CROWDS OF SPENDERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17661, 23 December 1920, Page 8

CROWDS OF SPENDERS

-* RECORD CHRISTMAS TRADE, PLENTY OF READY MONEY USEFUL GOODS SOUGHT. is Auckland's shops appear to be busiei d now than they have ever been. Th< •- rush of Christmas shopping is at its heighi >s and the retail establishments have beer d densely crowded with customers. The 16 volume of trade is stated to have assumec )r record proportions, despite the very high prices ruling. People are showing no inj clination to refrain from buying in th< >f hope that prices will fall, but are appar it entry exercising greater judgment than is 1- usual at this season and are spending theii ' e money on useful things rather than lux o . D . uries. it n " The demand is for good goods, ' said |t the head of a large drapery firm in th« it city. " Prices are on an average 20 pei n cent, higher than they were last Christmas, but so long as the article is what e they want the cost does not seem to deter s our customers." He had no hesitation in ; saying that the extent of trade .was v greater than in any previous year. 0 Not since 1914 has the Christmas table n been so well provided for as it, is this lj year. Christmas fare and delicacies oi J all kinds are stocked in abundance and e u from the point, of view of supply the situae tion is practically the normal position oi n pre-war days. Unfortunately, however, j prices are not those oi 1914. t "We have never had such a busy a Christmas." was the statement made by the manager of one of the principal groeery businesses in Auckland. "We have • been overwhelmed with orders," he said. There was no sign of any shortage of money and people were spending very f freely on all classes of groceries. Ho t mentioned that prices' were from 25 to e 27£ per cent, higher than they were last a y° ar - A Queen Street jeweller was emphatic in saying that the season was proving much busier than he had anticipated. He 1 stated that he had been in business for many years, but had never known people buy to the same extent as they were now. _ The high prices did not daunt them. a Booksellers report an unprecedented „ demand for books, particularly children's " books, while Christmas cards and other lines usual at this season are selling read- ' ily. Excellent business is aslo reported by furniture establishments.