Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-02-08
Meat Prices Near 1913
Level During Past Year
DECLINE is GENERAL in SPITE OF
FLURRIES-PRODUcTiON AND
CONSUMPTION GROW

Wholesale prices of beef, pork and
veal have become virtually stable at
levels close to those which prevailed
in 1913, according to Charles E. Her
rick, president of the Institute OF
American Meat Packers, in a state
ment issued early this month review
ing the meat trade during 1922.
Although prices continue to move
IN and down. said Mr.. Herrick, '.fiuc
tuating with supply and demand, the
price range is not nearly so wide or
even during the last year" In com;
menting on the present relatively
low prices of meats Mr.. Herrick point
ed out that, in the case of fresh pork
cuts, light pork loins were selling at
wholesale at Chicago during the week
of Dec 16 only 2 cents pound higher
than during the same week in 1913.
fresh hams, cents a pound higher,
and leaf lard, spare ribs and skinned
pork shoulders, only l cent higher.
During this same week." continued
Mr. Herrick, carcass beef prices were
only slightly higher on an average
than during the same week in 1913
Prime beef was about Az cents a
pound higher; medium beef was ex-
actIy the same, and beef from cows
was cents a pound lower. Carcass
veal from a good grade Of calves was
selling about cents pound lower
than in 1913
although these examples do not
take in all of the cuts of the various
meat animals | believe that they are
typical and thoroughly representative
of the present market AS a rule such
cuts as loins, ribs and fancy hams
and breakfast bacon are somewhat
higher now than in 1913, but many
other less known cuts are lower, the
average of the whole being but
slightly higher than in 1913. But oper-
ating expenses are considerably higher
than they we're before the war
''The sterilization of the wholesale
prices of meat and by-products natur-
ally has been beneficial to the indus
try although it still is difficult enough
to sell the finished products at a
price covering the cost of livestock
plus expenses and a modest profit.
This difficulty is aggravated in the
case of pork and hogs, by the slump
in the British market.
Moreover, the rate of meat con-
sumption, which has been declining
somewhat during the last decade or
two now seems to be increasing. Pro
duction as represented by the slaugh-
ter of animals under federal inspec-
ton, has been noticeably greater than
IN 1913 and also than in 1920 and 1921
The fact that storage stocks are rela
lively light at this time and have
been for the last several months is
indication that the large volume of
production was moved into consump-
tive channels.
The export trade held up fairly well
on the whole until the last of the
year. The European countries, which
represent our principal foreign mar
kets so far as meats are concerned
purchased American meat products in
relatively large amounts despite the
fluctuations Of exchange and the lack
Of money. The tonnage of meat pro-
ducts exported during the year just
closed exceeded that of 1913 by more
than 80 per cent The value per
pound of the meat exported was only
about cents higher than in 1913
another convincing Indication of the
fact that wholesale meat prices abroad
as we'll as at home, are practically at
pre-war levels The fact should not be
disguised, however, that the present
slump in the British pork market is
a serious factor and depressing in
fluence.
Man Needs Much Air.
The average human being consumes