BREAKFAST TABLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17219, 10 December 1923, Page 7

BREAKFAST TABLE.

RETAIL PRICE REVIEW. FRUIT SCARCE, lilt. There seems to be a certain stability about the grocery market at present, and there have been no important changes in prices for some time. The main lines show no tendency towards increase, and it looks as if the market will remain fairly even for some time to come. Jn tea, the prices for Ceylon grades have been showing small advances during the last few weeks, and at the last sale still higher quotations were advised. The advances are: Lowest grade brokens, |d lb; clean, common, and medium brokens, $d ; plain broken Orange, Pekoe. 2d ; good broken arid finest 8.0. P., id per lb. There has also been slight increases in Vanilla and Lima means, and seedless raisins. Most of the grocery ’stores have now opened large stocks of Christmas goods, and the prices for these seem to be much the same as they were last year. FISH AND MEAT. The butchers, like all other tradesmen, are complaining of the hot weather, but there is a good deal more justice in their complaint, because it is found in their case that their stock is suffering. One butcher said that in some cases meat that had been killed on one day was practically unfit for stocking the next. Lamb was considerably dearer last week than it had been, and there was a good entry at the market. The cause of the increase was that owing to lamb being in season there was a keener demand for it, and it had to be got for the customers by the butchers. In consequence there was a forcing of the market, and the ruling price was from 9sd to lCd per lb. This week, with the freezing works opening, an indication of the probable price for the season will be given. It is expected that the opening price will be 9d, as against lOd last year. Mutton has been slightly dearer during th© week, but there has been no change in beef.

The fisla supplies are good, and the following are the prices :—Groper, lOd and Is per lb; ling. 7d per lb; cod, fc'd and 8d per lb ; gurnet, 6d and 10d per lb; soles and flounders, Is each. Whitebait is rapidly going out of season, and the price is becoming dearer each day. To-day’s price Is 2s 6d a half lb. The following are the approximate prices at which Christmas poultry will be sold :—Goslings, 7s 6d each ; ducklings, 12s 6d a pair; large chickens, I6s per pair; spring chickens, 10s per pair; boiling fowls, 6s a pair. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. It seems as if the spelt of dry weather is going to have a bad effect on the fruit market as far as the public is concerned, and already some lines are becoming short and dear. Strawberries, which were fairly plentiful a few weeks ago, are now getting short, and local growers find that their crops hav© dried up. Cherries are also rapidly becoming short, and it is expected that there will be very small stocks available at Christmas time.

Spring cabbages are now much cheaper for the consumer, and good supplies are available at 2d and 3d each. Spring cauliflowers have dropped considerably during the week, and are available to-day at 9d and Is each, whereas last week’s price was Is 9d and 2s. Carrots, turnips and beet are selling at 3d a bundle. There has been a cheapening in the 6alad vegetables, and spring onions are selling at 2d a bundle, and lettuces are plentiful at 4d and 6-d.

North Island new potatoes are selling at 51b a shilling, while the local grown cost 5d iger lb. Green peas are Is 6d a peck, and broad beans 4d per lb. Supplies of the new seasem’s fruit are coming in now, but of courlfe the prices are fairly high to begin wiflh- Black and red currants are 9d per lb. Th© first of the season dessert raspberries are 2s a box, and loganberries are Is 6d a box. The supplies of jam raspberries will be available much earlier this year, and it is expected that th© supply will be a very short one on account of the unsuitable weather conditions. Tomatoes are becoming cheaper, and first grade local hothouse are selling at Is 3d and Is 6d. Hothouse cucumbers cost Is 2d per lb, and Sydney-grown cost Bd.

Oranges are very scarce at present. American being three a shilling, and Island three, four and five a shilling. American grapes are selling at 2s, and the first of the season local peaches are 3s a lb. There are no supplies of passion fruit available jxist now, and on the whole the fruit market is fairly bare. Further supplies will, however, be available during the week, when new shipments arrive.