Business: Retailing Rush

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"The customers have surprised most retailers," said Executive Vice President Peter J. Stelling of Atlanta's J. P. Allen & Co. Allen's August sales raced 15% ahead of last year, on top of the best July in its 50-year history. Across the U.S., many another retailer was also pleasantly surprised. Merchandise managers of Southern California's Broadway, Bullock's and J. W. Robinson department stores reported that August sales exceeded all their expectations. Said President Arthur L. Kramer Jr. of Dallas' A. Harris & Co.: "Our first fall fashions were snapped up so fast that now we have to buy some more in a hurry." |

Into Manhattan's apparel district last week hurried 2,795 out-of-town buyers, biggest number ever for a September week, all clamoring for quick delivery of new orders. Shelves were bare back home because the buyers had ordered cautiously last June (TIME, June 30), and the late summer surge cleaned out stocks. Retailers believe the pickup will grow stronger in the fourth quarter. The National Retail Merchants Association polled 225 members with total yearly sales of more than $2.5 billion, found that 52% expect second-half sales to rise an average of 4% over the year-ago level, while 80% expect profits to equal or top last year's level.