The State of Trade in Halifax

LOCAL TRADE REPORT.

Wool. – Business seems to be at a standstill.  The international position being unsettled, there seems to be no indication of the market improving, and there are no new orders to hand.  Wool prices remain remarkably firm.

Yarns and Pieces.—Worsted coating manufacturers are finding business very bad.  Everybody seems to be waiting to see what will happen, and thus there are no new orders.  Much machinery has therefore to be idle, and the outlook is dark.  Worsted spinners too, find trade dull, owing to the imminence of war and the holidays.  There are very few inquiries, and very little business is being done. The immediate outlook is anything but rosy. 

(Halifax Courier, August 1st, 1914 - report dated previous night)

[Interesting that war was viewed as imminent, but that the holidays were apparently an equally important influence on trade.]