The New York herald., 1921-02-22

ClETAILER IN FOOD
PROFITS BY STORM
Boosts Prices Along Line on
Excuse of Tieup in
Receipts.
WHOLESALERS ARE FIRM
Their Quotations Indicate
Householder Is Paying
PrOfiteer Prices.
WHOLESALERS ARE FIRM

The sudden burst of winter that af-
iicted New York for more than twenty
four hours was reflected in the receipts
of food and Of coal and especially in the
handling OF these supplies within the
city. but on the whole the results of the
storm were less disagreeable than might
have been anticipated from so much
Snowfall. However. retailers in food
supplies of all kinds took advantage Of
the storm to boost prices. move that
wholesalers and others acquainted with
market conditions denounced as unwar-
ranted
Burns Bros. speaking for the coal
trade. said the price of fuel had not
been affected and that stove coal con-
tinued to sell at s14.75 a ton. Dealers,
he said had laid in large supplies, an
ticipating that sooner or later winter
would strike real blow. Consequently
the trade was well prepared TO meet the
situation. None of the dealers fears
coal famine even should there be long
spell Of severe weather and Gripping
transportation conditions.
Although NIaire potatoes We're selling
wholesale at $3.50 20 S2.15 a bag of 80
pounds, retail stores were charging .
cents d pound. Florida wax beans could
he had in the wholesale market FOR 50
20 81 a large basket. but at the rate the
retailers were selling the wholesale cost
should have been about SIS TO $50 a
basket Other wholesale prices were
Carrots S1.50 10 $3.50 a barrel cab
bages. SO TO $2.25 crate; celery SO to
S32j a crate: lima beans, 50 to IS
basket; oniors. Is cents TO Sl.25 100
pound bag peas. $3.50 to $3.50 a bas-
ket turnps 81 to SO a barrel: toma-
toes. So to S6 carrier.
Meat prices showed about the same
situation, a tendency to low levels in
the Wholesale market and disposition
to keep prices high in the retail mar
ket. This fact was noted and scored
yesterday by Mrs. Louis Il. Weizmiller,
Deputy Commissioner of Markets.
Lamb went down one time last week
to the lowest price since 1912" she said,
"and both lamb and mutton were so low
that quantities that had been shipped
here from New Zealand We're reshipped
to England. Live beef was at IL cents
. pound last week. going up on Saturday
to 16la cents. Some of the chain stores
We're selling good porterhouse steak at
81 cents a pound. but IN the neighbor-
hood stores people were paying so and
so cents a pound. Pork chops sold gen
orally for about 40 cents a pound. Lamb
chops cost as much as so cents in some
parts of the city There has not been
the proper reflection in retail prices of
the low levels of the Wholesale market"
Wholesalers generally were inclined
TO predict yesterday that the retail mar
Iet must be affected soon by the very
obvious fall of prices in the wholesale
list. The most notable fall in prices of
staple foods had taken place in the case
of potatoes that have dropped from war
prices of $40 a barrel to So a barrel.
Out in Wisconsin the growers have an
immense crop on hand, estimated at
1000 carloads, and these potatoes must
he sold for what they will bring or be
allowed to rot. Maine growers are
carrying over heavy supplies from 1920
that must be disposed Of before spring.
Cabbages are down from a level ot
500 a ton to $40, and are actually
cheaper now than they were before tn"
war. The butter market has been cut
heavily, and the prediction in the whole
sale market Is that II soon VIII be sell
ing sat 35 to 40 cents. Eggs. dealers
say. are sure TO drop materially within
a few weeks Onions are cheap in the
wholesale market having fallen from
81 and S6 TO Si.50 a bag. Cheese has
dropped relatively little. from 81 cents
10 % cents pound. Poultry is cheaper.