The Oskaloosa herald., 1914-08-20
FOOD STUFF PRICES UP
Local Dealers Selling Some Things
Less Than Wholesale Cost.

| High prices on food stuffs have hi
Oskaloosa.
But don't blame the grocer. Tn
local retailer has been acting as
shock absorber between his custome
and the rate advance. Look for tn
fellow higher up. The retail groce
has to buy, same as you or l.
Oskaloosa grOcers have actual,
been selling goods to their trade a
less than current wholesale prices, a
! less than they could go on the mark
; ct and replace the goods for. The re
taller can't keep up this sort of q
thing very long and unless there is
reaction in the price current it's on
ly a question of time until the con.
sumner will feel the full weight of in.
creased prices.
While sugar was quoted at $7.'
wholesale yesterday and in some in
stances was actually retailing at So
per sack of 100 pounds, only twelve
and a half pounds for a dollar when
We have been buying twenty, some of
our grocers were still selling at $3.50.
If they had to buy sugar today that
could not afford to let il out at tue
same old price.
But sugar is not the only instance
where the retail grocery man has
been standing between the people
and the increased prices.
Beans have gone from $3.50 a bush.
ell to 1855, an increase OF S1.l5 but
the grocer has been letting them out
at SIC per pound. Even canned beans
are now costing more at wholesale
than the customer is paying at retail
Flour in some instances has been
increased thirty cents a sack but on
most grades the groceryman had been
stocked and the advance locally has
not been great.
Dried beef has gone kiting, the
price asked the retailer is becoming
prohibitive. Grocers who had a sup.
ply on hand are still letting it go at
the old price
Take canned salmon, another in
stance. The price on this has been
advanced away beyond reach and
the old cold meal standby has be.
come a luxury.
Rice is selling in the grocery stores
1t 3 for 25 cents with a fancy grade |
1t ten straight. The wholesale price
S away above this.
Italian lemons we're retailing here |
at 40 cents per dozxn; the |
dealer was asking the gro. !
,er the same price in box lots.
Lard is another household neces |
'ity that is being sold to the con
sumner at less rate than the grocer |
las to pay today.
Bacon of all brands is following |
ard; canned milk is almost doubling
Is wholesale cost but the grocer is
it out at the former cost
small cans for 25c, or three large.
Coffees too have been pushed along
rom three to five cents the pound
tut the retailer is not yet feeling the
,inch.
Dat meal, the kiddies' breakfast is !
moving and before many days, as
Don as the present supply is exhaust
ID, the package that now costs Csc |
will call for 30c Smaller amounts in |
When the supply on hand held by |
he home merchants has been ex.
Iausted and your retailer has to pay
he ne wprice for his stock, you viii.
ealize more fully how the purchas
lg power of your dollar has shrunk.
Grocery men are hoping that a re.
ction will set in and prices come
'ithin reason. They believe that most
f the increases are inflated, fictit
1us values, put upon merchandise by
peCulators. Blames for existing con,
itions may be difficult but assuredly
he retailer is not at fault. He is not
lahing the margin Of profits today he
faS two weeks aPO GOndS ara cOgt.
1g more in almost every department
nd the customer is not standing all
he increase.