New Retail Lumber Mark-up Approyed

An order, approving a new modal mark-up for retail sales of lumber and building materials, has been signed by Administrator Johnson and became effective on June 27, 1934. The order will expire on March 1, 1935. The new ord,er will reduce prevailing prices approximately 10 per cent. Administrator Johnson specifically declares that these reductions are established "to promote the home building and home modernization program of the President."

The new mode was determined by eliminating the cost factors, previously included in the percentages, of interest and lost accounts items, excepting a reserve for lost accounts of one per cent; and also by a recomputation of previous figures used as a basis for determining cost.

Under the new mode, the dealer rvill not have to file his retail price list with the code authorities-the code authority will furnish the dealer with a minimum cost list below which the dealer must not sell. The dealer may charge any price he desires to above the minimum. The modal mark-up on lumber is in a flat percentage, the same as other items covered by the Lumber Code.

The modal percentages vary for different sections and for the various wage rates. In Northern California, where the rn'age rate is 45 cents, the modal percentage is 38 per cent. Where the ll'age rate is 4O cents the modal percentage is 37 per cent, and where the wage rate is 35 cents the modal percentage is 36 per cent.

In Southern California where the wage rate is 4O cents the modal percentage is 37 per cent. Where the wage rate is 35 cents the modal percentage is 36 per cent, and where the wage rate is 3O cents the modal percentage is 35 per cent.

In Arizona rvhere the 'rvage rate is 35 cents the modal percentage is 35 per cent. Where the wage rate is 30 cents the modal percentage is 34 per cent, and where the wage rate is 25 cents the modal percentage is 34 per cent.

Spend Fourth At Samoa

A party which included George W. Gorman, sales manager, Frank White, assistant sales manager, Bob Caldwell, F. K. Peil, and W. T. Wallace of the sales department of the Hammond Lumber Co., and yard managers from various California points, spent a few days at the company's mill at Samoa around the Fourth of July. All joined in the local celebration, and some members of the group took part in a baseball game.