Evening star., 1934-01-26
GAIN CONTINUED
BY RETAIL TRADE
Rising Prices and Advances
in Various Industrial
Activities Cited.
BY JOHN A. CRONE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. January 26-Increased
volume of retail trade, a continued rise
Of prices and betterment in some lines
OF activity, notably automotive produc- |
ton. bituminous coal and car loadings, |
were among the constructive develop
ments in the business world this week. |
Expanding trade was mirrored in in
creased bank clearings, in a more active
demand for commercial paper and some
firmness in long-term accommodations
Offsetting these developments were a
slight decrease from the preceding week
in electric current output, gain in
commercial failures and reduction In
the number Of ut-of-town buyers.
Fewer buyers here and in other prin-
cipal marts OF the country does not
mean as much as it did year ago. The
volume Of Spring purchases for the year
to date exceeds that of the same 1898
period. Then. too, buyers plan more
frequent trips to principal markets.
Heretofore, in the last three years, buy
ers made one or two trips season
In markets where prices are moving
quickly and styles changing rapidly
buyer must keep in constant contact
with them
Wholesale Prices Gain.
Wholesale commodity price averages
for the most part were higher this
week. Some Of them registered the
highest level in more than three years
Food prices were up. Manufacturing
failures increased. Chain store sales
for December and for the first half of
q dc
and that was true of all chain systems
Engineering construction contracts were
lower and In view Of the Chicago con.
vention Of the American Road Builders
Association are likely to show reduc-
tions for the next fortnight
improvement in retail trade was con-
sidered highly satisfactory in view OF
the curtailment Of Civil Works Admin
istration projects and the letdown in
some other Government work. all OF
which has been pouring money into
trade channels.
In some cities automobile sales sur
passed all previous records during mo-
tor shows In those localities Some CEN
ters reported gains ranging from so to
300 per cent, which accounts for the
flood of orders to Detroit In view of
these orders, the steel trade, after re-
cheerful
After the unevennes which char
acterized the reports on retail sales last
week." says the national weekly busi-
ness review of Dun e. Bradstreet, Inc.
buying has been resumed with more
vigor. Since the first of the current
month sales have been rising each week
by wider percentage above the Janu-
ary. 1888. level and indications are
promising for continuance of this ad-
vance. The strength Of consumer de-
mand at this period Is running beyond
all estimates placed on 1t in December,
and the broadening of interest during
the past week from the strictly clear
ance merchandise to goods Of the bet
ter quality in the higher price ranges
Is viewed as forerunner Of the most
profitable Spring season that retailers
have had in at least three years.
Sales Run Still Higher.
Even when compared with the fairly
substantial distributive records which
were set down for many stores during
this period year ago. even though VOL
ume was forced by rather drastic price
reduction. current sales are running
from 10 to Is per cent higher. with the
unit turnover advanced by nearly the
SAME percentage WIN many stores
the January volume thus far is the
largest recorded for that month in
four years. Both the grocery and drug
chain stores find the higher level Of
sales maintained. with conservative esti-
mates placing the January volume 10
per cent above that of January. 1898.
Merchants in country districts are re-
porting wider gains. comparatively, than
retailers in urban centers. due to the
large payments which the Government
had made to farmers
"Women's coats. dresses, fur gar
ments and shoes sold in larger volume
than last week. but sales of mems cloth
ing made less favorable showing. par
ticularly in overcoats. Winter sport
outfits continued to sell we'll. while
clothing for cruises and southern play
grounds helped to push the total of re-
tail sales higher"
Wholesale orders are from Is to 20
per cent above those of the same 1888
week. Shoes millinery and hosiery are
in heavy demand. Dry goods sales con-
ttnue brisk. Chemicals are slow.
(Copyrisht, 1934)