The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-24
MEAT PRICES
FALL, BUT ALL
OTHERS SOAR
RetaiIS Dealers Agree All Signs
Point to Continued Increase
In Cost of Food Here.

Washington retail food prices arr
on the increase. Unless all signs fai
they will be much higher within Z
month, according to the consensus al
opinion among retail dealers in the
capital. The price advance will in
clude practically all food commodi-
ties.
Increased demand, labor troubles
transportation difficulties and rising
wages in most mechanical and labor
lines are the reasons for the price ad-
vance. dealers declared.
Meat Prices Down.
Retail prices Of meats are lower
now than thirty days ago, but this
condition is due to a slump in de-
mand. AS soon as the market picks
up dealers think meat prices will
climb steadily.
Investigation OF retail prices in
Center Market, where a great part OF
produce and vegetable buying is done
discloscs that all vegetables are high
er than a month ago, and some OF
them more advanced in price than
was the case during the war.
in Center Market the prevailing
price for new potatoes is from 80 to
so cents per peck, dependent upon
size and quality. Old potatoes arc
about off the market Beans (fresh)
sell at % cents for a quarter of a
peck and dry onions are retailing at
l2h cents per pound. Fresh onions
cost from to cents per bunch.
Cucumbers sell from to 10 cents
each. Cabbage is retailing at 5 to Z
cents per pound
Other Vegetables.
Asparagus tips are selling from Is
to 40 cents per bunch, dependent on
size and quality. The consumer pays
from to 10 cents for a bunch OF
beets. He is. out 10 to Is cents for
each cantelope and one must pay from
90 to IS cents per dozen for orangees
Tomatoes Of the best variety retail
at 20 cents a pound.
At the meat stalls there is some
evidence OF a price decrease, but this
is said to be due to a recent slump in
the meat market. There were more
supplies than dealers could dispose Of
and the price dropped. Consumers
are paying about cents less a pound
on steak today than a month ago.
Top prices for sirloin steaks are
quoted at so cents per pound; round
steak, IS cents; rib roast, As cents
pork roast, 30 cents; hams. ~ cents:
bacon (strip), 4s cents, and sliced
bacon as high as SIS cents per pound.
Meat dealers state the market is
due for another sharp advance
shortly.
At one OF the chain stores" a
big factor in the Districts retail
trade system, the following prices
were quoted:
Beef soup, 10 cents per can; canned
peas, 20; asparagus. 10 cents; spaghet-
ii, IS cents per can; salmon (argo),
% cents; lower grades, 16 to 10 cents;
shrimp, II cents; pork and beans, Z
cents TO Is cents; canned beans, 10
cents: jello, 10 cents per box; cocoa,
% cents a tin. and canned corn II
cents.
Sugar. selling at 10 cents a pound.
is scarce and only two pounds can be
sold to a customer.
A month ago these prices were
cheaper IN some instances and higher
in others. Canned goods have taken
a jump Of a few cents per can, sugar
has sold at 10 cents a pound for
months. although some stores, it is
said, are charging a cent more a
pound. With some lines OF commod-
tiles hard TO obtain, dealers believe
that the demand will soon cause prices
70 advance materially.
Advance Seems Certain.
The prophecy Of a general advance
in foodstuffs is affirmed by a state
ment issued by the Department of
Labor. The level Of twenty-five food
articles OF common diet was . per
cent higher in May than during the
previous month. AS a whole, prices
are II per cent higher now than a
year ago, according TO the official tab
ulation.
1T costs 90 per cent more to pur-
chase food necessities than it did be-
fore the war in Europe began.
The department points out that with
the Increase of per cent in the price
Of -four in April and'4 per cent more
in May, it is evident labor troubles
and transportation difficulties have
combined to some extent to cause
higher prices