Evening star., 1934-02-16
BUSINESS MOVES
FORWARDSTEAD|LY
Retail Trade Sets Fastest
Pace So Far This Year
in Week.
Special Dispatch to Ths star.

GpeClhl DbphtCh 10 1nc Staf.
NEW YORK, February 1e.-Busi-
ness continues to move forward. Retail
trade during the week, aided by the
Lincoln holiday. was the best this
year. Wholesale trade was brisk
despite the fewer out-of-town buy
ers here, as orders were booked by
travelling statesmen or came through
mails.
Commodities continued upward, In
both primary and retail markets,
despite some setbacks In grains and
securities. Food averages were at
their highest point since early in No
vember, 1881. Business failures
dropped to near low record figures
for this season. Bank clearings In
creased.
Electric output figures recorded
gain over those year ago fors the
forty first successive week, but the
rate of gain was less than a week ago
Steel operations are at the highest
rate since last September, with some
consumers, notably the automotive
industry, so anxious to get steel that
they are sending their own men into
the mills to expedite shipments.
Auto Output Mounts.
The rapid rise in automobile pro-
duction, which has by no means
caught up with orders. the widening
Of bituminous coal output, increased
railroad traf1c, and the quickened de-
mand for lumber also were construc-
tive items. along with the gain in
January life insurance sales and the
rise in savings deposits.
The sharp curtailment Of the c.
W. A. was the most unfavorable
piece Of domestic news during the
week, as some of the best retail
trade reports had come from centers
directly profiting either by c. w. A.
or p w. A. work.
Political disturbances In Austria
and France were only moderately re-
f1ected In immediate business dealings
here.
The volume Of trade this week
ranged from 20 to 40 per cent higher
than a year ago, when purse strings
started to tighten as q result Of the
first rumblings of the banking
troubles, which reached their climax
in the first week of March.
'Women's suits were given more
attention this week than coats" re-
ports the national weekly survey by
Dun & BradStreet, Inc, while dress
accessories and yard goods in silk,
wool and cotton attained the heaviest
movement thus far this year. . In the
mems wear division overcoats sold
more readily than suits, with evidence
OF next years needs being covered.
Furniture Sales Rise.
The response to the February fur
niture sales has been generous. while
rugs and floor coverings are moving
in nearly double the quantity set
down for February, 1893. Almost each
month since June, 1888, sales of
Jewelry have been in excess of those
OF the year preceding with the vol
ume In January rising 25 per cent
above that Of January, 1888, and the
rate OF gain extended thus far in
February.
There has been a revival of the
demand for musical instruments after
nearly four years of neglect. with
sales OF pianos particularly numerous.
Total sales Of hardware have been
pushed upward steadily almost every
week this year, and since the first of
the current month, the calI for eiec-
tricsl supplies, especially the labor
saving kitchen appliances, has be-
come stronger"
The Midwest and South are buytnp
many items here for the first time Ia
several years, including heavy ma
chinery needed for pumping plants
and other equipment for rehabilita-
ton work.
The Governments export bank has
greatly stimulated activity in foreign
trade circles. Furs are moving freely
In export markets. Many importers,
despite unsettled conditions in Europe,
are planning their buying trips to OBJ
tain Autumn lines.
Work Hours Expanded.
Factory schedules are expanding.
This may help to take up some of the
slack in unemployment which will be
increased weekly as C. W. A. workers
are dropped.
In the electrical equipment field"
Dun & Brsdstreet state, there has
been decided pickup In the last so
days. There has been continued i'm
provement in the glass industry.
foundry and machine shops are
widening schedules. Building and en-
gineering contracts awarded continue
to increase. The general broadening
of industrial conditions Is bringing
some rehabilitation Of the printing in
duStry Orders and inquiries now are
being received for printing machinery
and equipment Of all types"
Copyright. 1o34.)