New-York tribune., 1920-01-01
Cost of Food
Shows Decline
For Past Year
Federal Administrator Gives
Figures to Prove Big
Drop in Prices Over
Those of a Year Ago
All Meats Are Cheaper
Onions, Flour, Bread and
Milk Among Staples
10 Register Advance

Staple foodstuffs cost less to-day
than they did on January I, 1919.
Figures compiled yesterday at the
office of Federal Food Administrator
Arthur Williams showed conclusivelv
that despite increased wages and pro-
duction and operating costs the prices
OF essential commodities declined in
the last year.
According to Mr.. Williams and food
stuff dealers the downward trend Of
the cost of luXuries was not so marked
because of policy of keeping the poor
mans menu as low priced as possible
and permitting weather. persons to
pay a greater share of advanced
charges.
Meats Show Decline
The foodstuffs which have fallen in
price, on an average, are those enumer-
ated in the price lists published twice
weekly by the Fair Price Committee,
of which Mr.. Williams is chairman. The
comparison of prices of the last week
IN 1918 and the final seven DAYS of
1919 was made from a list issued by
Mr.. Williams as Food Administrator
during the last week of December.
1918, from one made public by him or
Monday.
Sixteen varieties of meats showed q
drop in price, while none registered
an increase. The average decline in
chuck cuts was seven cents pound,
while live cents a pound dropped from
the prices of sirloin steaks and roasts.
Meat from porkers is cheaper. Bacon
mas dropped nine cents a pound. Pork
chops fell off five cents "a pound in
the course of the year.
Only onions, bottled milk and flour,
of all the twenty-onc items enumerated
on the grocery list, advanced in price.
These increases were almost imper-
ceptible. The declines we're marked,
how ever, Beans fell off 5 cents a
pound canned goods from three to five
cents, while other declines were large
enough to make themselves felt in the
budget Of the salaried man.
Grade B bottled milk advanced a
cent quart, but the cost of con-
densed milk declined greatly.
Profitcering Stopped
"These figures speak for themselves
of the cooperation and sincere helpful
efforts of the butchers, grocers, the
Department of Justice and the news
papers," Mr.. Williams said last night
"Proftecring in foodstufs in New
York City is lost art. The margins
allowed by the Fair Price Committee
are fair, but they arc by no means ex-
bo 49,
of most persons. no attempt to take
advantage was made by dealers.
Consumers on the other hand, made
their purchases intelligently, with the
result that they refused to be a party
to any and all Anfair dealing. They
read the newspapers diligently and were
able to quickly convince the dealer. if he
went wrong, that he was acting against
his own best interests and those Of the
community"
The figures depicting the decline in
the cost of staple foodstuffs follow:
Commodity Last ,a1s Week Las, ,s,y WeoA
dun f'iS pIi' H. " ,.."'.151sqls 1oA@11A
Bread:
Factory wrapped.
16 on, LOAF 10 Ola
store wrapped . 8
Butter good table,
Cheese III tGl, i0Gr 10
CORN, 10, > cao...1sls a iejs 12 2-5ai5 l-t
yellow cornmeal, lb Gi4 n 69s 5i2 a Ga
Milk
Grade r, bottled II Is
Evaporatcd. OF 90 o'a 74-g
do, IS Or. 171a ais 16is
Oats. bulk, b.. "a tx $40
Onions, lb. ...... 31a @ q 3
peas, No. ? can. .lsi5 619ls 15is@16
Rice, broken. Id. .13A 013la 104 111A
Potatoes 10. 49,. 81, % AZ
Salmon. No. . can221a q 22H 22la 024la
Tomatoes No. 2s. 1914 016la IS 01512
Eggs, selected cam
died fresh, doz.. S4 80
Candlod cold stor 81 b9M6s
Chuck steak.. 3nN32 23N25
Whole cross rib. S7M3a 30m32
Cut cross rib. ...... Al M43 81 a 3b
Stew beef. f....... 3OM32 23Q125
Srloin steal1...... 44M47 ST A
| Bottom round ..... 46N59 39m -
! Prime rib roast. 45014S 3S@45
I Whole top sirloin. AZ 40 35
Cut top sirloin.... 4o q 40 39N46
Smoked hams, un-
wrapped .... 42@44 S7@$s
Smoked shoulders. 320S3 2sQ32
S IN X bacon
sliced ..,.... 5505s 4o@47
Pork chops, end. 81 N39 32W33
Pork chops middle Al GAS 26@37