Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-19
TENDENCY OF PRICES
IN WAR ZONE IS UPWARD
Increased Cost Of Living Shown by
Study Completed by Bureau OF
Labor Statistics.
CLIMAX NOT YET REACHED
Marked Differences i'm Various Local.
tiles Affect Charges for Foodstuffs
Legislative Measures Are Taken to
Check Rise.

Check Rise.
! WASHINGTON. July 1S.-How the
| Europe by the war Is shown In a study
just completed by the Bureau OF Labor
statistics The information on which
the study is based was gathered
through the consular service, and
covers more than 100 cities, towns and
districts over eighteen European coun-
tries. a summary issued by the bureau
says:
! The report shows that the first eff
+; feet OF the war was the same prac-
ticnlly throughout Europe Its out
break was followed by sharp rise in
prices due mainly to panic and un-
certainty. In some countries legisla-
tive measures were at once taken to
check this rise. In others the govern
mcnts strictly adhered to n hands off
policy and trusted to the natural course
Of events for reimbursement. Within
a fortnight the first panic was over
and, except in the actual war zone
prices began to fall. In most places,
however, prices did not drop to the
July level. and after an interval again
took an upward turn, which has prob
ably not yet reached it's climax.
| The price figures available are
somewhat incomplete, but almost
! everywhere the upward tendency Of
prices appears. Potatoes was one of
the few articles which showed fall
/ in price in most of the more important
countries. Meat. also, was another i'm
| portant article which in many places
! increased but little in price.
Flour, on the other hand. showed
decided changes. Russia is the great
est wheat exporting country in Eu-
rope. and the war practically shut off
! its foreign markets. II is not sur
prising, therefore, to find that the
price had actually fallen in Moscow.
! In Germany and Austria the rise was
marked, prices compared with the
/ July level in Germany showing an in
crease of % per cent by December and
"a per cent by January. In Vienna
! the increase by December was 81 per
cent and by January So per cent. In
! Switzerland, the Netherlands and Great
! Britain -four prices in December were
! l3 or il per cent above the July level,
! but later figures show a continued in
/ crease in February, reaching "a per
cent in the Netherlands and SO per
cent in Great Britain. Bread prices
in most cases followed those OF wheat
-four. In Germany and Austria. how
ever, the increases in the prices of
! bread were somewhat less than those
in the price OF wheat -four.
a., sugar prices showed marked diff
! fcrences resulting from the war in
|, different localities. In France the best
sugar beet fields lie in the northern
| parts. which Were early Invaded and
as result the price OF sugar rose
sharply. Germany and Russia are
sugar exporting countries. and in Bcr-
j lin and Moscow sugar showed little
Shange in price. Englhni imports its
, entire supply, and In London tho price
rose 20 per cent. Turkey usually i'm
{ ports her sugar from Russia and from
Austria. The Russian supply was cu,
! off altogether when Turkey entered the
war. and the Austrian supply was re-
duccd to what could be brought by rail.
IA very uncertain dependence.
MEASURES TO CHECK
USE IN NECESSITIES
( Administrative and legislative meas
ures 10 check the rise in cost of ncccs
SaricS were very generally taken.
Denmark, Egypt, Great Britain. Italy.
Russia. Spain and Turkey prohibited
the export Of practically all foodstuffs
France. Norway and Sweden listed GER
tain articles which must not he cx-
ported, and Holland placed an embarr O
on butter and cheese.
Fixing maximum prices. especially
for foodstums by some government
agency, was a very common measure
To some extent 1t was used by every
country included in the bureaus re-
port. although in Great Britain and
sweden SO little Of the sort was done
that these countries might almost be
excepted
The methods adopted for fixing
! prices differed considerably. In France,
Germany. Greece. Italy, Netherlands,
Russia Spain and parts of Turkey the
municipal authorities. either alone or
in CO. operation with the central or mill
tary authorities, might fix maximum
rate II they thought best. In most
cases this right was Of long standing.
In all OF these countries the municipal
authorities have very generally made
use of this right. In Bulgaria, a spe-
cial law was passed early in August
authorizing local authorities, with the
participation Of financial authorities.
TO fix prices, both Wholesale and retail.
In Egypt a commission was appointed
by the central government with power
TO fix maximum prices. In Serbia the
Minister Of the Interior was charged
with the duty OF fixing maximum prices
..SOmc GnNernmnnts yyhiln allou.in IL