Show review of trade A year of enormous business closes with a little more than the seasonable dalness dul ness transactions much beyond the average in september and october prepared for some slackening of trade in november and december which has been increased by tariff uncertainties by several strikes of importance and by a speculative advance in prices unusual pressure for money during the fall on the other hand caused adjustments which prevent severe pressure as the year closes and except at a few western points the money markets are comparatively easy with collections almost everywhere fair and at most points reason abla good holiday trade has generally been large and the recent change in weather brings greater activity in some branches but the pending strikes and controversies as to the future in some of the large industries dus tries operate unfavorably ease of money and belief that tho beading strike would not last have helped stocks to improve until yesterday when the day opened with some reaction hopes of activity and advance after new years sustain prices but the great movement of foreign capital hitherward for investment has ceased at least for the time in november trade statistics indicate that the outgoing slightly exceeded the incoming g and capital december exports at new york 12 per cent below last years against imports 17 per cent below indicate that at least in goods and cash has probably gone abroad and foreign sales have exceeded purchases of securities if continued this movement will effect tho placing of sureties for new roads and thus influence great industries the dying year has seen miles of railway im ashod making the mileage for the united states but changes of freight rates at the west tend steadily downward lessening the prospect for building next year tho pennsylvania reports a decrease of in net earnings for november and the erie a decrease of 1233 2 the iron industry after the largest years output on record is rapidly cutting down production prices and at many points wages the thomas company is expected to announce 21 as for its best iron since march tho average of all grades at philadelphia has declined and of rails 6 sales of tons alabama and tennessee iron are reported but no sales of rails for which next years orders cover only tons the western nail As lowers card rates j to 2 the cotton industry records for tho year larger production sales 1 and profits than tor 1886 and the year closes with an excellent demand well cleaned up and many sold well ahead but the woolen manufacture is described as having about the most unsatisfactory year it has ever experienced with business smaller and profits smaller than last years and foreign agents are again offering heavy worsteds worst eds 5 to 10 per cent below last years prices enormous importations have left a large stock of dress goods on hand over coatings are moving fairly but hue goods at 5 to 10 per cent decline the sales of wool at boston for the last quarter fall 23 per cent below last years coal production has been the largest on record but the market closes with some excitement the strike continuing while dispatches affirm that beading miners will strike january ast 1st the grocery trade has been very large for tho year and closes with fair activity notwithstanding the speculation in coffee and the rise in sugar following reports of a decrease of tons in beet product provisions hold the recent advance beef is again a shade dearer and there has been a rise of G cents in oil cotton in spite of benall receipts is a shade lower but bread stuff shave risen wheat and corn about 1 ct each the treasury has added to its with banks and 1 to the circulation during the week it has now increased the circulation cu of coin and paper about 64 since july ast 1st and since july ast 1st 1886 tho incomplete returns of clearing house exchanges indicate an aggregate for the year exceeding with a gain of about four per cent over last year but november showed a small decrease and in december the decrease in payments has been considerable sid erable the years return of failures reported by B G dror co the mercantile agency shows a decrease of two hundred in number for the year but a largo increase of in liabilities as follows i no liabilities average 1887 1886 the returns from the dominion of canada show 1382 failures with liabilities average 11 the failures in the dominion were one in every 54 firms in business in the united states they average one in every firms E G DUN co and broadway new york saturday december |