Evening star., 1937-08-22
TRADE REGISTERS
SUBSTANTIAL GAIN
HERE DURING WEEK
Retail Volumes Increase
7.33 Per Cent Despite
Su|try Weather.
BUILDING AND CHECKS =.
REMAIN ABOVE 1886
Baltimore Consumers Respond
Generously to Clearance Sales
and Other Promotions.
BY HAROLD b. ROGERS


Retail trade showed a substantial
increase in washington during the
last week in spite of the hot weather,
according to the Department of Com
merce, which each week surveys 36
cities.
Taking official recognition Of the
heat, the report declared that in the
face of continued hot Sultry
weather." there was an increase in
retail trade of 733 per cent over the
previous week This, however, was a
decrease of 5l2 per cent as COM
pared with last year
Clearings at S22,972 .6O4 were ahead
of the sl9,S3l 1913 for the same week
last year. Building permits issued
here during the week were s37l,000,
as against S364o50 last year
Visitors to the Washington Monu-
ment, considered a good index to
business here, climbed to 35,504, as
compared with only 29loo for the
previous week, and 3O.35l for the cor
responding week year ago.
Baltimore Pace Maintained.
Reports from Baltimore in the re-
tail field indicated IAN active pace
is being maintained with volume of
business comparing favorably with
previous week and year ago
Consumers there responded gen.
erously to clearance sales of Summer
goods, and other promotional under
takings. Although high temperatures
prolonged the demand for various
warm weather requirements, an in
creased interest wss shown in Fall
offerings.
Activity in Baltimore wholesale dry
goods and genera. merchandise field
displayed an improved trend. with
the volume o. trade showing a con-
siderable expansion over the same
period last year The Fall buying
season is getting we'll underway and
the merchants generally are hopeful
over prospects for the immediate
future. Clearines showed a gain of
7.3 per cent over the corresponding
week in 1896. while debts advanced
81 per cent for the same period
Generally for the country. the
report say, the trend of wholesale
trade was good" In New York, for
instance, it was reported, many are
marking time now, but inventories
are generally dropping. Moreover, at
this time last year, threats of short
ages and rapidly rising prices tended
to give an artificial stimulation. There
Is little of that at present and buyers
are looking at markets with more
detached attitude"
A. l. Il. Committee Named.
Forging forward in plans to super
wise and coordinate" the work of COM
mittees of the American Institute -
Banking here Joseph R. Fitzpatrick.
first vice president of the Washington
Chapter, A. I. B., who is chairman of
the Program Committee, has appointed
eight members to his committee.
Fitzpatrick was recently named Pro-
gram Committee chairman by William
H. Laughlin, president of the chapter
The new members of the committee
are James c. Dulin, American Secu-
rity g. Trust Co.; G. Elmer Father
Union Trust Co.; Raymond L. Jones'
l.
ton Leith, Security Savings & Com
mercial Bank; Myrtle Lewis, Liberty
National Bank; j. Earle McGeary, w.
B. Hibbs & Co; Frank u Rodger,
Riggs National Bank, anG George M.
RoWzee, jr., Lincoln National Bank.
Fitzpatrick is assistant cashier of
the Second National Bank and has
been connected with the A. l. B. for
a number of years He attended the
National A. l. B. Convention at ST.
Paul in June as one of Washington
Chapters delegates
The institute here is starting prep
arations for a comprehensive educa-
tional program to be opened next
month. The Educational Committee
has been working with chapter off,
GERS, including President Laughlin,
and further announcements concern
ing future activities are expected soon.
D. c. Exchange Volume OF.
Seasonal falling off of trading on
the Washington Stock Exchange was
reflected during July. as compared
with June, according to report by
tile octut lIleS dIlu EACIldIlSG NOIN-
mission.
The dollar value of all sales on
the Washington exchange fell off
from sl92,095 in June to $62,99l in
July Stock sales dropped from
s142,612 to s42,444 in the turnover
of 3,l04 shares in June, as compared
with 1875 in July.
Bond sales fell off from $49,483 in
June to $20,547 in July.
Baltimore Total Higher.
Baltimore Stock Exchange, to the
contrary, showed an increase during
the same period, the total value of
all sales increasing from $983,918 in
June to s992,173 in July Stock sales
fell off In value in Baltimore during
the same period from s886,385 to
SS49,805, but bonds jumped during
the same period from $97,533 to
Sl42,368.
Richmond Stock Exchange showed
gain in all sales from $39, 9,442 in
June to $66,05l in July.
The Federal Power Commission last
week widened the scope of its inves-
tisation into the interlocking directo-
rate structure of the Associated Gas g.
Electric System
Wholesale commodity prices index
increased OIL per cent during the
week ended August IA, according to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The
advance followed the slight decline
Of the previous week and placed the
composite index at 87.5 per cent of
the 1925 average. The general whole
sale price level is o.3 per cent below
month ago, and 10 per cent above
year ago.