Manhattan Madhouse

New York, the nation's No. 1 wholesale market, last week perfectly mirrored the state of the nation's trade. In one day 2,841 buyers stormed the New York Furniture Exchange, more than at any other time in its 52-year history and 1,000 above last year's registration. The combined New York Curtain & Drapery and National Domestics & Linen Shows hung up a new record with 575 buyers pawing for goods regardless of prices. Sixth Avenue manufacturers reported spring dress, suit and coat orders up 40-200%, talked darkly of allocating production to cut down order-padding. One excited OPA economist predicted to the Millinery Merchandising Executives' Association that retail hat sales this year would hit $250,000,000--more than double last year's total.

But while buyers and money were in abundance, goods were not. Best index of the seller's market: retailers (for whom wholesalers used to give lavish parties) this time frantically reached for the dinner checks. But at week's end many a buyer went home with nothing but entertainment to put on his expense account. Cracked one furniture manufacturer: "We're paying a bonus to the salesman who sells the least."

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