Evening star., 1934-06-03
.UPTURN RECORDED
BY RETAIL TRADE
AT LOWER PRICES
Slight Increase Also Laid to
Warmer Weather Dur
ing Week.
BY JOHN A. CRONE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch TO The star
NEW YORK, June "A slight
gain in retail trade, an increase in
commercial failures, irregularity In
industrial production, a drop in bank
clearings, dullness in security mar
kets, and a sharp advance in grains
were among the highnghts in the
business world this week.
Warm weather and substantial
price reductions lifted retail trade in
most sections, though buying in the
drought regions is still confined large
ly to necessities. Threats Of steel and
textile strikes promise to bring about
a sharper than seasonal recession in
industry.
Buyer arrivals in primary markets
recorded the seventh successive weekly
decrease. This was natural in view
of the Decoration day holiday and
the recent slowness Of many types of
retail trade. Mail and road sales
mems orders, except in the great
West and Midwest grain belts, were
slightly better than week ago, If
allowance Is made for the shorter
week.
Housing Bill Watched.
Meanwhile business turned to
Washington, where Congress is franz
ing housing bill which may be able
to employ, within the next few
months. one-ninth of the present
100000 idle. The fate of this and
other important legislation will be
known shortly after the White House
parley Monday.
The passage of the silver bill by the
House left the average business man
cold" so far as imitation was con-
cerned. Foreign trade circles anxious
ly awaited definite action on debt
payments and reciprocal tariffs. In
dustrialists with a purely domestic
point of view, however, were more
concerned about steps taken to curb
strikes.
Houseware purchasing in the whole
sale markets improved during the
week, as retail stores reported a
broadened demand for dinner ware,
kitchen crockery and utensils, cur
tains, draperies, seasonal rugs and
carpets, electrical appliances, espe-
cially the smaller items, and Summer
furniture. Decoration day demand
for sporting goods and sports wearing
apparel was brisk in most sections of
the country.
Fur Sales Prepared.
Residential buying Offices here have
prepared on larger than usual scale
for August fur sAles. Indications are
that these events will eclipse those of
a year ago, with prices also flrmer
than last year. One feature of this
activity is the greater call for me-
dunn priced fur coats.
Fall furniture, to judge by reports
of the jamestown, N. Y, show which
closed Tuesday, is due to move brisk
ly. This show features the low-end
furniture, which sold well, especially
in upholstered and case goods. The
New York exposition is scheduled to
open June IL.
to strike because Of the Is per cent
curtailment in production, many lines
Of goods are moving only at lowered
quotations. Sheets and pillowcases,
for example, are leaving wholesale
counters so slowly that it may take
a price revision to speed their move
ments.
Textiles, as a group, recorded one
of the most significant price changes
during the week. Biscose type rayon,
for example, was cut 10 cents pound.
Silk at times was down about half
that amount. Wool quotations were
of nearly 2 cents pound.
Foodstuffs registered the widest
gain in commodities during the week,
with grains the outstanding movers.
Coffee, tea, flour and meats were
higher, but butter, eggs and sugar
declined.
(Copyright. 1934)