Evening star., 1941-03-30
ConsumerNeeds
Subordinated 10
Defense Plans
Effects of Wur-Geured
Economy Multiply
During Week
BY FRANK MacMILLEN,
Associated Press Business Wrifer

NEW YORK, March 30.-FOfe-
tastes of what a war-geared economy
may come to mean to the American
citizen, his home and budget be-
came more numerous this week.
The factory worker, the house
wife, the man who runs the local
grocery or department store. even
while their attention was distracted
by fast-moYing events on the world
stage, were moving closer to con-
tact with the realities of a country
where the civilian consumer s needs
and desires took second place TO the
pressing requirement for armamentS.
Some of these developments were
buried where the average man may
not be aware Of them for months
to come-in statistics of supply and
demand and the play of prices IN
wholesale markets with which he
has no contact.
In many communities the chief
Immediately apparent effects of the
rush to arm have been longer pay
rolls and fatter pay envelopes.
The National Association of Pur-
chasing Agents. in close contact with
industrial developments, said over
time pay was becoming common
place in several sections of the
country: that employment should
grow still further as new defense
plants come into production.
There is little reason for crafts
men to be out Of work today the
association said. and localities are
becoming fewer where even un-
skilled workers should be on relief
rolls"
Higher Prices on Way.
Rosy enough on the face Of IT,
news developments indicated that
not every steel worker or factory
hand with bigger pay check might
find himself in the long run so far
ahead of the game.
Spring, while customers in stores
are still picking out Easter flnery,
is the season when merchants are
stocking up in wholesale markets
for fall and winter business.
AS the earliest nibbling began in
this great clothing center on the
requirements of merchants for mems
autumn suits, buyers found manu-
facturers' prices running Sl.50 to 50
a suit or coat above this time last
year, with main streets store keepers
faced with the problem of getting it
back somehow in higher retail prices
or better merchandising.
Some mems clothing makers. them
selves pressed to obtain deliveries Of
woolens from Army mills,
were said to contemplate rationing
store buyers on the basis of their
requirements year ago. Early buy
ers, on the other hand, especially
those from sections where steel.
shipbuilding, automobiles and other
armament items are big pay roll fac
tors, were said to be eager to stock
up generously now, for fear later
recorders might be at higher prices,
Food Items Advance.
Mother, wrestling with the family
food budget, had some premonitory
fiurrieS in wholesale markets to worry
about. They may show on her gro-
Gerry bills later.
Butter. eggs, sugar and lard Wers
among important staples for which
wholesale men IN the past few days
have paid the best prices in a year
or more Wheat, which will come to
the family table as loaf of bread,
and corn, which will fatten the
breakfast bacon, were sold in fu-
lures markets. at top prices since last
May
A trade study showed that at the
beginning of this month store prices
of foods were only about l per cent
above a. year ago, wholesale prices
about 5 per cent. Since then, the
latter have risen even further. Food
men agree the corner grocer will
sooner or later feel this spread and
pass it on to his customers, though
the process may be gradual.
Curtains. sheets, towels, percales
and chambrayS were other items
which will find their way eventually
into the family budget and on which
WHOLESALERS this week hiked in price.
The spring buying season, when
merchants come to big centers like
Chicago to lay in supplies of furni-
ture for next winters sales, will
open in a few days.
Priorities Cause DELAYS.
A preliminary survey by leading
factor in the trade cited labor short
ages, rising prices and defense pri-
critics as sources of delay and higher
costs. Lumber, cabinet woods, glue
and some kinds of hardware were
said to be either scarce or consider
ably higher in price. Plastics were
being substituted for metal parts in
some cases, the study said.
Even the spring coat of paint for
house or barns may present SONS
problems this year, trade quarters
indicated. Defense construction OF
camps and factories and brisk home
building are making great demands
on supplies of lead, zinc and some
kinds of colorings. Linseed oil is
higher in price, paint men say. and
may stay that way at least until the
great f1axSeed crop of the Northwest
is harvested this summer. A Short
age of shipping space will keep inn