Evening star., 1948-02-12

wage spiral IN commoolCleS oe-
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Feed prices have taken sharp
drop, ranging as high as % per
cent, retailers and wholesalers in
the Washington area disclosed
today.
Lower feed prices increase the
prospect of further reductions in
some foods, such as eggs, poultry
and meats.
One manufacturer. j. c. Herbert
Bryant, executive vice president OF
Herbert Bryant, Inc, in Alexandria,
said the reductions in feed prices
were the sharpest he had seen in
16 years.
He estimated the average reduc-
tion in wholesale prices was 20 per
cent. Slashes are being made in
both mixed and high protein feeds,
he said.
Predates Grain Break.
Prices of feed started sliding even
before the sharp break in the grain
markets on February 4.
Charles Staub, retailer at
Beallsville, Md, reported they began
dropping around February l and
that each day brought new and
lower quotations. Hog feed, for in
stance, was down from a high of
$l33.20 a ton to $1,000 today, he
said. His feed is supplied by a
large Ohio manufacturer.
He said many farmers had stopped
buying expensive feed and that deal
ers' business was off as much as
so per cent as a result.
Southern State Cooperative at
Gaithersburg, Md, listed these
changes in feed prices since the
first of the month: Chicken. feed,
$117 to $93 a ton; 20 per cent pro-
tein dairy feed, s104 to SOL; shelled
corn, STA to $50; bran meal, $91 to
$40, and soybean oil meal, $119.60 to
1850, down 27 per cent.
Meanwhile, Washington food
stores offered housewives a growing
range of price reductions, with meat
leading the way.
IS Cents a Pound Steak.
Some meat cuts were down as
much as 6 cents a pound. One large
retail outlet listed top-grade sirloin
steak at rs cents pound, Accent
reduction from last week.
Small independent stores also
Joined the parade in price cuts,
which started early this week with
chain stores. Such staples as but
ter, oleomargarine, sugar, flour and
bacon were marked down a few
cents in the smaller stores.
From at least one independent
food store operator, however, came
a complaint that chain store reduc-
tions were being made in advance of
any wholesale price cuts. 'They are
jumping the gun," David Epstein,
owner Of market in the Columbia
road area declared.
Butter and Eggs Down.
1.-THE small operator can't cut be-
cause he has not received any re-
ductions," the retailer added.
Housewives, however, were warned
by several leading wholesalers that
meat price cuts may be shortlived.
They cited a strengthening of the
hog market at large marketing CEN
tiers yesterday and reports that
farmers had stopped rushing their
livestock to market.
Major United States commodity
markets, as well as security ex-
changes, were closed today in OBJ
servance of Lincoln's birthday.
Winnipeg Grain Market, the only
exchange operating, reported trad
ing inactive and futures prices of
oats and barley steady.
Livestock price trends varied
widely. In Chicago hogs were ac-
lively sold at prices ranging from
so cents lower to rs cents higher
Cattle prices were unchanged to
so cents lower. Lamb was Is cents
higher.
Hogs Higher at East st. Louis.
East st. Louis stockyard prices
showed hogs higher, cattle steady
and no sheep sold. In ST. Paul
cattle trading was sluggish and
prices slipped. Few hogs or sheep
were sold.
The three big American manu-
facturers-Procter & Gamble, Lever
Bros. and Colgate-Pamolive-P -Peet
dropped wholesale prices 5 per
cent. Fats and oils used in making
soap have dropped recently.
More New York food retailers fell
In line behind the big chain stores
In price slaShes. Wholesale prices
on hind quarters of beef dropped
cents a pound and an independent
retailer observed. Its been long,
long time since they were begging
you to buy choice beef"
Sidney Kolker, chairman of the
wholesale meat division of Merch-
ants and Manufacturer Association,
maintained that many retail price
cuts were unrealistic and did not
reflect the actual drop in wholesale
prices.
Raymond Briggs. former chair
(See FOOD pace A-ol