The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-10-31
HIGH PRICES OF
F0ODSTUFFS IS
BLAMEDON EXPORTS
ANDCROP SHORTAGE
Retailer Bears Brunt Of Burden OF
High Prices; Pays More for
Goods.
PRODUCER BENEFITING
BY PRICE INCREASE
Sugar Selling for $8.11 Per Cwt.;
One Year Ago 1t Sold for
$5.70.
BENEFITING
BY PRICE INCREASE
Why are prices Of foodstuffs high |:

why are prices VI lOOuStu1lo ulSA
Who is getting the difference be-
tween the present and former prices?
These are two questions that have
:agitating most HOUSEHOLDS for many
weeks.
Crop shortage and exports to the
warning nations is the reason why
the price of foodstuffs is advancing,
according to r. J. Burke of the North
ern Grocery company. He particul-
arly blames exports for the increase
in the prices of many articles. The
>, producer, according to Mr.. Burke, is
Eetting a large proportion OF the dlf-
ference between the present and for
mer prices.
"The retailer is bearing the brunt
of the burden of high prices,' said
Mr.. Burke. "He has to pay more 1or
his goods and in turn can charge no
more, particularly in regard to GER
tain canned goods, soaps, etc. The
retailer absorbs fifty per cent OF the
advance in price; by that l mean the
retailers profit is cut down that ex-
tent on certain goods
Wholesalers have been unable to
fill their orders for staple groceries
and canned goods
Sugar in Sky.
Sugar is higher than it has been,
with one exception, for twenty years,
due to the immense foreign demand
and the inability to furnish cars. one
wear ago tomorrow merchants IN Be-
midi paid $5.75 per cWt. for sugar.
Today merchants pay $S.11 per cWt
There have been seven advances IN
sugar during the past month, totally
in all an advance of IS cents.
Flour is of course high on account
of the present price of wheat.
Syrup, which is entirely a product
of corn and sugar, has legitimate
eason for an advance because both
articles are bringing an extreme
price. =,
Beans which were ordinarily sold
to the merchant for $3.50 per bushel
have practically doubled in price due
to the extreme shortage Of last year S
crop and the amount exported.
Canned corn which grocers are
selling today for ten cents cannot be
bought less than $1.25 to $l.3O per
dozen wholesale. Short crop is
blamed.
Half Deliveries.
Canned tomatoes are worse than
canned corn. Only half deliveries are
being made by wholesalers, exports
being particularly blamed. The price
is increasing. While merchants are
selling a can for 121a cents, whole
salers are getting $1.35 per dozen.
Canned peas have also advanced in
price.
The wholesale price of canned
SOUPS has adva1ced considerable but
the merchant is unable to charge
more than ten cents can on certain
grades.
Breakfast foods have advanced and
packages formerly sold for Is cents
, now sell for 20 cents. However, the
merchants margin has been cut
down.
Only fifty per cent deliveries are
made on cabbage because of the crop
The pea crop is 100000 cases
short and the corn crop is estimated
at 100000 cans short. The salmon
pack is about 80 per cent smaller
than usual.
Cheese Up Also.
Cheese is bringing at wholesale 22
cents a pound Wnere II OiulAdl1ly
sells for 16 cents at this time OF the
year.
If the merchants are selling cur
rants at 20 cents, they are paying
1917 cents and it is nearly impossible
to get them because Greece and hel
surrounding territory practically
supply the world. The raisin croI
has been so damaged by rains that
sellers have withdrawn from the
market.
Apricots, owing to short crop ir
California, have advanced five cent:
per pound.
Prunes, peaches and evaporatet
apples are selling at advanced
prices.
Macaroni has increased rs pc
cent during the past few days.
When Mrs. Housewife goes to tn
merchant and has to pay high price
she should bear in mind that tn
merchant is not at fault and that h
is suffering as much from the ad
vance in prices as is the consumer