Bankers are daily more and more ready to lend money to mercantile men; more is lent to such men; more bargains are made in consequence; commodities are more sought after; and, in consequence, prices rise more and more.
The rise of prices is quickest in an improving state of credit.
Prices in general are mostly determined by wholesale transactions.
The retail dealer adds a percentage to the wholesale prices, not, of course, always the same percentage, but still mostly the same.

Given the wholesale price of most articles, you can commonly tell their retail price.

Now wholesale transactions are commonly not cash transactions, but bill transactions.

The duration of the bill varies with the custom of the trade; it may be two, three months, or six weeks, but there is always a bill.

Times of credit mean times in which the bills of many people are taken readily; times of bad credit, times when the bills of much fewer people are taken, and even of those suspiciously.