Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-02-25
BY FREDERIC M. KERRY

AIiSll COoI VI Wig mas received
its first jolt Prices are beginning to
tumble.
Food, clothing and other neces-
stiles begin to show signs of reduc-
ton.
Wholesale prices have broken
sharply m many lines, and retailers
are beginning to respond.
Price reductions as yet are COM
paratively few, and comparatively
slight, but they indicate the trend,
and all authorities agre that by next
fall prices on all commodities will
be appreciably loWer-perhaps lower
than at any tiRe since the begin
ming of the great war.
For the second week of January,
commodities selected and arranged to
represent theoretical family's food
budget, reached their highest point
since the United States entered the
war. But since that date these
prices have dropped very sharply,
until the second week in February
shows these prices at lower point
than at any time within the past
year.
The "American Grocer" recognized
authority on the grocery trade, pre-
diets further price reductions.
EreaGSSC Drop III SOrn'>
Everybody agrees that foodstuffs
will come down after the present
situation in Europe is over, and
there has been a disposition to an
ticipate the movement says this
paper
corn, which is down over 40 cents per
bushel, and oats about 25 cents.
Wheat is sustained by the govern
ment price.
Food markets have declined and
are likely to work to a lower level.
The drop in dairy products is pro-
nounced.
Butter is 20 cents the pound
cheaper and eggs fully 20 and so
cents the dozen lower.
Most vegetables are lower.
eve would repeat that the outlook
for an abundant supply of foodstuffs
and lower prices after the next crop
is harvested.
1.-The present stocks of wheat in
the United States are the largest
ever known.
"The Gamers say the bottom al
ready has dropped out of the canned
goods market, and they look for
prices for their products the coming
season"
October IS, 1918, the average
price of % retail staple foods had in
creased 2 per cent in that month and
16 per cent for the year, and reach
ed the highest price. Since that time
the same articles have dropped APP
proximately per cent, and it is pre-
dicted in food circles that within
six months we shall be back to the
food prices of the fall of 1917, which
will be . decrease Of approximately
food reached in October, 1918:
Toboggan for Clothing Prices
Jesse Isador Straus, of r. II. Macy
Co, calls attention to the large
amount f raw materials stored in
the markets of the world and makes
this prediction:
1T will bot ne long before the raw
materials of the world will come to
our factories and will give US mer-
chandise at lower prices.
IF we handle our stocks conserv-
atively we will be able to place be-
fore the country their neds at low
ering prices, with greater helpful
ness and safety to them and to our
selves"
The president of another great dry
goods retail organization here tells
me prices of clothing and dry goods
will come down perhaps % per cent
in the next two years compared with
the high prices of 1918. He pointed
out that the reason why these com
modities will never come down to
the prices existing befor etne war
is because wages will never reach
those low levels.
For two years leading merchants
have been working on hand-to-
mouth basis, he says, and their stocks
on shelves were never so low. Any
reduction in prices from manufac-
t1rers will be Immediately felt in the
stores.
1t is possible to buy overcoats at
greatly reduced prices even now. And
all mems things are due to take
tumble.
"Prices must come down." says the
Dry Goods Economist, national au-
thority in it's field. while they are
not expected to decline suddenly, it
is expected that drops from time to
time will average from to 10 per
cent"
Wool Prices Tu1nb1ing
One firms reductions in wholesale
prices ranged from Is and 20 per
cent on worsted dress goods from
last years opening prices. In some
cases the new figures are from 81
to so per cent under the 1918 top
prices.
Sol Schloss, of Indianapolis. told
the National Association of Retail
Clothiers that prices for nett fall
would be 10 per cent lower than last
falls lines and also that woolens
would be cheaper. One clothing house
has fixed the minimum prices for
ronr,c s11its for next fall at $40.