Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-01-05
FOODSTUFFS LOWER
AS ORDERS FALL OFF
Cessation of Export Trade Causes
Glut on Market, Say
Dealers

The cost OF living in Harrisburg, so
far as prices OF food and general
produce are concerned, appears TO be
slightly lower at the present than a
year ago. according TO the statements
of dealers and retail storskeepers,
Meats, groceries and farm produce
show n general average reduction OF
price. which is said TO be temporary
and is attributed TO an increased sup
My thrown on the markets through
the partial cessation OF export uaue
TO Europe.
The general demand for expensive
foods and luxurious items, not con-
sidered as staple, is materially less
this year. This decrease IN business
is blamed on general hard times ana
lack of work amonE many classes OF
men.
Flour is the only article that SHOWS
an increase in price, which Is que l"
the export demand of wheat IN E"-
rone. II is about one dollar barrel
higher in price than a year ago. sugar
: one-half cent pound hishet,
hut is much less than the hiEh marx
reached three or four months 2Su,
caused by the furry over anticipated
demand Of Europe. which was h0'
maintained. ~.
iu- company says the wholesale price
nf beet products is no higher than
last wear and that all pork meats are
lower This reduction he considered
rs Temporary and said was que Pat'E
ro an oversupply on the market aitef
the release of the recent quarantine
restrictions in many sections.
\ number of local retail meat deal
srs said they thought the prices o'
beef are slightly lower than last !SS.,
Thev attributed this 10 the SmaIe'
demand for the choicer cuts oi meat
which most people CONSIDER is '"N-
uries when times are hard.
staples About same
D-Hyars 81 the Witman-SchWaF"
company. wholesale srocers. say that
prices generally are about the same
as last year. with the exception N1
flour and sugar. They say tneFe i
falling OF N the demand for the fancy
groceries and extra Injuries th"S pSU-
ple use only when they nave p'eh'!
:. pomeroy. the Market square
..roCrr said that prices oL staple
groceries. many lines OF canned SouaS
and vegetables are somewhat IoWS'
this year He complained OF 1hs
amount OF business and said SrOcerS
generally are feeling the nara ulneS
in reduced orders from working peo--
ple. \ number Of EroCerS conhrmeH
these views.
Prices OF farm products are lower
in many cases on account OF %SHet-
Gus CropS last season. Potatoes are
considerably lower as we'll as oihe"
winter vegetables. Butter Is about th~
same and eggs are slightly hiEher
Fish and oysters. cheese and al
foods brought from a distance are az
practically the same average price -
last year. The only foods showing Is
marked increase IN price are import
I'd articles on account Of the Euro
OCan war.
Harrisburg travelling men who cover
Central Pennsylvania with groceries,
coffee and other food supplies. say
that most staple are about the s1we
in price as they We're last year. with
the exception of a few lines of goods
that may vary little according to
local changes in supply and demand.
SouIes iSinds Of G. nnsd feosis,- ilsN-s,ay-.
may have dropped. and farm produce
in some places = q little lower.
Coffee dropped about four cents q
pound wholesale several months ago
on account Of the extra supply from
Brazil that could not he sold in the
European markets. II j gradually
getting back 20 normal price and is
now two cents under last year. In
many such cases of reduction in
wholesale prices. il IS said. the con-
SVmcr is not quick -n feel the benefit.
as dealers sometimes are slow 70 re
fleet a lowering Of prices in their re-
gall selling.