SOARING PRICES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2188, 12 October 1920, Page 1

SOARING PRICES.

POSITION IN ENGLAND. CLOTHES TO COST MORE. LONDON, August 19. It is expected that people in tin's country will have to pay further increased prices, for clothes next summer. At present Britain is the only country which is producing woollen goods of good quality, and not only has the trad.; to supply the home demand, but it is being bombarded with orders from abroad. It is estimated that 75 per ecu I of the goods manufactured here will he sent into th; foreign markets. A v goods required for the summer ol 1921. had io bo ordered in tin early mouths of 1920. and as (lie cost had to lie based yon the nxiveinely high prices ruling during I hose months, the prices next year will probably be 50C per eeul. to 600_ per cent, more than pro war prices. .Materia! that in pre-war years cost 6s per yard cannot he 1, ought, from Ihe manufacturers to-day under 30s per yard. The price of the quartern loaf is to he increased by 3d next: month, and the whole ■ of the subsidy is to tic removed before (ho end of (he Ih-am-ial year. Should the price of wheal remain at its present level the State will .continue for seven months to contribute something 1o keep down the price- of the loaf, but tin, present drain on the Exchequer has apparently been regarded as too heavy, and Ihe public must iherefnre be prepared to pay Is or Is 4d for 41b. of bread very shortly. Unless the outlook improves the qiiarten loaf may cost. Is 0d next: spring, or three times the average price obtaining in 1914. Tho wealthy classes are, smad bread-eaters, and under n subsidy they have contributed to the bakers bill of 1 lie artisan. “With the high wages let them pay fr their own bread.” is tho view taken in some quarters, and the policy of tho Government will give died (o that view.

Government bin ter is to he raised from 2s 8d to 3s per lb. For fresh farm butler the price has already advanced to 3s 9d per Hi., and when the price of milk goes’ 11)1 British butter will probably cost 4s 6d to 5s per II). Germans. French, and even Americans are now competing with Groat Britain for Ihe available Danish hid for. and are olfering a higher price than lids country has lecenlly been paying. Irish bacon is now being retailed at 3s 6d pei - lb., and prime cuts of English bacon are fetching as much as 4s 6d per lb. English Cheshire cheese is being sold at. 2s a !!>., and Stilton at. 2s 6d, but, these prices may very soon he advanced. With regal'd to eggs the outlook for thr winter is not. hopeful. Since th" jirohibi(ioiL of ihe sah- of aleholic drinks in America there has been an increase in tho demand for ice-cream, and the egg is an ingredient in some varieties of ices. 'lbis could hardly account by itself for the call for so many more eggs, bid. whatever the reanon American buyers are now said to be searching ihe world s markets to augment the Home supplies. Egyptian eggs last winter were ihe cheapest available, and on 'lOOOlllll of their larger yoke in comparison with other eggs they wore re ga abd as good value. Eggs at. a- reasonable price Irom Egypt; would provide a check on the price of the home produced egg, which ev; 11 at present, is being sold ail "the rate of 5s 6d a dozen. rile sugar ration has been increase! from Boz. to 120/.. per head per week, and the public are now; enabled to obtain “tree” sugar for dorre-lic-|ir,serviug pur. poses if ihev like to pay from Is 5Ad to Is VAd per lb. for it.. Retail prices for rationed sugar stand at from Is 2d to Is per lb.