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Show Grocery Official Sees '62 Prices Remaining Stable Food prices will continue stable during 1962, Sherman P. Lloyd, general counsel of the Utah Retail Grocers Association reported in an annual report to the industry this week. "The food budget is taking less of the family income than it did 10 years ago," he said. "Because prices in food stores have remained relatively stable during the past ten years, even dropping in many cases, and because the average income of workers has risen, a smaller portion por-tion of the average family's income in-come is being spent for food." Last year, says Mr. Lloyd, a Utah family with an average income in-come of $4,000 spent approximately approxi-mately $1,150 for food and beverages bev-erages consumed both inside and outside the home. Although Utah households spend less of the total income for food than they did 10 years ago, they spend more of the budget in grocery stores for such non-food items as health and beauty aids, magazines, toys records, tobacco products, some clothing 'items and many other non-foods. The over-all Cost of Living Index In-dex rose from the base of 100 for 1947-1949 to 126.5 in 1960 In comparison, the Cost of Living Liv-ing Index for food rose from 100 for 1947-1949 to only 119.7 in 1960. Over-all cost of living increased in-creased by 26.5 per cent while food cost of living increased by only 19.7 per cent. October, 1961 figures, the lastest available show over-all cost of living at is low as 69-79c a lb.; coffee, in 1952 was 83c a lb., today 65c to 74c; shortening 1952, 79c for 3 lbs., today 83c; cake mix 1952 3 for $1, today no change; pork loin roast in 1952. 47c a lb., today to-day 49c a lb.; grapefruit 1952. 10c lb., today, lower. On sale, many of these items are much less. , Mr. Lloyd pointed out that the average store today carries between be-tween 6,000 and 10,000 different products with many new ones being added each year. Many 127.5 with food cost of living at 121.2. And while such costs a?" those for housing, transportation and clothing raised in October, the over-all average price of food dropped by 2 per cent. These Department of Commerce Com-merce figures show that the cost of living has increased each year so that the 1947-1949 dollar is worth, over all, only 72.5 cents today. This " is not the case in the grocery store, says Mr. Lloyd In many instances, food prices have changed very little or have even dropped. For instance, grocery stores sold large grade A eggs for 66c a dozen in 1952. Today, the same eggs sell for 55c. Other comparisons: Butter was 93c a pound in 1952. Today, grocery stores have added services serv-ices desired by consumers such as bag toys to carry purchases to the customer's car, tot-tending services, trading stamps, coffee-break coffee-break and refreshment stands and even electronic-eye doormen. door-men. Still the prices of food items remain quite stable. Discounting emergencies in Utah or the nation in 1962, say? Mr. Lloyd, housewives can look forward to another year of stable and reasonable food prices. Grocers Groc-ers will emphasize friendliness hospitality, and service. New and different products will appear on the shelves and grocers will provide new merchandising ideas to aid the customer in shopping and preparing meals. |