Evening star., 1933-09-08
RETAIL SALES LEAD
BROADENING TRADE
New Codes Help to Remove
Much Of Uncertainty
for Industry.
DY JOHN A. CRONK.
Diapatch to The Qtar

Special Diopatcn 20 The Star.
NEW YORK, September S.-The
post-Labor day week, traditionally
viewed - giving impetus to the Fail
buying season. witnessed Q broadening
commercial activity that has taken up
some Of the slack that occurred in
mtd-August. Bushes activity Is Still
below the peak Of early August. but
the rate Of recession In many lines
has slowed down.
Industrial executives generally were
In . heettant mood, waiting for the
covery drive, but the more rapid pace
with which N. r. A. codes are being
formulated and adopted removed much
Of the uncertainty that previously sur
rounded various code provisions
The upward trend Of retail sales
has proceeded unmindful Of the gem
eral lifting Of price levels" Dun 4
Bradstreet, Inc. reports In its Ma
tion.wide reveiw Of trade for the
week. although the latter have now
been extended to nearly all departments
with the outstanding exception Of mems
clothing, on which the mark-ups thus
far have been moderate.
Even at present quotations the bulk
Of the merchandise offered does not
represent current replacement values,
as 1t was purchased before the N. r. A.
codes had appreciated manufacturers
overhead and In advance Of the appli-
cation Of the agricultural processing
taxes.
while . concerted vigilance y being
maintained for any curtailment Of buy
ing, because price rises are outdistAnc-
ing consumer income too rapidly, no
evidence Of this condition u apparent
as yet. In fact, ., doubling Of the
wages of six months ago has not been
an infrequent occurrence. and with the
2,500, 900 who have been returned to
the ranks Of the wage eArners since
March, the covering Of deferred neces-
stiles alone has been 70 insistent that
the price factor has lost some Of its
former predominance in the selection
Of merchandise"
Citing the progress in leading IN
dustries. the review points out that
freight movement has turned up ABB
ruptly to almost the highest point in
two years, due to heavier loadings Of
anthracite and shipments Of mtscel-
laneous merchandise Output Of auto
mobiles was lower this week than Q
week ago, but more than double that
for the same week of 1882. Steel op-
erations declined for the NTH consecu-
tive week. Production Of electricity
showed q gain over last years similar
period for the eighteenth week In sue
cession, though the percentage Of in
crease was the smallest since June ~.
Retail gains were impressive. however.
Continuing the fourth months rec
ord Of expanding sales" Dun q Brad
street states, retail trade not only has
broadened under the stimulus Of the
opening of the Fall season. but has
been accelerated by the buy now policy
advocated by the N. r. A.
This week proved the heyday for
retailers carrying school supplies and
the apparel lines needed by students
on their way to opening Fall terms.
Sales of boys and misses' clothing
the best volume in three years.
Luggage bulked larger In school-out-
fitting purchases than has been the
case In the last two years.
while early sales Of Fall dresses, mil
linery, coats, shoes. table linens, china
and curtains are running as much as
20 to 70 per cent above the compare
the mems and boys clothing division
that the most outstanding gains are
being recorded.
1.-The buying Of both mems and wom-
ems clothing during the latter part of
August reached extraordinary propor-
lions and in many instances stocks were
depleted. with retailers losing sales be-
cause immediate shipments could not
be made by wholesalers. Retailers
feel that II the reaction Of consumers
to the N. r. A. codes in September and
October is as genuine and widespread
as during August, there ID sound rea-
son for hoping that the last quarter
Will be the best in ut least
three years.
Consumer buying of low-priced dry
goods in stock and going forward on
past orders Is reaching unprecedented
Chain store and mall
order house distribution Of dry goods
has been unusually full. Many Of the
large department stores that bought in
hugs quantities last March and April
not only have disposed Of most Of their
goods, but have been compelled to order
more to supply the FAN requirements
Of their regular trade"
(Copyright 1887