The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
JUST REALIZING WHAT WAR MEANS ID LOCAL PEOPLE Prices On All Necessaries of Life Are Trending
 Upward
RISE IN SUGAR IS
 MOST SENSATIONAL
Collins Expects It to Touch Sl0 Per 100 Pounds With No Supply In Sight-Europe Speaks for
 Heavy Supplies
ux | A. RANDY

The Birmingham public is beginning to appreciate the full gravity of the Euro pean ws suation as affecting the cost of living rne rise in prices of staple groceries during the last two weeks has been little less than phenomenal. It is hard for the average consumer to fully appreciate the changed status of the market
 It was only about two weeks ago ac- counts of ord-breaking wheat crop gave promise of moderate flour prices, and it was becoming a matter of general concern as to how far the middlemen would allow the consumer to share in the benefits of the great harvest. It was a rude awakening, therefore for the bread winner when the greatest of modern wars began almost without warn ing and the wheat market advanced With alarming rapidity. Flour quotations inn mediately did likewise, and there has been a 10 per cent rise in the last fortnight. All wheat products fell in line for a gradual advance. and there is now little hope of an early halt in this upward trend.
 But the most sensational change of all has been in sugar quotations. Two weeks ago IS, 19 and 20 pounds of granulated
  retail dealers of the city; whereas dol lar will now only purchase from 12 to IA pounds of the same quality-a rise of almost 50 per cent. Little wonder the consumer is beginning to take notice and inquire as to the why and wherefore Coffee is also joining in the general up ward movement and there has been an advance of cents per pound.
 ]. w. Collins of Collins X Son. a whole sale grocery firm, stated yesterday to an Age-Herald reporter that the Birmng- ham quotation on sugar yesterday in large quantities was s7 per 100 pounds, but that the New York quotation had reached S.50 He said that it was the general opinion among wholesale dealers that the price would eventually reach $l0. MT. Collins stated that sugar was now extremely scarce and that his firm was not able to get large quantities which had previously been contracted for de- livery being refused. He stated further that sugar had been almost entirely re- moved from the New Orleans market. from which this city is accustomed to draw the greatest portion of it's sup ply.
 Wholesale dealers and iobbers in all parts of the country it seems. are spread ing the report that great quantities of sSrnhes have been spoken for by Euro pean na tions, and that home prices must necessarily respond 10 this increased for eign demand The greatest influence, however, on the sugar market is the scarcity of raw material: the greater part of which is produced outside of this country and to the uncertainty of this supply is attributed the sudden rise in quotations
 Prices are generally unsettled. All i'm ported goods are beginning to reach for higher levels. French sardines imported cheese of all kinds and many other fancy groceries produced abroad have become almost rarity.
 Wholesale meat quotations have risen steadily, and local packing men state that 1t will be only a question of a short time when retail prices must neces- sarily respond. Several retail dealers stated, however. that the present condi- ton of trade did not justify rise in price and that present prices would re, main in force as long as possible In few instances meats have been con- tracted for IS much as 30 days in advance and these contracts will, perhaps, help to hold retail prices normal for a time.