Evening journal., 1918-09-23
What IS FOOD COST?
U.S.. TABLES DIFFER
Food Board Sees it Rise
3 IL Per Cent in
Year
IS DECLARES THE
LABOR DEPARTMENT

WASHINGTON. Sept. 23.-Views on
The question Of increased food prices in
ihe United States were issued stimuli
ianeously by the Food Administration
snd the Department Of Labor.
Arrived at from wholly different an
giles. and each computed on a different
oasis, both conclude that, while prices
have increased. the advance has not
been as great as popular conception
would have Il.
The Food Administration furnishes a
table which Is a computation Of the
national food bill for the last half Of
1917 and the first half Of 1918 based on
iverage wholesale prices. II shows an
Increase In twelve months OF 3h per
ant.
The Labor Department issues the re-
suit Of its investigation OF prices dur
ing August, 1918 and asserts that re-
tail prices for August OF this year show
an increase Of IS per cent as compared
with August, 1917. The two announce
ments follow:
The Food Administration says
The Food Administration has re-
ceived inquiries from many quarters
as TO the actual increase in cost Of
food during the last year. These in
creases have been greatly overestimated
by laying too much emphasis on spe-
clal cases. A table furnished is a COM
putation Of the national food bill foi
each three months, beginning with the
second quarter OF 1917. down TO the
second quarter Of 1918.
1T is based on taking the total food
consumed by the nation, diyided into
the items OF breadstuffs. vegetables,
meat, dairy products, etc, at the aver
age wholesale price for the quarter,
and thus arriving at what the nation
as a whole actually expended. The flg-
lres show that during the last twelve |
months there has been an Increase in |
he national food bill per quarter from, !
z. So, 900 90i TO s2,693, Isl ,s7i. or 3i5 per
sent While this is the whole nations |
expenditure at the wholesale prices. |
and thus clearly indicates the national /
trend, Il does not follow that there are |
40 local variations. In those sections |
where there has been a great local in /
.rease in population there has been a
disturbance OF distribution, and prices
have increased TO a larger per cent. On
the other mand, there are correspond
ing sections OF the community where
actual decreases or no increase have
laken place. The cost OF rent, clothing,
transportation and other items OF liv-
Ing have advanced several times as
much as the aggregate increase In the
cost Of fOOdstuffs. There has been
more than a 35 per cent increase in
prices paid 20 the farmer, but also a
reduction Of speculation snd profteer-
ing and narrowed margins between far
mers and wholesale prices under food
regulations"
The Department OF Labor says:
Retail prices Of food as reported t.
the United states Bureau Of Labor
statistics for August, 1918, show Tor
'he United states, for sll articles COM
Dined. an increase Of = per cent, as
with July. 1918.
N'The prices OF eight articles decreas-
ID. Fresh beef declined In price during
he month. Chuck roasts and plate
polling beef decreased 3 per cent each;
'ib roast and round steak decreased
per cent each, aud sirlOin beef 1 per
,cnt. Slight decreases were also shown (
n ham. lamb and navy beans. Pork
hops and eggs show the greatest in
.reases. Bread, potatoes and coffee did
10. change in price in the month.
Change in one year-the increase in
he price OF all articles OF food COM {
,ined-in August, 1918. as compared
With August. 1917, was IS per cent. In I
his period hens show the greatest in :
.rease. or IS per cent; chuck roast in /
.reased 30 per cent. round steak % y
,er cent: rib roast, 2s per cent; sirloin
teak. plate boiling beef and bacon. 20 |,
,er cent each Rice was 26 per cent
lieher than a year ago; beans, flour,
ugar. bread and coffee were cheaper
han in August, 1911
For the flve-year period, August 10.
qi3. TO August IS, 1918. all food COM
lined showed an increase in price OF II
0 per cent. All the seventeen articles b
or which prices have been obtained h
or FIVE years show increases OF 81 per /,
ent and over. Four articles Increases
noro than 100 per cent. as follows :
ieal. i27 per cent; lard and flour, tO6 .
er cent. and potatoes, i05 per cent. h
Relative flgures-based on the aver n
60 price for 1913 as 100, the retail :
rice index number for all articles OF =
ood combined for the United States !,
n August i5. f9is-shows III, COM
ared with i67 for July, 1915"