Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1884-12-18
THE FALL IN PRICES.
A General Depression Existing in England,
Due to Variety of Causes-lts Prob
able Effects,

A general depression in prices, due
to a variety of causes, exists at the
present time, which is calculated to
have important social and commercial
effects. 1t is proved by slight exam
nation that as compared with the cor
responding period of last year the
purchasing power of sovereign has
undoubtedly increased. This result
is especially andl Immediately ascrib-
able to fall in the market values OF
almost all the necessaries of life.
Food, clothing, anG fuel are severally
cheaper, in some articles by as much
as 10 per cent; that is to say, Is shil-
lings this year will buy almost as
much as a pound did last. 1t is, how
ever, in the more densely populated
ncighbOrhoods that this decline in re-
tail prices may be particularly noticed.
In what are called "gutting' locali-
ties the changes in the wholesale quo
tations are quickly reflected in the
amended figures attached TO samples
in the tradesmen's shop windows, but
in better class districts, where 'fam-
ily' or regular trade is DONE tho mar
ket fluctuations have not necessarily
nm immediate effect, the principal
object OF the shop-keepcr being to pre-
serve rs nearly as possible IN equality
of scale. Consequently, he sometimes
bears the loss of slight rise without
alteration of His prices. recoupling
himself when occas on offers by charg-
ing his customers at higher rates on
articles which ought, in strict justice,
be cheaper. Tradesmen, again, who
have to call for and book orders, give
credit, and send goods home arc nat
urally less prepared to allow the pub
lie the full advantage of drop in
wholesale prices; but those who work
upon the rough and ready cash sys-
TEN are compelled by competition to
adopt different method, and it will
be found that their prices are gcner-
ally in closer accord with the ruling
figures of Tie wholesale trade. 1t is
Of this class of tradcsmcn that wage
carncrs and people OF small and linn
tied incomes buy most largely, and
hence it is the needy portion of
the population which really derives
most benefit by the prevailing cheap
ness of the most important commodi-
ties.
Taking articles of food in the order
of their importance, as determined by
the inroadS they make upon the privat"
purse, there is first, butchers meat,
which may generally be said to alb
sOrb five shillingS of u middle-class
houSckeeper' sovereign. Beef and
mutton are, on the whole, penny per
pound cheaper than they were last
November, rs there is plenty of meat
in the market. Foreign supplies of
/ frozen and other meat have done much
to keep prices down, but it is said by
some authorities that New Zealand
mutton is becoming so popular that it
will shortly equal the price of home
grown. The opening of parliame 1t
has had beneficial effect upon the
value Of sirloins of beef and legs of
mutton, which are now in great de-
mand in the West end. 1t is not so
much in the fall Of price that the gen
rral public profits rs by the improve.
mcnt in quality, the fine season having
/ developed the nutritious elements OF
all classes of meat. stock having fed
better. Notwithstanding these con
SdcralionS butchers are crying out
that trade is slow, II not bad aud they
attribute this partly to the cheapncss
of poultry. Poultry, wher Tcr it is
put before the public at fair prices,
certainly commands ready sale, the
purchasers being the working and
lower middle classes, to whom pair of
fowls ut one time might have been 4
very rare luxury. 1t frequently hap
pens now, however, that poultry is AS
cheap as butchers meat, and this year
there is Il reduction of as much as
pence in the retail price of the ordinary
Irish fowl, which sold wholesale last
year at shillings y pence, but which
can be bought this season for =
shllings 8 pence, the reason being
chiefly Il plentiful supply, the weather
having been most favorable to the
breeders. Smaller birds are to be h, |
in quantities as low as shilling }
pence each. and tradesman with
quick sale often sells them at nominal
profits. As compared with last year
there is a reduction of pence on each
fowl of this description, Wild and
Ostend rabbits, both highly popular as
providing an occasional and welcome
change in the domestic menu, are also
cheaper by few pence, Cumberland
hams are, however, 90 shillings hun
drcd-weight more, the long summer
having diminished the supply, while
preventing any considerable addition
to the stock, us hams have to be pre-
pared in the colder months. Geese,
which are chiefly from Normandy,
show fall in price. A goose which
cost n customer s shillings las year
is now procurable for Z shillings.
Fish, another substitute for meat, is on
the average unchanged. On vcgeta-
bles, potatoes especially, saving can
be effected, provided they are bought
in quantities of not less than sack ;
otherwise it is the retailer, and not the
consumer, who gains by the remark
able fall in wholesale prices, which
was brought about by the large yield
the effect of the rain in the middle
of the summer, In one variety there
is decline of nearly f2 ton, and the
retail price for tmagnum bonums
should be about half what was asked
twelve months ago. One halfpenny a
pound Is by no means an unusual
, price, and some potatoes are sold for
loss. Eight shillings less quarter
charged for wheat has in turn enabled
bakers to sell bread to about | penny
loaf cheaper, that is to say, where Z
pence was asked last year, pence is
accepted now, the quality being the
same. Interior descriptions are being
offered as low as pence loaf, and
the trade admits that II has never
known time when bread was so
cheap. On best buffers and also on
bacon there is reduction of hall
penny per pouh, Sugar, which is no
longer Il luxury bt, = necessity of the
first Importance, ha. ,-notw thstahd.
ing its already low value-.allen in
price penny per pound, and even
more, for grocers seem to rival one
another in almost giving away sugar
as an inducement to purchasers OF
/ their tea. Seven pounds for 6 pence
may be had, but this price means that
|, 1t is sold at loss. Three half pence
II pound for manufactured sugar re-
, turns slight profp to the retailer.
. Sugar being abundant has led to the
cheapness of jams, two-pound pot
, Neing II pence less than formerly.
Strawberry is an exception. Marina.