Evening star., 1950-07-22
Prices

Prices
CONTINUED From First Page.)
"if he can't get them to stop the
increases"
Mr.. SABBATH said he told the
President that prices should be
rolled back at least to the June |
level. He said the President re-
piled that che did not know about
that"
The latest cost of living boost
comes on top of an increase of
eight-tenths of per cent between
April is and June Is.
Food Prices Here Mount.
In a companion survey to its
cost of living report as of June Is,
the agency notes that food prices
in Washington advanced 20 per
cent from May Is to June is.
Food prices here, it said, were at
the highest level since October,
1948.
Some of the increases for Wash
ington: Beef and veal, 6 per cent;
pork, 3 per cent: lamb, S per cent;
fresh fruits and vegetables, 6.3
per cent. and fats and oils, 2 per
cent.
The agency said it was the sec
ond month in which "a substan-
tial increase in prices occurred
nationally. It added that the con-
sumer price index on June IS was
170.2, the highest level since jan
uary. 1949. and not far from the
all-time peak Of 174.5 in Septem-
ber, 1949.
While food costs were the major
cause for the living cost rise, rents
rose three-tenths of ! per cent,
and fuels, one-tenth of / per cent.
Food price advances were noted
In all 56 cities surveyed by the
Government. with increases of
3.5 or more reported in Philadel-
phia, Boston, Baltimore, Cleve-
land and Buffalo.
The survey showed meat, poul-
try and fish groups jumped 3 per
cent: eggs. 3.3 per cent; fruits and
vegetables, SO per cent; fats and
oils, IL per cent.
The agency singled out veal
outlets, noting they had increased
in price to an average Of $1.08 a
pound.
Clothing prices dropped frac-
tionally, while house-furnishings
fell slightly, owing to reductions
in electric refrigerators and gas
stoves. But, observed the agency
"this was prior to the outbreak OF
the war in Korea"
Residential Rents Rise.
Residential rents. which have
been advancing steadily since
June, 1947, again rose three.
tenths of / per cent between mid
May and mid-June. BIS said.
It also noted higher prices dur
ing this period for gasoline anc
automobile tires.
The bureau also reported tina
the average wholesale prices O
all items went up 0.6 per cen
during the week ending last Tues
day. The rise the week befor'
had been 1.8 per cent. Wholesale
prices usually are reflected a little
later in retail prices.
In Chicago, the American Mea
Institute said that panic buying
had caused some meat prices tt
go up. It added however. tina
this pressure, increased by thu
buying Of persons who rushed Il
fill freezer lockers, has now less
ened. It said the present pric,
trend is downward. especially OF
pork loins and some Of the les
popular cuts of meat.
Liquor Stocks Ailocated.
The panic buying appeared tt
be going on in the liquor market
also. AT least six big distillins
companies disclosed they are al
locating supplies to their dealers
to keep any retailer from get
ting more than his just share.
Brown-Forman DiStillers Corp
in New York said the buying ap-
parently was ''hystericap' and
urged "saneness" on the part OF
the customers.
The sugar-buying rush has
abated, at least in New York. A
survey there indicated decreased
demand.
Buying generally had been at
top proportions even before the
outbreak of the fighting in Korea
on June Is. The Comerce Depart
ment reported that retail sales for
June outdid any other month In
history. This was after making
allowances for seasonal factors
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