Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-15
TREND IN BUSINESS
CONTINUES UPWARD
Gains UnevenIy Apportioned,
According to Weekly
Trade Reviews.
speciAl Dispatch to The star.


NEW YORK, February l5.-Trade
and industry showed general trend
toward improvement during the past
week, but the gains are unevenly appor-
toned, according to the weekly reviews.
r. @. Dun & Co. in their review say,
in part:
"a gradual betterment, slowly widen
ing in scope, marks the present trend.
and this Is more to be desired than q
swift advance whose duration might be
shortened by its rapidity. Adjustments
in production and in prices are still to
be completed, but the process is causing
less unsettlement than had been appre-
hended in some quarters. The stronger
tone Of the stock market, well sustained
in recent weeks, has contributed to the
more cheerful feeling in commercial cir
cles, while the passing OF the monetary
tension is regarded as being constructive
in its bearing on the future of trade.
Some of the statistical measurements,
although comparing unfavorably with
those OF q year ago, are giving palmer
signs of an upturn from the low point
OF December, with steel output leading.
A further rise in that branch of manu-
facture this week means that demands
and specifications have continued to in
crease, for mills are gauging their
schedules by the actual calls from con-
sumers. In that field, however, as in
other industries, conditions vary appre-
ciably, buying not being evenly appor-
toned. With so many existing irregu.
larities, conflicting reports are common,
but underneath the surface contrasts
there is tendency in the right direc-
ton More stability in commodity prices
would be helpful, yet depression in two
Of the great staples-wheat and cot
ton--has been modified.
Decrease In Building Permits.
Most of the statistical barometers
which measure the rise or fall of busi-
ness continue to show declines from
similar data for a year ago. The loss
IN bank clearings remains large and is
practically general at the principal
cities, sharp reduction in the value Of
building permits occurred in January,
the excess Of commodity price conces-
sions Is still marked and railroad freight
traff1c Is at the lowest level for several
years. The latter record, however, is
not without indications of betterment.
for the margin of decrease during the
latest reported week was narrower and
aggregate car loadings were the largest
for the present year.
An exception to the tendency of
most trade indices appears in the state
ment OF untitled steel tonnage, which
made its fifth consecutive monthly gain
in January.
Without disregarding the unsettle-
ment through which primary dry goods
markets have been passing, there are
accommodating indications of trend to-
ward the better. Definite improvement
has appeared in some lines and is re-
garded as being close at hand In other
quarters, and sentiment among ner-
chants is stronger. A growing belief
that prices for textile raw materials
have reached the low points Is helpful,
and 1t Is thought that greater stability
would 90 much to promote the trade re-
covery."
Weather Conditions Improve.
Bradstreet's State of Trade says. In
part:
Mild weather throughout the South
ana southwest and in much of the
Central North and West furnished a
stimulus to retail trade, which appeared
70 De only slightly below the level Of
year ago. Women'S clothing sold
somewhat more freely, whereas mems
wear seemed to lag. Department stores
In some areas continued to feature
sales of Winter lines, while In other
sections Spring goods were on display
and moving fairly we'll.
wholesale business displayed less
actual improvement. but there was a
little more optimism in evidence than
earlier in the year, the slowly rising
level of employment and the partial
recovery of prices for cotton and
cereals from the low points touched in
the preceding week being encouraging
factors. In this connection, it seems
possible that the late date of Easter,
which has been complained Of as tend
ing to retard purchasing by retailers,
may prove to be an aid to business,
in that wage earners will have more
time to recover financially from the
low ebb of Midwinter, and thus be able
to buy more freely of Spring clothing.
1.-THE lighter industries present an
irregular picture. Silk and rayon
plants are fairly active, while there is
still considerable curtailment in the
ing been. confused by the break and
rally in raw cotton. Raw wool prices
appear somewhat f1rmer, and there has
been little more doing in that line.
Shoe manufacturers in the Middle West
seem more disposed to increase plant
operations than do those in the East.
Leather markets have been rather dull.
Furniture manufacturing has not been
very active, although the FEBRUARY
sales were apparently fairly success
full. Flour orders have been very light.
Radio tube makers were said to be
doing more, but the radio industry
itself was rather ntiiet -