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Show ;U, S. FOOD PRICE LEVELDECLINES WASHINGTON, " Oct 12 (JPt The American housewife saved three-quarters of 1 per cent on her grocery budget last week as food prices continued to react from the sudden rise at the start of the war. Secretary Perkins reported the average retail decline today as shown by the bureau, of labor statistics sta-tistics survey for the week ending October 10. . "Prices of most of the-15 staple foods were either unchanged or lower," she said. "Some decreased by as much as 11 per cent" Lard prices declined sharply. Miss Perkins said, averaging 4 or S per cent leas than the previous week, but they were still between IS and .30 per cent above August figures In most cities. Miss Perkins reported that prices of pork chops, bacon, navy beans and sugar moved downward fairly consistently, decreasing generally by from 2 to 9 per cent Navy beans, however, were still IS to 40 per cent above the August 15 prices. Pork chops were at or below be-low the August level In nine of 13 principal cities.- The agriculture department reported re-ported that hog farmers probably would be the principal beneficiaries of any war demands for surplus American food products. The report said that In many - respevts the-PTrtloo for- Exports of hog products Is similar to that during the World war, when shipments ship-ments to Great Britain Increased sharply. The Increase In pork exports ex-ports Is expected to begin In the early months of 1940. The labor department survey showed thst flour, meats other than pork, butter and sugar prices fell about 1 per cent on the whole, but in many cities no price changes occurred. Flour was still 5 to 25 per cent above mid-August and butter was up about 15 per cent from August the report said, "primarily "pri-marily because of seasonal factors." fac-tors." Eggs, milk, salmon and canned tomatoes rose In price. It was explained ex-plained that egg prices generally rise at this time of year. Milk Jumped 11 per cent In Detroit De-troit and advanced more than 10 per cent above August 15 prices in Chicago and Cleveland. |