An Examination of the Industrial Position: Her Future Ability to Export So much has been heard of the progress made by Germans in yestering their trade with China, and apprehensions of. the effect of her competition upon the commerce of other countries have been so freely mentioned, that all reports analysing her real position and possibilities deserve the most careful study. A highly instructive document dealing with per position has just been drawn up by the American Commercial Attache at Berlin, and especially to importers in Chinal who have look-forward to obtaining a_ plentiful supply of cheap Is from Germany, it.is of the utmost value.
The report shows the difficulties facing German trade—difficulties which appear almost insurmountable but which seem to have been Jargely ignored in the calculations made here—and an appreciation of these may save prospective buyers much money and trouble. The re port lays emphasis on the exhaustion of stocks of ran material, and the cost to Germany of lacing these, not to mention the difficulty owing to financial and other considerations, not only pre-supposes avery high cost for exports but shows that anything like prompt delivery is out of the question.
Recent INcREAsEs 1x Price., The report. states Amounts of merchandise on hand are greatly depleted by an unusual foreign and domestic demand. The almormal domestic demand for goods of intrinsic value is due to the anticipation of further mark depreciation and the great increase of prices There is considerable
exportation. Stocks are especially foreign baying in retail stores for low in the textile trade as well as in other industries largely dependent upon raw materials from abroad. There is no important surplus of such materials in Gerirm prices are impossible; there have been large increases. since October 1 and others are in prospect. Bar iron has iner 40 per cent., hoop iron 51 per cent., copper 125' per cent., pig zinc 95 per cent., lead 78 per cent., and fabricated aluminium 49 per cent. Bremen cotton prices have increased approximately 80 per cut., Hamburg wheat prices 90 per cent., and corn 100 per cent during the past month. to retain employees up to a minimum of 24 hours per week.. Heavy wage increases are inevitable, but naturally lag behind the advance in prices and the depreciation of the mark. The German Federa tion of Labour estimates the average wage increase from August 1 to November 1 at 90 to 25 per cent. The "Frankfurter Zeitung' index shows the price advance for the same period at 150 per cent. The price advance from October 1 to November 1 was 76 per cent., with a great further increase during the first 10 days of November.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.