The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-07-26

Wheat prices have IumDled from
their high places to pre-war levels.
But it doesn't mean anything yet to
the consumer.
American consumers of bread need
not look for reduction in the price
of bread for some time, if at all, &C
cording to a nationwide survey-made
for The Kenosha Evening News by
NEA Service.
Upward trend of wheat prices sent
bread skyrocketing in 1915. But bak-
ers insist now that the price of flour
is but small part of bread cost, and
scott at hopes of Old Nickel Loaf do
ing a comeback.
The most optimistic reports come,
strangely enough, from opposite ENDS
Of the country. New York and Los
Angeles buyers may in 80 or 40 days,
have cent clipped from the price Of
q loaf. They might be able to do it,
but that's as far as grocers, mlllers
and wholesalers will venture In the
business of progostication. ~
In other large cities of the nation,
the prospect of cut seems dim. Flour
to the wholesaler has slumped, but
the latter has at least a months sup
plv on hand that they bought at the
high figure Moreover, they complain
that the cut in price of barrel Of
flour would have to be very sharp be-
fore it would make a dent in the re-
tail price of loaf of bread, because
labor is the biggest item of cost to
,xyitb and not hOnr
Dispatches from Washington, New
York, Los Angeles and Chicago are
printed below.
Farmer Suffers.
Other telegraphed news from New
Orleans, Denver, st. Paul, Cleveland,
Seattle and San Francisco reveals
about the same conditions, except that
in these latter cities the belief that
the price of loaf won't be cut for a
long time, if ever, is more positive.
The fact that the farmer is getting
only about 80 cents for bushel of
wheat-said to be actually below his
cost of producing it-seems to make
no dierencffe in the price of bread.
In San Francisco, lower wheat prices
caused a drop of 60 cents to 81 bar
rel, depending on the grade. The de-
mand is off, as bakers are waiting de-
velopments in an agitated market. No
immediate bread reduction is in sight.
The same condition holds for Sc
attic, where -four dropped 40 cents a
barrel-but bread prices remained
stationary. S. B. Asia, large whole
saler, says sugar, labor and delivery
constitute the greatest expense in
making bread.
"A temporary drop in flour cannot
be reflected so quickly" he says. eve
need a SIS barrel of -four to do that
It now is s7.40."
Flour men of Minneapolis and St.
Paul, big grain centers, expect the
price of wheat to rise soon Conse-
ouently, instead Of further reductions,
they expect increases in flour and con
sequently no changes in price of bread.
Dealers at Denver say that the drop
in price Of barrel is. negligible when
split among 200 loaves. There isn't a
chance of reduction, they report.
"Little Fellows"
Bakers in New Orleans complain
that millers, despite the drop in price
Of wheat, have quoted them no lower
figures on -four. They believe this is
theetime for the "little> fellows" to get
together and cut in on their wholesale
opposition.
: The grocery trade is of the opinion
that housewives will get busy with
their ovens again if millers allow the
price of -four to drop along with that
OF, wheat AS to the dining-out pub
.lic-bah THEY will continue to pay
as usual.
Cleveland prices of bread will not
change, according to present outlook.
Flour is slightly cheaper, due to the
wheat drop, but as in other cities, bak
ers say this slight cut can't possibly
mean lower price for the loaf.
Dispatches from chief points of the