THE FESTIVE SEASON

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIII, Issue 9749, 14 December 1922, Page 4

THE FESTIVE SEASON

VALUE OF THE SOVEREIGN.

TRADE BRIGHTENING UP. There are now marked signs of a splendid Christmas trade, and on all sides there are reports of steady lousiness in all articles, for presents or for the table, which appear only at Yuletide. As is well-known, the pound note depreciated considerably during the war, and even to-day it does not go so far as it did some eight or nine years ago. Nevertheless, it has regained much bf its; pbwer and will obtain a great deal more than it was capable of doing,,in 1918 or in 1919 in particular. Those who have already done their .Christmas shopping have gained the benefit in of prices, for there is a small increase in the price of the new fruit which has only just arrived. f Those who have not yet done their shopping should do so while there is some ! of the old stock left.

The peak’’of high prices was reached in 1919, arid there has' been- a gradual fall since then, although certain articles have a tendency to fluctuate according tq- supply,.and>demand. Toys ar© ,at least per .cent cheaper than they were three years ago. There is also a much greater variety, not so much in mechanical toys as dolls, stuffed animals and-moving toys. It: is a pleasing feature that many of the wooden toys, such as-: rocking-horses, push-chairs, engines, Ate., are the product of New Zealand factories which have Started in a small ' way m the last few months, and which’ ; are ■ competing successfully with the imported toys. There is every promise of a very good season.