Survey Shows Rises In Consumer Prices

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31306, 28 February 1967, Page 1

Survey Shows Rises In Consumer Prices

(By a Staff Reporter.)

Since the beginning of this year at least 25 items frequently bought by housewives have increased in retail price in Christchurch.

Three more items—packaged biscuits, cake and pudding mixes—are expected to increase soon. This is likely to be followed by an increase in the price of starch goods.

Some rises have been substantial. Large packets of selfraising flour have jumped by 2s 6d; cooked pressed ham is up 6d per lb, to Ils 8d per lb, which some retailers say will almost price ham out of the market for the average family. Ham is the latest increase. Many of the retail price increases have been a direct

result of the abolition of subsidies. But this has not been the cause in some instances. Biscuit Prices Some manufacturers are expected to put up their biscuit prices this week. Manufacturers’ salesmen last week were said to be using the proposed increase as a selling point. A Papanui dairy proprietor said that biscuit salesmen were telling him to “buy big while you have got the chance.” A Stanmore road food store manager said he had bought huge quantities of biscuits. One retailer said that he had heard that pudding and cake mixes would go up at

least 40 per cent very soon. He was waiting for the announcement. Apple Variety A dairy proprietor said that he had been forced to increase the retail price for one variety of apple by 9d per lb this year compared with the previous season. Last year, apples were mostly on the schedule price at the market and he had receipts for the apples, costing 30s a case. Yesterday morning 12 months later—he paid 54s a case for the apples. This year apples were being auctioned entirely at the market. The following survey shows in table form how retail prices for consumer goods have increased this year. The figures given are general ones as retailers sometimes vary their prices slightly. The table shows the old price; the new price this year, and the amount of retail price increase:

Bread (halves, ordinary, white) Old New Increase 8id Is lid 5d (Over the counter prices for bread Increased from 4d to 6id a loaf according to variety.) Bread rolls .. .. 2s 6d doz 3s doz 6d doz Buns .. 2s 9d doz 3s 8d doz lid doz Block cake r . M 3s 4d )b 3s 6d lb 2d lb Pastry .. ... 2s 3d lb 2s fid lb 3d lb Pies Square meat pies lOd each lid each Id Apple and apricot . M lOd each lid each Id Crumpets . „ Is i doz Is 2d i doz 2d Cooked pressed ham Ils 2d lb Ils 8d lb fid lb Canned corn beef 5s 3d 5s fid 3d a can Tongues (one brand) .. 4s 7d 4s 9d 2d a can (another brand) 4s 8d 5s 3d 7d Cornflour (16oz pkt) 2s 2s 8d 8d Self-raising flour (small) 2s 3d 3s fid Is 3d (large) 4s Id 6s 7d 2s 6d Breadcrumbs Is 9d 2s 8d lid Sandwiches (in shops and restaurants) 7d 8d Id (chicken and ham fills) .. 8d 9d Id Sausage tolls .. 4d 5d Id Currant buns .. .. - 3d 3id id Sugar buns .. 3d 3}d id Raspberry jam buns .« 3d 3id id Boston buns . lOd lid id Home made biscuits .« 2s 2d 2s «d 2d Scones 3d Sid id Soap powders (economy size in 2 brands) 3s lid 4s Id 2d (small size in 2 brands) 2s 3d 2s 4d Id (Note: —Some liquid detergents have dropped prices by Id a small container and 5d for an economy container.) Oysterr 2s 3d doz 2s fid doz 3d doz Cat food (canned) 8oz lid Is Id can Apples Albany Beauty (a lb) Is lb Is 9d 9d lb