Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17
PRICES SHOWED
INCREASE IN 1918,
SAYS GOVERNMENT
Upward Trend Not So Marked
as in 1912, However, Gov
eminent Experts Say.

While the average of wholesale
prices of commodities was slightly
highed In 1918 than in 1912, the upward
tendency In 1913 was not so pro-
nounced as in the year preceding.
This is shown by a report on the
subject just issued as Bulletin No. 149
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of
the United States Department of
Labor. The average increase in 1918
over 1912 for the 252 commodities for
which prices were obtained was IL
per cent. as compared with an in
crease of 3.4 per cent. in 1912 over
1911 for the 255 commodities then
considered. or the articles studied
in 1913, SO showed a decrease in aver
age price, 35 no change and 1874 an
increase. Considering them accord
ing to the nine groups into which
they are classified, decreases are
shown in the two groups having an
especially important relation to the
cost of living, namely, farm prod
ucts' and food, etc." the average
groups being 3.2 and II per cent,
respectively. In the other seven
groups average increases occurred, of
which the largest was 6.2 per cent.
for fuel and lighting, followed by S9
per cent. for house furnishing goods,
rs per cent. for clothes and clothing,
"a per cent. for lumber and building
materials, IL per cent for metals
and implements, and / per cent. for
drugs and chemicals, while fer the
miscellaneous group the increase was
2.9 per cent
= Among the articles showing marked
variations in price within the year
were light hogs. which advanced
from an average of $746 per 100
pounds in January to $9.1S44 in July,
an increase of 23.3 per cent, the price
dropping to s7.73 In December; crude
petroleum, which advanced 25 per
cent. from 81 per barrel in January
to $3.50 in March, at which price it
remained to the end of the year:
corn, which advanced from 40. cents
per bushel in January to 74.93 cents
In September, an Increase of 525 per
cent, the price falling to 1928 cents
in December, and eggs, which ad-
vanced 1921 per cent. from April to
November, being Fl cents per dozen
in the former and 59A cents in the
latter month and dropping to 4S cents
In December.
The most notable decreases were
in the price of graduated sugar.
which dropped from 4.606 cents per
pound in August to 4.077 cents in De-
cember, O. decrease of lis per cent;
serge suitings, which dropped 1877
per cent. from $1.21h per yard In
July to s1.01A per yard in August. at
which price 1t remained throughout
the rest Of the year; pig tin, which
dropped from 50.45 cents per pound
in January to S81a cents in December,
a decrease OF 1877 per cent; worsted
yarns from cross bred stock, which
dropped from 8S cents per pound in
February to 65 cents in December,
decrease of ISL per cent; creamery
butter In New York, which dropped
from 1856 cents per pound in Fehru-'
airy to $3.50 cents in July, a decrease
of 1858 per cent, after which the
price rose to 1918 cents in Deem
Der; spelter. which dropped from 1888
cents per pound in January to Els
cents in December, or 29.3 per cent;
and good to fancy sheep, which
dropped from $3.50 per 100 pounds In
March to $4471s in September, de-
crease of 1872 per cent, the price ris-
ing to $5.06ts in December.
The average wholesale prices for
raw commodities was IL per cent.
lower In 1918 than in 1912, while the
average for manufactured commodi-
ties was Is per cent higher.