Evening star., 1933-10-22
VOLUME OF RETAIL
SALES BRIGHT SPOT
IN TRADE PICTURE
Buying in Rural Areas Shows
Gains-Less Opposition
to Higher Prices.
BY JOHN A. CRONE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

special DlSpdtCn 10 Hc otdi.
NEW YORK, october 20.-The vol
ume of retail distribution. especially in
rural districts, was the brightest spot In
the business picture this week. Whole
sale purchases were somewhat lower. as
fewer buyers came to the principal buy
ing centers.
Domestic developments for q time
were overlooked as business executives
viewed the scene abroad. They tried to
appraise the latest trade moves OF ia
pan in world markets. They discussed
how the new German scrip plan would
affect imports and consequently home
manufacturing activities. and American
exports. They gave increasing atten-
ton to the tying up Of foreign funds in
various South American markets, not
ably Argentina, where this country has
some S36000,000 affected by the latest
embargo
Meanwhile various indices showed
that general business is more static now
than during any week since early May.
Trade, which should now be expanding
to a seasonal peak, shows disposition
to halt, if not recede. This develop
ment is rather natural in view of the
swift expansion in June, July and Au-
gust.
Demand Evenly Distributed.
THE volume OF consumer buying
failed to rise by any wide percentage
above last weeks showing, with gains
few and largely in districts where cool
weather was the stimulating factor" &C
cording to the national weekly business
survey of Dun g. Bradstreet, Inc.
Demand, however, was more evenly
distributed among textiles, draperies,
housewares, women's apparel and mems
clothing than was the case during the
two preceding weeks. Bargain hunting
instincts. which were sharpened so
keenly by the necessities of the last
three years, still persist.
due chiefly to the buy now CAM
paigns of the N. R. A., most of the
chain and department stores report an
increase in volume as compared with
that OF week earlier, and the good
returns farmers are receiving on hogs
and the better prices for other products
have resulted in moderate gains in re-
tail sales in agricultural districts.
Less Buyer Resistance.
Mems suits are moving at the best
rate thus far this Fall, and there has
been lessening Of the resistance to
righer prices. Topcoats sold well on
the few cool days, which stimulated de-
mand in all retail departments. Shirts
are more in demand than at any time
in the last four weeks, while sales of
gloves, hats and neckwear are somewhat
larger than seasonal"
Meanwhile some of the houseware
hneS have dF0PPed VT, tnQVgh tQtal
volume remains relatively high. This
planCeS and blankets. Toys are already
selling briskly, far earlier than is Gus
Wholesale orders tapered as retail
trade diminished. trends noted both in
sales volume and the small number of
buyers here and in Chicago. This sales
slackening in the wholesale distributive
channels also explains the softness of
numerous price structures in the last
three weeks.
Some Sales Top Last Year.
On the other hand, dealers in such
raw commodities as rayon, wool and
silk insist that present low values will
not be seen again in some time If there
are important monetary changes and
production costs continue to rise. In a
large measure this applies to furniture,
]ewelry. shoes, rubber goods and most
manufactures of metal. Some of the
shrewder merchants therefore are
utilizing the present dip in quotations
to accumulate goods.
Suits now form the volume of busi-
ness IN women's ready-to-wear. Jewelry
is selling ahead of this time last year.
Deliveries are the pressing problem now
In the undergarment and lingerie
trades. Return Of strikers in various
Industrial districts, especially the mining
regions brought quickened demand for
staple types Of groceries.