The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-02-05
FOOD PRICES
Still TO RISE
Are Reported Highest Now
Since the Depression
Started
BY FRED o. BAILEY .
United Press Staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON. Feb. .. tUP)'
Housewives are paying more 10
fill the family market basket than
at any time since start of the de-
preston. the Department OF La
Dor reported last night.
Prices of virtually everything
that goes on the dinner table nave
risen sharply" ISadore Lu6in,
director of the bureau OF labor
statistics, said.
Prices probably will go still
higher. it was said. Meats. pota-
toes, -four. cereals, fruits. poultry
and vegetables are the most cost
" since 1929. Prices of farm
products now are Ola compared
with a 1926 normal Of 100. In
1888 the index price was 4O.2.
Secretary OF Agriculture Henry
4. Wallace said that while sup
plies are adequate for domestic
needs, that storage bins are low
and that prices may go higher be-
fore crops reach the markets.
Rejecting reduced supplies due
to the drought, prices OF farm
products rose IL per cent IN Jan
uary and are now Is per cent
above February /, 1886, Lubin re,
ported. Most prices have doubled
in four years.
In the week ended January 30,
the index price Of poultry, live
stock, barley, corn, rye, cotton,
apples, lemons, oranges, sweet po-
tatoes and dried beans rose l.o
per cent, Lubin said.
An unusual January freeze In
southern California reduced the
orange crop by 20 TO
30 per cent and caused heavy
damage to vegetables. the Depart
ment of Agriculture reported.
The market price of oranges rose
sharply. =,
In contrast, Texas and Florida
fruit growers reported the largest
crop of grapefruit on record. This
years crop will be 2S,0OO,OOO
crates. 100000 crates more |
han last year and double the |
1882 average, the department
said. :.
The Federal Surplus Commodi-
ties Corp, was directed this week
10 purchase 100000 dozen eggs
and 100000 crates of grape
fruit to bolster prices of those
These will be ship
ped to states for relief distribu-
ton.
The Department Of Agriculture
reported the parity price - the
price of farm products in relation
10 what it will buy in manufac-
tured goods-is now the highest
in II years. Farm income Of So
500. 900. 900 in 1886 was the high
est in 10 years, excepting 1879.
Wallace blamed the 1884 and
1856 droughts for low supplies OF
food and feed. He predicted con-
,umers would pay about 10 per
cent more for farm produce this
year than last.
After a White House confer
,nce in which President Roosevelt
expressed concern over rising food
costs, Wallace in a radio address
urged farmers to produce abun-
iantly in order to "fill storage
bins" this year. /
Wallace said he was concerned
about what another brought this
about what another drought this
year might do to food prices" He
said he watned to be dead sure
he farmer does right by the con-
sumner" this year.
Defending higher farm prices.
Wallace said the average city
worker can buy more food now
With his wages than at any time
since start of the New Deal. He
indicated, however, that he be-
.ieved farm prices have gone
about high enough until there is
d rise in consumer purchasing
power.
In an effort to stabilize prices
and assure a steady supply, Wal
lace asked farm leaders to con-
vene here next week to recon-
mend legislation for an ever-nor-
NAL granary, the story Of crops in
years of bumper production for
marketing in lean years.