Evening star., 1934-08-24
FOOD PRICES RISE
8PCT. IN DISTRICT
Reports Indicate Continued
Increase, Possibly to
War Levels.

With food prices in Washington al
ready averaging an 8 per cent in
crease over a year ago, reports today
from Government agencies, wholesale
and retail dealers, indicated a con-
tinued upward trend that may carry
the price level on certain commodities
as high as the wartime peak.
Meat prices, in particular, 1t was
predicted. are likely to advance higher
during the Winter and early Spring,
and dairy and wheat products also
probably will be increased.
Wholesale and retail dealers, how
ever, declared there is no immediate
prospect of a shortage or scarcity in
any foodstuffs, but pointed out they
were unable to make any predictions
as to conditions this Winter.
Local Produce Abundant.
On the other hand, dealers reported
an abundance of fresh fruits and
vegetables from nearby points, but
said they did not believe these sup
plies would last as long as usual due
to the protracted dry spell within the
Washington produce area.
Although dealers are still able to
meet the demand for eggs, the So
called nearby strictly fresh variety
are scarce, with the result that ship
ments are coming in from the Pacific
Coast. The decreasing supply from
nearby sections has been accompanied
by a steady increase in Price.
Records of the Statistical Bureau OF
the Department of Labor, which is
keeping a close check on food prices
in Washington as well as in other
large cities all over the country, show
there has been a steady advance in
nearly all products since April 10,
when the minimum Of the year was
reached. Forty-two important food
products are now 8 per cent higher
than at the same time last year.
Eggs Up I Cents.
The average price of eggs year
ago, according to the bureaus figures,
was n cents. Now the average is
"a cents. Round steak showed aver
age advance of 10 cents pound in
this period, jumping from "a to 33
cents. The average price on pork
chops a year ago was 23.5 cents. The
present average is 27.2 cents.
Sliced bacon and sliced ham showed
the greatest jump in the year period.
The average price on sliced ham in
creased from % to 40 cents. On sliced
bacon the advance was from 26 to
80 cents.
Only slight increases were shown
in the average price of various grades
of butter, although there are indi-
cations that it will 60 higher as the
supplies in storage diminish.
Poultry prices also are to be higher
than in 1888, according to the De-
partment Of Agriculture. The produc-
ton of poultry this year has been
the smallest since 1925.
Canned Goods Advance.
Prices of canned goods have ad-
vanced along with the other commodi-
ties, the amount varying according to
the type of food. Dealers said there
is no scarcity now in canned goods,
because the new packs from this
years crops are coming in regularly.
Meats, both pork and beef, are ade-
quate to meet Washingtons demand
at the present time, but Department
of Agriculture economists predicted a
sharp curtailment during the Winter.
The drought throughout the North
west, it was pointed out, had a ten
dency temporarily to increase rather
than decrease the supply, due to the
slaughter of animals because of the
lack of food.
The increase in retail prices fol-
lowed the continued advance in
wholesale commodity prices through
out the country, said the Labor De-
partment's latest report, issued today,
showing the index for July stood at
74.6 per cent of the 1926 average,
compared with 68.9 per cent in July
last year and 84.4 per cent in July,
1880.
Farm products were rs per cent
above year ago.
The report also showed that food
cost 706 per cent as much as it did
in 1925, compared with 65.5 per cent
in July last year and 500 per cent in
July, 1882.