car load
ings, automobile output, steel and cleo
trical production, bank clearings and
commodity price levels have failed to
show any improvement as yet. Many of
the statistical records, however, relate
to conditions several months back. The
heavy loss in railroad earnings reflects
In large measure the movement of mer-
as in May or earlier. The loaded car
movement which is more nearly up to
date, covering the same period, does not
indicate anything like the same decline
in traffic, while for the latest week a
slight improvement appears"
Bradstreet says in part:
THE outstanding feature of the week
has been the wide distribution of and
the increase in damage reported done
to leading crops by the continued hot,
dry weather. While there is a dispo-
sition to give some credit for larger dis
tribution of light Summer wear to high
temperatures, there are fully as many
complaints that the intense heat has
discouraged buying. added to which are
the increased volume OF reports that
serious damage has been done to the
corn crop in most areas, with lesser
complaints of injury to cotton, late
planted Spring wheat, potatoes and
Western tobacco.
Against these reports, however, it
was to be noted that while corn prices
have reached and passed wheat, the
latter with cotton sagged of in price
to new lows, in the first instance since
July 1914, and in the latter to the
lowest level since once in 1925 and
back of that since 1921. From these low
levels both of these commodities and
the stock market which had also de-
clined sharply, rallied on the last day of
July, while corn continued its rise to
new high ground in prices.
Effect Of Shutdowns.
both wholesale and retail trade and
industry seemed quieter, but the indus
trial aspect differed from the CONNER
cial in that while some lines slowed
further, others, as for instance some
bancheS of the steel trade and automo-
bile manufacturing, showed more re-
silence, while shoe manufacturers made
progress in getting their factories started
on Fall styles, and there were enough
similar variations in some other lines
to rob the reports. as a whole, of some
OF their depressing character. 1t seems
likely. however, that owing partly to
vacation Shutdowns, July will show a
lower ebb in industry as a whole than
did June.
I'm the lumber trade a slightly more
cheerful report came as to orders, but
against this it was noted that a wide
spread shutdown OF productive forces
was still in evidence. From the North
Pacific Coast comes the report that the
Alaska salmon pack promises to be
10000 cases short, but that, despite
heavy carry-over, higher prices are ex-
pected. From Western Montana are
reports Of forest fires, while from Ala
bama and Kentucky are reports of crop
conditions being less than half normal
Rather conflicting reports come from
North and South Texas as to good and
the reverse conditions of the cotton
crop in the respective areas.
From the large producing corn belt
States comes an unofficial estimate of
a possible reduction of 10000, 900
bushels in that crop, due to heat and
drought at critical time. The minia-
ture golf course as a possible source
of considerable employment is stressed
in reports from Los Angeles. which city
reports immense activity and big out
lays of money to fit up hundreds of