Higher than in 1903.
Lower than in 1903..
Higher than in 1904.
Lower than in 1904. .
Higher than in 1905.
Lower than in 1905..
Higher than in 1906.
Lower than in 1906..
Higher than in 1907.
Lower than in 1907..
Higher than in 1908.
Lower than in 1906. .
Higher than in 1900.
Lower than in 1909 .
Higher than Id 1910.
Lower than in 1910. .
32.4
82.1
32.6
29.2
36.0
38.8
40.7
38.6
84.6
84.9
81.0
24.0
18.8
18.6
16.8
17.8
18.8
8.0
6.6
2.8
42.0
40.0
41.2
30.1
48.6
46.1
46.0
46.7
48.8
40.1
36.0
80.8
23.6
24.7
24.4
28.6
10.1
13.5
10.1
8.7
42.0
88.8
41.7
86.0
46.0
48.7
68.6
60.8
46.1
46.0
4ao
81.0
25.1
25.0
94.3
94.2
19.7
14.6
0.8
3.8
a2
8.7
1.8
66.6
62.7
66.8
6a7
66.4
60.4
64.1
02.0
67.2
66.0
68.8
48.1
82.3
3a6
28.6
29.4
26.6
19.9
14.2
6.7
0.2
82.2
80.1
84.6
86.2
4L0
46.6
47.7
46.6
41.0
36.6
86.1
82.6
26.8
26.6
26.2
24.4
21.0
14.2
1X8
5.9
0.2
4as
88.8
40.7
87.4
44.2
47.3
6a2
47.9
43.4
41.9
38.8
31.8
24.8
24.?
28.1
22.0
18.0
13.6
9.9
4.2
0.8
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
.RETAIL PRICES, 1890 TO 1911.
21
The relative retail prices in the United States, considered as a
whole, of each of the 15 principal articles of food for the 22 years,
1890 to 1911, arc presented in the table which follows. General
Table II, in Part II of this Bulletin, shows similar data for each of
the five geographical divisions. This table shows yearly prices for
1890 to 1911 and also prices each month during 1911.
RELATIVE llETAIL PRICES OF THE PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF FOOD IN THE UNITED
STATES, 1800 TO 1911, BY ARTICLES.
(Airerage prioe for 1890-1899- 100.0.]
Year or month.
Sirloin
steak.
Round
•taaic.
Rlb-
roast.
Pork
chops.
Bacon,
smoked.
Ham,
smoked.
Lard,
pure.
Hens.
1890
99.3
99.7
tfd.tf
99.4
98.1
98.7
98.8
99.6
102.1
104.4
107.1
109.4
114.6
110.6
111.0
110.6
114.2
116. 7
119.9
126.1
134.0
134.9
97.6
98.0
98.0
98.5
97.4
98.2
100.6
101.8
102.8
107.0
109.8
114.0
122.3
116.8
120.8
120.0
124.4
128.4
136.5
140.6
149.9
152.6
08.7
09.6
09.6
98.4
97.9
97.9
99.4
100.1
102.2
106.1
109.3
112.7
118.6
117.0
117.0
110.2
120.5
123.0
126.7
132.2
137.7
138.6
96.6
98.8
lOLl
105.0
100.9
99.7
97.8
97.5
99.7
103.2
108.9
119.0
127.8
126.1
123.1
125.0
135.9
140.9
144.6
158.7
178.3
170.3
96.5
97.2
99.9
108.9
102.5
98.7
96.3
97.0
100.2
102.9
110.3
121.3
135.9
140.4
138.5
139,3
150.5
167.7
-163.2
176 4
204.4
197.2
98.3
99.6
10L6
107.1
10L7
98.9
965
98.5
97.2
100.5
106.9
ni.i
120.6
122.1
119.4
119.4
127.8
13L0
133.8
142.1
150.4
155.9
98.6
100.0
104.4
119.2
106.4
09.8
92.1
89.0
93.5
97.1
104.9
119.6
135.6
126.0
116.3
115.8
127.3
133.5
134.3
150.5
172.9
145.3
ljQ2.8
Ia91
104.8
1692
104.2
1893
104 3
1894
98.2
1805
97.3
u>oo
90.1
1S97
92.3
laos
90.8
1899
103.4
1900
99.6
1901
lOo.O
1902
113.6
1903
liy.3
1904
120.6
1905
123.6
1906
128.0
1907
131. a
1908
134.9
1909
- 14/». i
1910
155.0
1911
151.0
1911.
Jftntmry
134.0
133.7
134.3
134.3
135.8
136.2
136.8
137.3
135.8
133.9
133.0
132.8
150.9
161.1
la2.5
153.0
154.2
155.1
154.6
154.7
153.2
151.7
149.8
149.6
137.8
138.0
138.7
139.8
140.0
139.4
138.4
138.9
138.8
137.9
137.2
137.4
170.5
16S.4
167.6
167.4
166.8
167.3
171.0
180.7
183.4
179.1
160.8
155.4
203.5
201.1
198.0
196.5
196.9
196.8
199.3
200.1
199.4
193.2
190.7
187.8
155.4
154.8
153.8
153.4
154.3
157.0
160.5
162.3
159.8
157.4
153.1
150.9
16L1
168.5
151.4
145.2
140.9
139.5
138.6
139. S
142.6
142.5
142.6
141.3
154-7
February
155.5
March
156.9
Aprn
153. 7
M^....... .......:::.
15G.1
JUTIft
152.3
July
151.9
Angfost
150.1
September
149.4
October
147.3
November
143.2
December
142.9
Digitized by VjOOQIC
22
BULLETIN OP THE BUREAU OP LABOB.
RELATIVE RETAIL PRICES OF THE PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF FOOD IN THE UNITED
STATES, 1890 TO 1911. BY ARTICLES— Concluded.
[Average price for 1890-1899—100.0.1
Year or month.
Wheat
flour.
Com meal.
str^y
fresh.
Butter,
creamery.
Potatoes,
Irish.
granulated.
Milk, fresh.
1890
Iia2
112.4
104.0
96.1
88.8
89.6
94.2
104.7
106.9
94.8
94.6
94.9
95.6
102.1
118.3
118.6
108.3
iia2
127.1
138.1
135.9
127.9
10L3
11L5
107.7
104.0
104.4
lOLO
92.8
91.2
92.9
92.9
95.6
107.6
123.9
122.1
122.9
123.5
124.5
133.5
142.6
146.7
147.9
147.2
loas
10&6
105.3
105.5
97.4
98.8
9a3
94.0
97.9
10L6
99.1
107.7
119.4
126.1
13L1
18L3
134.2
138.2
142.8
154.7
158.2
15a 2
99.2
106.7
106.8
108.6
102.0
97.4
93.1
93.7
95.8
97.6
101.2
103.0
100.8
iia2
108.1
11L4
118.3
127.3
127.9
134.8
139.9
13L8
109.0
117.1
95.4
11L8
101.8
90.6
78.8
92.5
108.9
98.8
92.8
114.0
116.7
114.7
119.0
100.3
114.6
122.2
129.8
133.4
1191 5
157.0
12a8
103.1
96.9
102.6
95.2
9L8
96.2
94.3
99.7
99.6
103.9
102.1
92.8
93.7
ioa4
10L8
97.2
98.7
10L3
100.0
102.6
llLl
ioa4
1891
100.6
1892 :
100.5
1893
100.5
1894
loaa
1895
99.4
1896
100.1
1897
loao
1898
99.8
1899
98.8
1900
loao
1901
10L4
1902
104.1
1903
107.4
1904
107.4
1905
loai
1906
iiao
1907
118.9
1908
123.2
1909
126.2
1910
181.6
1911
132.7
1911.
January
isas
129.2
127.5
126.2
125.9
125.8
125.8
126.7
127.6
129.5
13a2
129.5
144.6
144.6
143.7
144.5
145.1
145.2
146.9
148.7
149.5
151,2
152.3
151.9
185.1
145. ft
123.6
112.9
Iia4
112.8
122.1
133.0
146.7
163.4
196.2
207.3
140.7
133.1
128.1
117.8
114.8
115.6
119.4
126.2
13L0
138.9
149.7
169.5
119.2
119.0
12L2
126.6
142.5
196.9
24ai
197.6
167.8
144.1
149.0
150.0
99.9
98.9
99.5
99.9
ioa9
102.4
105.3
115.0
13a2
182.2
124.9
118.2
135.1
February
135.2
March . .
134.2
April
132.3
^y ..:.:::.::::::::.
129.6
June
129.8
July
129.9
August
13a 6
September
13L5
October
133.8
November
134.9
December
135.0
In the above table, as in the preceding table of relative prices,
the average price for the 10-year period, 1890 to 1899, is the base
or 100.0. The figures in the column for sirloin steak, for example,
indicate that if the price of sirloin steak for the 10-year period,
1890 to 1899, be considered 100.0, the price in 1890 was 99.3, or
0.7 per cent below the average for 1890 to 1899; the price in 1911
was 134.9, or 34.9 per cent above the averi^e for 1890 to 1899, etc.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
BBTAIL PBIOBS, 1890 TO 1911.
23
The table which follows shows for the United States the lowest and
the highest yearly relative price of each of the 15 principal articles
of food during the 22 years, 1890 to 1911, and the year in which
the lowest and the highest yearly price was reached.
LOWEST AND HIGHEST YEARLY RELATIVE PRICES OF THE PRINCIPAL ARTICLES
OP FOOD IN THE UNITED STATES, 1890 TO IQU, BY ARTICLES.
[Average prioe for 1890-1899- 100.0]
Article.
Sirloin steak
Round steak
Rlbroast ^..
Pork chops
Baoon, smoked ...
Ham, smoked
Lctfd, pure
Hens
Wheat flour
Com meal
Eggs, strictly fresh
Butter, creamery..
Potatoes,* Irish
Sugar, granulated.
Milk, fresh
Lowest
Year.
1894
1894
|1894
11895
1890
1896
1896
1897
1897
1894
1897
1896
1896
1896
1805
1899
Relar
tive
price,
98.1
97.4
[97. 9
96.5
96.3
06.5
89.0
92.3
88.3
91.2
90.3
93.1
78.8
01.8
98.8
Highest
Year.
1911
1911
1911
1910
1910
1910
1910
1910
1909
1010
1910
1910
1911
1890
1911
Rela-
tive
price.
134.0
152.6
138.6
178.3
204.4
150.4
172.9
155.0
138.1
147.9
158.2
139.9
157.0
120.8
132.7
Of the 15 articles for which prices are shown the lowest yearly
relative price during the 22 years was reached by one in 1890, three in
1894, one in 1894 and 1895 (the price being the same for the two
years), one in 1895, five in 1896, three in 1897, and one in 1899. The
highest yearly relative price was reached by one in 1890, one in i909,
eight in 1910, and five in 1911.
Certain of the articles included in this report are related in such a
way as to make a comparison of the course of prices of such articles
interesting. The group designated in the table which foUows as
"cattle products" includes sirloin steak, round steak, and ribroast;
the group designated as "dairy products" includes fresh milk and
Digitized by VjOOQIC
24
BULLETIN OF THE BUBEAUv OF LABOB.
creamery butter; and the group designated as **hog products"
includes pork chops, smoked bacon, smoked ham, and pure lard.
RELATIVE RETAIL PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES OF CERTAIN GROUPS OF RELATED
ARTICLES OF FOOD, 1890 TO 1911.
[Average prioe for 1890-1899« 100.0.1
Cattle prodacts.
Dairy products.
Hog products.
Year or month.
Sirloin
steak.
Roond
steak.
Rib-
roast.
Milk,
ftesh!
Butter,
cream-
ery.
Pork
chops.
Bacon,
smoked.
Ham,
smoked.
Lard,
pure.
1890
99.3
99.7
99.6
99.4
98.1
98.7
98.8
99.6
102.1
104.4
107.1
109.4
114.6
110.6
111.0
110.6
114.2
116.7
119.9
120.1
134.0
134.9
97.6
98.0
98.0
98.5
97.4
98.2
100.6
101.8
102.8
107.0
109.8
114.0
122.3
116.8
120.8
120.0
124.4
128.4
135.5
140.0
149.9
152.6
98.7
99.6
99.6
98.4
97.9
97.9
99.4
100.1
102.2
106.1
109.3
112.7
118.6
117.0
117.0
110.2
120.6
123.0
126.7
132.2
137.7
138.6
100.4
100.5
100.5
100.5
100.3
99.4
100.1
100.0
S:l
100.0
101.4
104.1
107.4
107.4
108.1
110.0
118.9
123.2
126.2
131.6
132.7
99.2
105.7
106.8
108.6
102.0
97.4
93.1
93.7
95.8
97.6
101.2
103.0
109.8
110.2
108.1
111.4
118.3
127.8
127.9
134.3
139.9
131.3
96.6
98.8
101.1
105.0
100.9*
99.7
97.8
97.8
99.7
103.2
108.9
119.0
127.8
126.1
123.1
125.0
135.9
140.9
144.6
158.7
178.3
170.3
96.5
97.2
99.9
108.9
102.5
96.7
96.3
97.0
100.2
102.9
110.3
121.3
135.9
140.4
138.5
139.3
150.5
157.7
163.2
176.4
204.4
197.2
98.3
99.5
101.6
107.1
101.7
98.9
96.5
98.6
97.2
100.5
106.9
111.1
120.6
122.1
119.4
119.4
127.8
131.0
133.8
142.1
159.4
155.9
98.5
1891
100.0
1892
104.4
1893
119.2
1894
106.4
1895
99.8
1896
92.1
1897
89.0
1898
93.5
1899
97.1
1900
104.9
1901
119.6
1902
135.6
1903
126.0
1904
116.3
1905
115.8
1906
127.3
1907
133.6
1908
134.3
1909
150.5
1910
172.9
1911
145.3
1911.
January
134.0
133.7
134.3
134.3
135.8
136.2
136.8
137.3
135.8
133.9
133.0
132.8
150.9
151.1
152.5
153.0
154.2
155.1
154.6
154.7
153.2
151.7
149.8
149.6
137.8
138.0
138.7
139.8
140.0
139.4
138.4
138.9
138.8
137.9
137.2
137.4
135.1
135.2
134.2
132.3
129.6
129.8
129.9
130.5
131.5
133.8
134.9
135.0
140.7
133.1
128.1
117.8
114.8
115.6
119.4
126.2
131.0
138.9
149.7
169.5
170,6
168.4
167.6
167.4
166.8
167.3
171.0
180.7
183.4
179.1
160.8
155.4
203.5
201.1
198.6
196.5
196.9
196.8
199.3
200.1
199.4
193.2
190.7
187.8
165.4
154.8
163.8
153.4
154.3
167.0
160.5
162.3
159.8
157.4
153.1
150.9
161.1
Febniajy
158.6
March
151.4
April
145.2
i^y :::: :.:.:.
140.9
June
139.6
July
138.6
August
139.8
September
142.6
October
142.6
November
142.6
December
141.3
The price of each of the three articles shown under *' cattle prod-
ucts" was higher in 1891 than in 1890; the price of sirloin steak lower
and the price of both round steak and ribroast the same in 1892 as in
1891; the prices of sirloin steak and ribroast lower and of round
steak higher in 1893 than in 1892 ; the prices of all three lower in 1894
than in 1893; the prices of sirloin steak and round steak higher and
of ribroast the same in 1895 as in 1894; in each year from 1896 to
1902, inclusive, the prices of each of the three articles advanced; in
1903 all three declined; in 1904 sirloin steak and round steak advanced
and ribroast remained the same aa in 1903; in 1905 all declined; in
each year from 1906 to 1911, inclusive, the price of each of the three
articles advanced.
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
RETAIL PRICES, 1800 TO 1911. 25
BREAD WEIGHTS.
The price of a loaf of bread as a rule is practically fixed by custom,-
the 5-cent loaf being by far the most commonly sold, the 10-cent loaf
predominating in a few locaUties, and sharing the popularity of the
5-cont loaf in others. The baker, therefore, varies the weight of the
loaf as the price of the materials used rises or falls.
In recent years a noteworthy change has taken place in bakery
methods. The small plant, using in the nlain hand processes and
frequently selling chiefly at retail, is being rapidly replaced by the
large modem bakery using machine methods of production and more
or less closely restricted to a wholesale business. The brand name
has become an important factor, and the change of names and for-
mulas is more or less frequent.
It was found impossible, in most cases, to get satisfactory informa-
tion as to the weight of the loaf of bread prior to 1911. It therefore
became necessary to omit the data for bread from the general table
for 1907-191 1, and no relative prices for bread were computed for that
period. More satisfactory information as to bread weights is, how-
ever, now being received monthly from the chief baking establish-
ments of the 39 cities covered by this report and will be printed cur-
rently with the future retail price reports of the Bureau.
In a few cities satisfactory information was secured for the period
1907 to 1911, and the data from two of them, designated below as
City A and City B, are presented in the following tables. Both of
these cities represent a high development of the bakery business by
modem factory methods. All graham, rye, special, and restaurant
breads are excluded, except as noted for one firm, and no "French"
breads were reported. The tables include only wheat breads, retailed
t)y grocers to a regular family trade.
It is to be noted that the bread weights shown in these tables are
the scaling weights, i. e., the weight of the loaf before it is baked.
While it would be highly desirable to present the weight of the loaf
as actually purchased by the consumer, the complications involved
in the relation of the scaled weight to the weight of the bread when
it passes over the retailer's counter were found to be such that it was
impossible to do so. The loss of weight in baking varies with the
formula, with the style of loaf, and with the temperature of the oven.
A further element of uncertainty affecting weights enters before the
consumer actually gets the loaf. The weight of course varies with
the time intervening between the removal of the loaf from the oven
and its final distribution to the consumer, the loss by evaporization
also being partly determined by the conditions under which the bread
is kept and by the state of the atmosphere.
The customary loss in baking is variously estimated by bakers, but
it may be said that a loaf scaled at 18 ounces will, when cold, if han-
dled under ordinary conditions, weigh not far from 16 ounces, and a
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
26
BULLETIN OF THE BUBBAU OF LABOR.
loaf scaled at 16 ounces will, when baked and cooled, weigh about 14 J
ounces. As noted above, however, the range of loss varies widely.
The tables below are believed to represent fairly typical conditions
during the years covered.
BREAD WEIOHTS: SCALING WEIGHT (WEIGHT OF DOUGH BEFORE BASING), IN
OUNCES, OF WHEAT BREAD IN TWO CITIES EVERY SECOND MONTH, 1007 TO 1910,
AND EVERY MONTH DURING 1911, BY FIRMS.
[The weights quoted are for the 15th of each month for which data are shown.]
Year and month.
1907.
January
March
May
July
September...
November...
1908.
January
March.
May
July
September...
November...
1909.
January
March
May
July
September...
November...
1910.
January
March.
May
July
September. . .
November. . .
1911*
January
February
March.
AprU
May
June
July
August.
September...
October
November...
December
City A.
Firm
No. I.
Brands
A.B,
andC—
fk»nt
loaf.
Ouncet.
17i
17*
17j
17|
17*
171
ao
20
18
Firm
No.n.
Average
of^
brands^
5-cent
loaf.
Ounces.
17
17
17
17
m
m
m
m
m
Firm
No. in.
Average
ofaU
brands!
5-cent
loaf.
Ounces,
21
21
20
19
19
19
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
17
1?
17
17
i3
18*
17
17*
18
18
19
19
19
19
19
19
18
Firm No. IV.
Brand
A—
5K)ent
loaf.
Ounces.
22*
S*
22
21
20
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
18*
19
18*
18
18
18
18*
18
18*
18
17*
18
18*
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
Brands
Band
C-
5-cent
loaf.
Ounces.
21
21
21
19*
18
18
17
17
17*
17
17
17*
17
17
17*
CItyB.
Firm No. I.
Brand
A—
5-cent
loaf.
Ounces.
16*
16
16
16
16
16
15
15
15
15
15
15
15*
15
15
15
15
15
16
15
15
15
15
15
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
Brand
B—
5-oent
loaf.
Ounces.
16
16
16
16
16
16
15
15
15
15
15
in
15
15
14*
15
15
15
15
15
15
15*
15*
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
Firm No. n.
Brand
A—
&«ent
loaf.
Ounces.
18
18
18
18
18
17
17
17
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
17
17
17
16
16
16
16
16
Brand
B—
5-oent
loaL
Ounces.
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
15
15
15
15
15
14
}f
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
15
16
151
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
1 In this report a small amount of rye bread is included in the average.
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
RETAIL PRICES, 1890 TO 1911.
27
COAL.
Retail prices of coal for household use were slightly higher in 1911
than in 1907. Average annual prices computed from a simple average
of quotations on January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15, show
that Pennsylvania anthracite white ash, stove size, in ton lots, as
reported from 29 cities, was 0.9 per cent higher in 1911 than in
1907. Pennsylvania anthracite white ash, chestnut size, in ton lots,
as reported from 28 cities, was 2.5 per cent higher in 1911 than in 1907.
Bituminous coal in ton lots, as reported from 31 cities, was 1.0 per cent
higher m 1911 than in 1907.
A comparison of prices on January 16, 1911, with prices on January
15, 1907, shows a somewhat greater change in price. White ash stove
advanced 1.6 per cent, white ash chestnut advanced 2.8 per cent, and
bituminous advanced 3.9 per cent.
Coal prices have never before been included in the retail price
reports of the Bureau of Labor, and therefore no summary for the
period for which food prices are Bummarize4 in this report is possible.
The table which follows shows the relative prices of coal in each of
the five geographical divisions and in the United States as a whole,
each year from 1907 to 1911. The first section of the table compares
the average price for each year, 1908 to 1911, inclusive, with the aver-
age price for 1907. The second section compares the midwinter price
on January 15 of each year, 1908 to 1911, inclusive, with the price on
January 15, 1907.
RELATIVE RETAIL PRICES OF COAL IN TON LOTS FOR HOUSEHOLD USE, 1907 TO WU,
BY CITIES AND BY GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS.
Average priee for 1007'
.100.0.
Pennsylvania anthracite white ash.
Bituminous.
Oeographical
division.
Stove.
Chestnut.
1908
1909
1910
1911
1908
1909
1910
1911
1908
1909
1910
1911
North Atlantic.
South Atlantic. .
North Central...
Sooth Central...
Western
100.7
102.3
99.7
100.6
99.4
101.0
101.3
99.6
100.9
99.4
100.1
101.4
100.6
101.0
99.4
100.6
102.9
100.6
101.1
96.7
100.7
102.4
99.7
100.3
101.0
101.4
99.6
09.7
100.2
101.7
100.6
100.5
102.6
104.4
102.4
101. 1
98.9
100.3
99.8
99.9
101.8
96.5
101.3
97.9
96.0
100.2
97.2
101.5
102,6
99.4
101.2
97.4
106.8
102.5
98.7
101.8
United States.
100.5
100.5
100.5
100.9
100.6
100.4
100.6
102.6
100.0*
98.1
100.5
101.0
•
Price on Januarjr 15, 1007-100.0.
North AtlanUc.
South Atlantic..
North Oentral...
Sooth Central...
Western
103.0
103.2
100.2
100.7
96.8
103.0
103.2
100.0
101.3
96.8
103.5
100.9
101.1
101.5
98.8
102.3
108.2
100.8
101.5
96.1
103.0
103.7
100.1
100.7
102.9
103.7
100.0
100.3
103.5
101.1
101.2
102.0
108.5
103.9
102.3
101.5
102.8
101.9
101.
102.1
106.5
98.0
102.5
99.1
08.0
107.6
97.7
102.6
101.0
101.8
106.2
99.0
106.7
104.6
103.1
106.8
United States.
101.6
101.6
101.9
101.6
101.8
101.6
102.1
102.8
102.9
100.6
101.4
108.0
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
28 BULLETIN OP THE BUBEAU OF LABOB.
In the above table the relatives for each geographical division were
computed simply by dividing the sum of the relatives for the several
cities forwhich coal prices were quoted by the numberof cities included.
The United States relatives were computed by dividing the sum of rela-
tives for all cities included in this report by the number of such cities.
General Table III, in Part II of this Bulletin shows actual prices of
coal from 1907 to 1911, and General Table IV shows relative prices for
each city on ton lots of Pennsylvania anthracite white ash, stove size;
Pennsylvania anthracite white ash, chestnut size; and bitunrinous.
No relative prices were computed for the few quotations for Colorado
anthracite and other kinds of coal. Nor were relative prices com-
puted for Pennsylvania anthracite or bituminous sold in half -ton
lots and in bushel lots. The price of half-ton lots generally follows the
price of ton lots, but the bushel price (for small lots) generally remains
the same year after year without any reduction during the sunmaer
months, as is customary in most cities for sales of ton or half-ton lots.
Emphasis is placed upon the fact that the coal prices quoted are for
coal for household use and do not include contracts for large quantities
which are usually made at a considerably lower price.
GAS.
Net prices of manufactured gas for household use are included in
tliis report for 37 cities, natural gas for 5 cities, and mixed manufac-
tured and natural gas for 1 city. Net price data are shown through-
out the five years 1907 to 1911, inclusive, for manufactured gas in 35
cities. In those 35 cities the prices on April 15, 1911, compared with
the price on April 15, 1907, show an advance in one city, no change in
20 cities, and a reduction in 14 cities (including Detroit and Wash-
ington, in each of which cities the price quoted by one company was
unchanged, and not including New York, in which city the price
quoted by one company was reduced).
Natural gas prices are quoted throughout the five-year period for
five cities, and the price was unchanged in all cities excepting Pitts-
burgh, where the prices charged by four companies were advanced and
the price charged by one company reduced.
Gas prices have never before been included in the retail price
reports of the. Bureau of Labor, and therefore no summary for the
period for which food prices are summarized in this report is possible.
The net prices per 1,000 cubic feet charged for manufactured giis,
for household lighting purposes, on April 15, 1911, were as foDows:
SECTT CENTS.
Indianapolis, Ind.
SEVENTT-FIVE CENTS.
Los Angeles, Cal. (1 company).
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
BBTAIL PRICES, 1890 TO 19IL 29
EIGHTY CENTS.
Boston, Mass. (1 company). Los Angeles, Cal. (1 eompr.ny).
Oeveland, Oliio. Milwaukee, Wis.