New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-01
Food PricesDue
For Big Drop
In Ten DAYS


The steady decrease in the cost of
certain commodities during the past
week has been merely forerunner for
an avalanche of reductions which viii
occup probably within the next ten
days This prediction was made yester-
day by Wholesale foodstuf dealers and
food market experts.
While butter rallied, falling only one
cent a pound, the egg price took up the
downward trend in earnest, decreasing
six cents u dozen within twelve hours
Huge shipments OF eggs are expected
next week and dealers regard further
reductions as inevitable F'ricasse
fowls dropped three cents pound
wholesale and roasting. chickens de
clined one cent
According TO one wholesale butter
dealer, the present market is the most
disastrous in the history of the bust
ness. He pointed out that the reaxa-
tlon of the Food Administration rules.
together with the gradual closing OF
the prospective outlets to the Allies
and the protferng by Russian agents
OF tons Of Siberian butter at low prices
almost has precipitated a crisis in the
butter trade
Butter Prices Quoted
"A decline Of eight cents has been
recorded since Saturday, he said. land
even now there IS no stability IL val
ues. No matter how low the quotations
becomes, there IS always some butter
offered FOR less
Butter was commanding but &c cents
a pound at wholesale Yesterday. Re-
tailers IN Washington Market were get
ting 90 cents for the best print butter
and will enter the mites to-day. The
best tub butter was So cents in the
market, reecting ne decline of Thursday
Fresh nearb eggs brought IS and 6e
cents dozen in the wholesale market
and 90 cents in Washington Market.
Inc wholesale quotations for the best
western eggs were 53 to 81 cents. with
CONSCIENTIOUS retailers selling them
for 81 cents.
Fricasee fowls dropped TO 50 cents
wholesale and SO cents retail the lat
ter price rejecting the recent slight
decline IN the poultry market. A
marked drop IN the dressed poultry
prices Is imminent, it was indicated.
One of the largest dealers in poultry
IN the country issued orders from his
central Office in Chicago to three sea
board warehouses to sell at 33 cents
Immediately. This is three cents
pound less than it cost the company to
lay down the poultry at the seaboard
points.
Coffee Market Peculiar
The coffee market presents ne
cuilar situation. Green coffee has in
creased almost 100 per cent in value
since the beginning Of the war, while
roasted coffee has increased but slight
ly. If wholesalers decide Il pass on
the increase to the retailers in full
proportion coffee prices will soar
aiarmingly Coffee stocks are reported
low IN America and lower throughout
the world.
The meat price is being sustained at
It's height by increased consumption.
especially of lamb. which was the first
10 show marked reduction in price.
An instant consumptive demand was
created, drawing heavily on the sup
ply and preventing further immedi-
ate reductions.
Over 10000 hogs were reported
centres during last week, three times
The normal amount This presages
another crop in pork prices, or will
serve 10 prevent an advance when the
market hegins to reflect the increased
consumption at the present lower
scale.
New Workers. who dine out will soon
observe the decline in the cost of liv-
ing Oh their restaurant and hotel
checks according 10 John j. Cavanagh,
president Of the Society of Res
taurautcrs, in statement yesterday.
Restaurant men are watching the
trend Of prices said Mr.. Cavanagh,
and as soon as the uncertainty is re-
moved yIll consistently report the de-
cline on their price schedule to patrons.
We intend to revise our menus in ac-
cordannce with the food market quota
tions."