Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-06
RETAIL TRADE GAIN .
| REPORTED IN WEEK
Seasonal Upturn in Sales
Noted in Weekly Finan-
CiaI Reviews.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

opeClaI DlSpatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, December 6.-Normal
developments in business during the
past week, with retail trade showing a
gain because of colder weather and the
approaching holidays. and industry gen.
orally qu.eter, are reported by the week
ly reviews issued by the mercantile
agencies.
Bradstreet's says in part:
In industry the trend has been to-
ward the quiet side, steel ingot capac-
ity being reported below 40 per cent,
with lumber quieter, and what auto
mobile factories are active engaged to
moderate extent on new model pro-
duction. An exception to the quieter
trend among the heavier industries is
found in the pickup CT demand for
domestic sizes of coal, which has called
fer slightly more active mining move
ment, particularly in bituminouS coal
in the West.
Rail Buying.
"In rail buying, one large system has
asked for proposals on fairly large
quantity of rails, and past orders have
induced a slight pickup in rail mill
operations, but the railways are con-
coded to be buying fewer rails, though
perhaps more lumber, than year ago.
From a considerable area in the
Central South and West the report Is
that the numerous bank suspensions
have had a depressing effect on both
wholesale and retail trade with few
Southern sections noting that these
suspensions may have the effect of re-
ducing cotton planting next year. In
Eastern areas reports of better buying
of heavy Winter wear are coincident
with adviceS of a slight pickup in
jewelry buying. The radio industry
notes fair to good buying of moderate
priced SETS
Announcement OF a stiffening of
steel prices has to do mainly with frat
quarter buying. A few markets note
fair buying of pig iron, but in the iron
and steel trade generally, and in some
other industries, the near approach of
inventory time is a retarding element
in immediate buying and production. "
Dun's Review says in part:
LAS usual at this period the influ-
ence of seasonal forces is entering more
largely into apprasals of the business
situation; With the approaching holi-
Gays and year end, increasing activity
in retail trade contrasts with diminish
ing industrial operations. and allow
ance for this phase always Is made
even in times when settled conditions
prevail The present instance is marked
by less than the customary stimula-
ton Of public buying and by more
than the average recession of manu-
featuring, yet such results were to be
expected after prolonged and far
reaching economic readjustments.
Record Is Adverse.
1.-The commercial record Of 1880,
which is being brought nearer a con-
clusion, obviously is adverse, although
the severity of the transition has been
modified with the passing months and
a number of encouraging auguries now
are revealed The inventory status,
broadly considered, has been strength
ened, the Importance Of aligning pro-
duction closely with actual consump-
ton is more widely understood and the
outlook has been bettered by the more
general disposition to recognize the ex-
isting facts and by the more conserva-
tive opinions regarding probable devel-
opments in the early future"