Evening star., 1942-05-10

Price Ceilings Go in
Effect al Midnight
Highest Sales Figure
In March to Mark
Top Limit Allowed

At 1901 am. tonight, Government
controls will be clamped on the
prices charged by virtually every
manufacturer and wholesaler in the
United States.
Marking a revolutionary phase of
the Nations economic history, each
wholesaler and manufacturer will
become at the same time Govern
ment licensee, privileged to do busi-
ness only so long as he sells his
goods and his services at prices no
higher than those fixed by the Office
of Price Administration
This ceiling. designed to block
upward spiraling living costs. is the
highest price each charged during
March.
A week from midnight tonight,
the overall March ceiling takes ef-
feet on prices that Americas 1,900,-
600 retail establishments may charge
the public for virtually everything
consumers eat, use or wear
50 Per Cent Under Control
The Government has had about so
per cent of the wholesale price
structure under controls imposed
by more than 100 separate regula-
tions and price schedules. and many
retailers have thus benefited.
For the vast majority of retailers,
however, the wholesale price con-
trolls will mark their first experience
with o. P. A. ceilings on the cost
of their merchandise.
They will have a week. to stock
up at March wholesale prices be-
fore they; in turn, must adjust their
selling prices to that level.
THE biggest job right now" Price
Administrator Leon Henderson de-
clared yesterday, '"is to start selling
at the maximum prices laid down in
the regulation.
"You-and I mean every manu-
facturer and wholesaler Affected
will find that by far the greatest
part of your price work can be
handled easily and swiftly. Don't
stop every thing and call for help
just because a problem has arisen
at one point. Set it aside, and go
ahead with the rest of the job.
Asks For Patience.
20. P. A. is rapidly gearing its
organization to give help where help
is needed. 1t is a tremendous task
and will take time. Until the ma
chinery is set up and operating,
manufacturers and wholesalers with
problems to solve must exercise
patience"
The manufacturer-w wholesaler CELL
ing applies to every commodity or
product, domestic or imported,
which is neither covered by a sep
arate o. P. A. regulation nor specifi-
cally excluded from the universal
ceiling.
Specific exemptions include raw
farm products, eggs and poultry
flour, mutton and lamb, fresh fish
and game, live animals, movies and
publications, used automobiles and
securities.
Mr.. Henderson called special at
tention to the fact that the ceiling
cuts across all outstanding contracts.
This means, that the price charged
for commodity or service covered
by the ceiling and delivered after
midnight tonight by a producer,
manufacturer or wholesaler, can not
exceed the sellers highest March
price even though delivery Is being
made under an existing contract
and even though the purchaser may
have made full payment.
In the latter case, If a seller has
exceeded his highest March price,
he must make a refund to the
buyer.
Under terms OF the ceiling each
individual seller establishes his own
maximum prices. If a company has
more than one manufacturing plant