Evening star., 1919-03-23
H|9|t.FOOD PRICES,
.3$t[-t
Weeks PROSPECT
Butter and Eggs Will Lead in
Rapid Movement to
Upper Levels.
e ,
SHIP FRUITS TO EUROPE

With but few exceptions the more
Important, food articles are going to
cost Wa shington's housewives more
this week than during the last two or
three weeks. In fact some of the
articles. such as butter, eggs, fruits
and vegetables, are likely to soar to
dizzy heights. At least these were
the dismal predictions made by prom
incnt local dealers yesterday while
discussing the market prospects for
the near future.
Coffee. -four and probably meats also
viii take decided leaps upward in
price. and according to the opinions
expressed. reductions will not again
be experienced for al least sixty days.
Not Fully Explained.
Butter and eggs, much to the sur
prise and chagrin of local housekeep-
ers, already have obtained a fairly
good start on the upward climb. Just
why the retail prices for these two
widely used commodities experienced
such increases at this season Of the
year is not fully explained by dealers.
About the only explanation offered is
that butter and eggs are being ship
ned to Washington at higher prices
and the increase must necessarily he
paid by the housekeeper.
One reason for the surprise at the
sudden jump in butter prices is the
fact that reports from the several so
called butter centers indicate that the
production is increasing at an enor-
nous rate and that the weather con-
ditions have been especially favora-
BILE to the trade. Despite this. retail
creamery butter prices in Washing
ton have increased in many instances
TO so cents pound. This same but
ter was selling at 20 cents ten days
ago. and at 65 and SIS cents shortly
after Christmas. The prevailing
creamery butter price is likely to be
about 20 cents to so cents during the
coming week. However. it was ex-
planned yesterday that slack buying
> on the part of the bewildered house,
Keeper may serve to check this in
crease.
Egg Season Near.
least fifty cents and possibly fifty-fve
cents a dozen during the week. This
is a big jump from the prevailing
prices of the last two or three weeks
In fact, fresh eggs were selling in and
about the downtown market district
yesterday at prices as low as thirty
nine and forty cents a dozen. One
old-time egg dealer remarked that
Washington housekeepers will not get
the benefit of such prices for a long
time to come. This prediction is
looked upon as unusual. inasmuch as
what is termed as the egg season is
practically here. and housekeepers
were just about ready to feel the
ileasing sensation of genuinely low
prices
Fruits. especially apples of the
fancy grade and oranges, are being
shipped in huge quantities to Europe,
which is responsible for increased
prices now, the dealers say The
Florida and California orange dealers
are reaping untold profits in France
and England, and are looking with
disdain upon business in this country,
where. even with inflated prices. they
are receiving only half the profits for
(their fruit compared with the Euro
pean prices.
The end OF the southern vegetable
season has arrived and from now
until the nearby vegetables begin to
appear on the market the prices will
be higher and the grades Of the arti-
cles inferior.