The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-25

pounds, almost double what 1t was when
 the war broke out
 R. E. Orr. in discussing the matter from
 the viewpoint of the retailer. declared that the consumer had not felt the fun force or the advanced prices as yet because the dealers were meeting the public half way and selling on basis of cost instead of current prices.
 Expression by Dealers Among the expressions to Age-Herald representatives yesterday were the follow ing:
 J. W. Collins of Collins & Co. whole sale grocers: Trade in staple groceries is somewhat quiet at the present time on the local market. Retail dealers seem to be awaiting further reductions in prices before stocking heavily, and are accord
 lngly buying only when supplies are ex-
 hausted, and then only in quantities suf-
 ficient to tide over few days demand. Some dealers, however, are well stocked
 on both flour and sugar. Those who laid
 In sugar at low prices certainly made a good investment; but-purchasers of flour in many instances were not by anv means
 so successful
 Many dealers laid in huge s,lpnlies or
 sugar and flour at the beginning of the
 European war. relying on the foreign de-
 mand greatly to enhance values. Both
 sugar and flour prices scared. Sugar
 values were almost if not quite doubled.
 the maximum price on the Birmingham market being. I believe, ss per 100 hounds.
 The advance on flour was more than sI per barrel inside of 10 days or a fortnight. AS prices advanced naturally numbers of
 local dealers both wholesale and retail
 got In on the market at varying stages of the game. My firm made moderate pur-
 chases at different stages of the game.
 Many dealers, however, preferred to await
 the course of events and rely on an early
 termination of the European struggle to
 bear the market.
 The patient waiting attitude seems to have met with good results in tb. Hour market, for wheat ouotations nave become almost normal again In the last two weeks. following closely m the wake of important victories won py the allied powers against Germanv and Austria. The sugar market. on tha othcr hand. since reaching its maxi
 mum advance. has held firm and ha
 been subject only to slight price re- verses The wholesale price of sura |. in Birmingham now ra res from s7 o5 to s750 per 100 pounds and there Is littie II any indication of any decided reduction at this time. True, the local sugar market was subject to slight fluctuations earlier in the week, but quotations are now steady again Dealers Are Helping
 n,.v ,~f Grocers: Although there have been
 many radical advances in wholesale prices of flour, sugar and other staple commodities during the last month. the local consumer has not felt anything like the full weight of advanced mar kct quotations. Most retailers have continued to base prices on cost and nor on advanced market quotations Eiven out after purchase date Thus in the case of flour and rice the con sumcr was well protected when un- settled market conditions prevailed: for many dealers had bought at low prices anticipating the effect of the war on quotations. Then in times of stress such as have recently experienced by req son Of advanced prices on certain ar ticles, the retailer often meets the con sumner half way by sacrificing what would under ordinary conditions be termed perfectly legitimate profits Of course if unfavorable markets continue for any long period of time the retailer I.must of necessity make decided ad- vanccs in prices to customers in order to remain in business. But now that the flour market Is. becoming almost normal again the consumer will no. feel the situation in any marked de gree.
 .Tt is a different matter. however, in regard to sugar prices Wholesale quo tations remain firm with little indication of an early change for the better. My firm and other grocery concerns are now doing business at a loss on sugar sales and I see no relief in sight When I say we are doing business at loss of course I do not mean that we are selling under cost prices. but mean that We are not making enough profit on this commodity to maintain the average gross gain neces- sary. to enable us to conduct the busi- ness. The retailer would certainly be greatly benefited by lower prices.'' Variations Puzzling
 V. w. Wood ,of V. W. Wood & Co. {: .sThe variations in wholesale market quo tations are very puzzling to the average consumer and it is difficult to account for different effects of the war on certain markets Wholesale prices on sugar and rice have been reduced materially in the
 last two weeks, since the allies have been
 gaining ground; but sugar remains firm.
 The only reason I can see for this state of affairs Is that great part of the
 wheat is in the hands of, the western
 farmers. who do not hesitate to throw their product on the market when there
 seems to be indication of early termina~
 tion of the var. Sugar, however, must come through the hands of the reane $.
 who does not seem to let go 50 hurriedly. T
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 Incorporation