Evening star., 1933-04-16
Both Wholesale and Retail
Lines Share in Improve
ment During Week.
GAINS IN EMPLOYMENT
PROVE AID TO BUSINESS
Decrease in Relief for Jobless Re.
ported for First Time Since
Last Fall.
BY JOHN A. CRONE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, April 15.-Retail and
wholesale trade, under the influence Of
an upward seasonal trend, expanded
during the current week. The better
ment was also helped by increased pub
lie confidence, which was generated by
broadened manufacturing schedules. a
slight gain in employment. decrease
in relief beneficiaries for the first time
since last Autumn, and the smallest
decline in electrical consumption for
any week this year.
The administration reforestation
plan and the restoration Of the brewing
industry ameliorated the jobless situa-
ton, but the unsettled farm relief plan
della yed improvement in agricultural
regions, where purchasing power re-
mains at a low level. Brewing pro-
vided many motor truck orders, which
recalled hundreds of workmen.
Retail Buying Gains.
Commodities and securities were
whirled on the belief that Washington
will not be able to resist the inflation-
ary proposals being made by a Con-
gress elected by distressed debtors.
Some of the commodity strength, how
ever. was statistical-Winter wheat crop
prospects, for example, being the small
est in 80 years.
Retail buying in many centers was
the largest since Christmas, with some
stcIes stating their volume ran ahead
of that season. Wearing apparel, espe-
cially of the cheaper grades, led all
items. Quality items picked up sharply
after Tuesday.
Millinery manufacturers were only
moderately active up to several weeks
ago. but quickened retail demand caused
pressure for immediate deliveries dur
ing the last fortnight. A survey Of
some leading houses. retail and whole
sale, indicated heavy demand for quail
ity as well as lower-priced items.
Work rooms turning out styles for
exclusive stores along Fifth and Madi-
son avenues were making many hats OF
matuba, a thatch or long fine grass
which comes from Italy. The straw
made into hats somewhat like those
used in Mexican field work, roughly
shaped and ready for wear. This braid,
which comes in natural colors, then is
dyed here, starched, and put through
big presses or steel blocks for shaping
The suplesse, which is a fine, silk
like French straw, is not being used so
much this year. It is mostly for the
larger hats in contrast with its use on
turbans last year. Neither Is the balli-
buntl, q stiff, shiny substance, finer
woven than panama, as popular as q
year ago. 1t. too, is going largely into
broad-rimmed hats.
The costume vogue, in which every
thing matches, naturally created an in
sistent demand for fabric hats Milliners
work rooms often were crowded with
statesmen trying to match samples of
dresses, suits or coats, of such varying
materials as woods, silks, rayons and
goods ranging from raffia to organdie
The type of sailor not worn for 25 years
again is in style.
Demand for shoes and jewelry this
week was pronounced, according to Dun
& Bradstreet, Inc. which noted that
sales Of seasonal hardware and garden
tools and supplies made an especially
good showing"
Observance Of religious holiday and
retail trade demands quite naturally
slowed activity in the wholesale markets
as the week progressed, fact noted in
the sharp drop in buyer registrations
Bakery Sales Increase.
wholesalers Of bakers and confec-
IlOnerS supply nOuSeS, the trade au-
thority continues, report an increase
in sales. Wholesalers Of manufactured
! tobacco products are transacting q fair
trace, but prices are evidencing q
weakening tendency.
Nearly all manufacturing lines. ex-
cepting those allied to the building
trades, have shown some improvement
during the past two weeks, inclusive of
agricultural implements. Demand for
plate and window glass increased Slight
ly, with safety glass for automobiles
also in more active demand There has
not been much change in the rate of
production Of electrical products, sched-
ules continuing much lower than they
were year ago."