THE MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 141, 16 June 1926, Page 4

THE MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

WHOLESALERS EXPERIENCE A QUIET WEEK. NEW SEASON'S PRICES FOR CANNED FRUITS AND SALMON. ALL ALMONDS SHOW ADVANCES. " Auckland Star " Office, Wednesday, June 16, 1926. Generally speaking, quieter conditions of business prevail throughout the business community. This condition of affairs has not been altogether unexpected, and at present both the wholesale and retail trade are experiencing a falling off in returns that is considered usual for this time of the year. The main feature in oversea markets this week has been the sharp and sudden rise on salmon Tor next season, which lias taken buyers very much by surprise, owingto the heavy nature of some of the advances. Stocks, unfortunately, or most grades are in rather small compass, so that merchants have been compelled to adjust their ex store prices on a basis of conformity with new season's quotations. Canned vegetables continue to rule in fairly steady markets. Tomatoes are In unusually heavy demand, as all the fresh fruit is now practically finished. One of the local canners lias already cleared , his stocks, which has thrown a heavier demand on to Canadian, which are temporarily in short supply. There is some demand for Italian, but sales are slow on account or the Higher price, although If buyers were to take the weight of the latter into eonsideratlon they would ilnd prices would compare ravourably with other grades, besides being of more solid pack. Peas are also in better demand, and good sales are expected to take place on this lino right up to the time when new peas will again be available to this market. Cereals, both bulk and package lines, are in a strong position. Rice is unusually llrm, with an upward tendency. Tapiocas are at present being quoted on a rising market, but sales to the retail for the next direct steamer seem, up to the present, to be restricted to small parcels. Dried fruits are moving in larger quantities, with prunes, raisins, and apricots in strong market, and higher prices not unlikely berore the new packs are available. Callfornlan prices for canned fruits were named this week, but prices are not competitive with Australian, so that, with the exception or certain brands, the buying of Calirornian will probably only be on a very small scale. All quotations for proserved ginger are now listed on a lower basis, imported having shown declines during the past few weeks, while local packers have also revised their lists. Quotations for new season's Calirornian muscatels have been listed this week, and, in comparison to last year's rates, are on a slightly lower basis, which should tend to create more Interest in this lino. Drapery. During: the holiday week drapery nouses as a whole experienced more business than usual, but since then there has been a decided slackening off in general trade. It was thought that there would be a great I Influx of country visitors last week ror : the Winter Show, but the amount or retail 1 trade that has been transacted so far does not seem to bear this out, and retailers are in hopes that this week will see a substantial increase in their takings over the counter. Jersey cloth has been a scarce commodity, and small shipments which are being discharged ex the Arawa will be very welcome, as the last shipment was cleaned up in a few days, and it is not expected that the new supply will last very longr. Up to the present, rur coats have been rather slow or sale, but as the retail trade are making a reature or them in their windows at special prices increased sales are expected to result. Show-room trade has been unusually good this season, the sales that have been made from this department showing an improvement over last year's turnover up to date. The colder weather has thrown more or a demand on woollen sports coats, cardigans, and polo i jumpers, which are all selling unusually well. Retailers are all carrying good stocks, and there is ample to choose from in the way of colour. Sicily Almonds. London shippers advise that the forward market on Sicily Almonds is still an advancing one. the latest alteration in values being an increase In the indent price or hand picked or £10 per ton. Ceylon Tea. Cables received from Colombo on the Bth Instant, the day arter the tea sale, advised that two and a-hair million pounds had been placed under offer, and, as quality generally was mrerlor. Commons, Cleaned Commons, Price 8.0.P.'5, and Plain Broken Orange Pekoes were all down approximately from id to id per lb The better i sorts, where quality seemed to be maintained nearer to the previous week's standard, were quoted at firm prices, with a steady demand. The sales at present are for particularly large quantities, and this. combined with the poorer quality of the lower grades, which is usual ror this time of the year, is mainly responsible ror the : present easing or the market. During the i next month the sales are likely to bo smaller, with quality showing some Improvement, so that prices are expected to be much firmer than they are now. , Exchange remains firm at present, without i any alteration from the previous week's , quotation. . Linseed Oil. • English quotations Tor linseed oil are in ; strong market at present, with the result that cables received during- the last week advised an increase of 2d per gallon on both raw and boiled oil ror July and August ' shipment from Glasgow. ' Dried Fruits. The following figures, which have been • published by the Calirornian Dried Fruit , Association, referring to the size and distribution or preceding crops, should prove of timely interest to buyers generally:— Tons. Tons. 1924. 1925. Apricots 16,000 17,012 Peaches 24,500 16,170 Pears 3,150 3,504 i Evaporated apples 10.000 5,755 ! Prunes 139,000 145.032 ! Raisins 180,000 219,285 According to statistics of the United ; States Department or .Commerce there , were exported during , the last two calendar years the following quantities (tons of 20001b) :— Tons. Tons. 1924. 1925. ! Apricots 15,228 10,080 Peaches 6,276 2,206 Evaporated apples 14,870 11,360 Prunes 110,456 73,242 ' Raisins 46,070 62,962 These figures cover exports from all parts of the United States, and consequently, on apples, Include shipments from : New York State as well as a few other districts, and on prunes the shipments from Oregon and Washington, which represent only a small percentage. As the crop ilgures are given Tor the season, whereas the export figures are ror the calendar year, they do not oiler an exact basis for comparison with each other. This is particularly apparent on apricots, on which the export tonnage listed for 1924 is 15,228, compared with a total crop for the 1924 season of 16,000 tons. However, tnese exports include the carry over of the 1923 crop shipped In 1924. The same remarks apply to prunes, although to *a lesser, degree, as on this item the quantities of the 1923 crop, which were only exported during 1924, and are therefore Included In the figures for this calendar year are more evenly offset by the quantities of the 1924 crop exported and Included In the figures for the calendar year or 1925. Stocks or both apricots and peaches are completely exhausted, and have been practically so for some time. In peaches, 1925 experts were considerably smaller than the preceding year, no doubt partly due to the reduced crop. On aprlcots the figures quoted Tor 1925 again emphasise the decided change which has taken place in the position of this commodity in recent years. Berore the war rully 75 per cent or the crop was regu larly exported. It is estimated that at least one half or the quantity or the 1925 production was sold In the States, where the demand Is ever an increasing one. Cables received last week Tidvlsed the withdrawal of prunes by one or the outside packers, owing to exhaustion or stocks. Generally speaking, the Calirornian fruit situation seems to be extremely nrai, with a certainty of a clean up on seeded raisins at an early date. Jordan 'Almonds. Cables to hand during the week advised ! a further sain in i the market for new \ season's Jordan almonds for SeptemberOctober shipment of 2/6 per cwt. Oallfornian Figs. New season's Calirornian tigs are now being quoted at prices that show only fractional differences to last year's rates. Bulk are being- offered at a slight reduction, while packet lines In both cellophane IWerS 8 " 1 " 3 Sre I,Sted " Pilchards. «nnn e £ fc a F e at present offering to -? IVeS * ana ones Pilchard!, ex ' new smsob% i,mf ?i anfea prlces ' althougli ? quotations are now listed at j sllgfet increases for later ahlpmeai. I i

Ground Almondi. Cables came to hand on Monday list advising: a stiff increase in indent rates for ground almonds in both old and new seaeon's packing's. This Increase has not been altogetuer unexpected, as Sicilies have been listed on an advancing market for some time. The total advances, which amount to 13/ per owt on old season's and 5/ per cwt on new season's, are not based 1 on the total Increases that have of late ; taken place on Sicilies, so that buyers may ; expect further advances in indent rates in ' the near future. As shipment of new ' season's cannot be made before October ! next, it is considered very unlikely that supplies will arrive in time for Christmas traue, so that for Decenuer requirements buyers will have to take old season's at the higher rate. Even so, the latest prices compare very favourably with last year's rates, as they are approximately 6/ to 8/ per cwt lower. Fruit and Satchel Bag*. Owing to the various mills deciding- to use pure kraft in the manufacture of tneip various sizes of fruit and satchel bags, it has been found necessary to increase the selling- pice to merchants approximately 10 per cent rrom the beginning of this week. It was freely rumoured In tho trade last week that prices were advancing-, and many took advantage of the opportunity and bought before the advance. Salmon. Cables received Trom all Callfornlan pacKcis during tne latter part of last week advised unusually heavy advances in all grades and packings of salmon, and agents have all been very busy this week booking up merchants' new season's business at new rates: —Sockeyes show approximately Increases or about 12J per cent. Tho advice respecting Cohoes Is that all packers are expected to be short on this line, this year's price showing an approximate increase of about 30 per cent. In Tormer years there has g-enerally been a pro rata delivery on Cohoes owing to tho smallness of the pack, and this year it looks as if supplies or this grade will be more difficult to procure than ever. The actual stock of Cohoes is said to be a diminishing- one, the catch getting less and less every year, and, as this variety is the Tavourite grade in rresh llsh, It lias added to the canners' difficulties, they, In many Instances, having to compete in the 'open markets for supplies ror canning purposes. The actual advances in comparison to last year's opening rates aro as follows: Sockeye halves, 9/6 per caso; ones, flats, and tails, 9/3 per case; Cohoes, halves, 12/ per case; ones, 12/9 per case. Pinks, halves, 4/0 per case, onos, flats, 3/6 per case; tails, a/ per case. Chums, halves, 3/6 per case; ones, Hats, and tails, 2/ per case. Merchants have their prices out on the new basis this week, and are offering to book for spread delivery from the beg-lnning- or November till April or the following year. Even although the new season's prices show a substantial Increase on last year's selling rates, storekeepers would be well advised to book their requirements at an early date, as supplies or some or the varieties ape almost certain to be limited, and very likely to increase in value as the season progresses. Canned Fruit*. New season's prices for Celirornisn canned rruit were named this week, and, in comparison with Australian packings of higher grades, are considerably dearer in price, so that indent values ere notattractive. The delivery or Calirornian commences from October to December and Australian rrom June to January, which is a decided advantage to Australian canners, who are commencing to ship this month. Pr«««rv«a arnger. Following the recent reductions in indent rates for Chinese ginger, local manufacturers also advise a revision In their soiling , rates for prompt delivery. Fiftysixes reduced Jd, twenty-eights and rourteens IJd per lb. Oaalcoated Coconut. The general tone or the market In Colombo for desiccated coconut li jS snown considerable firmness during , the last month. The latest quotations available which have Just been received by cable advise a still rurther advance ror prompt shipment or 6d per cwt, making a total increase ror the month or 2/6 per cwt. Hardware. r».Ti ra<3 h .'P ""Pi 1 hardware lines seems rairly brisk, with steady business 1 in general utility lines. Prices ror pre- 1 serving Jars are already out, with quotations ror quarts slightly lower than last year. Prices or most lines seem to be cut very fine, and competition Is likely to be very keen on this article. Johnston's delph ewers and basins have been slio-. n" ." now landing. Aluminium ware ' has not and batteries have been in short Supply but as ample stocks have just been landed ruinned requirements are now being ! Wholesale Current Prfcea. h,,ft»r e, ;77 i supern , n , c creamery butter, 1/7J per lb, prompt cash, Anchor « °P?i' kl - *'•> per lb; first gntot™r«7'J /6i , per I? booked, and 1/4 per lb ror prompt cash; second grade factory bookod 1/51 per lb and 1/5 per lb for' prompt cash; rarmers' separator. 1/2 per Cheese.—First grade ractorv medium size, mild, ejd to tojd per ib- special matured 1/1 to 1/2 per lb; loar i> S J/i Bacon.—Hams, 1/ to 1/3 per Ib- rolled ?■??■„"» ,0 " 4 P« r ID; boned hams, 1/44 per lb; Dacoti sides, 11 id to 1,1 , extra large. Hid per lb rolled strip* lit to I/* per lb; middles, /2 to 1/3 pe r ib■shoulders. 0d to lid per it> ,-oiied u ',n er ,V ,d t0 X " P er &• Lara: ?,fk iOd to lid per lb. pats lid to 1/ per b Flour.—Local and Southern sonih l<S ™- U ViY Per tOn - '00-ilSo , 10/ pi? ton. 50 s £21 per ton. ->s'a £11 15/ Sr ton, local only, lav s £*:> tl/e per ton 1 discount 3 i/6 Per tOD - ,eSS «* &' « Perior br r E?^e7t L O °n Cal £12 25VTer a^0™ Ole Si/ Per ,OOlb: s™^. p w efcr- t-sa««« 8d T ,Te'r ne ib~ Seam,n *- 3/ * per to : Miuxer. Peameal.—l2/6 perlOOlb. Linseed Meal.—Moose, 16/ ncr looih per-'iooTii. °" ™ c P o e s r e. , ?4?9