New-York tribune., 1919-09-02
Drop of 2 to 4 Cents in
Wholesale Meat Prices
To Be Reflected To-day
In City Retail Market
Army Sales Are $780, 600
68 Schools Will BE Open
To-day With Full Stock
of Goods for Housewife

Two weeks Of intensive warfare on
the high living cost waged by federal,
state and municipal agencies has
brought about decreased demand for
certain commodities, resulting in de-
creased prices. This Is brought out
in the reports issued by the Federal
Bureau of Markets, which reveal con-
sistent decline in the wholesale meat
prices during the two weeks of active
campaigning.
An average drop Of 2 cents a
pound on the wholesale beef price
should be reflected on the retail quota
t}ons Of to-day, experts say. The price
OF chuck steak, which the Fair Price
on the list issued Friday, should retail
at II to 2R cents to-day, committee
figures show. Whole cross ribs,
whose minimum price fixed by the
committee was 30 cents on Friday,
should decline into the twenties for the
first time IN several months. Consum-
ers in search of substantial beef at low
prices should be able to obtain stew
beef at 81 cents a pound.
Arthur Williams, Federal Food Ad-
mlnistrator, who appointed the fair
price committee, said yesterday that
retailers are now prepared to reflect
ness on the margins fixed by the com
mittee. MIR. Williams announced that
the committee would take up head
quarters to-day in room 4o7, Federal
building. The campaign against hoard
ers, prot'teers and other unfair prac-
tising dealers will be conducted from
there.
According to Edwin J. O'Ma]ley.
deputy commissioner of Public Markets.
and other food experts, the housewives
OF the city have been purchasing army
foodstu1fs in such quantities that they
Practlcally have exhausted their house
mold budgets FOR two weeks in advance.
excluding meat and other high priced
commodities
This falling off in consumption is
prought out in the official report OF
H. u. knoop, local representative Of
the meat division of the Federal Bv-
reau Of Markets.
"The unsatisfactory conditions cx-
listing last week were prevalent at
Mondays opening" Mr.. Knoop said in
his report for the week ending Au
gust " and continued throughout the
week. Forced sales have been the rule
on all commodities except light pork
loins and veal. Toward the close these
slowed down cons derably."
In his report on beef, Mr.. Knoop
said:
Supplies of beef were about normal.
but We're much in excess Of the de
mand. There were more medium and
good steers than for several weeks past
The trade was very poor early in the
week, and by Thursday the market was
demoralized by the lack of demand
The buyer also named the price on
everything except loins.
"Conditions in the lamb market were
the reverse of those prevailing last
week, when the market held steady to
firm under a good demand. This weeks
market opened with an unsettled feel
ing and prices weakened after the
early sales on Monday. While receipts
were Of the same volume as last week,
the lack of demand caused forced sales.
with closing prices from 81 to So a
hundred pounds under Monday"
just before the fight on the high
prices gained headway, during the week
beginning August 8: beef prices ad-
vanced from two to four cents pound
wholesale. The week ended AUGUST 8
showed good steers quoted at 20 to %
cents pound, while the price on Au-
gust Is was 23 to "a cents. On Friday
the price had dropped to 2l cents a
pound. Lamb has registered remark
able decline, falling from q to 20
cents a pound on August IS to 90 to 25
cents pound at last weeks closing.
The veal price has remained steady,