New Britain herald., 1930-07-11
Drop of 10 Cents a Pound
Since Peak Before Stock
Market Slump, J. R. An
drews Says Expects No
Increase or Decline in
Price During Summer. .,

Washington, July II LP-Figuring
1t has saved consumers $4,000, 900
month in the retail price OF meat
and increased producers profits. the
farm board has decided to inform
the public whenever it believes con-
ditlons warrant a. cut in the retail
price of agricultural products d"
c. c. league, board member rep
resenting fruits and vegetables, said
today that while no definite policy
had been esta blished he had no
doubt the board would issue STATE
ments in. regard to retail prices
whenever the opportunity arose to
benefit the general public
leagues statement followed re-
ports of drastic cut in the retail
price of beef since June IS, when
c. B. Denman, representing live
stock on the board, announced that
as result of the decline in whole
sale and live weight prices the con-
sumner should find current prices
have been considerably lower.
WllnlH LIZ DAYS lIIc lcloii HiSo~
dealers association had reported a
cut of 10 per cent in the price Of
good beef and 20 per cent on COM
mon grades. '>.
At Kansas City, Missouri. gen.
eral 10 cents a pound reduction was
reported and in Washington, D. c..
for the first time in years, club
steaks were advertised on 5o-cent
dinners.
Prior to Denman's statement the
retail price OF beef had maintained
a constant level despite the success
sion of dips taken by wholesale and
live weight prices. The chain store
group. Denman said, had made some
reduction, but it was not until
housewives made a concerted de-
mand for lower prices that the gen
eral price line took its precipitate
dive.
Billion Pounds Consumed Yearly
Estimating total beef consumption
at billion pounds year Denman
said a. 5-cents-a-pound reduction IN
retail price would save consumers
$500, 900, 900 year or s33,oooooo
month.
In the first week following his an
nouncement, Denman said. the coun-
try beheld-for the first time in his
tory-the spectacle Of retail prices
going down while live weight prices
assembled.
Declaring that administration OF
the agricultural marketing act con-
templated the welfare OF the con-
sumner as we'll as that OF the pro-
Queer, Denman said the possibilities
OF what the producer and consumer
could do collectively in adjusting re-
tail prices were unlimited. He point
ed specifically to the retail prices OF
dairy and poultry products.
Producer Not Getting Share
league said some OF the chief
problems Of agriculture was the
spread between the producers price
and the consumers price.
The producer" he declared, rs
not getting his proper share OF the
consumers dollar. Part OF that IS
due TO expensive systems OF dlstrl-
button that the public had demand
ed-delivery, credit and fancy stores
that necessitate high rent.
There is coming. I believe. some
what of a readjustment OF those
things through cash and carry stores
and lower margins.
The only way We see that we can
definitely and permanently effect 1t
is in the development OF cooperative
marketing organizations whereby the
grower can act collectively and cut
down the cost Of distribution OF his
product through handling large VOL
tunes and efficient merchandising.
No Change In Price Expected
Rich. juicy beef steaks cost from
q to 50 cents a pound in New Brit
ain. these prices being about 10
cents pound lower than during
the peak of beef prices, shortly be-
fore the stock market slump last
winter, and from observations made
by Joseph r. Andrews, resident
manager for the Swift & Co., beef
wholesalers, the present price levels
for beef, pork and by products VIII
probably not go any lower. nor will
retail prices take any jump toward
the sky this summer. at least.
The farm board in Washington, D.
C., informs the public, through an
Associated Press despatch today,
that the board has saved the con-
sumers about s33,0ooOoo a month
in their meat bills by the depression
of wholesale prices and the stabiliz-
ing of the beef industry. The saving
to New Britain meat eaters has
probably been less than $4,000
month, figuring on the national saw
ing. and this split up among families
would mean saving OF about one
dollar a month to each family.
While the mutual saving is large,
the single family is probably little
benefited, according to Mr.. An
drews.
Beef is lower in cost to the con-
sumner. for the medium and lower
grades of beef, but for the choice
cuts, the consumer still has to pay
very near the standard prices that
have been charged since the war
There will be no drastic reduction
OF beef prices to the poor families.
There will be some stores, with a
lower overhead than some others,
that can sell good beef for prices
ranging from 20 to 40 cents a pound,
and 1t will be to these stores that
the housewives, hard hit by the in
dustrial depression, will probably
30 for their pot roast, stew meat and
liver.