Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-01-13
WHOLESALE PRICES
HIGHEST IN YEARS
Review Of Prices for IS Years Shows
Close to Figures Just After
Civil War.

Civil War.
Washington. Jan. i3.-Food prices
In the United States during 1874 were
higher than at any time during the
last thirty-seven years. with the ex
ception OF the years iss2. when they
were per cent higher than 1914
prices. lsss. when they we're on the
same level and in 1912. when they
were per cent higher. The bureau
OF labor statistics. in it, annual bul.
letin just issued on wholesale prices
OF commodities. reviewing the years
from 1860 10 1914. diseloses that In
the fifty-five years food prices were
highest In 1864. when they were 70
per cent more than 1914 prices and
lowest in 1896. when they were al
per cent below.
In the years OF the civil war and
during a dozen years or more after.
ward prices of all commodities were
the highest since 1850. when the first
attempt was made at keeping a rec
ord OF wholesale prices. In 1864 prices
OF most commodities reached their
highest point. Lowest prices were
recorded In the years from 1894 to
1898.
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. Com,
parison OF civil war prices with those
prevailing In this country during the
European war therefore Is not posi-
BILE. The Spanish.American war ap
parently had little effect on wholesale
prices. as they remained on about the
same level as they had been In the
period Immediately preceding II
Farm products prices In 1914 were
higher than they had been in the last
torty.four years. As with food prices
their highest point was reached In
1864. when IS per cent more than In
1914 and lowest in 1896. when Sc per
cent below.
Clothes and clothing were lower In
1914 than during the previous yeaI
and were higher thaa at any time
since 1854. when they were on tn,
same level. except In 1907. 1910 and
1913. Their highest prices were In
1854. when 25i per cent more than ir
1914 and lowest In 1896 and 1897
when 20 per cent lower.
Fuel and lighting prices were ) pei
cent lower In 1914 than In 1918. but
were S2 per cent higher than the low
est point reached In 1894. and 100 pei
cent below the highest point reached
In 1865.
Metals and metal products were
lower than they had teen since 1905
being s per cent below 1913 prices
Their highest point was reached In
1864. when isi per cent higher than
in 1914 and lowest in 1898, when q
per cent below 1914 prices.
Lumber and building materials
were per cent lower than In 1918
SO per cent below their highest price
reached in 1864 and IS per cent above
their lowest point reached In 1897.
Drugs and chemicals we're 6 pei
cent higher than in 1913 and higher
than they had been FOR thirty years
They we're $50 per cent below theii
highest point made In 1864 and 80 pei
cent higher than their lowest price,
in 1895.
House furnishing goods were highel
than they had been In thirty years
being 25 per cent higher than thei
lowest prices made In 1897 and Isl
per cent below the highest prices pre-
yailing in 1864.
Prices OF all commodities combine,
were l per cent below the prices o
1913 and on the same level as thos,
OF 1912. They were lower by 1877 pc
cent than the high prices OF 1864 an,
higher by 3S per cent than the loves
prices prevailing in the years OF 1885,
and 1897.