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Show Bits O' Business And Things To Come BITS O'. BUSINESS Retailers throughout the nation na-tion can expect business gains of five to 10 per cent above corresponding corres-ponding 1947 levels during June, July and August, according to out-of-town department store representatives interviewed in New York. . . National Steel Corporation has announced price reductions for its products totaling total-ing $4,600,000 annually . . . The "virtual indestructibility" of modern men's shoes is blamed by the National Shoe Manufacturers Manufac-turers Association for a 25 per cent drop in per capita sales in comparison with 10 years ago . . . Bicycle manufacturers are reporting their first seasonal slump since V-J Day, with lagging lag-ging sales and expanding inventories. inven-tories. .' . Increased production and competition from margarine have forced butter prices slightly slight-ly downward. . . Wasted grapefruit grape-fruit may total six million boxes this year because pickers are not bothering. Florida grapefruit now brings 35 to 40 cents a box on the tree, against last year's average price of 94 cents. . . Installment In-stallment sales of department stores have increased considerably consider-ably from a year ago, but collection! col-lection! ratios are down only slightly. Credit men also report that collections on both charge accounts and installments are much better at present than they were in 1941. THINGS TO COME A new heating unit for the home is virtually strike and shortage proof. Burns either artificial ar-tificial or natural gas or No. 2 fuel oil. . . Ever wish you could shave on the way to work? A rtew electric razor plugs into the cigarette lighter socket on automobiles. auto-mobiles. It can be used at home, too. . . The half of Saturday and all day Synday job of washing and waxing a car becomes a simple 30 minute operation with a new compound. Dissolve in water, apply with a sponge and wipe off with a chamois, and lo! . . . New non-irfflarnmable sponge rubber that can be vulcanized to fiberboard or upholstery is said to be odorless, resilient and tough. . . The new look has sneaked into men's sports shoes. Bright fabrics above cork soles . . . First synthetic varnish developed de-veloped uses petroleum instead of scarce edible vegetable oils. . . Transparent plastic awnings for automobiles provide protection from the sun without obstructing the view and also come in handy in the rain. . . New upholstery shampooer works so" fast that the cleaning fluid is dried before it has a chance to seep through the fabric. |