Evening star., 1935-10-13
Consumer Buying Spurred.
Emphasis on Winter
Merchandise.
MANY STORES REPORT
TOTALS ABOVE AVERAGE
Cool Weather. Crop Sales, Build.
ing Gains and U. S. Spending
Stimulate Activity. 4
BY BERNARD S. O'HARA,


and industry last week was effected
by substantial advances in retail trade
and an almost unanimous betterment
in basic industrial activity.
Consumer buying throughout the
country increased with the advent OF
what the sports writer's call foot ball
weather. Emphasis was on the de-
mand for Winter merchandise.
On the industrial side OF tbs
economic picture. the rise was mir
royed by the Associated Press index OF
industrial activity which stood last
week at 73.1 per cent of the 1929-30
average compared with 70.9 per cent
the previous week.
The Department Of Commerce, in
its survey of "a key cities for the week
ended Wednesday, declared. evidence
of mounting volume of trade both in
retail and wholesale lines came from
substantially all of the reporting cities
in response to continued favorable
weather. broadened industrial activi-
ties. the flow of funds from crop
sales. sustained operations of large
proportions in building and construc-
ton, and the stepping up of Federal
and State projects"
For the entire week it was apparent
that the strong trade of the previous
week was continued. with many indi-
vidual department stores establishing
trade levels we'll above the general
average.
EMPLOYMENT Improves.
/ Scattered evidence of added em-
ployment continued to appear. The
/ Association of Commerce in Chicago
asserted employment showed signs Of
stiffening with slightly higher wages,
and industrial plants on adding to
output also added to pay rolls in a
seasonal manner. Builders of ma
chine tools operated near capacity.
Automobile manufacturers continued
the step-up in production Some
trade authorities believe that the
ascending curve of new model intro
duction will be at its top late next
month with no appreciable drop be-
/ tween now and then.
Steel mill activity declined slightly
! during the week to 497 per cent OF
capacity, off IL percentage points
from the previous week, mainly be-
cause of lower tin plate production
and the lack of orders from railroads
which have not yet come into the
demand area following the rise in car
loadings.
Cotton Goods Active.
! Cotton manufacturing activity. up
full percentage points in the AS
sociated Press index. reflected added
buying at retail. which in New York
was a feature of the primary goods
market.
Freight car loadings for the week
ended october passed the 100000
car mark for the third time in the
last four weeks, the low week resulting
from the soft coal strike Electric
power production for the same period
surpassed the all-time high kilowatt
hour record set in the last month OF
1929.
Security exchanges and the COM
modify futures markets we're under
the influence during the week, both
of war news from Africa and the ups
of business in the United States. The
result was a mixed trend with no con-
certed and decisive action.
Metal market news was featured by
the advance of copper prices from
9 to GA cents a pound, an action
which was heartening to producers,
and from the shoe trade came reports
! that retail prices may be higher as
result of increased cost of raw ma
! terials.
Detailed Reports Given.
Detailed reports from individual
Federal Reserve districts follow:
BOSTON-Improved demand char
acterized the leather. cotton and wool
markets, and there were increased
prices in hides and skins and firmer
quotations on wool In the cotton
manufacturing section, prices were
! steady, retail sales gained
| NEW YORK-Retail trade in the
metropolitan district was 10 per cent
over 1884, with leading department
stores passing that margin. Textiles
| improved, and the holiday demand in
wholesale centers was in evidence.
Buffalo steel production was un-
changed.
PHILADELPHIA buy
ing was of better grade. with many
luxury items moving fast. Manufac-
turing gains exceeded losses. Oil and
sugar refining eased off, but textile
producers were buster. Increased
h,Ii oil dnH I'D ,,l
ing sales.
CLEVELAND.-Chilly temperatures
boosted buying of Fall and Winter
apparel, and general retail trade was
10 to Is per cent over 1894. The war
influence on steel apparently was con-
fined to the export scrap division.
Richmond Trend Strong.
RICHMOND.-RetaiI trade was de-
Scribed as strong in the fifth district.
Bank debts were sharply ahead of the
corresponding week a year ago, and
September retail sales were IA per cent
higher than September, 1894, con-
firming previous estimates.
ATLANTA.-Merchants asserted re-
tail trade was very encouraging" and
heavy sales were recorded in whole
sale lines. Bank clearings rose only
slightly from week to week.
CHICAGO.-Trade reports from retail,
wholesale and industrial sources continued
optimistic. Recorders, especially in cloth
ing. and heavy advance buying was in
evidence in wholesale circles. Increased
buyer arrivals and mail commitments were
disclosed
ST. LOUISA continued steady i'm
provement was shown in retailing whole
sailing and credit demand Some spottiness
was displayed in{k khe wholesale trade. nut
1t was active ID q whole. Employment