Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-02
THE GROCERS' TRADE.
JObbers Have Good Reason to be Sat.
isfied With Business.
GREAT ACTIVITY In CANNED MEATS
Abundant Supplies Of Dairy Products and
Prices Lower.
GENERAL TRADE PROSPECTS GOOD
OFFICE OF PITTsBURG DISPATCH, 4
SATURDAY. Nav 81. 1890.

OFFICE OF PITTsBURG DIsPATCH,l
SATURDAY. May 81, 1890
The week and month close with great
activity in the jobbing grocery trade. 1t is
doubtfulif any previous month in the history
of the trade has made as good a record, so
far as volume of business is concerned, as
May, 1890. ALI Wholesale dealers in
groceries speak of business as unusually
active. There have been few changes in
| prices. Margins are close, and success de-.
pends upon handling large quantities. The
only notable change the past week was an
advance of Xc per pound on all sugars, and
prospects are good for another rise before
many days.
In provision lines there has been no
change since last Saturday. Trade is active
at old rates and any future changes promise TO
be toward higher prices. Lard is the weak
factor of provision markets.
The week has shown unusual activity In
dressed beef and canned meat lines. Total
sales of Chicago dressed beeves were. in round
numbers. 800 head. and this has been theayer-
age for the month. This total is reported by
dealers TO be fully SO per cent greater than for
the corresponding month last year. There is
little doubt that the scarcity and high price OF
Butchers whose trade is small have been more
than ever forced to deal in Chicago dressed
beef. Prices of dressed meats has. as a result
of this demand, and on account of increased
expense of preserving. advanced nc to 19c per
pound in the past ten days.
Prices Going Up.
Beef hams are up Soc per barrel in the same
time, and Clipped beef l0c per dozen cans. All
canned meats are expected to join in the up-
ward movement within few days. There has
been growing demand for roast beef in cans,
and one dealer reports sales the past month 75
per cent greater than for the corresponding
period of last year. The time for picnics is
close at hand. and the promise for the canned
meat industry was never better. The high
price of ice has indirectly been q help to this
trade as to that of dressed beef
The feature of the week in produce lines has
been the sharp decline in butter. Butterine is
practically driven from the field for the pres
ent, as a good quality of country butter can
now be had at lower rates than the imitation.
Along with the drop in butter has come a sharp
advance in eggs which are now 4c per dozen
above the lowest point reached a few weeks
ago:
The supply of new Ohio cheese has no time
this season been up to the demand until within
few days. BY next week it is expected that
markets will be abundantly supplied in this
line. Thus far there have been no signs of
weakening in prices, as appears in other dairy
products.
Cereal Market Slow.
All cereals have been slow the past week,
and though there has been no marked decline
the situation is, in general, favorable to the
buyer, who has little difficulty in obtaining con-
cessions on our quotations In most lines.
Choice grades of hay are scarce and in good
demand. While there has been no change in
flour, markets are quiet Our jobbers are
stocked up well, but there is little disposition
to concede on rates, though the movement has
been uncomfortably slow.
In the hide and leather department the last
half of May has not shown the same activity as
the first half
The advance. however, in harness leather,
hides and calf skins made in the early part of
the month is sustained.
Sole leather is the weak factor Of the trade
and there are rumors of probable reduction,
though margins are already very close.
The month of June is between seasons
month in tannery business fall trade usually
not commencing until July. Z.
However. harness leather tanners report no
accumulation of stock and harness makers
were never buster than they are at this time