The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-24
COMMODITIES PRICES HERE
 ARE SOARING
No More Five Cent Leaves
 of Bread Because Flour Costs So Much.

Food prices in Bridgeport are soar ing This condition, which in some 1n- stances raises the prices of staple commodities nearly 100 per cent. over last years prices, is ascribed by local dealers partly to speculation or Dig western factors and also to local weather conditions.
 Within a week, it is expected, no more five cent bread will be sold in Bridgeport. Eating New Haven grown vegetables in place of the homegrown product, and a general rise in the prices of meat and gro- ceries is. expected to follow.
 The worst condition facing the pub lie is the high cost of flour which is being received by wholesale dealers in this city at 9.25, against a price of SAYS last -~er. This means that barrel flour to the consumer costs between $9.75 and $1O.
 While local bakers in some in- stances have supplies on hand which will last from one week to month, the larger number of small bakers say they are now paying the high prices and baking bread at loss. Some have already eliminated the five cent loaf.
 Owners of larger bakeries declare today that it is impossible longer to bake the smaller loaf, which if short ened in weight would either produce a bread so porous that it would not sell, or require an impractical outlay for series of reduced size pans that are now prohibitive in price owing to European conditions It will, there fore, be necessary to cut the five-cent loaf from deliveries and somewhat re- duce the size of the 10 cent loaf, which as one dealer said today, will at least show something in the pan"
 In explaining the .-our condition throughout the country David Feuer, president. of the Susman, Feuer Co.,. large wholesale flour merchants, said:
 We are now forced to pay $9.25 for flour in carload lots as against $4.75 last year. This hundred per cent. raise is credited to shortage of wheat in the west. There are 654,- 000,0o0 bushels of wheat in sight as against one billion bushels last year. Big spectators undoubtedly have talk en advantage of this condition, which in the minds of the majority of flour merchants does not mean any startl- ing shortage, for the condition of the the winter crop is not determinabIe.
 Spectators have forced these prices upon the public, and I think unjustly. Nevertheless, even though we do not think they can long prevail, every body must pay until the prices are reduced. There are few bakers with supplies to last more than month; some have already been caught short and cannot bake at the old prices"
 Sugar likewise has taken sharp rise, according to all local merchants. Granulated is now being sold to bak- cries at $7 per hundred by the car- load as against $4.80 last year. Sugar is selling 13 pounds for the dollar. Last year IT pounds were given for the same price.
 The Frisbie Pie Co. today announc- ed that new schedule of prices is being arranged for it's products, which probably would not affect the consumer at once owing to the mar gin of profit which restaurants and smaller dealers were granted. Though some restaurants may take advantage of the increase by shortening the cut, 1t was the belief of those familiar with the situation that the public would be granted the benefit in this instance.
 : Fruit and berries have been partic- ularly short this year. peaches being almost a negligible factor by reason of the small supply.
 Vegetables in this section are ex- tremely scarce. New Haven dealers finding it profitable to sell in Bridge port rather than in New Haven. This