The Wilmington morning star., 1946-12-25
N!.;on Notes
Cayest Yule
In Five Years
Many Communities Deco
rated As Country Enjoys
Lavish Season
BY DORTHY CAREW


NEW YORK, Dec. "a - up -
With scarce goods back on store
counters and spending at new
peaks, Americans are celebrating
perhaps their gayest Christmas
season with more of the traditional
trappings than at any time since
l941.
According TO an AP survey around
the nation gift buying has topped
all previous records. Christmas
trees will glisten with prewar bril-.
lance: there is an abundance OF
toys and more food for holiday
feasts than ever before in history.
Families reunited in many cases
for the first Christmas since the
end Of the war and at least tenn
porary freedom from major in
dustrial strikes are major factors
contributing to the bounty of the
1916 yuletide
Enjoying Lavish Season
Despite predictions of a business
recession in 1947, Americans are
enjoying a lavish, old-fashioned
holiday season. Communities from
coast to coast are bright with sea
sonal decorations. Civic obser-
vsnces have been revived.
The worlds largest Christmas
tree-a huge live oak at Whining
ton. N. c.. is lighted for the first
time since before the war.
Earlier this year the coal strike
threatened to cast a pail over the
holidays, but its temporary settle
ment when John L. Lewis sent his
miners back to work on the gov
ernment's terms helped to boost
pre-Christmas sales an estimated
Is to 20 per cent over last years
December peak OF So. 500, 900, 900.
Mays in New York reported
sales averaging better than a mil
lion dollars a day during the week
ending Dec. IA - the highest sales
volume for a single store in the
history Of retailing. Sales for the
six days were close to 81, 900, 900
and represented purchases by more
than 1900, 900 persons.
Retail sales hit a new peak of
$1,000, 900, 900 in October of this
year and are expected to show
even higher totals for November
and December, bringing the sea-
sons total to a new high of more
than s26, 600, 900, 600. But retailers
said buying has not been the wild
purchasing that characterized the
war years.
The Christmas shopper this sea-
son was selective. She passed by
hlgh-priced luxury goods she would
have snapped up eagerly at any
price a year ago, for gift buying
has taken a practical turn.
Resistance to poor quality and
high prices has come with the re-
turn Of many scarce goods to store
shelves.
A wave of pre-Christmas clear
ance sales and declining prices In
some scattered lines added zest to
shopping and gave promise that a
buyers market in many types OF
goods is not too far away.
Children will have a greater va
rlety of toys this Christmas than
the younger ones ever knew exist
Cd. Electric trains, sleds with
metal runners, bicycles, doll car
rlages with rubber tires. mechan-
lcal toys, real rubber balls, music
boxes and an endless number OF
otner playthings have boosted sales
volume to a new peak estimated al
50 per cent more than last years
record.
More than Is, 1000 Christmas trees
available for the nations homes
viii be decked with ornaments far
brighter than those made during
he war, strings of gay lights and
Snlrnmering tinsel. Holly wreaths
viii be plentiful.
The civilian population will have
more turkeys for Christmas dinner
tnan ever before. Fruits and vege-
tables are abundant and many de-
l%lcacies lacking during the wal
VIII De back on the holiday menu.
Family gifts again will include
radios and household appliances
lamps and possibly even a shirt TO-
lather. Many a woman will receive
longed-for fur coat since prices
umbled from their high levels JUST
IT. time for Christmas buying.
The return of evening clothes IN
volume for the first time since
me war cut down entertaining VII
add a festive note to holiday par
ties.
More liquor is available than 1ol
many holiday seasons past. Scotch,
Straight bourbon and rye Jumpe
IN price when ceilings were h1t
ed, but blends r plentiful at o.
near former ceiling levels.
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