The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1943-03-04
See Consumers
InVast Buying
U. S. Chamber Reports
Public Planning Heavy
Purchase of Goods.

WASHINGTON. - The people of
this country are even now looking
forward to vast purchase of goods
after the war ends, the U. S. Cham
Der of Commerce announces as the
result of preliminary survey.
Called a pilot canvass" to be
followed later by a more intensive
research, the survey showed that
people wanted new homes, new
automobiles. home improvements
and conveniences, electric irons,
washing machines, refrigerators
and other articles tending to make
living more comfortable. "
Twelve. per. cent of the families
interviewed said that they would
buy automobiles; IL per cent want
ed washing machines and 10 per
cent desired mechanical refrigera-
tors. About in 80 said that they
would buy new home. T 49,
Three out of ten homeowners said
that they would make repairs and
improvements in their homes as
soon after the war as possible. OF
these, Is per cent would paint the
outside of their houses; 10 per cent
want interior decoration; per cent
would. remodel one or more bath
rooms; 7 per cent would rnodernize
their kitchens; per cent mentioned
furnaces, oil burners or other heat
ing installations. and 5 per cent as
serted they would add rooms, either
by remodeling or expansion.
Looks to Future Job Needs.
Eric A. Johnston, chamber presi-
dent, stated that while the first job
was to win the war quickly, the or
ganization must realize that when
peace comes we shall have to turn
to the everyday task of supplying
the nations accumulated wants and
in doing SO furnish jobs for the mil
lions who will be released from the
armed services and from war pro-
duction."
1--WE hope" Mr.. Johnston contin-
ued, ito ascertain facts that will
make easier the huge re-employ-
ment task that will follow the end
ing of the war. Theories have their
proper place in postwar planning,
but the problems that peace will
bring to American industry and to
the country as a whole will be solved
only on foundation of facts.
The coming survey is divided
into two phases-consumer research
and specific industrial research.
First to be analysed will be the post
war market. Then, the market
analysis will be translated into
terms of raw materials, plant capac-
ity, machine tools and labor re-
quired to meet the demands of con-
sumers." q
Public Demand Shown. 5..
The chamber decided to UNDER
take the project on a comprehensive
national basis after the test survey
had disclosed that:
The public seems to be acutely
conscious of things it would like to
buy and almost certainly would buy
within the next six months if the
war should end tomorrow. ~-.. 49,
Four-fifths of the persons inter-
viewed said that they were now
ready to make one or more major
purchases of certain specified arti-
cles if it were not for the war.
The test survey also revealed that
most persons on the basis of pres
ent savings, were not counting on
buying for cash. -
IF the limited results of the pre-
iminary test should prove typical
of the nation as WHOLE" said Mr..
Johnston, 1.-The American habit of
installment buying will continue to
be a major factor in large consum-
er purchases" *.