South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-08
Food Prices Up, Instead
of Down, Says U. S. Survey

ReT orts OF lower prices are not
borne out By statistics OF retail food
prices which are carefully collected
and complied by the bureau OF Ia
Dor statistics OF the United States
department OF labor. Retail prices
OF food are secured from retail
dealers through monthly reports OF
actual selling prices on the 18th Of
each month, and are on identical
brands, grades and qualities OF
goods. 1t is necessary that prices Of
commodities be obtained in this way
II price quotations are 10 show in
creases or decreases at all acurate-
~.
According 20 the figures thus
compiled, the retail cost OF % arti-
cles OF food in December was the
highest ever attained. being 20 per
cent higher than in November. per
cent higher than in December. 1918.
and SO per cent higher than in De
cember, 1913. This comparison is
based on the average retail prices
OF the following articles, weighted
according TO consumption OF the av-
erage family: Sirloin steak. round
steak. rib roast. chuck roast. plate
beef. Lork chops. bacon. ham, lard.
hens. flour, cornmeal, eggs. butter,
milk, bread. potatoes. sugar, cheese,
rice, coffee and tea.
Get Prices on fl Foods.
During 1919, monthly retail prices
OF food have been secured for "a
food articles. During the month of
Nov. is to Dec. 15, % of these A
articles increased in price as fol-
lows: Cabbage, sc per cent; onions.
Il per cent; graduated sugar, 16
per cent: strictly fresh eggs. II per
cent; cream of wheat and potatoes.
10 per cent, each; raisins, per
cent; flour. 4 per cent; butter and
storage eggs, 3 per cent, each; fresh
milk and canned salmon, per cent
each; lamb, evapOrated milk, oleO-
margarine, cheese, macaroni, rice
canned peas. and bananas, 1 per
cent. each. Rib roast and chuck
roast increased less than five-tenths
Of ! Ter cent, each. The y articles
which decreased in price were: PorAI
chops, 10 per cent; lard and oranges,
per cent, each; tea and prunes,
3 per cent, each; sirloin steak, round
steak, bacon, ham and navy beans,
l per cent. each; and hens and cris-
co. less than five-tenths Of 1 per
cent Plate beef. nut margarine,
bread, cornmeaI, rolled oats. corn
flakes. baked beans. canned corn,
canned tomatoes, and coffee re-
manned the same in price as in No
vember.
Changes I'm One Year.
During the year period from De-
cember, 1918. to December. 1919, 10
Of the % articles for which prices
were secured on both dates, increas-
ed as follows: Onions, los per cent;
prunes. SO per cent; coffee, 81 per ,
cent; raisins. as Fer cent; potatoes !
and granulated sugar, "a per cent |
each; rice, p per cent; canned sal |
mon, 16 per cent; flour, Is per |
cent; strictly fresh eggs, IL per
cent; storage eggs, 9 per cent: but |
ter, per cent; fresh milk, per |
cent; bread. per cent; cornmeal |
and tea, 3 per cent, each; hens and |
lard, per cent, each; and cheese. 1 |
per cent. The 10 articles which de- |
creased in price during the year |
were: Navy beans, 21 per cent: |
plate beef, Is per cent; bacon. IA (
Fer cent; chuck roast, IL per cent; /
pork chops, 8 per cent; ham and !
round steak, per cent, each rib |
roast, 5 per cent; sirloin steak, |
per cent; and lamb, ? per cent.
Changes Since 1913.
During the six-year period from /
December, 1913 to December. 1919, !
six of the "a articles for which the /
prices were secured in December. /
1913, and upon which this compari- |
son can be based, increased 100 per l
cent and over. Rice increased 103 /
per cent; cornmeal, 113 per cent; /
lard, 121 per cent; potatoes, 126 Ier
cent: flour, 141 per cent; granulated /
sugar, 169 per cent. All the other /
increased so per cent or
over with tho exception of tea.
which increased q per cent, and /
plate beef. which increased 43 per
cent
Based on the average price for .
the year 1913 as 100, the retail price