Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-15
Climbing Meat Price,
Watched Closely by
Federal Officials
Distribution Institute
Sees General Rise
In Foods Ahead
BY J. A. FLYNN,
Consolidated News Features.

NEW YUM, sept. l4.-RlSe IN
meat prices all over the country is
causing concern to Federal officials
who are studying the subject, al
though packers say the situation is
partly seasonal and should be cor
rected soon.
On the, other hand, the upward
trend in general food prices is likely
to continue through the winter, &C
cording to American Institute of
Food Distribution. And the advance
may spread to many lines under in
huence of larger consumption as well
as growing confidence in the future
OF business and prices.
Americas venture into the bust
ness Of manufacturing for war pur-
poses, the survey adds, has just COM
menced to exercise favorable effect
on food buying. Immense quantities
are expected to be purchased by the
Government when it has great num-
bers of men in training and this is
also cited as an influence toward
higher prices.
Dollar Sales Increase.
Distributing channels which are
carrying foods into consumption are
said to be maintaining an increase
in dollar sales. This Is somewhat
above the advance in prices, but do
not fully reflect the general gain in
consumer purchasing power. Chains
are said to have increased their gain
of II per cent covering the first six
months Of this year compared with
the same period in 1899 because of
higher meat prices. 1t is also in
teresting to note that a new annual
peak in dollar volume for chains
is predicted for this year, although
little change may be shown from
1899 in point of profits earned.
The institute also reports Ameri-
cans eat more canned and fresh
vegetables, but less potatoes. Ac-
curate figures are difficult to gather
from the country as a whole. but a
careful study by governmental
food authority shows some inter-
esting highlights.
Consumption of canned vegetables
increased more than 81 per cert
from an average of about IA pounds
per capita during the five years
1920 to 1924 to an average of
about % pounds during the latest
five-year period.
Particularly important items were
string beans. peas and tomato juice
Expansion in consumption of the
last named has been termed phe-
nomenal. Prior to 1929 it was prac-
tically negligible. But in the last
flve-year period it is estimated that
the per capita consumption has
averaged fully 25 pounds.
Consumption Climbs.
Per capita consumption of all
fresh vegetables, excluding potatoes,
averaged about 1854 pounds during
the five years 1934-39, compared
with 1873 pounds during 1920-24, an
increase of about % pounds. Par
ticularly marked in this general
consumptive expansion has been the
rise in demand for lettuce, carrots
and celery.
Consumption of canned vegetables
shows a well-defined cycle which is
correlated with the expansion and
contraction of the national income.
and changes in dietary rules are also
important influences in the con-
sumption of fresh vegetables, ex-
Guiding potatoes, as shown by long
time trends.
Consumption of potatoes has been
declining for 20 years. Per capita
figures of 1925 pounds for white
potatoes during 1858 compare
with 1879 in the 192O-24 period, a
decline of more than 10 per cent
These are virtually the only lead
ing fresh vegetables which continue
to show falling off in demand.
Per capita consumption of spinach
during 1859 averaged 3.3 pounds,
against 35 pounds during l920-24,
but it is emphasized that this does
not imply a downward trend for
the period as a whole. With the
growth of spinach's popularity, the
country during 1858 consumed
about 426,0O0,000 pounds a year,
compared with 362,oOO.0O during
1920-24.