Evening star., 1932-11-01
SMALLER BUSINESS
!. LINES SHOW GAINS.
Merchants Are Now Prepar-
ing for Annual Holiday
Buying Season.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, November business
executives todsy surveyed the results Of
October trade and prepared for the
usual holiday buying season.
October was marked by renewed
decline in commodity prices, which.
though not sufficient to wipe out the
advances from Midsummer, affected
many primary markets.
Cotton, for example. began its rise
in July and reached its pinnacle on the
bulge September 8. or just before the
Government crop estimate. Its down.
turn since that report has challenged
much of the gains made by the vari-
Gus cotton cloths during August and
September. Standard print cloths and
standard sheetings declined IS to u
cent during the month.
Most Lines Strong.
The cotton mills. however. have not
hesitated to curtail production. where
prices seemed to be weakening too fast,
with the result that statistically most
lines Of cotton goods are in as strong
position as they were a month ago.
Only today was the Silk Association
able to report its September statistics
for broad silks, sales of which were 25.8
per cent over the same 1881 month and
up eight-tenthS of one per cent over
those of August. Stocks in the hands
Of manufacturers on September 80 were
SO per cent lower than on August 81
and 1871 per cent smaller than on Sep
tember 80, 1881. OF course. this squirt
was not maintained during October. the
second half of the month being notice.
ably quieter
The seasonal recession in some of the
heavier industries already has set in
because business failed to develop in
expected quarters. Even the most san
projects that are to be financed by the
have any effect on the heavy industries
during the rest of this year.
Railroads, despite the recent price
cut on steel rails-an action warranted
months ago-have not purchased these
and other supplies. Until earnings show
considerable improvement, or until the
wear and tear on the roads compells
requirements in the interst of human
safety. the carriers will not be large
factor in purchasing heavy supplies
Prospects from the automotive industry
appear slightly more favorable than
from railroads
Small Units Active.
1t is from the smaller and lighter
industries that improvement must
come, and is coming. These small units
have grappled with the old problems
OF distribution and production and the
costs Of both in such a straightforward
way that some of the big bankers and
industrialists have opened their eyes.
In fact, more than one little fellow"
now is being offered the vice presidency
OF some unwieldly industrial giant that
has gone stale through its own inertia
Certain lines such as food manu-
featuring, cigarette making, output Of
trademark packaged goods canning
and a few of the textile branches will
maintain steady operations the rest
of the year. The holiday trade will
spur these industries, though retail
buying during the Christmas season
may not come up to the estimates pre-
dicted month ago. The drastic de-
clines OF farm commodities during
october have materially cut the
farmers purchasing power.
Meanwhile banks throughout the Ma
ton are preparing to pay out at least
$500, 900 900 in the form OF Christmas
saving funds. This distribution starts
today and will have material effect
on the ability OF individuals to buy
Holiday wares practical" yuletide
is indicated by purchases being made
here.
tCopyright. 1922