PRICES ADVANCE

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4874, 23 July 1936, Page 5

PRICES ADVANCE

HARDWARE LINES RISE. - HOSIERY LINES HIGHER. An increase of 2% per cent, in the majority of hardware lines owing to higher selling costs was reported by Hamilton merchants (states the Waikato Times) and the advance is expected to move to 5 per cent, if an application by the Storemen and Packers’ Union for a 40-hour week, filed on behalf of employees, is granted by the Arbitration Court. It is stated that the increase of 2% P e r cent, concerns selling costs only and is not to .be confused with rises in the price of New Zealand manufactured lines and higher quotations on the overseas markets. On lines that are locally manufactured the costs are even greater and the prices of these products may rise slightly higher. Raw materials on the British market are also commanding enhanced values. Corrugated iron has appreciated by £1 per ton and rates for down-pipes, .spouting and the like have hardened in sympathy by about 2% per cent. A rise of per cent, is revealed in new price lists governing New Zealand milled hosiery and designed for forward business, having application to stocks for next winter. The rises are said to be due to increased labour costs and are imposed by all mills. Wholesalers state that they have no knowledge of any general increase in woollen goods but an advance is expected.