The sun., 1918-09-23
WIDE VARIATION IN
FOOD COST FIGURES
Hoover Says Increase Was
3 1-2 P. c.; Labor Depart
ment Estimate Is Is.
FARMER GETS MUCH MORE
Elimination of PrOfiteering
and Speculation Cutting
the Cost.
Special DsspatcA TO TIE suS.

bpec0l Deputch 10 ihn oUHs
WASHINGTON. Sept. 22.-wide dis
crepancles in statistics on the cost OF
food to the people Of the United States
during the last twelve months are found
in statements. setting forth figures. is
sued simultaneously to-day by Food Ad-
ministrator Hoover and the Department
Of Labor.
The facts presented by Mr.. Hoover are
collected by the State and county ad-
ministrators and those OF the Depart
ment OF Labor by its representatives
throughout the country.
Mr.. Hoover says the increase In food
costs In the last twelve months ID Srs
per cent. over that Of the previous year.
The Department Of Labor asserts they
have increased on an average OF 10 per
cent and during the last Ave years 10
per cent.
The Department of Labor statement
corresponds with a similar document is-
sued recently on the cost OF living, ana
while food administration officials de-
clined TO discuss assertions In the coun-
ter statement they said the figures given
out by Mr.. Hoover arc based on care
full survey.
Farmers Got Much More.
Notwithstanding the small increase in
the cost Of food to the consumers an In
crease of more than IS per cent took
place. Mr.. Hoover said. in the prices that
were paid to the farmers for foodstufs.
The disparity in percentages was due to
the reduction in speculation. prohteerins
and margins Of cost and profits between
farmer and consumer which resulted
through the arbitrary control OF the
food administration.
while the nations expenditure at the
wholesale prices was 3is per cent. over
the previous year II does not follow that
there were no local variations. SAID
Mr. Hoover. in those sections where
there has been a great local increase in
the population there has been a disturb
| ance In distribution and prices have IN
creased to q large per cent
"On the other hand there are CORE
spending sections of the country where
actual decreases have taken place. The
cost OF rent. clothing. transportation and
other items OF living have advanced sew
eral times al much as the aggregate In
crease in the cost of foodstuffs."
The Department of Labor's statement
on food costs for the last year says:
THE increase In the price OF all arti-
cles OF food combined in August. 1918
! as compared with August. 1917. was 10
per cent. In this period hens show the
greatest increase. or IS per cent. Chuck
roast increased 80 per cent: round
steak, 20 per cent; rib roast, IS per
cent: sirloin steak. plate boiling oeei
and bacon. IS per cent each. Rice was
| 26 per cent. higher than year ago
Beans. flour, sugar. bread and coffee
were cheaper than In August. 1917.
Food Costs Up 10 Per Cent.
For the 1--WE year period August 10
| 1918, to August II, 1918, all food com
bined showed an increase in price OF II
pei cent All the seventeen articles fol
which prices have been obtained for fiv'
years show increases of 81 per cent
and over. Four articles increased ovel
100 per cent. as follows: Meat, IL
per cent lard and flour. 106 per cenI
each. and potatoes, los per cent
"Based on the average price for 1871
as 100 the retail price index numbe
for all articles of food combined 70
the United States on August -, 1915
was III, compared with 1877 for July
1915"
Mr.. Foover's tables illustrating tn
costs OF food during each quarter Z
the individual consumer for the perio'
of twelve months and covering essen
tial articles OF food are: