Evening star., 1937-01-31
us. RETAIL TRADE
|SMOV|NG BR|SKLY
Advance Shown in Week,
Despite Floods and
Strikes.

Despite floods which have disrupted
business in Ohio and Mississippi VAL
ley cities, the General Motors strike
and the maritime strike, retail trade
throughout the country continued to
show advancement during the week
ended January AZ, according to reports
to the Commerce Department from 81
key cities.
1t was pointed out that, while busi-
ness in Cincinnati and Louisville was
''completely paralyzed," there was alb
normally brisk business in other cities
near the flood area because Of demand
for emergency supplies for relief work.
The District reported considerable
progress as compared with the same
week last year, department store sales
being 20.6 per cent greater, and 5.3
per cent greater than during the pre-
ceding week. Clearings totaled $24,-
745,933, as compared with $20,170, 1923
during the preceding week and with
$l6,336,692 during the same week last
year.
Sight-seers Increase.
Value Of building permits issued in
Washington during the week which
ended January 81 was $178,700. COM
pared with $l72,500 for the previous
week and $592,8 for the same week
q year ago. Inaugural crowds helped
boost attendance figures at the Smith
sonian Institution, key point for the
checking of Washington visitors, to
23,788 for the week, compared with
20,281 the previous week and 12,745
during the same week of last year.
Cleveland reported that the floods
had caused that city to become an
important base Of supply and that
men, money, food and clothing and
medical supplies are being sent in
great quantities into the food areas.
Principal department stores reported
retail trade back to January, 1891,
levels.
All department stores in Cincinnati
have been closed since January IS and
will remain closed for an indefinite
time. Business in the city, with few
exceptions, is practically at stand
still as a result of the flood disaster,
1t was reported. All business houses
and factories in Cincinnati and sur
rounding towns have been closed to
conserve the supply Of water and elec-
tricity.
Memphis Sells Relief Goods.
From Memphis came the report that
merchandise Of types needed in relief
work has been depleted.
Pittsburgh reported that the flood
had no important effect on its local
retail business and that, in general,
wholesale trade is running from 10
TO Is per cent ahead of last year.
The floods, however, hampered the
steel business, causing loss of some
$50o,000 in wage payments, but not
doing very heavy damage to proper
ties.
The Louisville report came to the
Commerce Department from emer-
gency headquarters at Richmond, XIV.
With flood waters from Ohio River
1nundating Louisville to extent never
known before" it was reported, "busi-
ness Is at complete standstill, every
agency and activity being devoted to
rescue and relief work. Property loss
IN Louisville now being estimated in
excess Of $1o.oo0,oo0 and will prob
ably be higher. Other communities
In Louisville district suffering severely.
Tobacco auction markets, nearing close
OF season, have been abruptly stopped
and many other major activities
suspended in order that concentrated
effort might (, devoted to relief of
6ood victims"