Evening star., 1948-07-29
z MeatIess Days
|AWeek0rdered
For Institutions
Edict Also Directs
Increase in Use
Of Substitutes

~~~SssN~h~~
Two meatless days week In all
District institutions were ordered
today by the Commissioners because
of high meat prices.
The action. which had been in
dicated by city officials last week.
came as some retailers posted lower
prices for pork, lamb and veal.
Wholesalers, however, warned that
higher priced meat en- route to
Washington from Western packers
would mean a further pinch for
consumers next week.
simultaneously, with their meat
less days edict. the Commissioners
ordered wider use of meat substi-
tutes and extenders. except where
such substitutes would conflict with
medical advice and dietary controls.
The meat-economy order is the
second issued by the city heads
since the end of the war, 1t affects
District hospitals, prisons, sanitari-
ums and homes for the aged apd
children.
Move Sponsored by Brennan.
The move was recommended BY
District Purchasing Officer Roland
M. Brennan, who said he acted
because August meat prices are
higher than those paid in July. He
said he proposed to enter into sup
elemental contracts next month for
more supplies of poultry, fish and
eggs for District agencies whose
budgets will not permit normal
quantities of meat.
! Meanwhile, a spokesman for one
large wholesale firm reported whole
salers were cutting prices to keep
supplies moving
Similarly, an official Of a large
food chain announced a 6-cent-a-
pound reduction in sirloin steaks.
which had been selling for $l05
pound. He added that the chain
was losing money in selling steaks
at 80 cents.
Other meat cuts were unchanged
in price in this chain. The ofhclal
noted that consumers continued to
resist high meat costs and were
buying less.
Drop in Pork Sales Cited.
One retailer attributed the drop
in pork prices to lack Of sales. Lamb
and veal are down in price because
of increased supplies, he said.
An Associated Press survey showed
that food price averages nationally
eased somewhat this week in many
sections of the country as consum-
ers got the benefit OF excellent crop
weather.
But they still paid considerably
more than year ago, and meat cuts
continued in the luxury class.
Most consumers bought every
thing but meat in large quantities
at the grocery, but high meat
prices kept these sales down
Sales of fresh vegetables and
canned goods were reported larger
than year ago.
Record Feed Supply Seen.
| A survey by the American 1nsti-
tute of Food Distribution showed
chains and large markets reporting
dollar sales II per cent above last
July, and stores in rural and resort
areas doing almost as we'll, Most
neighborhood stores in the big cities
reported sales about the same as a
year ago. Wholesalers said a per
cent gain in sales over last July
about balanced the increase in their
average prices.
Predictions on future prices cen-
tered around an Agriculture De-
partment report that the feed sup
ply will be one of the largest on
record and Is per cent more per
animal than last year. This fore
shadowed heavy feeding for hogs
and cattle to garner the higher
prices their fattened meat COM
mands. A light kill in hogs this
fall while they are being stuffed
would indicate more pork chops
available after the first of the year.
Food Price Index Drops.
The food component of the Asso-
| CldUeQ fIcSo WIlOlCodlC IOiiiiipaity
price index dropped in the week To
1922 from 154.02 the week before.
and was back roughly to the level OF
a month ago. 1t was still way above
the years low of 1926 May IA. and
below the years high of 1858 jan
uary 2.
The livestock component also
eased to 26l 50 from 26329 the week
before and the years high Of 26567
July 9. 1t was at the years low
of 201 SO April 2.
The wholesale price index Of 81
foods by Dun e. Bradstreet dropped
to $7.18 from $3.50 the previous
week. Two weeks ago the all-time
high of $736 was set. The previous
high was $7.28 January 13. A year
ago the index was 1851.
|