Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-28
WHOLESALE PRICES
IN STEADY TREND
Group Shows Signs of Sta.
biIization After Long
Period of Decline.

Perl00 or Decline.
Holders of the staple farm products
had time to take breath near the end
of October during an end or let-up in
the long price decline, says the United
States Department of Agriculture Blu
reau of Agricultural Economies Market
News Service. Wholesale prices as a
group were fairly steady, although there
were weak points. Lambs, dressed poul-
try and some fruits and vegetables
were at lowest prices of october. Aver
age values and production of commodi-
ties had dropped rather close to the
level of 1921, and some farm products,
including grain and cotton, were selling
near the average price of the years just
before the war. Some fields of business
activity were showing improvement and
there was a slightly more cheerful tone
in the business world. Prices. however.
were still falling slightly in various
countries OF Europe.
Potatoes Gain Slightly.
Prices at most potato shipping points
were firm to slightly higher toward the
end of october, but Chicago and other
city markets were unsettled with Mid
western round whites and Idaho ruSsets
lower. Maine shipments increased, but
some other districts reported lighter
output.
Celery prices held firmly at Western
New York country shipping points.
There was considerable damage by
freezing in trucking districts of Min
nesota and other north central sections,
resulting in advances of cabbage prices
at shipping points. Western New York
cabbage shippers still received from Sill
to $13 per ton bulk. City markets
showed a general advance. Onions de-
clined little, the New York loading
price ranging from 80 cents to 80 cents
per hundred pounds. Virginia sweet
potatoes remained steady at 50 to $3.75
per barrel in city markets, but New Jer-
sey and Southern sweets tended slightly
higher. California lettuce was lower as
total shipments increased.
Apple Prices Strengthen.
Bushel baskets strengthened slightly
in price in the Eastern cities toward
the first of November. Most of the crop
is in storage, and the market tendency
usually is upward in the cold storage
season. Western New York Baldwins
and Rhode Island Greetings brought
$1.30 per buShel at country shipping
points, and barrels ranged mostly $3.50
to $4.25, compared with 81 and $4.25 in
the Potomac Shenandoah Valley area.
Much fruit of good quality and size Is
arriving from the Pacific Northwest.
Eastern grapes advanced in the large
city markets.
Butter Markets Steady.
Eastern butter markets recorded few
changes near the end of October, de-
20 he
good demand and production decreaS-
ing, as compared with preceding weeks
and year ago. Business continued
quite limited except in the better
grades. The proportion of fancy butter
in the fresh arrivals continued small.
Dealers were inclined to expect no great
Improvement until general business and
m\ket conditions become better.
Turkey Crop Reduced.
Although the seasons turkey supply
is likely to be about 8 per cent less
than that of last season, the production
is larger than either the 1928 or the
1927 season, according to present esti-
mates, and there Is nothing like a
shortage in prospect. A decrease Of
about 10 per cent is reported from
States from the DakotaS to Texas
westward. Decreases were mostly in the
East Central States. The dry, hot season
proved quite favorable for raising young
turkeys. Fully half the crop is ex-
pected to be ready for the ThankSgiv-
ing market. The most favorable fea-
ture of the October poultry market Is
the good demand which seems to have
followed the general low level Of prices
compared with last year. Price tend
ency has been downward through the
month, and there was no very active
buying for storage. Farmers at country
shipping points complain Of low prices
and are reported consuming more poul-
try on the home table ana canning con-
siderable quantities for later use. The
storage situation Is somewhat better
from Q market point of view and shows
holdings less than those of year ago
by 100000 pounds, which would be
considerably below the five-year aver
age. This shortage appears to be In
creasing on account Of the light storage
Of this month.
Egg Markets Irregular.
Egg markets have continued irregular
throughout the month with slightly up
ward tendency on standard lines OF
fresh receipts Storage stocks are stu
large, with the daily receipts running
only slightly less than those Of year
ago. This section of the egg market
seems likely to suffer from oversupply
for the rest of the year. Consuming de-
mand for eggs seems to be larger than 1t
was last year at this time. The price
difference between storage and fresh
eggs is unusually great.
Live Stock Prices.
Sharp price fluctuations featured all
branches of the live stock trade during
late october. The uneven distribution
of supplies had an important bearing on
the trend of values About as many
kinds of markets developed in the cattle
as there were kinds OF cattle. Lower
temperatures, q broadened shipper de-
mand and smaller supplies Of strictly
good and choice long feed steers and
gave strength to the market on
such kinds, but there was not much net
change in price.
The Chicago hog market was sensi-
tive to receipts and the receipts were
responsive to price changes. Producers
seem inclined to hold back supplies on
every decline. Quality is running gen.
orally good. Pigs and overweights are in
large supply. Apparently the country
prefers to feed out immature and un-
finished stock Scarcity OF pigs in Chi
cago market held that end Of the trade
about steady, well above So.
The recent price at Chicago on de-
sirable native eve and wether lambs
was $3.50 to SITS, with few of the
best at 1925, contrasted with $3.50 not
long before.
Grain Market Firm.
domestic grain markets developed