New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-04
WAR BOOSTS FLOUR
AND SUGAR ONLY
Prices of Other Staples
Not Markedly Increased,
Tribune Probe Finds.
CONTRACTS BENEFIT
BUYER AND GROCER
AAFew Stores Investigated Ask
More than Average for
Standard Brands.

Further investigation yesterday into
the retail prices for food staples
showed that the prices quoted for Hour
and sugar in The Tribune THURSDAY
from a number Of the large chain store
svstema were the prevailing prices
sTon0 the smaller dealers. II also
showed that these two articles were
IN only staple necessaries that nave
bssn markedly advanced by the war;
The iprices quoted, So to 80 cents LOT
oAiL hounds of Hecker's and GOiu
Modal fours, and 80 cents for poVhuS
and % cents for 31a pounds OF Des'
American sugar, were not WlthouSS ~.
ception, however. At the ACAeI'
aferdam ay.. in the same competitive
zone with stores quoting the foregoing
pTiees. Heeker's -four was "a cents
GoId Medal %, and the best American
sugar was pounds for 30 cenis' anu
3R pounds for 25 cents. ,o. a
AtF. Mohrmann's, 224 West 18TH ST.
the best American sugar was 81 ee n'S
foT hounds. and % cents for 81
Tounds' Heeker's and Gold Medal
6oar were Is cents for 319 pounus'
The Tin Top store, at 20S2 Amsterdam
av.. was charging 80 cents LOT POuhuS
of best American sugar.
The sugar situation presented some
thing Of an anomaly. The preValIlIiSS
pfice of 30 cents for POUNDS WouIu
bring only Sc 40 for 100 POUNDS. Inc
wholesale price yesterday however,
was 81 to 81 % hundred.
Sugar Contracts Before War.
The explanation is not that the re-
tsilers are generously selling at loss;
They are, in fact, selling at unusual
profits in some instances: lhey nau
contracted at about 81 so for the sugar
which they are now selling, oe1ore 'he
war caused q jump in the price ~,
The result is that they are seIlihg
their sugar at q great advance over the
rnsrkst al which they bought it, even
fbouvh IL is below the present market
Therefore. the dealers fortunate
enough to have these lucky contracts
sTe Moth selling at an excessive pront
sd result Of the war. and also giving
thar customers q partial benent OF
their contracts.
They predicted yesterday, however,
that before the end of the year, when
the full drain of nOn-productlve Europe
bagins TO be felt, sugar would go 10 %
q hundred. By which time the present
contracts would have been delivered
and the retail prices would then DC
based on the current market. some
what the same situation exists as re-
CARDS -four. ,.s -
Tskine the broad basis afforded by
the chain stores as the criterion, the
housewife can consider herself as over,
charged by her dealer il he mas raised
his prices on imported French or Itai-
ian maearoni, the leading domestic
cereals, standard brands OIL coHee'
cocoa, or soda crackers.
IA on Wednesday, a number OF
.nsejfe brands Of these staples were
ehosen Yesterday for comparison, since
thew represent q definite market quail
jty. None Of the chain stores lnves-
ti9ated yesterday had advanced their
prices since the war.
Prices Vary Slightly.
Gristede Brothers were selling i'm
pOrted French and Italian macaronl at
IL cents pound, Quaker oats at 3
cents package, shredded wheat at ~
cents. Force at 10 cents, pulled rice at
IA cents. pulled wheat at cents,
Haker's cocoa at II cents for one-half
pouud. Hotel Aston coffee at 30 cents
ard National Biscuit Company's soda
crackers at 1 and cents a package.
Andrew Davey was selling imported
Italian macaroni at 10 cents, Quaker
oats at 10 cents, shredded wheat at
10. Force at IA, pulled wheat and rice
At IS and Bakers cocoa at 20 cents for
one-half pound. 80
Daniel Reeves's prices agreed with
Gristede's except that Quaker Oats
WAS q cents and pulled wheat 10 cents
L. oppenheimer's prices were these:
Imported French and Italian macaroni,
IL cents 3 pound Quaker Oats, 10
cents: shredded wheat. IL cents; Force,
~ cents: pulled rice, 1911 cents; pulled
wheat, 10 cents; Bakers cocoa, 10
conts: Hotel Astor coffee, So cents;
soda crackers, 5 and 10 cents.
Cases reported IN which these
changes are out of proportion to the
Wholesale market or to the prices
cbarred by other dealers will be in
vestigated with view to finding out
whether the retailer, the. jobber, the
vrhoISsaler or the manufacturer has
boosted prices without justification.