Evening star., 1938-09-18
CRISIS IN EUROPE
FAILS TO BLACKEN
BUSINESS REVIVAL
Repressive Effect Is Felt
Mainly in New York
and Boston.
MANY OTHER CENTERS
SEE BUSINESS ADVANCE
Industrial Activity Index of A. P.
Climbs 0.3 to New High
for 1888 Period.
BY IRVING PERLMETER,

Rays Of somewhat better domestic
business glimmered through the war
clouds this week.
In some retail and wholesale lines,
the war threat had repressive effect,
particularly in New York and Boston,
but the Commerce Department said
"an increasing number of cities showed
retail trade either definitely above or
on par with last years compara-
tives'
The department added that in the
New York Wholesale Market there
was growing influx of new busi-
ness, while the recorder trade ac-
counted for steady and widening
flow Of requisitions
Wholesale demand broadened for
apparel and accessories, home furnish
lngs. sundries. business and industrial
equipment, building supplies, metal
articles, and majority of other raw,
seml-fnished and finished commod-
tiles. The textile and shoe markets
were hampered by war and price un.
certainties, respectively.
Production Edges Up.
In spite Of a low level of auto.
mobile production. due to prepara.
ton for new models and a BODY
company strike. industrial production
on the whole edged upward to a new
nigh for the year. Steel and residen-
tlal construction led the way. Electric
power production also went to a new
top for the year. and the railroads
MADE a slightly better than seasonal
showing on freight volume Hardwood
iunioer business frightened as we'll.
Although w. P. A. rolls are at q
record peak of more than 5000 0oo
persons the business improvement 90
lar recorded has begun to influence
employment. The Commerce Depart.
ment said the job situation Showed
general improvement in widely sen.-
rateo sections of the Nation" In.
creased private employment was in.
uicaoeo oy statistics from State aeen.
cies IN North Carolina and Ohio an,1
Guy agencies in Milwaukee, st. Louis
Oetrolt and Los Angeles.
Inc Commerce Department .o;s
INA. tne war scare bred "a NOR.
cautious attitude" in some important
centers, but the following cities re.
ported retail trade on a par with or
oetter than the fairly favorable levels
o! year ago: Milwaukee. Jackson
vile, New Orleans. Honolulu Salt
Lake City. Kansas City. Greeley and
fueoio. Colo; New York. Savannah.
Oetroit, Seattle, Los Angeles, Mime
apohs, st. Joseph and Joplin, Mo.
Statistics for Week.
Business statistics of the weet
showed:
The Associated Press index of in
oustrlal activity for the latest week
for which information is availabln
climbed 3 to 1872 per cent of the
ls2S-30 level, new high for the year.
The American Iron and Steel In
stitute estimated a 5.4 point rise to
45,3 per cent of capacity for steel
production, the best rate since Novem.
Der /. 1887. Trade authorities pre-.
dlcted the rate would increase steadily
but gradually, particularly as auto.
mobile output picks up.
Railroad carloadings amounted to
568,887 cars in the Labor Day week.
a slightly better than seasonal show
Ing. although the total was 1872 per
cent below the previous week and 1877
per cent behind year ago.
The Labor Day holiday also cut into
power production for the week ended
September 10, but the Edison Electric
Institute said the total of 2,04a, 800, 900
kilowatt hours was only At per cent
below the comparable week last year
and made the most favorable COM
parison with last year for any week
since January 8.
Automobile assemblies dropped to
16,l00 units this week. compared witt
l7,485 the preceding week and 30.15o
year ago, according to Wards Auto