New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-05
STAPLE FOODS DEARER.
A RISE OF ONE DOLLAR BARREL IN
THE PRICE OF FLOUR

MEAT DEALERS ADMIT THAT THERE Is AN A''
VANCE OF ONE CENT POUND WHOLESALE
RICE. SUGAR, COFFEE AND TEA GO UP
NO HEAVY ADVANCES EXPECTED.
Bread, the stan OF life. has grown dearer since
war was declared. The retail grocers say that the
bakers are already making their oaves smaller
although not in q very marked degree. but still
the falling Of in the weight is perceptibe. Some
retail dealers OF provisions have also spread broad
many hints and runors Of probable fur
Their rise in the price OF things they handle that
their customers have become needlessly alarmed
Some OF these stories are. no doubt founded on the
honest opinion OF those who tell them. but more
evidently told to prevent customers from
grumbing at the increase in the size OF their bills.
As the situation now stands. the articles OF food
which are materially higher in price than they
we're before the war began -four. sugar. rice.
coffee tea and meats OF all kinds Flour is about
81 a barrel. both wholesale and retail. and about
rs cents dearer for a bag OF twenty-five pounds
than 1t was thirty days ago. Meats. on an aver
age. about cent pound higher. Rice is
about cent higher. coffee two cents and tea
10 cents Canned meats are from IS to 20 per cent
higher. With the exception OF -four, these ngures
reiate to the wholesale prices Of the articles men
toned. The differences in the retail prices are
much harder estimate. because they vary with
different storekeepers Soma OF the retail dealers
have raised their prices more than others. and the
most marked increase in prices Is found among
those dealers who supply the poorer classes. Win
sugar three quarters Of cent pound higher, the
customer who buys one-half pound at time VIII
Invariably have the Increase a whole pound
added to the price he pays for II. while the Gus
toner who buys eight pounds will have only six
cents added to his bill. The ratios OF ad-
vancement hold good on other things the increased
cost Of living Is more severely felt by tho poorer
classes not only because the slgh;est Increase
makes the most difference 70 them. but because
tor telv 1he
than tho people who can buy in larger Quantities
Tho majority OF tho large dealers in meats. gro
cerns nd other articles OF food declare that, while
wholesale prices are higher. they have not raised
reta prices on anything but -four and canned
meats At Park & Tilford's retail store AZ No. 1ls
Sixth-ave Yesterday Tribune reporter was In
formed that the only articles on which the firm had
raised prices were -four and canned meats and
-four the reporter told. was % cents barrel
cheaper yesterday than II was on Monday rice.
coffee tea sugar and all other articles were oelng
sold at about the same prices as oetore me war.
Other dealers along tho avenue ana IN other pats
o, the city said the same thing and some or them
offered their books in proof OF their state
sayles & zahn. wholesale and retail dealers IN IN
meats at wholesale were about cent pound
higher the firm had not as yet increased Us re-.
increased the price OF the OF beef slightly.
and that the other parts and other meats sold at
these statements it may be said that the average
retail prices Of meats are cent pound hgher
As to tho future none OF the big dealers cared
10 mike any prediction. They talked over Franz
action in sisDending tho duty on wheat, and also
OF the good reports received yesterday about the
,nudness OF the winter tho cattle ranches or
tho Far West and the nne condition o. the cattle
o consequence They also pointed 70 the fact tnst
the receipts Of hogs at Chicago had been exceed,
,nglv large in the last few days which showed
that there plentiful supply OF pork IN ne
country What effect the war Will nave on me
resources OF the country nobody can tel as II
must largely depend upon It's length Inc dealers
dld saw however that they I'D not think that there
would be any further marked advance In the price
OF provisions within tho next few days. Eggs. pur-
ter and cheese were slightly lower yesterday tnan
on Monday