Show MERCHANTS MAY INCREASE CEILING PRICES ON FOODS consumers were reminded today by gwen K brough community service member of the rich county war price and rationing board that merchants may legally increase their ceiling prices on eleven categories cata gories of foods in line with maximum price regulation no na 21 8 recently issued by the office of price administration ceiling prices may be advanced on breakfast cereals canned fish cooking and salad oils sugar canned vegetables coffee rice hydrogenated shortening other types of shortening dried fruits and lard according to mark ups on their wholesale cost mrs brough said increased prices at retail of these commodities are necessitated by the fact that while the original ceiling prices were placed on these commodities at the march 1942 price level the costs to the manufacturers between the 1941 and the 1942 growing and processing season were very materially increased in the case of canned vegetables for example in addition to increases in the cost of labor and cans the canners paid farmers from 20 to 70 per cent ceat more for the IM 1942 canning crop than for the 1941 canning crop on the advice of the department of agriculture in order to encourage a minimum production of these crops thereby insuring an adequate supply for the army lend lease and civilian use this winter merchants may not make an unlimited increase but only the amount permitted by the OPA regulation according to the commodity being re priced and according to the kind of store re pricing its articles continued on last page MERCHANTS MAY INCREASE CEILING PRICES ON FOODS continued from page one mrs brough pointed out that merchants may make price adjustments according to this formula until decain her ber 31 1942 at which level the c calling fling prices on cheso items will be frozen and may vot mot increase beyond that date she added that co consumers umas who wish to make a list of coiling ceiling prices on these items may check in thi the store on that date and be assured that the list lo 10 0 o complied compiled is a corr correct ec t list of the ceiling pric prices edof of that particular establishment mrs brough stated also thai sev several ral other recent orders issued by the OPA will affect the ceiling prices on a number of additional foods and beverages the manufacturers of mincemeat plum pudding tig fig pudding date pudding christmas cookies fruit cake holiday candy chocolate covered cherries glac ed or candied fruits and peels stuffed dried fruit dried figs pure sorghum syrup pitted and macerated ma dates and date products have been permitted to increase their prices in order to compensate for increased costs of production over dver last year according to prica regulation no the merchant wll be permitted to take a compensating price rise in order to keep the same percentage of profit he had fiad last year on these same items in addition order no allows merchants to raise their prices on canned fruits berries and juices frozen lulls berrie and vegetables fruit preserves jams and jellies apple butter canned shrimps scrimps and domestic canned crab meat the same amount per can the have been allowed to inc increate aae their prices sonie some time ago the condensed soup manufacturers were allowed to increase their prices in order to compensate for increasing costs merchants may increase their retail price of the new formula soups only in addition to the important items above the consumer representative reminded consumers that the new federal tax law and higher costs will increase the price to consumers of some tobacco products spirituous liquors and beer |