Evening star., 1935-08-04
Retail Trade Forges Aheao
Rapidly in Response !
to Special Sales.
ACTIVITY IS EXTENDED
TO WHOLESALE CENTERS
Manufacturers Also Feel Effects
of Quickened Demand for
Autumn Goods.
BY RAIDER WINGET.
a.n.3atad Press Financial Writer.

Associated Press Financial Writer.
An almost universally optimistic
tone pervaded American business last
week with current indications OF tne
uuswing anchored on a flrm founoa-
ton.
Retail trade, in the aggregate,
moved swiftly forward. Merchants
noted a good response from consumers
to special sales of Summer supplies,
and into the larger wholesale markets
came signs of a lively interest IN
Fall lines.
Private reports show the retail VOL
ume has reflected back to the whole
salers, who in turn have extended
their demands for merchandise to
the manufacturers OF consumers
goods.
The Department of Commerce, in
its survey covering 80 cities for the
week ended Wednesday. declared:
Steadily increased buying also was
manifest in building materials, furni-
ture, household equipment and elec-
trical supplies as a corollary Of the
consistent gains in construction"
CIearings Ahead Of 1884.
Bank clearings for that period were
up So per cent over the same week of
1884, but the previous week gained
242 per cent over the like week Of
last year.
Automobile production, due to the
shutdown of, the Ford plant, dropped
abruptly to 9,415 units, as estimated
by Grams. compared with an output
| Of 50. 2.894 in the previous week.
Fords curtailment. anticipated for
several weeks, accounted for $500
units of the 13,479-unit loss.
Such restrictions had no effect on
the production Of steel. since the rate
of operations was extended to a per
cent of capacity from 42.2 per cent the
previous week.
Steel's upturn from the low point
Of the year during the first week of
July was one of the outstanding de-
velopments of the week in industry,
and trade authorities were particu-
larly pleased because of the broaden
ing of demand and the mounting
evidence that there may be no let
down curing August.
Electric power production again set
new high mark for the year for the
week ended July 81 but freight car
loadings for the same period increased
over the previous week to a point
slightly less than expected for this
time Of year.
Lumber Output Up.
Lumber production continued to
climb, reflection of growing building
movements in many parts of the
country
Several other lines allied to the
construction industry likewise moved
higher last week. with the upward
trend of past weeks becoming more
evident with the verifcation of pre-
vious reports
Surveys Of the heavy or durable
goods industries-those not producing
Tor direct consumer use-cite definite
signs OF the beginning of revival.
economists have long pointed out
That the bulk Of unemployment il in
that segment of the Nations workers.
and they foreSee an attack on the
persistently high total of those out of
work should these heavy industries
regain their feet.
Earnings reports, now being pub
l1shed for the first six months of this
year, show general gains, although
higher net profits do not apply to all
organizations alike.
One private compilation of earnings
by IA oil companies credits them with
the highest flrst-half profits since
1880, but on the other side of the
picture stand the railroads. which are
still begged down in red ink
Detailed Reports Given.
Detailed reports on individual Fed
eral Reserve districts for last week
follow:
BOS TON. ID Discussions between
mills and buyers over the text of the
cotton processing tax clause to be
written into future contracts ham,
pered the cotton market. Sales
dropped. Shoe manufacturers pro-
ceeded at good rate on Fall produc- 7
ton. Retail trade gained.
NEW YORK-Retail trade in the
metropolitan area was brisk, but the
New Jersey section was handicapped
by a new sales tax A steady flow of
small cotton textile orders was re- ~
ported. and there was a strong gray
goods tone. Introduction of Fall lines
was featured by the demand for furni-
ture. Buyers in the general market
declined.
PHILADELPHIA.-A definite up
turn in building was shown In sur
veys, with Philadelphia city construc-
ton nearly 100 per cent over July,
1884. General business in the entire =
district held the slight gains indicated =
for the first part Of the month.
CLEVELAND.-Led by the upturnA
in steel operations, Cleveland business
had q sharp increase in volume and
production. Machine tool plant ac-
tivities were up decidedly. Despite
rains. retail sales we're reported slightly
better.
Baltimore Gains Large.
RICHMOND.-Busine refused to
wilt under soaring temperatures. Bal
timore was in the van, with striking
advances, and Richmond, Washington
and Charlotte maintained a steady
stride. Baltimore department store
sales and industrial pay rolls were
the highest since 1881
ATLANTA.-Retail trade showed a
material gain. which, merchants said,
Offset the decided slump of the pre-.
vious week. One executive credited
the approaching Fall season with the
upturn. A sharp increase in building
rarr,ifs Y,a,f fta T,,na fatal 70 kY,a ka,f"