Show SANTA CLAUSS CLAUS'S PACK PAC K LARGEST I IN N HISTORY OF UNITED STATES Retail Business at New Peak During Pre Pre Pre- Pre Holiday Holiday Period BUILDING IS GOOD Christmas Gifts More Substantial Than In InFormer InFormer InFormer Former Years I I I By DJ IL X COLF Special Sl Correspondent of The Copyright 1126 Consolidated Press s Association WASHINGTON Dec Wh 25 When 25 2 n Santa Claus his Is rein rein- reindeer reindeer deer thle till morning after lifter his hi an- an annual an annual nual nuat gallop around the be both buth the genial oil oU saint and his faithful t am mu must t have havo hav been exhausted for Cor they had completed delivery of the la ia peet eest assortment of lifts gifts or of any ony Cl Christmas on record so o far as the United States Sates Is concerned Reports to the tho postoffice depart depart- department department ment and of the th express companies show that shipments durin during this Yuletide season smashed all roe roe- records rec records In practically every district of the country Retail trade In December has held up beyond all expectations It will br bl some weeks before the final figures are arc available bat bot Indica Indica- Indications are arc that even the tho enormous of ot retail business transact transact- transacted transacted ed cd a 0 year ear ago aso has been exceeded This Is despite the tact fact that payments have ha been slightly below comparable periods ot of 1925 tor for the thelast thelast last several se weeks The volume of cash business has been unusuallY large There appears to have hav been no special demand tor for credit ac- ac ac ac AVERAGE A SALES S LARGER L Dally Daily average sales at retail stores reporting to the federal re- re reserve reserve re reserve serve board were slightly more than 2 per cent larg larger larter r In Novem Novem- November ber bet than In the same sam month a a year ear ago Indications Indication are ar that this ratio of will bo be Increased b by December The Th showing Is remarkable Inas Inas- Inasmuch inasmuch Inasmuch much as the tho comparison with the later months month of 1021 1 Is with Il a of oC unusual business activity ity Ily In other words word ChristmaS business which was WiS good last yes year has been bettor better this year The Th American people appear to tobe tobe tobe be In the midst of an era of o pros pros- prosperity prosperity greater freater than they have havo en- en enjoyed en enjoyed joyed joed before Judging from their pu purchases IN IN- IXIL ALL IL SECTIONS Nor Is this condition confined to tomy my any particular district or districts ot of the th country for tor the figures s show about the tir same sam average ratio of increase In all aU sections Gloomy predictions that the large larg cotton colton crop of the tho south with It Its attend attend- attendant attendant attendant ant low prices for tor or the staple stople would bring a recession of ot trade In that belt have hav not been tu fulfilled So 80 far tar as Christ Christmas mils business Is concerned The American people also ap- ap appeal ap appear pear peal to tl have presented relatives and friends this Christmas with wills snore moro sub substantial tant al gifts eitts than In the tho past a 1 tendency which became marked a year ago eo and has been carried forward to a surprising degree de- de dere gree re thi this season Retailers will take advantage IId of ofa ofa ofa a breathing spell seU next week to pro pre pre- on Page Pase rive FIve I SANTAS SANTA'S PACK PACI IN INI N 1926 I WAS HEAVY Continued 1 on Page Two for parc Inventories and cleats house of ot od odes odds and nl ends In the usual sales but butth th the Indications are re or that as a II gen gen- general ml eral rule their stocks are heavily d depleted This condition Is brought not alone through the tho heavy purchases ot of St Nicholas ZO but also by the fact that lighter stocks Blocks lire are carried than la In former years yeaTS Busi Busl- Busi- Busi Business nc ness fleas s appears to have avo definitely ly re- re readjusted re readjusted adjusted Itself to light stocks and anda anda a 0 quick turnover A year ago conditions were so 0 generally In the United States that predictions were wore made freely by economists that 1926 would see flee a 0 let down On the oth- oth oth other er tr contrary cor the th event has been that manufacturing Industries and distribution agencies as haw have hd greater activity than before broad broad- broadly I ly iy speaking Yr R There are arc Indications of ot a reces reces- recession sion slon Ion In iii building operations but nevertheless ss It Is that float final figures will show 1926 to hays been beon a record recerd year In III the construction Industry There Thero re- re remains remains re remains mains a reservoir ot of public works to be tapped when private privat build build- build in lag Ino definitely reaches the point or of saturation Tho The automobile Indu- Indu industry try has fallen lallen off oft slightly hU in h the thelast thelast thelast last few months but appears able to take tak care caro of ot Its lis own future the tho textile Industry long lone do- do de depressed pressed has made gains this year The Tir soft sort coal cool in Industry has found 1926 1026 lie its best beat year car since sine the tho post post- postwar postwar postwar war deflation d loUo Railroads of ot the United States Stales have had hod the tha busiest year ear on rec record eec rec- record ord and their activities In lit the transportation of freight continuo continue to b be an sl sign n of general busIness health The carriers probably will lil wind up the year Por c n record ot of nearly 5 S per cent greater tonnage than In 1023 which up to this time has worn wort the laurels In that respect lIBEl neT 1 Export and Import trade trado will show a gain In jn quantity quan when whets the year ear ends next week over 19 1323 1021 but the tho value alue of exports will show II a alight llIght decrease owing to lower prices for tor or cotton which Is the cl chief lt export commodity Tin Tin- Im Imports ports will show nn an Increase In value liS as well liS as a in volume despite lower prices for elude CI ude rubber Each month of ot the year with wills the ox- ox ex exception ot of one has shown higher customs collections collection than in the he same month of ot the previous year ear thus setting citing a new high record for the 12 month period In the his history IsIs IsIs- tory torr of ot the country There are arc some souse sore spots but generally speaking the tho condition ot of the country as liS the tho new year ear rapid rapidly I Is III reflected bythe by bythe the feeling of ot Santa Claus himself 1 aho ho must be a little tired but very |