Evening star., 1932-12-18
Confectionery and Novelty
Goods Producers Are In.
creasing Their Output.
AUTOMOTIVE DEMANDS
HOLD STEEL TRADE FIRM
Reports From Other Industries Re
veal Little Change in Recent
Rates of Production.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


NEW YORK, December 17-Aside
from increased output to meet seasonal
demands, there is little evidence of in
creased activity in industrial branches.
Manufacturers of chocolate products
and other confections are running on
capacity schedules, and makers of toys
and Christmas novelties, according to
Dun's Review. are rushing to complete
of some novelty lines, which sell at in
termediate prices orders placed with
manufacturing jewelers. have been dis
appointing. Makers of leather products,
on the other hand, note a distinct i'm
provement thus far in December In the
textile industry the wool goods division
continues to make deliveries of Winter
goods, and number of mills already
have booked fair amount Of Spring
business, maintaining relatively high
working schedules: in some instances
mills are occupied on a double-time
basis. The rayon division continues to
make the best showing in the textile in
dustry, with many large plants now sold
closely through January. Reports ema-
mating from the footwear trade are ia
vorable. with factories moderately busy:
prices are substantially under last years
quotations, but retailers are beginning
to note a slight shift to the better
grades of shoes.
Clothing Trade Dull.
Hosiery manufacturers. who were we'll
occupied from Labor day to the first OF
the current month, in many cases being
forced to operate their mills on extra
time, have cut down their schedules
somewhat during the past week. Orders
booked by manufacturers OF lace cur
tains are below the level Of last year at
this period, with the bulk of the de-
mand for low-priced merchandise Man
ufacturers Of knitted sport coats and
bathing suits find that there has been
little new business originating during
the last month for current shipment. as
most of the wholesalers covered their
requirements during the early Fall. The
little demand that does exist is for the
lower grades of merchandise which fall
within the popular-priced ranges. Busl-
ness is improving distinctly in the large
woolen and worsted plants In Lawrence,
Mass. Additional employees have been
recalled in fair sized number TO the
three largest plants during the current
month.
Operations in the iron and steel in
dustry are fairly steady, with sentiment
| bo!stered by the expectation that auto
mobile manufacturers Will assemble
more cars in December than IN any
other month since last July. A moo,
crate volume of structural awards and
rail releases gives hope Of early I'M
| provement with rail tonnages for I'M
mediate rolling expected to increase
employment in the Chicago district IN
| advance of the Christmas holidays. The
automotive industry now is concentrat.
| ing its attention on the l0W-prlced
! field; and. according to announcements,
! IA different makes. priced under SIoo
| per unit. will be offered to the public
soon. Conditions in the electrical
supply industry, as whole. are not
much better than during the Summer
months Ordinarily. the last quarter
of the year accounts for approximately
| 40 per cent of the annual business. but
| this year there has been 70 upward
| curve to the trend. Sales to industrial
plants are unusually small.
Coal Output Lower.
Plate and window glass production
Is at a lower rate, and no material I'M
provement is anticipated for several
/ weeks, with the exception OF safety
| glass for automobiles, the demand for
| which is expected to improve at an
early date. Stocks of fiat glass IN the
| hands of distributors are reported ex-
tremely small, and manufacturers look
| for stock replenishment orders early in
January. Crude oil production is at a
slightly higher rate, with stocks OF
refined products showing some in
crease Bituminous coal production has
fallen off slightly, but compares fairly
we'll with that of a year ago. Indus
| trial demand still is slow, while do
mestic demand is being stimulated, to
! some extent, by the colder weather.