TENDENCY OF PRICES.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1918, Page 5

TENDENCY OF PRICES.

NOT DOWNWARDS YET. -r;\ (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Dec. 16. People, who are looking for an early fall in prices are going to be disappointed, according to the importing houses here. The war-may 'be regarded as over; i but the' prices of imported dress-goods and foodstuffs show no sign of a deeline, and, many of the manufacturers are quoting increased rates for next year's deliveries. A few standard lines may be quoted to indicate the tendency of the prices. Tarantulle, costing Is n, yard before the, war, is selling at Is lQd a yard to-day, and will cost 28 Cd -.1 yard nest year, the: mannfaeturero having announced an increase for January next. Tobralco cost i la a yard before the war, sella at la l<Hd now, and is to go up. to Sss lid after August next.

A standard line of calico that used to sell at 6Jd a yard is priced in the shops now at 1» fid a yard Prints that cost 7id a yard before the war are now selling at 1b lOd, and will cost 2s 9d when next year's wholesale prices tome into operation; -'Wnen damask iuw trebled in price, and is aliroat ■unprocurable. Wooflea gcods cannot show duy substantial decline in price Tintil vool becomes cheaper ihaa it to-day That the price of wool w cot going to fall in the near future is proved by the fact that the Imperial Government has contracted to tafce the New Zealand and Australian clips fov the vwst tw seasons at war prices. There fa a ootid shortage of wool, and the 'European countries will bo eager buyevts at high prices. Silks also are rising, and tiicfsy rui sign of a fall. A line of Japanese silk that used to cost In 3d a yard Is/quoted at 4s 4d a yard for delivery early next year. Silk and linen havo been Kced very largely by the armies; and there is a world shortage to 'be yiped out before production and manufacture can attain normal levels.

It is anticipated that there will be big reductions during the next twelve months in the prices of hardware: Already corrugated iron, for example, is quoted for future delivery at about onethird the wii? price. Wire, nails, cutleiy, house-fittings, pots,, etc., will become cheaper as the manufacturers who have been concentrating on munitions turn to ordinary trade lrocs. But it must not be assumed that the public will get the benefit at once. Wltc-n Hie war began and wholesale price;) soared up, most of the Tetmlerr, oliavfrsd the increased price for goods 'bonsrht at the war price But tile effect of decreased wholesale prices ir>!\v be less rapid.