Evening star., 1932-01-06
PRODUCE MARKETS
HAVE BETTER TONE
No Special Weakness Noted
Except In Butter and
Egg Prices.

department. Oh ASIlCuIGulc, oulCou va
Agricultural Economics, Market News
Service. Aside from. recent sharp de-
clines In the butter market and the
slowly downward tendency of egg val
ueS as usual at this season, there was
little sign of special weakness in the
produce markets at the beginning OF
the month Grain trading indicated a
more hopeful tone with small price up
swings and rather more confidence In
the situation. MillfeedS are selling
slowly and some kinds are lower be-
cause of the slack demand. Live stock
reflected a moderate supply and ad-
vanced a little. Poultry receipts are
decreasing, but storage holdings still
keep the market down. Fruits and
vegetables showed q generally slightly
upward tendency on such leading
kinds as potatoes, onions, cabbage and
apples.
Potato Market Higher.
Under the light shipments and rela-
lively small holdings in city markets,
prices of potatoes we're advancing near
the first of the year at most shipping
points The Green Mountain vart-
eties strengthened in Northern Maine
to as to 48 cents per 100 pounds,
which brings the level close to high
points of recent weeks. North Gen.
trail States reported most sales at SO
to IS cents. Chicago carlot market
was stronger on Northern Round
Whites and on sales of potatoes for
future delivery.
Sweet potatoes from Virginia and
Louisiana were jobbing in consuming
centers at a slightly higher level, but
arrivals from most other States were
80 hot yNrno
Trend of the sweet potato market has
been slightly upward for about a
month.
Onion markets are steady to firm,
with price advances in some shipping
areas. Western New York yelloWs ad-
vanced above 50 per SO pounds on
some sales and shippers in Southwest
ern Michigan sold at $l.80 to $1.90,
Most sales of cabbage were on higher
price level than in late December.
Bulk Danish type returned $14 to SIS
per ton at Western New York shipping
points, prices held firmly In Wiscon-
sin and advanced on ton basis in
Southern Texas. Celery of only fair
quality and condition brought 81 As per
tWo-thirds crate in Eastern producing
sections. Michigan celery tended high
er. Lettuce markets we're unsettled.
Prices are lower at loading stations in
the West, but city markets quoted ad-
vancing prices. Texas spinach and
Western caulif1ower declined in pro-
ducing sections.
Butter Market Breaks.
The butter markets developed con-
siderable weakness near the first OF the
year and prices broke sharply at all
points. The undertone was nervous and
trading lacked snap. Declines were
mostly from l to cents. The market
was still nervous and unsettled after the
decline because of a fear of the usual
declining tendency of January, to-
gether with liberal receipts and increas-
ing production.
Cheese markets show little change in
price. The main cause of uneasiness Is
the lower price range In Canada and
England, which brings the situation
nearer to an import basis.
Egg Trend Downward.
The recent trend in egg prices has
continued downward. Even the slight
seasonal improvement in demand before
the first Of the year gave only temporary
SteadineSs to the markets. Quotations
on nearby Eastern offerings declined
to cents on the upper grades and 2
to cents on mixed colorS from the
West. Stocks in cold storage are still
large for this time of year and the ten
dency throughout the market Is to keep
stocks moving into retail channels as
rapidly as possible.
Retail prices of turkeys at Christmas
and later we're lower than at Thanks
giving, even though farm prices were
higher. A considerable carry-over in
supplies was reported for practically all
Of the larger markets. Other poultry
also is in light demand at slightly de-
clining prices and there is a consider
able surplus for storage.
Livestock Slightly Higher.
Prices on most classes and grades of
livestock opened the new year on a
basis materially higher than the mid
December low spot and with a much
healthier undertone prevalent. This
condition, while it may have been due
mainly to the much smaller marketings
during the holiday period, nevertheless
brought new cheerfulness. Prices of
slaughter cattle were strong to higher.
In the hog trade weights above 100
pounds declined moderately, though still
holding firm advance over the De-
cemoer low spot. Light hogs weighing
below l60 pounds advanced slightly.
me lamb market nuctuated sharply but
started the year in a burst of activity
mat left values fully steady to a shade
hlgher compared with the week before
ana 1ully 25 to SO cents above prices
current at the low time in December.
receipts OF live stock at leading mar
ket centers, while expanding Sharply
over light Christmas week markettngs,
were lighter than the weekly market
lngs early in December. Twelve import
ant market centers showed increases in
tne aggregate as compared with the
Christmas week supply.
Prices IN the Boston wool market
were steady to firm at the beginning of
the year. While trading was slow, the
inquiries were numerous enough to aid
the hopeful attitude toward prospects
lor business the first part of the year.
Sample lots for testing were taken from
slzable offerings and reports indicated
condltlons in the goods markets slightly
better than a month ago.
Grain Fairly Steady.
The grain markets began the year in
talrly steady position. Prices on most
classes OF wheat are sharply lower than
year ago, but we'll above the low point
~NS-ANN III ally oCGODCls rcCO grain
markets present situation slightly diff
terent from that which prevailed during
the past year on bread grains. Prices
nave been unusually low, but supply
conditions differ materially from those
o1 last season, and a slow demand for
commercial feeds and corn products re-
duced the market for corn so much that
the price tendency was weak through
most u the year and the trend was
downward along with wheat At Chi
cago No, yellow corn was selling near
The end of the year at 361a cents to 38
cents, compared with 81 to "a cents
year ago. Prices of oats we're prac-
lcally the same as a year ago in Min
1eapolis, but were 6 to cents lower
han year ago at Chicago and Kansas
city. These variations IN prices reflect
changed distribution of supplies While |
he rye market has been weak through |
nut the year, prices at the end of De-
'emher were to 8 cents above those of
year ago.