Show u. u U.S. s. s PROSPERITY GREATER THIS J CHRISTMAS BELIEF Wages Higher Prices Are Same as as Last Year Survey Sur Sur- SurI I v vey vey y Indic Indicates t s By United Press I Merry Merr Christmas means means means' more this year than us usual aT I The United States is preparing I for a Christmas of prosperity and plenty a survey by the United Press showed last lut night Wages ages are higher than last year ear and prices about the tho same That m in means ans that every every family JamIly in the United States has approximately 1 t more to spend on og Christmas cheer than a n. year ago The government wage wago increase showed every worker to h have ve earned a 3 little better than 1 per more moro than last lut year The he wage Index on the tho in 1913 was 2595 5 In tn 1927 1921 and 2606 in 1928 Working hours were shorter shorter halt half an nn hour per pel week e k Washington officials estimated that had been released from Christmas savings In banks an Increase of or 10 per cent over last year Mr Dividends and thid nd Interest payments pay pay- monte ments so far tar In De have ave been or 15 per cent more than last December INDEX HIGHER HIGIER S Secretary of r Commerce Whiting estimated that at least 60 80 per pert percent cent centor of or the additional money monty would 1 go 0 into trade trado channels Tho The general index of or wholesale prices was wa only slightly higher than the same sarno week a year vear ago ago ao In other words word Almost every family tam fam amily am- am ily in tho the United States Stales will be able to furnish a. a few snore more trimmings with the turkey an estra doll doa for tor Continued on p page ge 9 t 5 s S b b. 1 k U. U S. S PROSPERITY GREATER I THIS CHRISTMAS BELIEF C Continued from rofU page 1 the he children n or or er a a. few few- extra knick- knick I knacks One nl ot of the the largest de department ar ment stor tores In New Nw York told tod th Pr Press ss today that Its sal sales s volume h had ad d been 10 cent gre greater than greater than ter-than than last ast year ear Business has has totaled about p. p 1 da day or 6 6 since Dec December 1 l- l anti 1 and nd from to shoppers a. a day daO have hav lave crowded the stores It was s significant s the store re reported no- no ported that the buyers have showed more indications of ot thrift than tItan nor nor- maU mally That is to tosa say there was no no abnormal buying of ot luxury ar- ar r- r tides which is an Indication of prosperity but rather solid olid practical buying buying- indicated that the he prosperity is on a a. solid basis The Association of ot Commerce I la in Chicago Just completed a survey of ot forty orty business houses showing that ChIcagoans are spending 00 on Christmas or ot about 6 6 per percent percent cent ent more than last year ear The following fol fol- lowing significant figures were ere re revealed revealed revealed re- re GEM SALES INCREASE Jewelry reported a 10 lOper per cent increase increase in- in crease rease in business chain stores 12 per cent and mall mail order houses 15 per er cent The flow of ot gold through Chicago banks for the second week In n D December cember was 83 per cent greater than In the In-the the same period of ot 1927 Debits In individual accounts for forthe forthe the he week ending December 12 totaled totaled to- to aled 1100 40 while at the same ame time last year the total was only Turkey prices In general were a I little Ittle lower than at Thanksgiving and about the same came as last year earThey ear I They cost 31 to 41 c cents a pound in Chic 70 o 45 to 60 cents cents in in New ew York Yorka a ad d 45 to 55 cents in Washington Food od prices changed chanS' d little little- from last ast year ear with some som articles higher and some sonic lower so that the Christ Christ- mas dinner should shoud cost about the same The illicit article of or holiday cheer was liquor liquor was plentiful and expensive sive sIe butt but no more expensive than last year In New York York- and th the east gen generally generally- prices were v ere lower loter and and- quality a 3 little litHe higher Better Detter quality was reported In the middle west but the Ule output on the Pacific coast was sas regarded with some sus sus- Prohibition Commissioner Doran said the tho situation was about the same as s last latt year ear that 4 cia raids were wera contemplated and report reports of ot large quantIties quantities quan quan- titles of or poison polson liquor being Merry t rry Christmas I |