Evening star., 1935-12-01
BIG GAINS SHOWN
|NRETA|L SELLING
Unusual Industrial Activity
Reported This Month ir
Business Survey.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Substantial increases in retail sales
last week and unusual industrial &C.
tivity throughout November were re.
ported yesterday in predominantly
cheerful Commerce Department busi-
ness surveys.
Holiday buying was said to have
started with a rush in most of the 80
cities covered by the departments
weekly report, with favorable weather
conditions helping considerably.
Noting better times in the District,
the survey stated:
Although department store sales
receded somewhat from the previous
week with an average decrease of 7.9
per cent, they continued their SUBJ
stantial gains over last year with an
increase of PAL per cent over the cor
responding 1884 week. Bank clearings
were per cent less than previous
week, but 29.3 per cent higher than
same week last year. Value of build
ing permits again went we'll over the
million mark with total Of 81 ,3O4, 800.
Influx Of visitors. as reflected by those
visiting the Washington Monument
last week. were 6,538, compared with
5,644 for the previous week and $3.50
for same week last year"
New York department stores re-
ported their sales 13 per cent ahead
Of the corresponding week last year.
Cold weather and effective publicity"
the department said. jammed Chi
cago's retail district streets with buy
erS. Boston stores reported q turn
over ranging from 10 to Is per cent
above the corresponding week Of
1884. Pittsburgh department stores
sales were up % per cent, Detroit's l8
per cent.
Dry Goods Moves Better
Wholesale business was little
changed. New York markets noted
that apparel and dry goods were mov-
ing little better than last year, but
reported sales were not up to expecta-
tions. Manufacturers stocks were re-
ported light. Minneapolis reported
that sales in the Dakotas and Montana
we're brisk, owing to cold weather. Los
Angeles holiday merchandise orders
were heavier than last year.
The department predicted the in
duStrial index for November, adjusted
to account for seasonal changes, would
rise above its October level.
Industrial production during Mo-
vember has not undergone the usual
seasonal recession" the survey said.
Steel, automobile and electric power
production have continued to expand,
while the recessions in industries for
which current data are available have
been mainly of seasonal character"
Relief Loads Tighten.
Two automobile companies alone
expect to sell three cars this year for
every two the whole industry turned
out in 1882, the department said, with.
out identifying the companies.
Detroit, the motor car center, re-
ported its relief rolls last week were
diminished by 5000 families. The
number of families on relief after this
cut was only 43 per cent as large as
it was this time last year. Pittsburgh
reported relief rolls lightened by 5000
persons, the department said.
New England textile centerS also
reported greatly accelerated activity"
New York noted that industrial ope.
rations were well maintained, while
Grand Rapids, Mich, reported fur
ther revival of the furniture business.
Further reports from retail stores
showed New Orleans and Houston,
Tex, merchants were among the few
that failed to report gains. Seattle
stores also were not entirely satis-
fed"