TEXTILE RETAIL TRADE EXPANDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000600310031-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 11, 2011
• Sequence Number: 31
• Publication Date: May 4, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/17: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600310031-2
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL W r-BENTIAI
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD NO.
DATE OF
INFORMATION 1949 - 1950
SUBJECT
Economic - Consumers' goods, services
HOW
DATE DIST. // May 1950
PUBLISHED
Monthly periodical; daily, weekly, and
11
semiweekly newspapers
WHERE
PUBLISHED
Warsaw; Katowice
NO. OF PAGES 3
DATE
PUBLISHED
Dec 1949 - 12 Feb 1950
SUPPLEMENT TO
LANGUAGE
Polish
REPORT NO.
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES NITNIN THE MEANING OF ESPIONAGE ACT EO
U. S. C.. SI AND SE. AS ANNSED, ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION
OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANT MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIIND PISTON IS PRO
601 TEXTILE STORES OPERATING. -- Wolne Narody, No 12, Dec 49
The textile market is almost normal with regard to the supply of
textile products to consumers as a result of the expansion of the Central
Textile Office's retail network. In Lodz, at present, there are 47 stores,
including the House of Textiles, the largest in Poland, and two large speci-
ality stores, one located on Koscielna Street and the other on Ogrodowa Street.
In Slask-Dabrowa Wojewodztwo, there were 85 stores operating as of 1 October
1949 (1949 plan calls for 90); Dolny Slask, 54 stores (1949 plan - 54); Poznan
Wojewodztwo, 60 stores (1949 plan - 40); Kielce Wojewodztwo, 41 stores (1949
plan - 39); and Szczecin Wojewodztwo, 20 stores (1949 plan. - 18).
Agricultural areas, too, are getting more textile retail stores. Rzeszow
Wojewodztwo had 34 stores as of 1 Oct..ber 1949 while the plan called for only
30.
In the entire country, there were 103 Central Textile stores at the be-
ginning of 1949. The 1949 plan anticipated an increase of the retail store
I. .. 0T
network to 350. By 1 October i91ry, 6iie2'c were v/_vi scores aperais ~~ng? Lines
in front of Central Textile stores at present are very rare. This is due to
the fact that the stores are well stocked and preseasonal selling is cut to
a minimum to prevent traders from purchasing goods for speculation.
PLAN MORE METAL PRODUCTS IN 1950 -- Trybuna Robotnicza, No 43, 12 Feb 50
The 1950 plan of the CHPM (Central Sales Office of the Metal Industry)
expects to satisfy the Lreater part of the demand-for the metal products.
The network of retail stores will be increased by 43 percent in 1950. The
CHPM plan forseeo the organization of steel-furniture stores, precision and
optical goods stores, and hardware stores carrying tools and plumbing supplies.
The sale of metal 7roducts will be made by Municipal Retail Trade stores.
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i6ji
CONFIDENTIAL
The supply of agricultural machinery will increase substantially
during 1950. The sale of Polish-made harvesters are beet diggers will
increase threefold. Villages will receive new types of agricultural
machinery.
The supply of enamelware will increase by 20 pere?"nt over 1949, alumi-
num utensils 68 percent, building fixtures 55 percent, radiators for central
heating 117 percent, baby carriages 210 percent, nails 17 percent, and safety
razor blades 430 percent.
REPORTS SHORTAGE OF ENAMELWARE -- Rzeczpospolita, No 29, 29 Jan 50
The Chief Office of Trade of the Metal Industry attributes the present
shortage of certain enameled, aluminum, and galvanized products in Poland to
increased prosperity and increasing demand of the rural population for such
items.
Prewar per-capita consumption of enamelware was about 0.25 kilogram.
The present per-capita consumption is 0.40 kilogram. The demand for cast-
iron products has gradually declined during this period.
The metal industry has increased production, but can only satisfy demand
80 percent at present.
SCORES SHORTCOMINGS OF SOCIALIZED TRADE -- Zwiazkowiec, No 6, 5 Feb 50
The basic task of socialized trade is to supply the working masses
with necessary goods. Unfor'unately, warehouses and cooperatives sometimes
fail to order supplies in tii.!, or the central marketing offices hold up
deliveries of goods ordered. In many instances transportation service is
inadequate.
Supply difficulties often arise as the result of speculation. Speculators
have been endeavoring to disorganize the supply of the working masses and to
undermine their confidence in socialized cooperative trade. There have been
rumors off shortages and an exchange of currency.
Trade unions have not offered any resistance to speculation. Members
delegated to public price control commissions do not wish to participate in
the investigation of stores, and in some instances have cooperated with
speculators.
The state and socialized distribution apparatus does not operate satis-
factorily to defeat speculation. Tt is the duty of each member of this organi-
zation to keep the goods from falling into the hands of speculators or hoarders.
The fact that some workers in socialized trade indulge in speculation indicates
lack of supervision by the Trade Union of Office and Sales Clerks, and the Co-
operative Trade Union.
It is necessary to activate the wojewodztwo, powiat, and local commissions
which watch over the execution of the plans of commodity distribution. The
Regional Council of Trade Unions must recall members from commissions when
they do not show sufficient initiative, and replace them with union activists.
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CCU r" LLE 1ML
It is also the trade unions' duty to arrange frequent meetings of con-
sumers and representatives of the trade establishments so that these repre-
sentatives may become more familiar with the requirements of the working
class. Work competition among workers of socialized trade will also improve
work discipline and improve customer service.
More severe penalties must be imposed on speculators and those union
members who in any way cooperate with them.
New license fees on radios became effective 1 January 1950. The rate
for the working class is 250 zlotys for the use of a tube radio. The work-
ing class includes employees of state and local governments, cooperatives,
and public institutions, employees whose only source of income is from their
jobs, farmers, military in active service, pensioners, students, and unemployed
registered in employment offices. Such persons are not eligible for the re-
duced rate if they are required to pay a turnover tax or live with a person
who pays this tax. Handicraft workshop owners not employing others pay the
reduced subscription rate. The rate also applies to all socialized institu-
tions and to workers' cafeterias and recreation rooms in private industry.
Other subscribers pay 750 zlotys for radios in private homes and 1,000
zlotys for radios in commercial places. Subscription rates on other equip-
ment such as crystal sets, public-address relay stations, and loudspeakers
is 80 zlotys. The rate on loudspeakers o" over 0.5 watt is 500 zlotys. War
and military casualties and blind pcrsons are exempt from the fees, provided
they have no source of income other than their subsistence.
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