Evening star., 1933-06-04
Both Retail and Wholesale
Lines Report Records
for the Year.
HIGHER WAGES INCREASE
PUBLIC BUYING POWER
Large Bookings for Fall Delivery
Are Placed With Leading
Manufacturing Firms.
BY JOHN A. CRONE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


NEW YORK, June 3.-Further
broadening of industrial production
and additional strength of commodities
were factors in lifting retail and whole
sale sales this week to record totals for
the year.
Neither the cool, rainy weather nor
the Memorial day holiday checked the
general uptrend of distribution over the
Nation. Some sections, such as parts
of the South, which had been tagging,
felt a sudden forward movement In
this period.
Naturally fewer wholesale buyers
we're in the leading marketing centers
this week, fact due largely to the
holiday. but buyers who arrived were
somewhat more liberal in their pur-
chases than heretofore. The slight
gain in commercial failures was offset
by the higher rate of electrical output
and widening employment IN the iron
and steel, rubber, automobile, textile,
shoe and leather, food products and
brewing industries.
Wage Increases.
ENCOURAGING as were these industrial
gains, the public seemed TO derive more
comfort from the increases in wages,
which, Of course, in time will be more
than offset by the higher retail prices
of many articles. There also was dis
position to support the Administrations
sweeping industrial recovery measures,
though frankly some bankers and busi-
ness men do not understand these pro-
posals
May automotive output was the high
est in 81 months, with production In
some instances trailing demand de-
spite slight price increases in lndl-
vidual machines. Lumber orders are
about double those Of year ago. Inc
various base metals are rejecting the
general business pickup, as are many
branches of the chemical industry.
"Women's wearing apparel. mems
suits, boys clothing, sports wear, and
groceries were prominent among the
lines in which the largest percentage
of increase occurred" according to the
weekly national survey of business by
Dun g. Bradstreet, Inc. although
there has been no abatement in the
demand for stable dry goods and cot
ton merchandise. Interest in dress
accessories now has spread to novelty
jewelry, particularly necklaces, pins and
bracelets.
"Sales of house furnishings continue
grades selling freely, even at the higher
prices now established Despite the
rainy weather during most of the week,
mems straw hats were purchased In
larger number than last year at this
period, the gain in some instances run
ming as high as 80 per cent. Distribu-
tive gains in shoes have been at
rapid rate, even at the higher prices,
and there not only is a disposition to
buy, but there is willingness to pay
for quality"
Meanwhile the electric refrigerator
makers are stepping their production
schedules to 1929 levels in an effort to
meet demand. Carpets, floor coverings,
furniture and similar lines also are
feeling the effects of broadened buying.
Recorders Numerous
Wholesale recorders for Summer mer-
chandise have been somewhat obscured
by the big bookings for Fall wares. But
sandwiched in between the liberal
orders for blankets, bedspreads, sweat
ers and the like are numerous calls for
luggage, bathing suits and beach wear.
Locally straw hats are not yet numer-
GUS, but that condition may be blamed
on the weather and failure to adver-
tise such merchandise here.
The paper trade Is experiencing q
rapid pickup in wrapping items and
paper boxes And one sure recovery
sign is appearing in the call for shoes
Wholesale shoe houses" remark Dun
& Bradstreet, continue to break rec
ords for the last 10 or Is years, de-
mand for footwear running TO unpre-
cedented proportions as employment
widens at an accelerated rate. 1t is
estimated that 80 per cent of the shoe
workers of the United States are now
employed"
Copyright, 1e33)