Evening star., 1951-09-28
Beef Price Rise
To Be Effective
Next Monday
New Ceilings Increase
Cost to Housewives
By 2-Cent Average
By Jones G. Deone

Dy james ". DeuNe
Beef will cost Washington
housewives an average Of 11a to z
cents more per pound starting
Monday.
New ceilings announced yester.
day by the Office Of Price Stab
lllzation will boost some prices as
much as 20 cents and reduce
others as much as 20 cents.
Whether the individual shopper
gains or loses will depend mainly
on what she buys. Ceilings on
some high-priced steaks will drop
but those on the most
popular cuts-round steak and
roasts-will climb from ! to 8
cents a pound, depending on
grade, and porterhouse steaks
will jump Is to Is cents.
Relief for Wholesalers.
OPS ordered the changes to pull
wholesalers out of a squeeze"
created by recent boosts in the
prices they pay to packers. OPS
had allowed packers to raise prices
under the Capehart amendment
to make up losses on tallow and
hides. on which prices had
dropped.
The new ceilings are supposed
to go on display in all butcher
shops, but delay is expected
here until posters printed by OPS
can be distributed.
The new order puts separate
ceilings for the first time on top
quality prime" grades. These
; cuts have been sold up to now
under ceilings applying to choice"
cuts the next lower category. The
new ceiling will mean a price in
crease averaging 4 cents a pound
for the better grade.
Here is what will happen to
some popular cuts:
Hamburger - Regular ground
beef will go up a penny a pound
In all except the largest markets.
The better grade. lean ground
containing a maximum of II per
cent fat, will increase 2 to 5 cents
pound.
Rib roaSt-Up IS cents a pound,
BrlSket or stewing beef-Down
as much as 20 cents a pound nm
choice cuts only.
Steak Up is Cents.
Porterhouse steak-Up IS to is
cents a pound on choice grade.
Ceilings will vary between small
and large stores. In addition to
the ceilings. OPS issued orders re-
. quiring sellers to label displays
as to grade and selling price
I and display different grades sep
e arately. The agency also revised
d Its rules to permit precubing of
steaks from boneiess sirloin and
Isirloin tips, as well as round steak
u previously used.
y Price Director Michael v. Di.
O Sale said in statement that the
, regulation is intended to bring
reflective consumer understanding
L of beef prices"
: This will be accomplished, ne
said, by public posting of ceilings
o so the consumer can know she is
paying the proper price.
p To Continue Breakdown.
In Chicago Mr.. Disable also told
newsmen OPS will continue it's
enforcement drive on beef controls
until the industry is convinced I'VE
mean business"
The drive already has turned up
: 254 violation of controls and has
found that many established pack
ers and wholesalers. he said,, have
engaged in illegal practices.
The American Meat Institute
S denied the charge, but reaffirmed
S previous statements that the con-
trols are "unworkable."
The Army. meanwhile, disclosed
4 it has rejected offers from Brazil
E and. Uruguay to supply beef 1t
e needs because both countries
failed to meet acceptable United
v States grading standards. The
4 Army recently announced it was
e seeking foreign beef because
American firms did not bid on its
otter to buy 10 million pounds.