Evening star., 1936-02-16
Industrial Activity Gains,
Retail Trade Expands
When Storms Lift.
SNOWDRIFTS HAMPER
SALES IN RURAL AREAS
More Definite Rise in Wholesale
Demand Also Regarded as
Cheerful Sign.
BY RAIDER WINGET,
Associated Press Financial Writer.

Associated Press Financial writer.
Basic strength of American business
and industry was proved last week in
the battle against the elements.
Although the worst weather of many
years smothered the Nation, industrial
activity more than maintained its
own and retail trade expanded during
every rift in the hampering storms.
Rural areas were particularly hard
hit by snowdrifts, which hade travel
difficult, but where roads were clear or
billiards lifted there was a response
which merchants said exhibited the
need for merchandise and the nature
of the restrictions on purchasing
power.
The Department of Commerce in its
weekly survey covering 80 cities for
the week ended Wednesday declared:
while much of the country re-
mained in the grip Of zero weather.
accompanied by snow and ice, and re-
tail trade Jagged accordingly. there
were strong indications of general buSi-
ness vitality and a more definite up
trend in wholesale"
The Associated Press index of in
dustrial activity at 800 per cent of the
l929-30 average was IS of l per-
centage point higher on the week.
Auto Output Rises.
Automobile production. estimated b.
Grams at 1910 units, increase
sharply from the previous week. but
the level remained somewhat lower
than the same week year before.
Commentators believe the weather IL
this case, too. possibly made larger
output unadviSable.
Steel mill production at 50 per cent
of capacity. however, was higher than
both the previous week and year ago
because of additional orders for rail-
road and automobile steels.
Cotton manufacturing activity wa
higher on the week as a reflection O.
Spring production efforts. but in most
of the primary markets there was q
tendency toward more slowness than
ordinarily would be shown at this timc
of year
Electric power production and resi-
Dental building remained about un
changed for the week ended Febru-
airy 8.
For that same period freight car
loadings had the benefit of greater coal
shipments, which offset bit lower
activity in other lines and the net re-
suit was about the same as the previ-
Gus week. Compared with year ago,
however, the weeks shipments were
So per cent higher. movement which
observers attributed to continuation
of the recent upward trend.
Rail Nets Improve.
Such a performance was borne out
by reports on railroad operating reve-
nueS for January, which so far show
the best results for any January since
1881.
Metal markets revived during the
week with an advance by 3 large cop
per organizations of the price to $50
cents a pound from 9.25 cents. the
first upward change in more than four
months. The present price Is the
highest since April, 1881.
Heaving melting scrap steel was
boosted 25 cents a ton in Chicago and
Pittsburgh and SO cents ton in
Youngstown.
Because of weather conditions, no
uniform trend for the entire country
was shown in trade reports for the
week and the surveys reveal as diver
gent a movement in various localitlo-
as differences ir temperatures.
Detailed Reports Given.
Details by Federal Reserve districts
follow:
BOSTON.-The wool market slowed
down, although prices remained nrm
and supplies limited. Cotton picked /
up slightly, although there was hesl-
fancy because of retroactive tax pos
sibilities. Hides were extremely dull.
Retail trade held its own.
NEW YORK-Snow reduced retail
trades margin of gain over the previ-
GUS year to 4 to 5 per cent after an
early start of good business in New
York. There we're fewer visiting buy
ers, but recorders. particularly from
the South and Southwest, held up well.
Buffalo steel production rose 2 points
to "a per cent of capacity.
PHILADELPHIA. - Manufacturing
continued to show an upward tendency,
while retail trade was reduced. Woolen
and worsted industries made the most
favorable reports and structural mate
rial manufacturers also noted sustained
improvement.
CLEVELAND. - youngstown and
Cleveland Lorain steel operations
moved upward because Of railroad and
automobile demands. Coal produc-
ton was at top speed. Retail trade
was about the same as the previous
week despite zero weather. Machine
tool domestic demand in January was
% per cent over December.
ATLANTA. - Marked building activity
tail and department store business was
about equal with the previous week. House,
hold FURNISHINGS were IN gooo oemano.
Changed at 81 per cent of capacity.
cHiCAGo--Weather continued to ham
plays Ready-to-wear purchasing was
spotty but other branches reported satis-
factory business. Steel operations con-
tinued to point upward. while packing
house output was retarded under reduced
supplies.
ST LOUIS.-Retail trade was at nearly
a standstill but Winter clothing drugs
and sporting goods moved in good volume;
Wholesale trade was still slow. but coal
business was the best in years. Total EN-;
ployment was unchanged. even though coal
MINING work increased.
MINNEAPOLIS.-Altho trade tended
to approach normal. business houses stiu
declined TO issue comparative ngures.
Rural retailing was reduced sharply by
clogged roads. and city stores suffered;
Coal dealers reported the best business OF
many years .
KANSAS CTTY.-Hog prices during the
week reached a new high for the season s
largely because of restricted supplies. Rs"
failing was q bit better than q year aRet
the Department Of Commerce said. ana
Winter clothing supplies we're virtually
wtned nut