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Show HI COST DIES HARD. ; , ; r. .. -. . .i... . .. i; ' t There are unmistakable indications that the crest of the era of high prices in the United States has passed, but other evi-. evi-. Sences just as pronounced offer proof that there will not take place any precipitate decline in the cost of commodities. i .; Hi Cost seems to have a castiron constitution, and it is expected ex-pected it will have to be submitted to a wearing down process rather than any abrupt assault that might result in a rapid loss of strength and a sudden passing into history. This is indicated by the fact that the February index of commodity com-modity prices shows a decrease of only about three-tenths of 1 per cent. On the other hand, while the decline really is insignificant insignifi-cant as compared with the long price trail that must be traveled before the state of normality even comes into view, it may be regarded re-garded as the forerunner of a gradual but possibly an irregular downward readjustment. . ' Since the opening of the present year, fears have been entertained enter-tained in some quarters and particularly in financial circles,, that the country was on the verge of a wide open break in price commodities, com-modities, with a subsequent embarrassment to manufacturing, concerns. Nothing like that has happened, however, and, according to all reports from industrial centers, instead of evidences of a desire on the part of jobbers and retailers to back down on contracts, there is being displayed an anxiety to obtain goods. Not only this, but it is stated that there is a great shortage in many lines. For instances, spinners are predicting that it will require fully two years to make up the shortage in textiles and bring supplies up to normal. Among the more hopeful signs ot the times are the facts that production is increasing and that at least a portion of the buying public is switching back to goods that do not command the extreme ex-treme high prices. The process of returning even to an approximate normal may be slow, but it is sure. |
