Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-20
SUGAR SOLD,HERE
At 10 CENTS Lb.;,
SUPPLY PLENTIFUL
One Store Leads in Low Price
Drive; Spectators
Caught.
HIGH RATES WILL NOT
RETURN, DEALERS SAY

White granulated sugar is being sold
today in Wilmington by one merchant at
least at 10 cents pound. just one cent
more than is being asked by retail mer-
chants in Philadelphia.
While the Quaker City dealers are
selling at a nearly uniform price, the
price per pound in this city ranges from
10 to 26 cents. In other nearby cities
sugar is selling at Is, IL and Is cents, ac-
cording to published statements.
Early this morning the merchant on
King street, between Sixth and Seventh,
who was offering his supply at 10 cents,
said that there was no limit to the amount
he would sell to a household.
II seems that retribution is coming to
those spectators who some months ago
boarded up sugar for higher market.
Most of these profiteers now have a
supply on hand sufficient to last them six
months. 1t is these people, who, afraid to
face the possibility of a further drop in the
retail price of sugar, and consequent
greater loss, are now unloading their sup
plies on the decreasing markets.
II is estimated that they are losing as
much at FIVE cents pound at the present
selling prices. One Of the largest concerns
in the country it is stated, is planning to
put sugar on the market at Is cents a
pound in an effort TO meet its competitors.
Interesting inside information on the
break in prices week or two ago was OBJ
tanned today.
II is charged that the big candy and
soft-drink manufacturers calculated last
year that national prohibition would give
rise to a greatly increased demand for
their commodities. In consequence they
bought up all the sugar available IN
preparation for the "sweet-tooih' which
the country was to acquire. As result OF
this, little sugar was left to supply the
households.
What supply escaped the candy and
soft drink men was gobbled up by
group of spectators who saw thit the
price of the commodity would increase
as the supply available for ordinary use
decreased. AS result last fall and winter
the price of sugar went as high as 2s and
80 cents pound virtually prohibitive TO
many small consumers.
This summer the candy and soft drink
men began to realize thet their expecta-
tions OF greatly increased demand for
their wares were wrong. Accordingly
they began to unload.
One OF the largest sugar handlers in the
country one who is conversant with con-
ditions in the industry all over the world
said recently that be believed that the
present decrease In the selling price oi
sugar would not continue. He pointed
out that while recent events have flooded
Americans markets with sugar the article
is not at the present time plentiful II
Europe. 1t was his opinion tha It the large
American merchants if they faced a los
in low market here would send ther
sugar to Europe where they could dispos'
OF IT at big profit.
He said that sugar would not return tc
the pre-war prices until the beet-sugar IN
dustry in Europe was thoroughly re
established.
However the concensus of opinion
locally and abroad as voiced by the press
does not agree with the foregoing state
ment. People who have studied the suga
situation declare that the high prices o
the last few years will not return. Mos
people are expecting lucent sugar b,
next week.