Evening star., 1933-02-04
NARROW BUSINESS
PROFITS REPORTED
Survey Shows Fair Activity
in Various Lines of
Trade.
Special Dispatch to The STIR.

Special Dispatch to The STIR.
NEW YORK, February 4.-Business,
despite the security markets. foreign
and domestic political DEVELOPMENTS and
rapidly changing weather. maintained a
stride this week thct permitted narrow
profits
Confidence. in the face of DELAYED
plans pending the naming of the Roose-
welt cabinet and the advent OF the new
administration. continues to grow slow
ly as many fundamental factors show
improvement
Reports from SIS cities throughout the
country indicate that mild weather has
slowed purchases of Winter goods.
Nevertheless many retail stores reported
good volume for January. thanks to
the usual seasonal sales. Chicago told
OF fair movement of retail trade. In
Cleveland, where the steel industry Is
operating at 26 per cent of capacity,
largely because of automobile orders,
basement stores are doing a better
business than upstairs departments.
Detroit Leads in Activity.
Detroit. despite the strike at one of
the big automobile body companies and
consequent shutdown of the Ford
plant. remains the busiest industrial
center in this country. In San Fran
cisco the beginning of the construction
of the San Francisco Oakland bridge
has been set nearer with the passage Of
legislation making the financial set-up
more satisfactory to the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation.
Bradstreets reports that the dried
fruit market in California is good and
such stocks are being reduced, but re-
tail trade remains discouraging. Whole
sale trade Is slightly improved.
Women'S wear and furniture promo
t1onS locally have produced a moderate
movement. In sharp contrast with
most other lines. there Is good de-
mand for medium-pric rather than
low-priced mems clothing
"On the positive side Of the business
bank clearings rising from $4,036,000,-
900 in the previous week to $4,284,-
900, 900. On the negative side the
weekly food index at 81 40 is about one
per cent under a week ago."
Spring wearing apparel Is the center
OF attention in the wholesale markets.
Commenting on this phase, Duns
states: Current orders reveal the
popularity Of jacket dresses, with waist
to fingertip-length coats, and a good
response has been accorded suits in
strictly tailored styles and cape cos
TUNES. As few of the Spring suits
have their own blouses, orders for
these have been numerous, particularly
in the styles featuring important sleeve
treatments and adjustable high neck
lines. There has been increased ac-
tivity in coats with detachable fur
collars. The mannish trend In mil
lnery has opened up a much stronger
demand for this type of merchandise,
and calls for all types of womens
neckWear are reported to be much
- ef ars-
Novelty Jewelry Sales.
Meanwhile novelty jewelry, espe-
cially rhinestones. is experiencing a
better demand. The tailored type Of
handbags and the plain slip-on gloves
are creating use for considerable pig
skin. Although drugs and drug sun
dries are less sought than a year ago.
despite their lower quotations. there
continues to be brisk call for cos
metics and toiletries.
In the dry goods trade interest Just
now centers around the opening dates
on the Fall 1888 wool blanket lines,
which some portions of the trade favor
for February IA or Is, with others equal
ly insistent that the event be put of
until March.
Dollar volume Of furniture buying is
Is per cent below that of q year ago,
but sales are fair, with modernistic
designs forming about 30 per cent Of
the bulk
Industries stepping up operations
during the week or planning to in
cluded: Automobile and accessories,
electrical goods, furniture, glass, hard
ware, crockery, paper and stationery,
clothing, jewelry, textiles and shoes.
Battery and tire makers are taking more
raw materiaI than a year ago.
(Copyright, 1887