Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-12-02
SAVINGS AND COLD
BOTH CONTRIBUTING
TO RETAIL BUYING
Approximately $4,000, 900 in
Christmas Checks Sent Out
by Banks Here.
WEATHER HAS INFLUENCE
ON SEASONAL PURCHASES
Business Here Generally Started
Earlier for Holidays and Is
Keeping Early Pace.

Distribution of approximately So
100000 in Christmas savings checks
and the advent of the first seasonal,
weather of the Winter period today
combined to give Washingtons retail
trade real boost in its upward treno
incident to holiday gift buying.
Although the Christmas gift shop
ping got under way earlier this year
than previously and has maintained ar
-Wtth-average gait since early last
month the continuous warm weather
seriously affected the sale of heavy
apparel in the retail stores. In the
opinion of business men, the coming
of cold weather, the release of the
greatest Christmas club fund in the
history of local banks and the new
month will push December buying to a
new high level, the depression" not
withstanding.
The Christmas savings checks, which
represent total of nearly a million
dollars more than the amount dis
trlbuted last year, went out to $4,000
savings club members last night and
were in the hands of recipients TO-DAY
1t has been conservatively estimated by
statisticianS that approximately SIS Der
cent CT the amount distributed goes
directly to the stores for purchase of
Christmas merchandise.
Extra Clerk Hire OFF.
canvass Of Washington retail
stores has revealed that extra employ
ment for the Christmas buying season
has remained considerably below the
average up to the present time, but
within week it is estimated several
hundred additional helpers viii be put
on TO take care Of the influx of holiday
shoppers anticipated.
Because the burden Of shopping will
ian Wlthln comparatively scant peri
o. que 10 the delay in customary "cold
weather buying" merchants believe the
number Of additional employees soon IN
be given work will offset the smaller
amount of employment given to date
TINS season. The number of extra
workers during the Christmas period in
the retail stores each year cuStomarilv
totals in the neighborhood of 5000
persons, and there is little indication
IN The opinion Ct business leaders. that
the figure will be less this year.
The Merchants ana Manufacturers
association reports productive results
from its aggressive shop early-mail
carry campaign, in which it co-oper-
ates with the local Post Office Depart
ment in a drive to hasten Christmas
buying and mailing of merchandise. TO
alleviate "eleventh-hour hysteria" for
shoppers and merchants alike. Christ
mas shopping, according to Edward D.
Shaw, secretary of the association, was
advanced all over the country to an
earlier date this year than ever before,
and public response to the movement
has been encouraging.
New Clubs Forming.
Banks already are receiving enroll
mentS in 1882 Christmas savings clubs,
the period from November 80 to Janu-
airy IS having been set aside for regis
tration. Deposits are accepted from 81
to $40 weekly and interest at per cent
Is added upon completion of the pay
ments within the specified time limit.
Membership in Christmas savings
clubs has increased from less than So
900 in 1924 TO nearly 100000 this year,
and the amount distributed yesterday is
almost thrice that of 1924. The follow
ing table gives an idea Of the year-to-
year growth of the Christmas club idea: