Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-01
PRICES OF FOODS
CLOSE TO RECORD
satisfies Show 1914 Highest In 81
Tears With Exception of
Three Periods.
Top REACHED DURING CIVIL WAR
pureau of Labor, After Investigation.
Furnishes Figures Covering
Half Century.

Washington, Jan. Food prices in
+be United States during 1914 were
higher than at any time during the
last 81 years with the exception Of the
wars 1882 when they were four per
rent higher than 1914 prices 1889 wien
thew we're on the same level, and in
1912 when they were one per cent high
ar The bureau OF labor statistics III
&c annual bulletin Just issued on
wholesale prices Of commodities re-
waving the years from 1860 to 1914
discloses that in the SO years food
n-,ees we're highest in 1864 when they
were IS 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 dur
ing dozen years or more afterward
nrtces of all commodities were the
highest since 1860 when the first at
tempt was made at keeping a record
nj wholesale prices. In 1864 prices Of
most commodities reached their high
est point. Lowest prices were record
ed in the years from 1894 to 1898.
The effect Of the European war on
wholesale prices in the Uuited States is
not fully disclosed in the report. as
prices for only the first five months Of
the war are recorded. Comparison Of
Civil war prices with those prevailing
in this country during the European
war therefore is not possible. The
spanish-American war apparently had
little effect on wholesale prices, as
they remained on about the same level
as they had been in the period imme-
diately preceding it.
Farm products prices in 1914 were
higher than they had been in the last
a years. As with food prices their
highest point was reached in 1864 when
S. per cent more than in 1914 and low
est in 1896 when 56 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 on the same level.
except in 1907, 1910 and 1918. Their
highest prices we're in 1864 when 254
per cent more than 1914 and lowest in
1896 and 1897 when 25 per cent lower.
Fuel Prices Lower.
Fuel and lighting prices were five
per cent lower in 1914 than in 1913,
but were 90 per cent higher than the
lowest point reached in 1894. and l20
per cent below the highest point reach
ed in 1865.
Metals and metal products were low
er than they had been since 1905, being
eight per cent below 1913 prices Their
highest point was reached in 1854 when
1914 per cent higher than in 1914 and
lowest in 1898 when p per cent below
1914 prices,
Lumber and building materials were
four per cent lower than in 1913. 50
per cent below their highest prices
reached in 1864 and So per cent above
their lowest point reached in 1897.
Drugs and chemicals were six per
cent higher than in 1913 and higher
than they had been in 80 years They
were $50 per cent below their highest
point made in 1864 and 80 per cent
higher than their lowest prices in
1895.
House furnishing goods were higher
than they had been in 50 years, being
% per cent higher than their lowest
prices made in 1897 and 1S4 per cent
below the highest prices prevailing in
1854.
Prices Of all commodities combined
were one per cent below the prices Of
1913 and on the same level as those OF
1912. They were lower by 1877 per cent
than the high prices Of 1864 and higher
by 80 per cent than the lowest prices
prevailing in the years Of 1896 and
1897.