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Show CAUTION TO THE WINDS Sharp Rise in Buying Noted Swinging sharply away from Its previous cautious attitude of economy econ-omy - minded discrimination, tho U. S. buying public has launched ltelf on a relatively liberal pur-chaning pur-chaning Bprcc. Virtually all fields of trade havo reported a clear-cut trend away from paiinlvc waiting for lower prices, and purchases aro Increasing Increas-ing all over the country. Tho change has given rlno to n certain amount of ularrn over tho possibilities of n new Inflation spiral which may develop an n result of Indiscriminate buying. It has become be-come the subject of much dlneun-lon dlneun-lon among business leaders, bankers bank-ers and economists, some of whom express concern that the movement might ocqulro runaway proportions. "Wo aro watching developments from day to day," said a government govern-ment economist, "hoping that lt will taper off before lt becomes a violent spiral Unit can end only In a serious reversal." It Is generally agreed that tho movement began with the renewed wave of price Increases that followed fol-lowed tlio boost In coal prices and mine wages. It has gained momentum momen-tum ever sinco. Consumers apparently have given up hope that any material reduction reduc-tion In prices will occur wltlilif tho reasonable future and nro going ahead to purchase mrrchandlno which they long have needed. Many merchant who curtailed their in ventories a year ago nro placln orders to replenish their slocks. As a result of tho wldcsprcat buying trend, previous opinions tha Industry and buulncus wcro In for a leant slight setbacks In tho last hat of this year aro being revised. Cur rent forecasts nro optimistic con corning high levels of business no tlvlty during tho third and fourtl quarters. Hellef now Is that prices gcnoniH will movo upward, or nt lcnnt hol( their present heights, until wall lnl next year. Cash remains abundant and tho Influx of largo amounts a money from veterans' terinlnn lenvo builds nnd slain bonuses wll bo Hilded contributing factors to tin Inflationary trend. |