Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-11
PER CAPITA SUGAR
USE GROWS FAST
Decline in Wheat ConSump-
ton Partly Attributed to
More Eating of Sweets.
BY the Associated Press.


The popular theory that sugar has
contributed in large measure to the de-
cline in per capita wheat consumption
appears to be borne out by survey OF
sugar statistics in the files of the Com
merce Department.
Per capita sugar consumption in the
United States has increased to the eX-
tent of 1858 pounds in the last two
decades, and has reached the imposing
figure of 1913 pounds per capita. This
increase has been constant and orderly,
beginning with 81 so pounds per capita
in 1910. increasing to 1856 pounds In
1920. In 1925 it had reached 107,5O
pounds, reaching its present peak dur
ing the last calendar year.
Increased use of sugar foods is held
by foodstuffs experts of the depart
ment to be responsible solely for the
gains shown. Certain classiflcations
have gained tremendously in the last
20 years in popularity, principally soft
drinks, which have made mighty strides
since 1918, and candy.
Latest statistics available in the de-
partment report domestic consumption
among major items, excepting house.
hold and hotels and restaurants, to be
approximately as follows: Bakery prod
ucts, 625,000 long tons; candy, 100000
beverages, $4,000; ice cream, los, 900;
condensed milk, $4,000, and canned
goods, SIS, 900 long tons.
Consumption during 1880 will APP
proximate 100000 tons, according to
with domestic production amounting to
only about one-third of this amount.
Building construction in June gained
81 per cent over the previous month,
the Associated General Contractors of
Av4an fnl1 I@fv Sso
construction material as it's barometer,
reports. The associations statistical
charts show the June index number at
1911, or Is points above that for May.
The index, which Is based on repre-
senting 1918 averages as 100, however,
was 40 points below that for the same
month of 1929.
Composite index number for the first
half of 1880 indicates a decrease of IL
per cent in the amount of construction
work performed during the period, as
compared with the same months of
1929. The average monthly index this
year has been 148, against 167 for the
first six months of last year and 1875
for the entire 12-month period of 1929.
Although contract awards reported
for the first five months likewise show
a decrease with those of last year, the
association is confident there is still
large volume OF work winch VIII come
forward and that a relatively stronger
showing will be made in the final half
of the year.
Concrete surface pavement awards
aggregated l8.9l4,000 square yards in
May, or $4,000 square yards in excess
of the previous month, which was
record breaking April. The awards for
the first five months totaled 64,665,036
square yards, or an increase of 1873 per
cent over the same period last year.
Long-term State and municipal bond
issues totaled $135, 100000 in May and
$685., 056, 900 for the first five months,
a gain of slightly more than IL per
cent for the latter period. The month
ly average thus far has been $1l9,000,-
000 as compared with 07,150,000 for
the period in 1929.
The average of construction costs in
the principal construction centers in
June was "a points less than the cost
index figure for the same month year
ago, standing at index number 1895, ac-
cording to the associations charts.
Interest in a model grocery store set
up in Jacksonville, Fla, by local asso-
Citations, based on research by the Com
merce Department, is growing daily, the
10 aAt1cnd Tho 1Nanda1