Evening star., 1933-03-19
Expansion of Charge Ac-
counts Proves Factor in
Business Pickup.
MERCHANTS REINSTATE
CANCELLED CONTRACTS
Orders for Spring Sales Placed in
Dry Goods, Furniture and Other
Lines Of Trade.
BY JOHN A. CRONE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

tidoe IN the last few days was above
the seasonal average. The expansion
OF charge accounts. especially from
new customers, was assigned as the
cause. IN part at least, for this showing
Inc reopening of banks, improved
partially onset continued unemploy-
ment. unwieldy stocks of some raw
materials. and the liquidation of banks
Wnlch cannot reopen. The latter factor
Is expected to check sensational rises
In commodities and securities.
Although this country has experi-
enceu financial crisis which has had
no parallel here in 26 years. there is
note Of confidence everywhere. This
Is as true Of the average citizen as IL
Is OF the business executive, the banker.
broker and merchant. The speed with
which needed legislation has been put
through In Washington has created
and enlarged this new note of con-
fldence.
Wholesale Buying Restricted.
Locally sales this week of chiIdren's
wear, accessories, women's neckwear.
hosiery, piece goods, and foodstuffs
were above expectations. China and
glassware, mems clothing and furnish
ings, silverwear and electrical goods
turned unusually active. Some of this
buying was unloosed after freer with
drawals from checking and savings ac-
counts were permitted. This trend may
De accentuated as pay rolls are given
out today and tomorrow.
Diamonds, drugs and rugs-the three
items, according to old-time traders,
that always squirt in periods of bank
ing and currency changes-performed
about as expected. Imports of these
as well as other goods will Of course
depend upon the severity and length
OF foreign exchange restrictions, de-
signed to prevent a flight Of capital
from this country rather than to
hamper trade.
Wholesale purchases Of ready-to-wear
goods were restricted, according to the
weekly review of Dun & Bradstreet
Inc, but the volume of mail orders was
fair, especially for children's wear,
neckwear, hosiery and dress acces-
sories.
Orders Reinstated,
Toward the close of the week." this
authority continues, there were many
requests for reinstatement of orders
which had been Cancelled, as the sharp
upturn in retail buying made addi-
tional stocks indispensable. Tailored
suits are being ordered most freely for
the large cities, while the smaller COM
mun1ties are interested chiefly in the
fur-trimmed and plain coats, with the
swagger outfit with three-quarter and
seventh-eighth length coats receiving
considerable attention"
The banking holiday, of course, tend
ed to retard preparations for the Easter
season all the way from one or two
weeks. This delay may cause a scare
lty OF some items because of the gen.
orally low stocks.
Commenting on this angle, the Dun
q Bradstreet review says: Current pro-
motions Of pure silk lingerie and Spring
dresses are encouraging to many dis
trlbutors, who believe that store stocks
are running low and that retailers will
be entering the dress market soon for
requirements. 1t Is reported that stock
houses in the dress trades are carving
few garments and are buying fabric
supplies only as required. If retail
trade should improve in the next few
weeks. there is possibility that a rush
for goods will develop that will clear
out the remaining stocks in mill hands.
The wholesale millinery houses have
been pressed with orders for the Easter
trade, with the straw styles and fabric
hats receiving equal attention"
Glass Makers Active, ....
Glass manufacturing, especially in
the bottle and container fields, con-
tnues at high rate, with slight gain
noted for window panes. Better grades
OF pressed and blown tableware are
sought. Steel and textile outputs de-
clined. Makers of medium and low
priced furniture are booking some or
ders. Harness makers and shoe manu-
facturers continue busy. Silk and rayon
usually have slow outputs at this sea-
son. Sales Of print cloths, broadcloths.
narrow sheetings and some convertible
weaves exceeded 100, 100000 yards a
week ago, or substantially above cotton
mill out-turn, which at single shift is
now IS per cent Of capacity.
(Copyrisht. 1933)