| Show A 1 SOUR NOTE By George B Lockwood The executive committee of the National Association of Manufacturers has issued I a statement asking retailers to tomake tomake make more equitable reduction in in prices prides to consumers consumers The committee declares that the decline in retail prices since January 1930 has not been as great as the decline in wholesale whole wholesale wholesale sale prices It declares that during that time wholesale prices Iha ve declined per pel percent cent dent while the cost of living as represented by retail prices declined only 1 3 per cent The National ional Association of Manufacturers Manufacturers Man vInn- declared that further further further fur fur- ther reduction in prices would increased in increased increased in- in start up business through creased purchases There is something the matter matter mat mat- ter tel with the associations association's ons sta- sta Decreases in retail prices have been far greater than would be indicated by these figures In some lines of merchandise they are as great as 50 per cent It t requires requires requires re re- quires only a con of figures ap appearing earing i in n he the i adver advertising 1 r lver- columns of any newspaper news news- paper tod tY with those of I H the to wide stand months ago g the big dray y il tl at ha hai or in retail prices m Charles Grafton president of the Indiana Asso Association oS of Manufactures l ers n who vho has issued rl a statement nt repudiating repudiating- the ving cf of he nat orial asso association a as o o states that he recent r received a small portion rf f a shipment from his r l Manice fac fal- factory tory toly to a it h to tot i in another i c ty tv The c goods ti t JI retained the price markings marking retained the price Tn km He lIe found that they had been 0 offered at an insignificant advance aa arl- arl vance over the low factor would I price one that Inot not afford m much ch profit Thiis This Thi is the exper experience ence of many man Iran Iran- Such criticism of the retailers retail retail- ers of the country by the he heads of the National Association of manufacturers will vill be productive productive tive of much harm Retailers generally are ha having a hard time of it Prices have slipped ed but their rent has noi come down Their taxes are rising not falling Interest rates are as high or higher I than in normal times Their credit is restricted Few are arc making profits Retail RetaH prices priceR are lower lowerr than they have been for years years lower lower in many instances instances in in- inI I stances than than conditions justify ll Th Tho ia e i intimation n that t th the retail retail- I u U 4 ers rs are profiteering at this time is preposterous The National Association of Manufacturers Manufacturers' executive committee committee com com- committee is wrong too in the statement that that this falling price range stimulates buying It is contrary to common sense but people are less inclined to buy on a falling falling- than on a rising ris ris- rising ing market While prices are rc falling the customer figures fig that he will vill waite for still lower low low- er prices If they are rising he figures that he would better hurry because prices prides are g. g going up Moreover in such times as m these people hang on to their money possessed by unreasonable unreason unreason- able fear of the future Possessing Possessing Possessing Pos Pos- he key to restored prosperity they hide the key kev Retail prices are abnormally low and are not likely to be much if any lower Indeed tho Uw first return of confidence will vOl I witness a rise in price levels level leveis and as buying power from all an anthe the d dammed up demand for necessities comforts land and luxuries lux lux- lu luxuries uries is is unloosened prices will I take a rapid upward swin swing When that happens we ve will all an alli i know v that the tle country is on onI I the way to recover recovery r for higher highel high- high jer er prices will mean more gene genI general gen gen- I e eral profitable and secure employment em em- employment l for labor Jabor and investment investment invest- invest ment for fori business enterprise |
