Evening star., 1933-07-14
DEMAND FOR AUTOS
PASSES ESTIMATES
Midsummer Sales Indicate
More Buying Than for
Same Period in 1882.
By the Associated Press.


DETROIT. July 14.-In the sustained
consumer demand of the last few weeks,
automotive pioneers who have wealth
cred numerous lean years in the past
three decades of the motor car indus
try's history see a gratifying parallel to
the post-depression periods of other
years If the parallel of the recovery
year" is followed out for the remainder
of the current year output for 1888 will
be even greater than the more opti-
mistic of the sales directors have hoped
for.
1t is more or less Of tradition that
the industry produces approximately
two-thirds of its annual output in the
first six months of the year. On this
| basis the total 1888 output would be
slightly in excess of 500, 900 units
| But. like the recovery years" of other
depressions. 1888 has seen consumer de-
mand hold up beyond the first six
months. with every indication that the
real Midsummer months will find re-
tail distribution maintained at higher
levels than for the corresponding
months Of 1882.
Outlook Is Bright.
Announcement by General Motors
Corporation and other producers that
June sales to dealers were the largest
| for any June since the boom years OF
| 1929 gives point to the rather cautiously
advanced prediction that output for the
final six months of the year may be
| fully as great as it was for the half
year ending a fortnight ago.
In the recovery period following the
depression of 1921 the production for
! the last half of the year was heavier
than 1t was in the first six months.
/ The industry's optimists point out that
there are numerous factors peculiar to
the present situation that favor a rela-
lively heavy output for the half year
! Just started Chief of these. Of course,
is that production is geared absolutely
! TO consumer demand.
| Another is that delayed buying has
begun to make its appearance. and be-
| cause it has been delayed so long there
| is every probability. the sales directors
say it will be sustained at a level that
will necessitate higher production sched-
ules than had been expected earlier in
the year.
| The curtailment Of buying. some of
/ the industry's spokeSynen point out. was
! spread over period that was greater in
! the aggregate than tha. of all previous
depressions experienced in the industry S
history.
! Greater Showing Seen.
/ At the time Of the 1907 depression the
motor car industry had scarcely reached
Volume production 1t turned out in
/ that year $4,000 cars and trucks, the
equivalent of less than a weeks output
under current restricted factory sched-
ules. Thus the 1907 economic difhcul-
ties did not seriously affect the indus
try Output was increased to $4,000
units the following year
/ Up until 1916. when the industry
passed the GOO 000-units -a-year mark
periodical declines in factory output
were unknown. In 1918, 1921. 1924 and
t 1927, however, the production figures
showed declines as compared with the
preceding year. In each instance. though
the rebound was quick and positive.
1t is largely because the decline that
Immediately followed 1929 continued foy
three successive years that many of the
! irdustrys executives believe the recov-
cry that began in the first half Of 1888
may extend its scope by an even better
showing during the remainder of the
year.