Evening star., 1948-09-16
Food Prices Start
Up Again as Steak
Rises 4 10 3 Cents

| One Leading cnaln OF SUores II
the Washington area raised steak
prices from 4 to 8 cents today al
two food indexes reversed a recent
downward trend and started moving
upward once more.
Butter and margarine prices, both
of which dropped last week following
wholesale price declines, remain
about the same for the coming
week end in stores checked today
although butter has begun to edge
upward again at wholesale.
| Merchants are expecting increased
food buying, especially in meats
now that cooler weather has re-
turned and the schools are oper
again. Meat sales have been tagging
badly in many stores here and else
where in the Nation.
No Drop in Meat Prices.
| Meat prices cannot be expected to
decline and, in fact, may continue
upward in the near future, most
merchants agree. Wholesale meal
prices in New York have moveo
upward few cents from last week
Increases in a variety OF other
items sent the Dun g. Bradstreet
food price index up for the first
time since July 13, when it hit a
peak of $7.36 for one pound each OF
81 foods in general use. The whole
sale index declined gradually from
that high point to $6.86 a week ago
Now it has moved up to $685..
Some of the foods accounting for
the advance were flour, wheat, rye,
beef, hams, lard, butter, cheese, eggs
and lamb. Prices of corn, oats.
barley, sugar, coffee, beans, peas,
potatoes, steers and hogs were lower.
Most crude vegetable oil prices de-
clined from 2 to 3 cents a pound
this week, but buyers showed little
interest.
The Associated Press food index
for which 1926 equals 100, also re-
versed its direction, rising to $780,
from 1880 week ago. Livestock
rose to 26020 from 258.00
Food distributors hold out little
hope of much relief for the family
food bill in the near future. They
point out that expenses Of produc.
! ers, rrocessars, wholesalers and re.
4 tafie1 are Dlg fAnd ~ gof ~
/ sThe Department OF Agriculture
said the average pay of farm hand
without board, hit record high ot
$5.40 a day on July /. This COM
pared with $6.10 a day last July and
s1.53'in 1935-4e39. - = ~ >. ..aS I
Tie fact that professors, ,Aritf s- Sf
tributors must earn living as well
as pay their expenses after they
have exhausted accumulated finan-
cial reserves, argues against fooo
markets going to pieces" an in.
dustry source said.
Canning Season Is On.
Housewives are getting into theil
stride on home canning. Prices art
higher there, too. The Department
of Agriculture said the 1948 crops O.
apples, peaches, pears, grapes ant
dried prunes should bring the farmel
a higher average price than h
received last year. Apricots, SOU
cherries, cranberries and tree nut
are expected to be lower than {
year ago, and plums about the same
Looking beyond the current situa
ton, the Department of Agriculture
said the Nations food output /
likely to increase at least as mucl
as the Nations population If price
stay high. 1t added that even i
prices should decline, food produc
ton wouldn't drop very much.
An Agricultural Economics Burea,
expert said the future diet of Amer.
leans should include more livestock
products, fruits and vegetables be.
cause those foods are good fol
peOpIe,