Salt Lake Telegram | 1946-12-23 | Page 2 | Retail Food Prices in 56 Cities Increase to All-Time Record

Retail Food Prices in 56 Cities Increase to All-Time Record WASHINGTON. Dec. 23 (INS) Ths bureau of labor atatlitlcs r ported Monday that retail food prices In 69 large clttea increaaed 4.3 between mid -October and mid - November to the highest Mvel on record. a survey made by the bureau showed the nation's retail food price Index at 187.7 of the 1935-39 1935-39 average on Nov. 13. This was 1.5 higher than In June, 1920, the peak after the first world war A preliminary check In 12 cities Indicated that food prices In mid-December mid-December were slightly lower. The greatest food prices ad- varices In the past year occurred In southern cities. The BLI said Birmingham, Ala, and KnoxvUle, Term., reported Increases of more than 41 compared with a year ago; Winston-Salem, N. C nearly 41; Newark. N. J, 26.5; Buffalo, Buf-falo, N. Y, 28, and Portland. Ore.. 29. Retail food price increases between be-tween Oct. 15 and Nov. 15 varied from .7 In Peoria and 1 la New York to more than 12 in Denver and KnoxvtUe. Food prices continued upward In November for the ninth consecutive con-secutive month. Prices of fats and oils advanced 63 between Oct. 15 and Nov. 15 as price controls were lifted and , scarcities continued. con-tinued. In mid-November, lard cost consumers an average of 53c a pound. Meat prices, excluding poultry and fish, were 9 above those of mid-August. Retail prices of all fruits and vegetables combined rose 4.3 from mid-October to mid-November. Fresh egg prices declined 6 and dairy products went down about 2. Relatively small Increases In-creases were reported for cereals and bakery products, beverages. sugar and sweets.