The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-01
Food Prices Decline
But Consumers Wonder When
Retail Dealers Will Follow
Suit.
A marked decline in the wholesal,

A marked decline in the wholesale
prices of staple commodities has TAX
en- place within the last three weeks,
and is just beginning to be reflected
in retail prices, says The New York
Evening Post. Despite the fact that
in the wholesale market foodstuffs are
now at a lower level Of prices than
at any time since the United Sta1es
entered the war, the opinion has been
expressed in various quarters that
the consumer is not profittng by this
decline, because the retailer refuses
| to follow the slump in the market.
Inquiry in various markets revealed
scale of charges to the consumer
in which some cuts had been made,
but they were not commensurate with
the corresponding decrease in whole
sale prices. In the Washington Mar
ket veal solo for from % to 26 cents
pound, as against a price ranging
from 28 to 80 cents a week ago; pork
brought 50 cents. as against A; lamb,
SO cents. as against AZ: geese, 40
cents, both this week and last, and
beef still hovers about last weeks
price Of 40 cents No change in these
prices occurred this morning. Butter
is selling today for from 4s to 81
cents, whereas. q week ago it brought
from 81 to CT cents pound.
"The housewife is not benefting to
any great extent by this abnormal
;eciine III values said P. @. Toy.
publisher of the Market Report, ';.s
the dealers and distributors of food
stuffs that cater to the consuming
element are treating with the good
housewife at the regular wartime
prices. This was proved by an extend
ed trip to the various markets in the
uptown and Bronx districts. where
the dealers refused to share with
their patrons the benefits they are
realizing from the lower wholesale
values. a decline of 80 per cent has
been recorded in pork in the past ten
days. and yet dealers are practical
" all. with few exceptions, charg-
ing old prices Finest country pigs
are now wholesaling at 16 to Is cents,
against % to % cents week ago.
Lamb has declined to cents per
DOuIlu. duO IIlC lSS W Aft1hI ,
should not cost over 3S to 40 cents
per pound. ahd the cheaper cuts "a
to &c cents, while loin chops should
retail at SO to 80 cents. The whole-
sale market is glutted with all grades
of beef, with cattle selling at from 1s
to Is cents per pound. against 28 20
50 cents a, week ago. The finest sir
loin steak can be sold at q profit at
3S 20 40 cents. and rib roast at about
the same price. while desirable cheap
meats used by most butchers mako 3
profit on roasts at IS to SO cents, re- ,
tail"
without doubt the local butc:'-'
shops are holding out on their price,
said a local official Of the den":t-
mont Of agriculture. The one sfcit
corrective that buyers of meat NUS
be taught ia that they should i'ht !;
order over the phone. Most butchers
will handle that sort Of business un-
and send the customer
cheap piece Of meat. Every one should
learn to go rht to the shop and do
his own selecting.
The position Of tho retailer was OK
planned by ". o. Saxton. whole
saler of butter and eggs. who said:
.The retailer has q lot Of goods on
hand that he paid high prices for.
The effect Of decrease in prices
doesn't affect him for some time after
it has occurred When he has paid
sxty-fivn cents for supply of eggs
he is reluctant 70 make cut in his
prices because the market price has
dropped to fifty-five cents. /:
"I cant see thing ahead. Mr.. {
,ayton continued. ''but tremendous {
decrease in prices. even TO the pre- /,
,.1r standards. industrial conditions