The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-12-05
HOLIDAY RETAIL
TRADE SPURTS
AHEAD OF 1884
Santa'S Pack to Receive
Half Billion More Than
Year Ago.

IN HffFH IffSt
WASHINGTON. Dec. s. Five
hundred million dollars more in
trade will go into Santa Claus pack
this Christmas than in 1884, Com
merce Department officials estimated
today.
The proba BILE boost in Christmas
trade from $4,000 100000 in 1884 10
81. 500 900. 900 in December trade this
wear would. one business group esti-
mated. put some 100000 additional
persons to work.
Preliminary holiday trade reports
from all parts of the country to the
Commerce Department indicated
that retail trade already is. running
from five to 35 per cent higher than
a year ago. Christmas clubs will pay
1912 600. 900 to 100000 members
and much of this money will go into
Christmas trade.
Bears Out Koper's Statement
II present trade trends continue
throughout December. officials pre-
dicted that $4,000 100000 would be
spent during the month as COM
pared with $4,000, 100000 last year
This estimate was in line with re-
cent statement by Daniel G. Roper
Secretary of Commerce, that Christ
mas trade would be between 10 and
25 per cent higher than last year
New York wholesale markets,
where dealers from all sections of
the nation place their Christmas Or
ders during the fall months. showed
sharp increases in the semi-luxury
goods which will be exchanged as
Christmas presents.
The following statistics were re-
leased by the New York Federal Re-
serve Bank on increases over last
year.
Shoe Sales Gain Most
Shoes, 49 per cent; mems cloth
ing, 26: rayon and silk, 81, dia-
mondS. 20: cotton goods. II: jewelry,
49, and paper and stationery, y.
Notable increases in excess of the
average increase were noted in sales
of washing machines, radios. refrig-
orators, automobiles, jewelry and
watches and clocks. the Department
of Commerce reports showed.
Representative reports on retail
trade in various cities to the De-
partment of Commerce showed the
following:
New York-Retail sales up 13 per
cent over last year.
Chicago-Retail sales up per
cent over corresponding period last
year.
Philadelphia-Retail stores report
sales 81 per cent above last year.
Charleston Sales Up rs Per Cent
Los Angeles-Retail trade 10 per
cent above last year and wholesale
trade the best in four years.
Detroit-Retail trade up IS per
cent.
San FranciSco-BeSt prospects for
retail stores trade in several years.
Minneapolis st. Paul-R tail
trade exceeding expectations.
Wilmington, Del-Retail houses
report trade up Is per cent.
Memphis. Tenn.-Stores report
trade increases of 10 to IS per cent.
Charleston. S. C.-Sales running
IS per cent ahead of last year.
Pittsburgh - Department stores
sales up 22,5 per cent over last year.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-Retail stores
sales up Is per cent. furniture stores
report sales up 20 per cent.
Other Cities Listed.
WoonSocket. r. Retail trade
the highest since 1890.
Boston-Retail trade running 10
to % per cent ahead of last year.
Denver-Both retail and whole
sale sales above last year.
Atlanta-Retail sales up Is per
cent.
Buffalo-Retail sales up % per
cent, automobile sales up Is per
cent.
New Orleans-Retail stores report
10 per cent increase in sales.
Cincinnati-Retail stores report
sales ahead of a year ago in almost
all cases.
Seattle-All stores report in
creaseS over a year ago.
st. Louis-Retail trade II per
cent ahead of the previous week and
per cent ahead of last wear.