The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-08-13
BRITAIN HALTS
H|eH COST FOOD

London, Aug. Hinder the combi-
nation of broad government food price
control and government rationing, not
only the food supply but also the price
situation is more satisfactory in the
United Kingdom now than for many
months.
Rationing has absolutely provided
fair acknowledgements made 1t possible
for consumers to get what they need.
Government price control has check
ed the rapid, steady advance in prices
for the first time since the opening Of
the war. and combined with the ration
system has stabilized pfices in large
measure.
Price control started in May. 1917.
and continued. spreading out to take
in more and more products, until De-
cember. 1917. when it had provided
maximum wholesale ana retail prices
for wheat OF the principal articles OF
food.
Then early in 1918, rationing was
applied and 1t has likewise spread as
it's success was demonstrated, and is
still likely to spread.
Reaches Peak In 1917
The general food price curve went
up rapidly after war was declared,
reaching its peak of over 100 per cent
increase over the July, 1914, price. in
three years. or in July, 1917. Then. as
price control was slapped on, not only
was the soaring stopped, but there was
a sharp drop, and as the control spread
1918, found prices lower and more
stable. Bread came shooting down and
has STAYED down.
Some other prices have gone up
again, particularly meat. on which i'm
| port prices are beyond the scope of
government control. Dairy products
have also gone up recently.
| This has carried the general food
| price curve upward again, since the
first of 1918, but by no means at the
rate of advance before price control
was introduced.
The general British food price aver
aged at the end Of June, 1918, is Of
ficially placed by the government, min
! istry of food, at '10S per cent higher
| than the average for July, 1914.
However, the food ministry claims
/ that owing to alterations In the
| dietary, actual expenditure on food per
head Of the population has not in
| creased to nearly the same extent, as
| Indicated by the 1os per cent.
Allowing for changes In food, substi-
tuition of one food for another high
| the actual increase in the cost of food
per person at about so per cent above
| the July. 1914. average.
/ The General Increase.
/ Here are the most recent available
| official figures on the general average
| increase of food prices since July,
| 1914:
Per
/ cent
| Italy. February, 1918. .I53
Norway, March, 1918. .137
| Sweden, March. 1918. .134
Germany, November, 1917. 125
j Great Britain. June, 1915. Jos
Switzerland, December, 1917. $500. So
France (Paris). January, 1918. $50. 81
| Holland, March, 1918. 50
| Denmark, February, 1915. 73
The sugar allowance of half pound
| a week per person is small, but of
course jam, candies and other sweets
may be bought. Jam and cheese may
| be rationed next.
Fish is plentiful and prices are con-
trolled, though it is not rationed. Eggs
are plentiful, too, and require no cou-
pons.
Food prices in Britain and through
out Europe, are high. But high prices
as well as high wages come with war.
The point is that government control
in Britain checked the rapid, steady
advance for the first time during the
war and has had remarkable stabiI-
izing effect
Prices on some articles are higher
than in America and on others are
lower. 1t should be borne in mind. too
that the whole price and wage scale
generally in Britain, was before the
war, Ind still is, lower than in the
United States