The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1915-12-31
1914 FOOD PRICES
SOAR TO STANDARD
OF CIVIL WAR TIME
Farmers Get Profits While
Homekeepers Pay More for
Light, Furniture and Food
stuffs-Clothing Took Drop.

Washington. Dec. 31-Food prices
in the United States during 1914 were
higher than at any time during the
last 81 years with the exception of the
years 1882 when they were per cent.
higher than 1914 prices 1888 when
they We're on the same level and in
1912 %hen they were per cent high
er. The Bureau Of Labor Statistics
in its annual bulletin just issued on
wholesale prices of commodities re-
viewing the years from 1850 to 1914
discloses that in the 55 years food
prices were highest in 1864 when they
were 76 per cent more than 1914
prices and lowest in 1896 when they
were 40 per cent. below.
In the years of the Civil War and
during a dozen years or more after
ward prices of all Ncommodities were
the highest since 1860, when the first
attempt was made at keeping a record
of wholesale prices. In 1854 prices
ofzmost commodities reached their
highest point. Lowest prices were
recorded in the years from 1924 to
1888
The effect of the European war on
Wholesale prices IN the United States
is not fully disclosed in the report
as prices for only the first five months
of the war are recorded. Comparison
of9Cfvn War prices with those pre-
vai1ing in this country during the
European war therefore is not posi-
b1es The Spanish naerican War ap-
parently has little effect on wholesale
prices ais they remained on about the
same level as they had been in the
period Immediately preceding it.
Farm products prices in 1914 were
higher than they had been in the
last IA years. As with food prices
their highest point was reached in
1854 when SIS per cent. more than in
1914 and lowest in 1896 when SIS per
cent below.
Clothes and clothing were lower in
1914 than during the previous year
and were higher than at any time
since 1884. when they were onN the
same level except in 1907, 1910 and
1919 Their highest prices were in
1854 when 2s4 per cent more than
1914 and lowest in 1886 and 1897
when 25 per cent lower
Fuel and lighting prices were 5 per
cent lower in 1914 than i'm 1918 but
were 81 per cent higher than the
lowest point reached in 1884, and 120
per cent. below the highest point,
reached in 1865.
Metals and. metal products were
lower than they had been since 1905.
being 8 per cent. below 1913 prices.
Their highest point was reached In
1851 when 1874 per cent. higher than
Al 1914 and lowest in 1898 when 81
per cent. below 1914 prices
Lumber and building materials
were per cent lower than in 1913.
81 per cent below their highest prices
reached in 1864 and So per cent.
aib0ve% their lowest point reached In
1877.
Drugs and chemicals were per
cent higher than IN 1913 and higher
than they had been In 80 years They
were 230 per cent. below their high
est point made in 864 and 80 per cent.
higher than their lowest prices in
1895.
House furnishing goods were high
err than they had been in 80 years
being rs per cent. higher than their
lowest prices made in 1897 and 184
percent below the highest prices pre-
vaalfng in 1861
Prices Of all commodities combined
were per cent below the prices OF
1913 and on the same level as those
of 1912. They were lower bys137 per
cent than the, high prices of 1854 and
higher by 33 per cent. than the low
est prices prevailing In the years OF
1896 and 1897