PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2732, 29 March 1916, Page 6

PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS

HOW NECESSITIES HAVE JUMPED.

Curious to ascertain how present-day prices of food commodities compare' with those of-other days, recently impelled Mr. J. W. M'Ewan, Mayor of Petone, to look over some of his invoices of the year 1900. So remarkable was the difference that he confesses that oven he, who was well aware of the gradual rise in prices, was surprised at the gap. The following are the wholesale prices of the goods then and now, as supplied to him by the same Wellington firm of merchants:—

Cheese, 5-case lot, per lb.: 1910, 5d.: 1916, 9d. ■.■'-> Onions, per cwt.: 1900, 3s. 6d.: 1916 ss. 6d.

Wheat, per bushel: 1900, 2s. 7*d.: 1916, ss. 6d. to 6s. 6d.

Butter, per lb.: 1900, 9Jd.; 1916, Is. did. '..».'>.•

(Npte.—ln June, 1900, mid-winter,.the price was 10d.). Barley, pearl: 1900, 12s. 6d.; 1918, 255. 6d. /

Pollard, per ton: 1900, £3 155.: 1916, £8.

Oatmeal, per cwt.: 1900, 9s. 6d. and 10s. 6d.j 1916, £1. Maize: 1900, 3s. Id.; 1916, 6s. Flour, 50's: 1900, £7 10s.; 1916. £14 10s.

Sugar, ex 'Auckland, per tori: 1900, £16; 1916, £21.,

Potatoes, new, in January. 1900, 3s. 6d. to 4s. 6d.; 1916, 9s. to 10s. Potatoes in Juno, 1900, per ton, £2 7s. 6d. ■

Imported goods such as tobacco, cocoa, patent foods, tinned fish, etc., have advanced anything between 10 and 80 per cent.; meat is 100 per cent, dearer, and broad', which was 2Jd. in 1900, is now 4ld. per loaf.