Evening star., 1937-05-29
Comments.

BALTIMORE. - Consumer buying
continued to broaden under the
stimulus of wafner weather. With
clothing, sportswear, furniture and
refrigerators leading, retail sales went
10 to l6 per cent over last years
Summer goods bulked largest in heav-
ier wholesale volume. Factory oper-
atoms close to years peak rate. In
dustrial construction for first four
months up 200 per cent from 1896
comparative total.
CHICAGO.-Rapid upswing toward
close OF week sent retail sales IA to
20 per cent over the 1896 total; in
terest widened in vacation and Sum-
mer goods. Wholesale orders larger
by IL to 18 per cent. Steel rate ad-
vanced 1.6 points to 856 per cent
OF capacity, q new recovery peak
Hogs reached eight-year Spring top;
some yards closed runs, because of
lack OF receipts. May corn scared to
highest price in II years.
CLEVELAND.-Lake movement Of
coal and iron ore to set 4 new record
this season. No recession IL indus
trial operations indicated fur sew
eral months. Steel mills to hold near
current rate until end of July. Pro-
duction OF automobile parts, materials
and tools at new weekly peak. Rise
in retail sales started to widen: total
IS to % per cent ahead OF 1896 week.
Marked reduction in stocks of men S
and women's apparel.
DETROIT-With the factory en-
ployment index only points under
all-time high of 1929, improved pur-
chasing power lifted retail sales Is
to 20 per cent over last years.
Wholesale orders about rs per cent
ahead Of 1896 total despite labor un-
rest, production schedules raised in
most industries. Strikes reduced au-
tomobile assemblies to 137,490 units
from 140,396 (revised) a week earlier;
comparative 1885 total was 1O9,82l
KANSAS CITY.-Instead of de-
cline, as In the week preceding, re-
tail sales increased enough to ex-
ceed last years by 3 to per cent
More orders from country merchants
for dry goods and apparel enlarged
wholesale volume by to IL per cent
Further production increase in metal
trades; some scarcity Of skilled work
men. Early crop conditions more
favorable than in years.
Observation-Disclosures and bet
ter demand for Summer wear carried
retail sales IL to 80 per cent over last
years; shoes and millinery least ac-
tive. With the smallest gains in dry
goods and notions, wholesale volume
was up IS to Is per cent from 1896.
Output in some industries nearly
double that Of May a year ago. In
crease in factory pay rolls over 1886
from 3 to 18 per cent.
PITTSBURGH-Heavy pay rolls
benef1ting retail distribution. which
averaged IL to IS per cent larger than
year ago Labor unrest has not dis
turbed industrial working schedules to
any extent. as yet. Repair shut-downs
reduced steel rate points. to 935 per
cent OF capacity; steel scrap price low
cred. Deliveries of plate and window
glass still slow. Few orders to coal
brokers, due to surplus supplies ac-
cumulated during March.
ST. louis - Favorable weather
chiefly responsible for advancing re-
tail sales 10 to 18 per cent from 1896
total. More orders from country
merchants widened wholesale volume
spread to 20 per cent. Delayed Spring
plowing being rushed; larger acreage
planted than year ago Recurrence
Of strikes interrupted industrial prog
ress; unaffected divisions at high rate
Shoe factories busy. Output of build
ing supplies increased.
YOUNGSTOWN - Uptrend ex-
tended in bank clearings, postal re-
ceipts, building permits and employ
ment. As shipments continued to ex-
coed new business. steel operations at
beginning of week were lowered to 7s
per cent of capacity, drop Of 4 points
Tin plate makers running above ca
pacity rate. Retail sales larger for
week, but gain over 1896 was un-
changed at Is to Is per cent.