Evening star., 1933-12-15
RECOVERY SPEEDED
BY yULE BUYING
Holiday Purchases Reported
Reaching Highest Mark
in Three Years.
BY JOHN A. CRONE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, December 15.-,Christ-
mas buying, throughout the country is
reported to De attaining the largest
volume in three years. This retail trade
expansion reflects scattered gains in in
dustries and rising employment, which
along with netterrent in some COM
modify prices, has checked some of the
pinch saving nacessitated in previous
Yuletide seasons bee ause of salary re-
ductions and york curtailment.
The usual industrial indices. such
as car loadings, stee! production, elec-
trio power and bituminous coal output,
are continuing upward. This livelier
movement in trade and industry is re-
fected in gain in bank cleariIgs. Re-
tail failures. however, are hSI.er than
in the corresponding week last year.
The sudden change in the weather
ems coats fur garments and mems
overcoats tbs week that has been seen
in the last month. The movement in
mems wear generally was reported
larger than in Tomen's clothes. This
sort of buying. as well as Christmas
purchases, brought about the enlarged
retail trade this week.
Fill-in Orders Rushed.
Wholesale markets here this week
were buster than last wee.: largely be-
cause of the rush f1ll-in orders result
ing from holiday shopping in the South
and West, where the rural regions will
enjoy more prosperous Yuletide than
was the case = year ago.
The home is coming in for a greater
share of attention in Christmas gifts"
reports the national weekly business
survey of Dun & Bradstreet. Inc, than
1or several seasons, particularly in the
rug and floor covering divisions. Fine
glassware undoubtedly has come into
It's own again, as the demand for
Christmas crystal glass is persistent. Re-
peal has opened a new outlet for ac-
cessories' to late suppers, special trays,
electric grills, toasters, percolaters, wine
coolers. beer pitchers and mugs, cheese
servers and ice cube tubs being but
few OF the items now being assembled
for these festive functions.
Further enlargement of holiday buy
ing has pushed sales of electric re-
frigerators to nearly double the figures
of last December, and the same is true
OF hardware. particularly of supplies
needed by the C. C. c. camps. Christmas
novelties and winter household sup
plies"
Many OF the wholesale commitments
were made at a time when there was a
lull in consumer demand and conse-
quently needs were somewhat under
estimated, as an influx of out-of town
buyers into this market during this. for
them, unseasonsl week indicated. Most
of these buyers we're interested in re-
placing some of their best-selling gift
items. BY far the bulk of this type of
business has been the popular or me-
dunn priced variety.
Grocery Trade Improves.
Hotel and restaurant business. which
has improved since repeal, is affecting
many of the primary markets, especially
groceries and meats. Dressed poultry
is brisk but due to the oversupply, prices
continue low. Generally better business
Is reported by bakeries
Demand for dried fruits continued
to widen" Dun & Bradstreet state.
with some of the holiday items making
good showing, because of the short
supply. AS fancy imported goods, such
as hgs, dates, cluster raisins, and cit
ron were imported in small quantities
this year, there has been no difficulty
IN maintaining prices.
nduenced by rising costs of raw
materials, many hardware manufactur-
ers are announcing price advances. The
petterment is ascribed to generally i'm
proved business conditions and pros
poets, as both agricultural and indus
trial districts are sharing In the upturn.
Lumber production has been curtailed
sharply, as orders have fallen off to
nearly the, level Of last May; the trade
gradually is becoming accustomed to the
price changes which became effective
when the code was adopted.
The cotton mills in many instances
nave curtailed production even below
the 25 per cent allowable for December.
as buyers are waiting for the holiday
retaiI season to pass and for the COM
pietlo1 OF year-end close-outs before
placing commitments for the new year."
tCopyright, 1933D