SPRING TRADE IN SHOPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20989, 28 September 1931, Page 8

SPRING TRADE IN SHOPS.

INFLUENCE OF WEATHER.

FINE DAYS IMPROVE BUSINESS.

LOWER PRICES AND OPTIMISM. • "There lias not been the same amount of spring trade so far this year as there was last year," said a leading importer of drapery and clothing on Saturday. "Perhaps it is too early to judge the position entirely, but Iliere is no doubt that tho influenza epidemic and tho adverse weather liavo had a bad effect on trado. But I am not by any means pessimistic.

"Prices this year are lower than those ruling last year, but to a great extent the benefit of the 10 per cent, wages cut which wo endeavour to pass on to our customers has been nullified by the high exchange rate and the tariffs and primage duty.

"There has, perhaps, been a certain optimism in the past few days as a result of the brighter news from Britain, but while we are handicapped by high customs duties and exchanges, we cannot take full advantage of it. lam confident, however, that given seasonable weather there will bo a revival in trade." Influenza and the weather were stated also by another largo importer to have adversely affected trade. "However," he said, "if we have fine weather we shall soon notice the difference. On Friday, when the weather was more favourable, we experienced a very successful day. Everyone reacts to fine weather, and the shopper is no exception.

"Prices are certainly lower than they were last year, but they are largely offset by tho hurdle of high duties and exchange rates. Britain's departure from the gold standard has created, an optimism vthich is reflected here. It would be difficult to place a general figure on the reduction in prices, but thero is no question that many manufacturers have been ablo to enter new price fields, with a consequent reduction in some cases of considerably more than 10 per cent.

"Whatever the future may hold, there is foundation for the belief that, if additional optimism should not be justified, the initial optimism which has resulted from the messages from Home will have cleared away some of the clouds of depression and left a brighter outlook."