Evening star., 1938-04-17
INDUSTRY FORCES
| AHEADUNEVENLY,
TRADE IMPROVES
Many Cities Report Gains,
but Weather Retards
Sales in Some.
CAUTION is APPARENT
IN UPWARD MOVEMENT
Steel Operations, Electric Power
and Motor Outputs Increase.
Loadings Off Slightly.
BY THOMAS E. FLANAGAN,
Associated Press Financial Writer


Associated Press Financial Writer
The Nations trade and industry
plodded unevenly ahead in the week
just ended
numerous cities reported retail trade
gains, but in other centers Easter de-
mand was hampered by unfavorable
weather.
Steel operations, electric power and
motor production gained, but as in
recent weeks progress was cautious,
Carloadlngs were little lower. The
Associated Press index of industrial
activity rose to 694 from 68.S the
previous week and compared with 1o4e
a year ago.
The Commerce Department sid
business reports from 36 cities indi-
Gated mixed trends" in both retail
and wholesale trade
1T was noted. however. that in
most cases where losses were sustained
they were attributed to unfavorable
weather, which particularly interferred
with the shopping activities of women
ouying Easter finery," the department
said.
Comparisons Difficult.
Owing to the difference in the
Easter dates last year and this s'-
accurate comparisons of the volume
OF Easter business this year as COM
pared with last cannot be given until
later"
The steel industry made a trifing
gain. Operations rose to 32.7 per cent
OF capacity from 32.6 the previous
week, the American Iron & Steel Insti-
tute reported. This compared with
52l month ago and 90.3 in the like
week of 1887.
IN steel trade circles 1t was said
the outlook for Government spending
Tor public works projects had
heightened hopes of improvement in
the industry. 1t was stressed, how
ever, that immediate prospects for
marked betterment were still clouded
by the reluctance Of the motor rail-
road and construction industries to
buy aegressively.
Automobile production climbed IN
oI'ozl units from 60,975 the previous
week and compared with 127.755 in
the like week year ago, Wards
Automotlve Reports said.
This survey reported a normal
seasonal upturn" in sales and said
distribution was running ahead of
production and that reduction of field
stocks was continuing
Used Cars Cut Slowly.
Other observers reported the total
OF used cars was being reduced slowly.
Producers and distributors were re-
luctant to make predictions until they
become convinced statistically of wide
spread reductions in used car inyen-
tories.
Freight carloadings in the week
ended April 9 totaled 521.979, the
Association of American Railroads re-
ported. This was decline of 0.3 Of per
cent from the preceding week and
26.6 per cent under the corresponding
week last year.
TRAFFIC experts noted that two clas-
sifications normally regarded as ba-
ASAAAStSho vi OASlllCSS
cellaneous freight and less-than- -carlot
shlpments--had suffered small de-
clines from the preceding week Load
ings Of all types of freight were 1924
per cent of average shipments for the
corresponding week of the 10 preced-
ing years.
Those who stress the Importance Of
the railroad industry as an employer
of men and purchaser of raw and
finished products found food for
thought in the apparent impasse be-
tween railroad management and labor
over wage cuts.
Pay Reductions Opposed.
Workers representatives fatty re-
jected proposals that about a million
employees accept voluntary pay cut.
Railroads, in requesting the pay re-
ductions. have argued. through the
Association of American Railroads.
that rising operating costs and falling
revenues have made economies nee
essary.
In the week ended April 9, electric
power output totaled 1896. .447 900 kilo-
watt hours, gain of 06 of / per
cent over the previous week. but s5
per cent under the like week a year
ago. the Edison Electric Institute re-
ported. Experts said the rise was
contra-seasonal.
Cities which reported gains in re-
tail trade over 1887 to the Depart
ment of Commerce included Boston.
Philadelphia, Washington. Los An
geles. New Orleans, Buffalo, Savannah
and Wilmington. Del
Losses were reported by Kansas City.
st. Louis. New York, Detroit, Pitts
burgh. San Francisco, Louisville, Gin
cinnati and Denver.