Evening star., 1948-08-05
Food Price Resistance
Increasing Here as
Meat Sales Slump

Meat Sales Slump
Increasing resistance to rising
food prices was reported today by
the Ariculture Department as
Washington retailers declared
housewives have been tapering off
meat purchases for several weeks.
Meat and dairy products have
led the decline in demand, the
department said. But the Maryland
and Virginia Milk Producers Asso-
citation disputed the statement as
far as dairy products in this area
are concerned
Bruce B. Derrick. association Sec
retary, said milk and cream sales
are up at least per cent here
over year ago in the face of small
er production. He said the depart
ment is contradicting its own fig
ureS of a month or so ago
Sales Off Per Cent.
There appears to be no doubt
that meat sales have continued to
drop, however.
One large wholesaler said they
have been tapering off for the pAt
month, as the prices have gone up.
A major chain reported last weeks
meat sales off about 8 per cent from
the previous two weeks
Meat prices this week end prob
ably will be about the same as last,
q chnurpI StaoHc nnntinIlo
to be offered at just under 81
pound in many stores One chain
offered porterhouse steaks at SO
cents, for example. Lamb continues
TO be one of the best buys, several
stores reported
Price Drops Temporary.
Last week ends furry of meat
price drops appears to have been
both a temporary and strictly
local situation. Retailers reported
they cannot replace the meats with
new cuts to sell at the same price
Some stores said they are just
breaking even in keeping prices
just under 81 a pound on beef cuts
One chain of independent super
markets reported many people buy
ing Argentine canned meats pro-
duced by big American packers in
their own plants there. Canned
beef, fully cooked with no waste,
comes to about IA cents a pound
this chain reported.
| Tie Agriculture report said there
mas been a shift in the past month
from red meats, now at record
prices, to such substitutes as eggs
and poultry.
Secretary Of Agriculture Bran
nan. IN testifying before the Senate
I Banking Committee yesterday,
painted a dreary picture of meat
prospects for the housewife He
said prices are likely to average
| higher next year than this year."
In calling for Congressional ac-
ton, the secretary said further price
increases this summer are likely
unless some positive action is
| taken"
He said the department has under
consideration a ration stamp or
meat money" plan, if Congress will
approve the Presidents rationing
price control scheme. But the
Republican leadership already has
voted not to adopt the plan.
The secretary warmly defended
the l949 production goals recently
recommended by his department.
He said that, despite Republican
charges to the contrary, they were
designed to increase and not de-
crease the Nations meat supply. He
said the beef goals are designed to
make farmers strive to build up
breeding herds.
Interest in Butter Waves.
The Agriculture report on de-
mand also showed that spectators
shared consumers lack of interest
in butter at current high prices,
, Nationally, an Associated Press
survey showed production of but
ter, cheese and meat declined duy-
ing the week, but flour output was
II per cent above the previous
week.
The Government announced it
would continue to support prices
of dried eggs i'll September at $126
to $l28 pound. In other years.
dried eggs have not required sup
! pert in the fall months.
! The Government also announced
it mag allow 206000 additional tons
Of Cuban sugar to be brought in for
domestic consumer use.
The Army may take another $685.
900 tons for overseas occupied areas.
1t has already taken 100000 tons
OF Cuban sugar for that purpose
i Together, these purchases would
cut Cubas surplus to about 294OOO
= tons
Grower prices of late potatoes will
be supported by the Government at
1925 to $3.50 a hundredWeight be-
tween September and next May.
compared with last years rates of
S1.S5 to S325.
Canned vegetables, fish, fruits and
dried fruit purchases for the armed
services in the United States will
be increased 30 per cent this year
TO meet requirements of increased
personnel under the draft.
The food component of the Asso-
ciated Press wholesale commodity
price index was practically un-
changed at 153,42, compared with
1922 the previous week and 1888
month ago. The livestock compo-
nent. however, was at the new high
Of 26978, compared with 26l.52 a
week ago and 1882 a month ago.
For two weeks running. the Dun
& Bradstreet wholesale food index
was unchanged at S7.18 The cost
of buying a pound each of 81 COM