Devaluation Is Felt In Trade

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31581, 19 January 1968, Page 13

Devaluation Is Felt In Trade

(6u Out Grdcery Reporter)

Devaluation is now beginning to affect prices in the grocery trade, increasing, of course, only the prices of those goods that have a complete or large imported content.

These include toothpastes, patent medicines, acids, dried fruit, coconut, rice, pineapple and similar items. Now that the Government has delicensed a number of commodities which have been in short supply for sometime, the public will be well catered for with rice, coffee, coconut and edible oils, to name perhaps the most important ones. Already Australian rice has arrived in Lyttelton and this will help to relieve the rice shortage which has been ex perienced for the last two yean. Fackat T«i«.—Last Tuesday tea packers advised distributors that the price of tea would advance by 4c a pound. And today the most popular packs retail at 36c a jib packet. The advance in the price of domestic pack teas does'not come as a surprise as the Ceylon tea market has been flrm for a number of months now. The devaluation has also not helped the Erica and the last tea sale in ecettber showed a further increase of 2c to 4c a lb. At the present time, Ceylon is experiencing a general strike which is affecting most factory labour in Colombo and much of the tea being shipped on the Bankura to New Zealand will not be loaded. Also the second sale M the year will not bo until at least January 16. New Felish.—Johnson's Wax or N.Z., Ltd, is now adding a further variety to their Pledge brand. This la a new departure and will be known aa Lemon Pledge which has added waxes. Oils and lemon to give a deeper, richer shine on all surfaces, but still retain the instant properties of regular Pledge. The new polish has a suggested retail price of 73c. Now Canned Fish A new variety of canned flsh will be available shortly under the well-

known St Georgo brand: flsh fillets in sea food -jelly. This is a completely new idea for New Zealand. The best quality fish is being used and can be served straight from the can, sliced and served with salad or any other summer meals. The can has an attractive label and contains 12oz with a suggested retail prick of 32c. Australian Dried Apricots.— Prices are now out for Australian dried apricots and as exfiected they are higher than ast year. This has been brought about by a short crop and the devaluation of the New Zealand dollar. Only 50 per cent of last year's orders will be executed and so far there 4s no information regarding shipment. Australian apricots have always been popular on the New Zealand market and in recent weeks been in short supply. The increased price could this year have a retarding effect on sales.

Chinese Gooseberries.—One large packer in Northland indicates that he will not be able to supply all requirements for this canning season. Only limited quantities remain unsold and they suggest that buyers place orders promptly. This brand is Hibiscus packed in 13oz cans and a suggested retail price of 39c.