The Washington herald., 1918-08-24
PRICE CONTROL
HELPS ENGLISH
TO GET FOOD
Tends. with Rationing, to
Bring About Fairer
Distribution.
by HAROLD EDWARD BECHT0L.
Washington Herald stan
Correspondent.

Correspondent.
London. Aug. 23.-Under the COM
bination of broad government food
price control and government ration
ing. not only the food supply but
also the food price situation Is more
satisfactory IN the United Kingdom
now than for months.
R1tioning has absolutely provided
fair distribution-has made 1t pos
sible for all 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 prices
in a large measure.
Price control started in May, 1911.
and continued, spreading out to take
IN more ard more products, until
December, 1877. when it had provided
maximum wholesale and retail prices
for wheat and OF the principal articles
Of food.
Then early in 1913 rationing was
applied, ana ii has likewise spread
as its success was demonstrated, and
Is still likely to spread.
Reached Peak In 1917.
The general food price curve went
reaching its peak of over 100 per cent
increase over July, 1914. price, in three
years, or in July, 1917. Then. os
price control was slapped on. not only
was the soaring stopped, but there
was 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
import 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 1913, but by means at the
rate of advance before price control
was introduced.
The general British food price aver
age at the end of June, 1918, is offic-
tally placed by the government Min
lStry of Food, at los per cent higher
than the average for July. 1914.
However. the Food Ministry claims
that owing to alterations in the diet
airy, actual expenditure on food per
head Of the population has not in
creased to nearly the same extent" as
indicated by the los per cent.
Allowing for changes in food, sub
stitution of one food for another high
priced one, the Food Ministry esti-
mates the actual increase in the cost
OF food per person at about 80 per
cent above the July, 1914, average.
General Increase.
Here are the most recent avail
able Official figures on the general
average increase of food prices
since July. 1914:
Italy. February, 1918 ..153 percent
Norway, March. 1918 ..137 percent
Sweden. March, 1918 ..134 percent
Germany, Nov, 1917 ..125 percent
Great Britain.
June. 1918 ......1O8 percent
Switzerland. Dec. 1917 Sc percent
France, (Paris).
January. 1918 .... 81 percent
Holland. March, 1918 e. SO percent
Denmark. Feb. 1915 .. IS percent
The sugar allowance of a 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
controlled. though it is not rationed.
Eggs are plentiful. too, and re-
quire no coupons.
Food prices in Britain. and
throughout 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 a remarkable stabiliz-
ing 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 be-
fore the war. and still is, lower
than in the United States.