Evening star., 1936-03-29
Shopping Reaches New Year
Peak Under Influence
of Better Weather.
FLOODS SET IN MOTION
BIG VOLUME OF ORDERS
Repairs and Requirements Are
Needed-Business Men Prepare
for Active Spring Season.
BY RAIDER WINGET,
Associated Press Financial Writer

With the subsistence OF floods and
adverse weather in Eastern States, the
Nations retail trade, quickening to the
pulse Of pre-Easter shopping, expanded
to the largest volume of the year in
many parts of the country last week.
The weeks statistical indicators of
industrial activity Slumped in several
spots, chiefly because Of the Interrupt
tion to such activities as steel making
by the food waters. Cotton manufac-
turing, automobile production and sew
eral other lines held steadily or i'm
proved, however.
The seasonally adjusted Associated
Press weekly index of industrial ac-
tivity, based on 1929-30 as 100, dipped
to 8l.3 from 828 the previous week. 1t
was still we'll over the like week Of last
year, when it was only 75.5.
Weather Improves.
With improving weather conditions,
business generally was preparing for
an active Spring season. While a
final estimate of the net loss caused
by the flood was still largely a matter
of conjecture, the devastation ap-
peared to be setting in motion a big
volume of business in repairs and re-
placements.
Wholesle trade burgeoned as dealers
from the floor areas came to the prin-
cipal mrketS to replace damaged goods.
Summing up the state of trade, the
Department of Commerce weekly busi-
ness survey Of 80 cities said the general
business tempo of the country had
been only temporarily interrupted by
severe food conditions that prevailed
in several States"
I'm Pittsburgh" the review said.
substantially all business concerns
within the flooded area had awarded
contracts for repairs, renovations and
new merchandise, a mililon-dollar
contract, it was reported, having been
let by one firm for rehabilitation and
a similar amount set aside for new
goods"
Observers scanning major industrial
statistics found the following:
Electric power production for the
week ended March 81 at 1850 900 900
kilowatt hours, based on incomplete
returns-down more than seasonally
from the previous week, but 7.5 per
cent ahead of the like week year
ago.
A gain of more than 5000 units
in automobile production to 98,4l5 for
the week, compared with 103,286 in
the like week of 1885. The fact that
the total last year was greater was
attributable in part to the shifting
forward of production schedules to-
ward the end of 1885.
A decline in steel production to 537
per cent Of capacity, as reported by
the American Iron g. Steel Institute,
compared with 60 per cent of capacity
in the preceding week and 46.1 per
cent in the corresponding week of
last year.
A drop in car loadings for the week
ended March 81 to 566,808 cars from
616,862 the week before, and from
607,780 in the similar week Of 1885.
Detailed Reports Given.
Detailed reports on conditions from
the IL Federal Reserve cities follow:
BOSTON.-Retailers said the city
and vicinity will benefit greatly on
demand from cities and communities
in flood districts during the next six
weeks. Bank clearings for the week
ended March 81 at $200,2l3,5l5
showed los per cent gain over the
like week last year, but loss Of 25
per cent from the previous week.
NEW YORK.-BuSinesS remained
buoyant. Retail trade was brisk and
topped last years totals by wide mar
gins. Department store volume was
more than 13 per cent over the like
1885 week. This was the fourteenth
consecutive week that stores have i'm
proved the comparative showing over
the previous year. The pre-Easter
rush in the wholesale division CEN
tered on apparel lines.
| PHILADELPHIA floods had
little effect on general business. AL
though bank clearings, shipping and
car loadings were off somewhat from
the preceding week, totals compared
favorably with year ago.
CLEVELAND.-Retail distribution
was hit by unfavorable weather.
Never the less retail sales Of automo-
biles in Cuyahoga County kept at a
very high level, about double the nor
NAL weekly sales earlier this year.
RICHMOND lost weight
compared with the previous week, but
was generally heavier than the like
week of 1885.
ATLANTA. - Retail trade was
slightly under the preceding week and
the corresponding week a year ago.
Most divisions of the wholesale trade
continued to improve and were above
last year.
CHICAGO.-Fair weather helped to
shove retail business to level about
is per cent higher than a year ago.
Easter apparel moved briskly across
counters. Wholesalers had q better
| week.
were OF a peg in spite OF better weather.
There was some pickup In employment in
hesHk MfNNEHSoE1s-Mlld iaSafs5EE1 weather hoisted
over the ike 1885 week Continued rains
kN 1EhTsf keDt sses Ges OF tSans sds
sharply higher under The hsavisst UiS; 6Uying;
pALLAs-The city led the, State in ,the
value of building permits. IAN excellent
week" was ,reported for various lines OF
-'is SAN Fl GFHRANc1sco.-Increased building
activity boosted retail trade. Wholesale
| activity held staedy.