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Show Meat Prices To Continue High Look for higher meat prices and less meat during the rest of ( From 1941 to 1947, the population popu-lation of the United States increased in-creased from 132,302,000 to 142,-677,000 142,-677,000 or 8 per cent, according to the Bureau of Census. Utah increased from 577,000 to 637,-000 637,-000 or 14 per cent.- Nine states had greater .percentage increases. Oregon was high with 40 per cent. Eleven states lost population. popula-tion. North Dakota lost 15 per cent, Idaho's loss was 10 per sent. California gained the greatest number 2,634,000 or 36 per cent. this year, the agriculture department depart-ment reports. The meat supply always declines during the summer, the department depart-ment pointed out in a report on the livestock situation. At the same time, the general level of income is rising. During the first six months of this year farmers got 10 per cent more for meat than they did last year. Thev are likely to get still more during the second half of 1948. As for future supply, the spring pig crop, which starts coming to market the latter part of this year, will be three per cent below last year and the smallest since 1941. The fall pig crop, coming along next spring and summer, is expected to be one per cent smaller than last year. Livestock men sent 36,000,000 head of cattle and calves to slaughter last year an all-time record. This year's production may be the smallest since 1941. More cattle must be kept back from market in the future if herds are to be increased. |