Show CAUTION TO THE WINDS sharp rise in LJ buying 7 ff noted ff td V 0 swinging sharply away from its previous cautious attitude of econ omy minded discrimination the U S buying public has hass launched itself on a relatively liberal pur chasing spree virtually all fields ot of trade have reported a clear cut trend away from passive waiting for lower prices and purchases are increase ing all over the country the change has given rise to a certain amount of alarm over the possibilities of a new inflation spiral which may develop as a result of indiscriminate buying it has be come the subject of much discus sion among business leaders bank ers and economists some of whom express concern that the movement arila ari l might acquire runaway proportions we are watching developments from day to day said a govern ment economist hoping that it will taper off before it becomes a violent spiral that can end only in a serious reversal it ts Is generally agreed that the movement began with the renewed wave of price increases that fol lowed the boost in coal prices and mine wages it has gained morren turn tum ever since consumers apparently have given up hope that any material deduc tion in prices win will occur within the reasonable future and are going ahead to purchase merchandise which they long have needed many merchants who curtailed their in ventoner ven tones tories a year ago are orders to replenish their stocks As a result of the widespread buying trend previous opinions tha industry and business were in tor for a least slight setbacks in the last hal of this year are being revised cur rent forecasts are optimistic con cerling high levels of business ao during the third and fourt quarters belief now Is that prices genera generalli wil wilt move upward or at least hou their present heights until well mt next year cash remains abundant and the influx of large amounts a money from veterans leave bonds and state bonuses dij be added contributing factors to th inflationary trend |