GROCERY PRICES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1360, 22 June 1918, Page 11

GROCERY PRICES.

ADVANCE IN SEVERAL LINES. However much politicians may differ, the cost of living problem to the householder is no mere catch-cry. Eloquent evidence of this is afforded by the fact that during the past week or so the prices of many household commodities have advanced, and the breakfast table has not been unaffected.

Following a wholesale increase of 2d per lb, the retail price of mustard has advanced 4d, or Id per quarter-pound tin. Advances have occurred for various brands of tinned fish—a commodity which is particularly scarce, and for which America is now the main supplier, common soaps are now sold at 1/1 instead of J/- per bar, and local candles have increased by Id per lb and, in some instances, 2d. The most unsatisfactory feature is that there is no definite limit to the upward tendency, for the manufacturers claim that, with the cost of production ever increasing, they have no option but to pass it on at intervals. Meanwhile, retailers' prices vary somewhat, for they work under no hard-and-fast understanding as to values. In some instances the retail advance is more than the corresponding wholesale one. The retailers' answer to this is (hat they cannot follow in their price list every wholesale fluctuation. When they do increase values, such advances often cover previous wholesale rises which had not been passed on. They also claim that fheir margin of proii't is now smaller ll,an it was before the war commenced, whilst double the outlay on goods is now required of them.