Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-01-06
Motor Orders Held High
Enough to Keep Plants
Busy Until March.
LULL IN STORE BUYING
LESS THAN SEASONAL
Demand Shifts to Industrial Cen.
tiers From Farm Areas-Whole-
sale Trade Active.
BY RAIDER WINGET,

BY RAIDER WINGET,
Copyrisht. 1888 by the Associated Press.
Business took confident step last
week into the new year and pointed
with pride to substantined gains.
Steel and automobile production
and general retail trade were un-
doubtedly the leaders, but electric
power production and car loadings de-
clined somewhat less than seasonally.
The week was broken by the New
Year holiday, and many plants were
closed for inventory, but the usually
Gull period was enlivened by numer-
Gus contra seasonal developments sus-
tanning or adding to some previous
gains.
Steel production was at 1872 per
cent of capacity as estimated last
week for the entire country by the
American Iron & Steel Institute, the
highest point for that usually very
quiet week in four years. That point
marked the eleventh consecutive wsek-
ly increase and was percentage
points above the previous week.
Automobile production was a ma
jor spur to steel. Motor orders were
reported high enough to hold assem-
bly, lines until March. Employment
now is estimated 35 per cent over last
month and 60 per cent above this
period last year. Dealers opened the
annual New York show with high
hopes OF laying the basis for sales
records for recent years
Retail sales dropped last week from
the previous week, but less than the
same seasonal fall year ago. De-
mand is reported by authorities as
shifted to industrial centers from
agricultural communities, a change
noted by an unusually early influx of
buyers in the wholesale centers.
Power Total Down.
Electric power production for the
week ended December 20 was reported
by the Edison Electric Institute at
$50, 467 900 kilowatt hours, an in
crease of 70 per cent over 1888, but
a drop from the previous week. The
week-to-week decline was less than
seasonal, and the total marked the
highest Christmas week on record.
Freight movement on class l rail-
roads totaled 425.120 cars for the
week ended December 40, off 122,775
cars from the previous week and I'M
der the comparable period of 1893.
The drop from the previous week,
however, was less than usually expert
enced at that time of year.
Some of the reports from individ-
ual Federal Reserve districts follow:
BOSTON.-General business in the
first Federal Reserve district con-
tinued moderately slow, but the fish
ing industry showed substantial bet
terment. Fish landed last week in
Boston, largest salt water fishing port,
weighed 2,830,00O pounds, and re-
ceipts were $155,411, against 100000
pounds and 100000 in receipts in the
similar period last year. Cotton man
ufacturers reported slow sales, and
wool circles found only fair demand.
NEW YORK-Retail trade last
week in the New York metropolitan
area of the second Federal Reserve
district was reported quiet, with dol
lar volume Of sales about equal to
last year. The response to January
sales was said to be spotty. For the
week ended December 90, however,
parcel deliveries in the metropolitan
area were 81 per cent over the same
week year ago. Steel operations in
the Buffalo area were about I'M
changed from the previous week.
Richmond Report Good.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS was re-
ported up to or above seasonal in
Washington and Baltimore
in the fifth Federal Reserve district.
Debts to individual bank accounts
we're up $13,000,000 in Baltimore and
S4,000,000 in Richmond last week
over a year ago. Washington and
Baltimore retail trade was estimated
at above last year, and Baltimore re-
ported a slight employment gain, but
slow construction. North Carolina
mills remained closed.
PHILADELPHIA. - Merchants in
the third Federal Reserve district re-
ported the demand for New Year
celebration supplies the best since
1928. Jewelry trade in December was
given as 80 per cent over 1888, and
carded and combed wool prices adj
vanced on a strong demand. Hosiery
manufacturers indicated business
fell last week, while the draperies in
dustry was dull. Increased tempera-
lures cut anthracite sales for the week
ended December %.
CLEVELAND.-Unde the impetus
of increased steel and automobile pro-
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