Imperial Valley press., 1941-05-11

prices at present levels, quality has
in some cases been sacrificed and
the product cheapened. or substi-
tutes have been put into the prod
uct.
A dress that fades, a shirt that
shrinkS, sheet that splits, a $3.50
blanket that doesn't keep you warm
after it has been washed This, as
Miss Harriet Elliott points out, is a
downward spiral of quality and It
is as much to be guarded against
as an upward spiraling of price.
Here is where the further educa-
tion of consumers comes in and this
is one of the lines that Miss Elliott's
consumer division n the Leon Hen
derson Office of Price Administra-
ton and Civilian Supply attempt
ing to strengthen.
Realizing that Housewives can't
talk in terms of economic theory,
the language in the retailers edu-
cation of his customers must be
reduced to understandable factors,
1-cent rise on pound of sugar
or a quart of milk means more 10
the housewife than a 50-cent in
crease on shoes or q $40 increase
in the months rent.
BREAD
ECONOMICS
The economics in a loaf of bread
is also tough one to explain. The
farmer gets less than a cent for
the wheat that's in the loaf which
sells for 10 cents. Where does the
other cents go? Explaining that
to the consumer would help justify
any increases, if and when necess-
ary. Retailers feel it is a lack of
understanding of the work of the
p3ocessors and distributors that
causes most of the confusion or
price matters.
Another factor is the labor costs
that enter into consumer goods.
The food industries say that from
65 to 10 per cent of the cost of
can of beans or any other food
product is labor Textile industries
say that 81 per cent of the increased
value of a manufactured product
is labor costs. Those are entirely
reasonable and unavoidable but they
have to be appreciated by the con-
Sumer.
In line with this idea of having
the merchant tell all to his custo-
mers, there is perhaps no better
way for a consumer to find out
where he stands than by glancing
at the summaries made by the re-
taller groups at the recent Depart
ment of Commerce consumers goods
conference. Their opinions boil down
to this:
FOOD - Inform the consuming
public frankly and fully as to facts
on prices and the reasons for chang
es so as to counteract scare ad-
vertising and rumors which result
in boarding on the pantry shelves.
Supplies in sight are ample. Dis
organized conditions prevailing in
the last war can be avoided with
out government control or price
fixing. The farmer should have an
equitable share of national income
WOMEN'S AND GIRLS CLOTH
ING Labor costs are increasing,
due to defense competition Retail
ers are accepting fall deliveries far
in advance of normal practice,
which will have, speculative roper
cussions. Mills are jammed with
advance coat orders. Street dress
production is unaffected, but house
dresses may find substitution of
inferior fabrics. Shoes are up about
10 per cent and quality must be
reduced or the price pushed into
the next bracket.
MEMS AND BOYS CLOTHING
are adequate TO take
tare of all army, navy, and civilian
demands. Costs of materials have
increased somewhat, but are being
averaged at current prices. Far more
shirts can be produced than are
being purchased today. Work clothes
and shoe industries can take care
of any demands.
PIECE GOODS-Adequa of do
mestic cotton crop and the availa-
bility OF foreign and domestic wool
indicate no disruption in continuous
supply. Rayon, not affected by de-
tense. can be used as a substitute
for silk, wool, cotton and jute if