Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-10-26

the corn belt will be interested in know
Ing just what the governments sta
tistics on the cost Of living show In
the meat columns.
The latest report by the government
covering the cost OF living is for per-
iod approximating July IL. 1918. AT
that time sirloin steak was selling at
retail turnout the union at an average
of AL cents per pound, as compared
with an average over the union OF 327
cents per pound on July Is, 1917, 1871
cents on July Is, 1916; 26.6 cents July
Is, 1915; ~ cents per pound on July
Is, 1914, and 26.5 cents per pound on
July Is, 1918.
Taking this comparable period, that
OF five years, sirloin steak was retail
ing on July Is, 1915. for 50 per cent
more than on July Is. 1913. The in
crease In 1914 over 1918 was per
cent, for 1915 over 1918 the increase
was negligible; in 1916 as compared
with 1914 the increase was per cent
and in 1917 sirloir steak had increased
20 per cent over July Is, 1913.
On July Is. 1918. the average retail
price of round steak in the United
States was 40.3 cents per pound, an in
crease Of 70 per cent over 1913. 1t
will be seen that the consumer has had
to pay q big increase in price on the
more popular cuts of meat. It has
been to protect the consumer that most
Of the changes in the meat situation
urged by the United States food ad
ministration Of late have been initiated
and inaugurated, but It will be seen
by the governments statistics that the
average consumer has not been pro-
judgine-from the data on the advances
the popular cuts.
Roasts Keep Pace.
Rib roast, another popular cut, was
worth 1913 cents per pound on July Is,
1918, as compared with 25.7 cents on
July Is, 1917. The increase in the Price
Of rib roast from July Is, 1913, has
been 6s per cent. Church roast was
worth 29.1 cents per pound on July 10.
1918. as compared with z1.s cents on
July Is, 1914. On chuck roast and
plates no figures are given as to av-
comparison date, instead
The average retail price Of all well
known beef cuts on July IL, 1918. was
1874 cents per pound. as compared with
an average Of EOS cents per pound on
July Is, 1914. This date Of 1914 is
fairly typical for comparisons as 1t
represents the date most nearly ASSOC
ciated with the outbreak OF the Euro
pean war.
Turning to pork and its cuts the
United States report shows that pork
chops on July Is, 1918. were retailing
at an average price of 37.9 cents per
pound, or an increase over 1913, Of the
same date, of rs per cent.
Lard Gains 104 Per Cent.
While large increases are shown all
along the line, table Of the cost Of
production would show some striking
increases.
Bacon on July Is, 1918, was retailing
at an average price Of 52.3 cents per
pound, or gain Of SO per cent over
July 49, 1918. The average retail price
of ham for July Is, 1918, was 48.7
cents per pound. or gain Of 70 per
cent over July Is, 1913. But 1t takes
lard to take the cake in advanced re-
tail prices. The average price Of lard
on July Is, 1918, was 1875 cents per
pound or a gain Of 104 per cent over
July Is, 1919.
Lamb was worth at retail an average
of 1913 cents per pound on July Is, 1913.
as compared with 1877 cents on July IL,
1913, or q gain Of SO per cent in retail
prices.
Retail prices Of food as reported to
the bureau Of labor statistics for July.
1918, show, for oil articles combined,
an increase of 3 per cent as compared
with June, 1918. The prices Of several
articles decreased. The five cuts of
fresh beef show decline of per
cent each. OF the other articles which
decreased in price, navy beans were 2
per cent cheaper, and lard, lamb and
coffee decreased less than five-tenths
of per cent each. Bread. flour, and
corn meal did not change in price in
the month.
Hens Increase.
A comparison of retail food prices
for July Is. 1918, with those for July
To- 1917, shows. for all articles COM
bined. an increase Of Is per cent. The
greatest increases shown were for
fresh beef and hens. The cheapest cuts
of beef, plate boiling beef and chuck
roast advanced So and 50 per cent re-
spectively. These cuts advanced more
than sirlotn steak, which increased in
price 70 per cent,
Hens were SO per cent higher than
year ago. Lard, pork chops, bacon,
ham and lamb show increases ranging
form 10 per cent for lard to IS per
cent for lamb. Five articles-be
potatoes, -four, coffee and bread-were
cheaper than in July, 1917.
During 1914 the prices of most conn
modities increased between January
and September, but declined rapidly in