Evening star., 1938-09-04
RETAILERS FACE
AUTUMN SEASON
IN HOPEFUL MOOD
D. C. Store Sales Advance
1928 Per Cent in Week.
Lag Behind 1887.
FIRST AUGUST REPORTS
SHOW UPWARD TREND
Railway Express Shipments Jump
11.7 Per Cent Above Year Ago.
Other Indexes Gain.
BY DONALD b. HADLEY.

preached the beginning of the fall
season in hopeful frame of mind.
For the week ended Wednesday,
sales here climbed an average of 1923
per cent above the previous week. the
Department of Commerce reported
While one store reported nominal
gain over the corresponding 1897
week, the others registered an average
decline of approximately per cent, the
department added
On the more restricted basis of five
leading department stores. however,
the Richmond Reserve Bank for the
same period reported that Washington
sales were showing little variation
from 1887 levels, with decline of only
.05 of l per cent The bank also
reported that Baltimore sales were
1O.1 per cent below a year ago sales
IN other fifth district cities were down
1873 per cent, while sales for the entire
district, covering Is stores, were down
46 per cent from year ago
The large and stable Federal pay
roll and steadiness of private pay rolls
during the summer have been major
factors in the retail situation here,
and conservative policy has brought
about a healthy reduction in in
Ventories and placed stores in a favor
able position to plan fall requirements
A better inventory trend among manu-
LECTURERS also has had its effect.
August Trends Favorable.
First reports of August business
trends in the Capital showed definite
Improvement this week. They in
cluded:
Railway Express-August shipments
IN Washington scared 1T per cent
above the 1887 month, according to
the Railway Express Agency.
Bank clearings-August totals were
only 48 per cent behind year ago.
In contrast to decline of l4.6 per
cent registered in July.
Postal receipts-Months receipts set
a new record for August, reaching
S574,5S6.24, compared with s5l7,l3s in
August, 1887
Building-Private construction for
the District advanced to S3,ll4,975, a
new peak for the year, which COM
pared with $2,959,9l0 in July and So
4l7,ol5 year ago. For the first seven
months of this year, the Department
OF Labor reports both public and pri-
vate construction in the Washington
metropolitan area reached S47l73Sl2
against s43,739,923 in the 1887 period.
In addition to its report on store
sales, the Department of Commerce
reported that Washington bank clear
ings in the week ended Wednesday
amounted to $l6,276,593 compared
with $l8,144,794 a year ago, while
visitors to Washington Monument
totaled 24,2l6 compared with 24,889
in the previous week and 3O,OO8 a
year ago.
Exchange Sets New Highs.
Two new 1888 highs were recorded
on the Washington Stock Exchange
this week, although most prices re-
manned at steady levels. Washington
Railway & Electric Is moved on Tues
day to 100, compared with previous
peak of 1882. Georgetown Gas SIS
advanced Wednesday to 1864, COM
pared with previous 1888 high of lis
Washington Gas Light preferred was
the most active stock in the week with
130 shares changing hands. Except
for some of Mondays transactions at
993.. the others were closed at 997s,
unchanged from the previous week
Washington Railway g. Electric pre-
ferred sold unchanged at 1922 during
the week on turnover of 100 shares.
Capital Transit sold Friday at 8, down
half point from the previous price
The financial district was deserted
yesterday with brokers and customers
out Of town for an extended rest over
Labor Day. Markets and banks here
will be closed Monday. Many who
have been away en- vacations during
the month are scheduled to return
to their desks Tuesday.
Metropolitan Report Cited.
The Department of Labor report on
public and private construction in
the metropolitan area for July and
the seven months, again illustrates
that while private building in the
District itself has remained below a
year ago, substantial additional activ-
ity has been continuing in adjoining
sections of Maryland and Virginia
and that public construction has held
at imposing levels.
The metropolitan total of s47,l73,-
3l2 for the seven months was well
ahead of $43,739,823 in the 1897
period, s35.116,9oO in the 1886 period
and s29, ,797,724 in the 1885 months.
Residential building in the seven
months declined to s18,554,25l against
$25,915,985 in the 1887 period: S20,-
964,78S in 1886 and sl4,5l5,6ol in
1885.
Non-residential construction, how
ever. reached s24,7S3,1o8 against S.
16s,ooe in the 1887 period: ss,555 1886
in 1886 and s9,311,1Oo in 1895.
Additions, repairs and alterations
totaled $3,835,953 in the seven months
of this year against s1l,655e32 in the
1887 period; s5,596,176 in 1886 and
$5,97l ,o23 in 1885
The number of families provided
for in the seven months totaled apps
compared with 6,2l9 in the 1887
period; 5.205 in the 1886 months and
3,439 in the 1885 period. The report
also shows that since the start of
1885, accommodations for 31,173 fami-
lies have been constructed in the
Washington metropolitan area.
Decline Is Narrowed.
The report indicated that some Of
the slack in private building, evident
In the seven-month totals, had been
taken up in July, when total Of ST.
704,2ll was not far behind $2,946, $50
for the same 1887 month. July activity
provided for 606 families against 708
provided for in the month year ago.
Total construction in July amounted
to $7,055,72 against s5,261 ,447 in July,
1887; non-residential construction
totaled $3,742,634 against Sl,124,555;
additions, repairs, etc, amounted to