RELATIVE RETAIL PRICES OF COAL IN TON LOTS, FOR HOUSEHOLD USE, ON APRIL 15, 1907 TO 1913, BY GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS. In the above table the relatives for each geographical division were computed by dividing the sum of the relatives for the several cities for which coal prices were quoted by the number of cities included. GAS. The price of gas is secured by the Bureau semiannaually, on April 15 and October 15. The last quotations are for April 15, 1913. Net prices for gas for household use are shown in this report for April 15, 1913, and for purposes of comparison prices on October 15, 1912, are also given. Prices for April 15 are reported for manufactured gas from 55 companies in 35 cities; for natural gas from 12 companies in 7 cities; and for mixed manufactured and natural gas from 1 company. Three companies reported a change in price since October 15, 1912. Two companies supplying manufactured gas reduced prices and 1 company increased prices, as follows: New Haven, Conn.: Price reduced from $0.95 to $0.90. New York, N. Y.: Company C, reduced price from $0.85 to $0.80. Company A, increased price from $0.85 to $1.00. 421°-Bull. 125-13-2 The net price per 1,000 cubic feet charged on October 15, 1912, and on April 15, 1913, by each of the companies reporting is shown in the table which follows: NET PRICE, PER 1,000 CUBIC FEET, OF GAS, FOR HOUSEHOLD USE, ON OCTOBER 15, 1912, AND ON APRIL 15, 1913, BY CITIES AND BY COMPANIES. 2 Rate reduced by order of Public Service Commission, Nov. 1, 1911, from $1 to 85 cents. Appeal to court pending on date of quotation. 8 Rate for one section of Detroit served by this company, 80 cents. 4 Combination light and fuel rate, April, 1913, 944 cents. Rate entered is for first 2,000 cu. ft. All over 2,000 cu. ft., $1.20. Rate entered is for first 2,000 cu. ft.; next 20,000 cu. ft., 80 cents; all over 22,000 cu. ft. 70 cents. 7 For cooking and heating purposes only. NET PRICE, PER 1,000 CUBIC FEET, OF GAS, FOR HOUSEHOLD USE, ON OCTOBER 15, 1912, AND ON APRIL 15, 1913, BY CITIES AND BY COMPANIES-Concluded. Data showing the price of gas prior to 1907 have not been collected by the Bureau. A comparison of the prices of manufactured gas as reported by 49 companies on April 15, 1907, and on April 15, 1913, shows that during that period 22 companies reduced prices, 26 companies made no change, and 1 advanced prices. Of the 8 companies reporting the price of natural gas on April 15, 1907, and on April 15, 1913, 1 reduced prices, 2 made no change, and 5 advanced prices. EXPLANATION OF SCOPE AND METHOD. This report, as already stated, presents for each of 39 of the most important industrial cities in the various sections of the United States the retail prices of the principal articles of food, the weight and price of the principal brands of wheat bread, the retail prices of anthracite and bituminous coal, and the net price of gas for household use. Data are furnished to the Bureau by approximately 670 retail stores, 140 bakeries, 205 retail coal dealers, and 65 gas companies. The 39 cities included in this report are important industrial cities representing 32 States. In a general way the city selected in each section of the country was the city having the largest population in that section; but, in addition, two smaller cities were included—Fall River, which is a textile center in Massachusetts, and Scranton, which is situated in the anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania. Within the 39 cities live one-fifth of the total number of people, twofifths of the urban population, and approximately one-third of the total number engaged in gainful occupations (not including those in agricultural pursuits) in continental United States. The 39 cities for which prices were secured have been grouped into five geographical divisions, as follows: North Atlantic division: Boston, Mass. Fall River, Mass. New Haven, Conn. South Atlantic division: Atlanta, Ga. Baltimore, Md. Charleston, S. C. Jacksonville, Fla. North Central division: Chicago, Ill. Cincinnati, Ohio. North Central division--Concluded. Detroit, Mich. Indianapolis, Ind. South Central division: Los Angeles, Cal. Salt Lake City, Utah. Cleveland, Ohio. FOOD. The present report gives retail prices of the principal articles of food in 39 industrial cities in the United States for March 15 and April 15, 1913, and for comparative purposes the prices on the corresponding dates of 1912. Summaries are also presented covering the 23 years and 4 months from 1890 to April, 1913, inclusive.1 The retail dealers who kindly furnished information for this report were selected through personal visits of agents of the Bureau and are those selling largely to the families of American, English, Irish, German, and Scandinavian wage earners. Practically all of the stores included are neighborhood stores, as such stores more nearly represent the trade of workingmen's families. A comparatively few "down-town" stores are included. "Chain stores" (a number of stores in one city owned or controlled by one firm) are not included, except in a very few cities where such stores are so numerous that they form a very important factor in the city's trade. So-called "cut-rate" stores are not included. The stores selected, with a very few exceptions, deliver all purchases when requested. 1 Previous investigations of retail prices have been made and published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as follows: Eighteenth Annual Report, covering 1890 to 1903; Bulletin No. 59 (July, 1905), covering 1904; Bulletin No. 65 (July, 1906), covering 1995; Bulletin No. 71 (July, 1907), covering 1906; Bulletin No. 77 (July, 1908), covering 1907; Bulletin No. 105 (August, 1912), covering 1907 to 1911; Bulletin No. 106 (August, 1912), covering January to June, 1912; Bulletin No. 108 (October, 1912), covering July and August, 1912; Bulletin No. 110 (December, 1912), covering September and October, 1912; Bulletin No. 113 (March, 1913), covering November and December, 1912; Bulletin No. 115 (April, 1913), covering January and February, 1913. After the agent of the Bureau had selected a store, arrangements were made for the retail merchant to send to the Bureau a statement of prices of the various commodities on or about the 15th of each succeeding month. Return visits to the various firms are made by agents of the Bureau whenever it is necessary to make personal inquiries concerning the monthly price quotations. The grade of articles quoted is that sold in each city in stores patronized largely by the families of American, English, Irish, German, and Scandinavian wage earners. The Bureau has not attempted to quote prices for an article of identical grade throughout the 39 cities. For almost every article this would be absolutely impossible, as the grade varies not only from city to city but also from firm to firm within the same city, and the grade even varies to some extent from month to month within the same store. Stores which vary in a marked degree from day to day or month to month the grade of articles handled have not been included, but in every store there is necessarily some variation in grade. This variation is usually more marked in fresh meat and eggs than in other articles. Brief descriptions of each of the articles and necessary explanations concerning each are presented in Bulletin No. 113, pages 37 to 44. The only additional explanation necessary is in connection with eggs. Beginning with January, 1913, price quotations are requested for an additional description of eggs termed "fresh" eggs. This description of eggs is intended to include "eggs which are between the grades usually known as 'strictly fresh' and 'storage.' This class should include eggs shipped a considerable distance, either without ice or iced in transit, and local eggs not 'strictly fresh,' but should not include any eggs which have been in cold storage." BREAD WEights. The weights of wheat bread, tabulated separately by cities, firms, and brands, are the weights at which the respective breads were scaled on March 15 and on April 15, 1913, and, where available, corresponding information for the same months of 1912 is shown for comparison. This scaling weight is the weight of the loaf before baking. 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. Further elements of uncertainty affecting weight enter before the consumer actually gets the loaf. The weight, of course, varies with the time intervening between the 1 Previous reports published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, containing data relative to bread weights, are Bulletins Nos. 105, 106, 108, 110, 113, and 115. |