BREAKFAST TABLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16940, 15 January 1923, Page 7

BREAKFAST TABLE.

RETAIL PRICE REVIEW. THE RISE IN TEA PRICES. Towards the end of last week business in the grocery trade showed a much better tone after a period in which things had been fairly dull. Prices of several commodities have altered during the last few days. In the first place all teas have advanced •kl per lb and bulk tea is very hard to get under anything from 2s 6d to -3s per lb. 'Fhe constant firming of costs reported from Colombo and other tea centres, and the eventual effect of lorcing buyers to pay the higher costs, owing tto the long period of gradual advances causing holdings to be depleted to a very low margin, is now reflected in the move on packet teas. It has become imperative to advance costs of pocket teas in sympathy with higher landed costs, for without the move the result would have showed a loss. CHEESE FIRMER. Cheese has firmed very considerably. Dairy cheese is quoted at 9£d wholesale instead of Bid per lh and factory from lOd to also wholesale. Indications are that butter may go up again as there is a good export demand. BACON AND EGGS One firm notified a rise of Id per lb in bacon during the week and probably this will he general. Eggs were sold at auction at Is 4d per ao-zen this week, a fall of 2d on the Ohrißtmas price. OTHER GROCERY LINES. Small shipments of sago and tapioca arrived from Singapore last week. Stocks are still light, as seme merchants were not included in the recent consignment. On present quotations there is not much in retailing tapioca under 4d per lb. New Zealand, tinned fruits are going to bo cheaper than Australian. There will he. a very limited supply of St George’s and Hinton’s, and these will rot he available till March. Pie fruits will be about the satme as last year. FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRICES. Vegetable prices are pretty well unchanged, though cabbages are cheaper and the liest can be bought for 6d. Fresh parsnips are 3d a. hunch and carrots 2d a bundle. Other prices are . Small marrows, 9d and Is each; celery 9c. per bunch; rhubarb 6d ’per bunch ; lettuces (plentiful) 2d each; cucumbers irom 2d to 6d per lb (outside grown) ; cucumbers (local hothouse), Is 3d per lb. All stone fruit is much earlier this season and consequently the ordering of jam supplies should not be left too late. Plums are priced at Gd per lh "for dessert and 4s a dozen lbs for jam making. Best dessert peaches are selling at 6d per lh for jam and at os fid a case of 221 b. Jam apricots are 7s 6d a case and 6d alb for dessert. Black currents are 6d a lb, gooseberries 4d and grapes (best local) 3s. Sturmer apples are nearly finished. Remaining stocks are priced at 8d per •b. Best Irish Peach apples are 6d alb and American Jonathans are five for Is, Bananas are plentiful and cheap, fiom eight to twenty-four for Is. Oranges are three and four for Is. Tomatoes (best local). Is per lb, seconds 9d and cooking 6d. Raspberries for jam making cost 12s 6d per ib. There will be no further supplies in this week till about Thursday, and then only if the ueather permits picking. New stocks will l>e 14s a dozen lb. Loganberries and mulberries are due in shortly. Red and white currants are practically finished. « MEAT PRICES. At the Addington market last week there were rises in lamb, mutton and beef prices, the most notable being £1 per head on beef, hut butchers’ prices have not advanced, because, as one butcher explained to-day, these prices may adjust themselves at the next sale. Butchers are not doing very much in the lamb trade owing to the big prices, although there is always a certain demand for it. Pork and veal are fairly reasonable at present. For householders who wish to minimise cooking in the hot weather, most of the shops have a big range of small goods from which to choose. Such of these as brawn, saveloys, pressed beef, and black and white puddings, can be procured easily at short notice as an addition to the larder. FISH AND POULTRY. There is a good all-round demand for fish and poultry Prices remain steady, to-day's retail list for fish (per lb) being: -Groper 10d. ling 6d. kingfish Bd, gounders 9d. soles 9d. gurnet 4d. cod 4d, moki 6d. terakahi 6d. Rabbits and hares are in season again Poultry prices remain the same.