THE BREAKFAST TABLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16627, 9 January 1922, Page 8

THE BREAKFAST TABLE.

RETAIL PRICE REVIEW. GOST OF LIVING FALLING. SLUMP IN DAIRY PRODUCE. The slump in dairy produce still continues and the prices of many breakfast table lines are already below pre-war level. During the past week butter las dropped 4d per lb retail and bacon, cheese and eggs have also fallen in svmpathv. jro-dav the new retail price of Is 3d per 3b for butter came into operation, 'and the producers will now receive just a trifle over London parity for their letter. This seemto be absolutely tire bedrock price, but in these days of surprises and lightning changes, anything might happen. Apparently the butter factories have come to the conclusion that the local consumer has n right to purchase butter at its real value when prices are low, for the reason that the public were given no consideration whatever when the producers were receiving 2s 6d per lb. “ Although it is much better from the grocers’ point of view to sell butter at Is 3d per lb, with a profit of 2d, than to sell it at 2s 3d per lb with a similaz profit, we quit© realise that the slump in butter values is going to prove a very serious thing for the coun try,” remarked a retailer this morning. “It would be better for everyone if butter was still worth about Is 6d per lb wholesale, but what we do contend is that the local consumers should not at any time be asked to pay more for butter than its London parity. The latest reduction in price seems to bring it dewn to pretty near its real value, but if the London market continues to slump, we must look for a further reduction.” Lard which formeryl was Is 2d per lb has been reduced to Is. Cheese, which was reduced from Is 2d to Is per lb last week, is unaltered in price, but a further reduction is expected shortly. The latest London quotations show that cheese is still declining in price, and the New Zealand parity would appear to be about 3d below the present retail price. Hams and bacon are also expected to fall in price during the next few days, due. it is stated, to North Island competition. Eggs are inclined to ease in value and this morning prices for first grade varied in different shops from Is 4d to 1« 6d per dozen. The indications are that Is 4d will be the ruling price this week, but there is little possibility of a further reduction for some time. “ Condensed milk should now be cheaper,” said a retailer. “ The present price is Is a tin and a reduction is now overdue.” The retail price of milk remains at 0d per quart, which is generally considered to be about 2d more than what it should be. Milk- is a big item in the list of household expenses and with the decline in the value of all milk products, consumers are naturally looking for a reduction in the present retail price. It is contended that the dairy farmer who supplies his milk for household consumption should not have such a big advantage over the man w ho supplies butter and cheese factories, as at present appears to be the ease. “ The lot of the dairy farmer at the present time is not altogether a happy one,” remarked a grocer. “He seems to have been caught in the recoil from the high prices he received a few months ago, but the recoil has come back further than he ever anticipated. It would have been much better for all concerned if dairy produce prices had been kept within reasonable limits during the last two years. If that had been done, the present slump would not be so badly felt.”

The tea market continues to be firm, but, although packers are paying more for tea, they are not inclined to raise the price to the consumers. A surprise was received by local grocers last week when they were advised that the price of 21b jars of K jam had been raised bv 5d and 6d per dozen jars. No explanation for the rise was offered, and only jars wore affected. The price of jam in tins was unaltered.

Dessert fruits are scarce just now, but the new Australian packings will be coming forward shortly. On account of the new tariff, merchants have advanced the price of Crosse and Blackwell’s essences from 14s to 17s per dozen bottles. The present retail price is Is 6d per bottle, and the increase W'ill be passed on to the public shortly.

MEAT CHEAPER. Consequent .upon a further fall in the value of live stock at the Addington saleyards, the retail price of meat has been again reduced slightly, the reductions amounting to about per lb all round. The following comparisons of the present prices for highest grade meat, compared with the prices ruling in January, 1921. indicate tho reductions which have been made :—- i LAMB. January, 1921. d s. d. Forequarters . 6$ 0 11 § Hindquarters . . 8£ 11 Sides .... 7 10 MUTTON. Forequarters . . 3 0 6 Legs . - „ . 6 0 9£ Chops . . 3,5, 7 6,8, 10 BEEF AND PORK. A reduction of 3d all round has been made in beef prices and pork has been reduced an average of 5d per lb. reduced an average of od per lb during the past months. In comparing the prices, consideration must b© given to the fact that the value of the by-products from meat has also fallen considerably during tho past year. FISH PLENTIFUL. Good supplies of all lines of fish are coming on the market and prices show little alteration. To-day’s quotations are:—Groper lOd lb, ling 5d lb, kingfish 7d lb, moki 6d lb, cod 4d lb. soles 9d lb, flounders IQd lb and trevalli 4d lb. All varieties of smoked fish are plentiful. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. The first of the new season’s apples and pears are now on sale at 6d a lb. Plums, peaches and apricots for jam are coming in freely, and for a case containing 221 b of peaches 8s is asked. Apricots are slightly tiearer. FJums, all varieties, are selling at 6d per lb. lied and white currants are being retailed at 8d per lb, and black currants at 6d per lb or 4s 6d per dozen lbs. Cherries are scarce and dear, the best quality costing 2s 6d per lb. Locally grow'n grapes are cheaper and are now selling at 3s 6d per lb. Bananas are more plentiful and,cheaper, being obtainable at up to 20 a Is. A big rise in the value o? tomatoes took place on jumped from Is 3d to 2s. GooseSaturday and the retail price has harries .tp L.rr n+ fid to 1 wer ]h

the latter being large eating goose berries in boxes.

A good supply is to hand of Sydney out-door grown cucumbers, which are selling at 6d, 9d and Is each. Local cucumbers are on sale at Is Sd and 2s per lb. Practicallv all varieties of vegetables are plentiful and cheap, but peas have become dearer, to-day’s price being Is* 6d ner peck. Late rhubarb is selling at 6d per bunch.