removal of the loaf from the oven and its final distribution to the consumer, the loss by evaporation 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 sold, if handled under ordinary conditions, weigh not far from 16 ounces, and a loaf scaled at 16 ounces will, when baked and cooled, weigh about 14 ounces. As noted above, however, the range of loss varies widely. From General Table II of this report for each city all fancy, special, graham, rye, and restaurant breads are excluded. All wrapped and so-called "French" breads are so designated. In the use of these data it must be borne clearly in mind that weight is only one factor entering into the bread question as an element in the study of prices. The quality of materials used varies widely and is likely to be reflected in the weight at which the loaf is scaled. It is hoped that at some future time it may be possible to present baked weights as well as scaled weights; but, as already explained, this was impracticable in the present report. The most representative bakeries in every city included in this report have promptly furnished to the Bureau information concerning bread weights on the 15th of each month. COAL. This report gives prices of coal on April 15, 1913, and for comparative purposes prices are also entered for the corresponding date in 1912. The prices shown are those quoted for retail trade for household use. The table of prices shows Pennsylvania anthracite white ash coal both in stove size and in chestnut size; bituminous coal of several kinds; and in a few cities other varieties, such as Colorado anthracite and soft China anthracite. Prices are quoted for sales "in ton lots," and "in half-ton lots." The prices were quoted by coal dealers, who supplied the information at the request of the Bureau. In some cities practically all sales for household use were of anthracite coal, and in other cities of bituminous coal. Bituminous coal is reported only for cities in which there is considerable demand for bituminous for household use. The coal dealers in each city were asked to quote prices on the kind of bituminous coal usually sold for household use. The prices quoted are for coal delivered to consumers, but do not include charges for storing the coal in cellar or coal bin where an extra handling was necessary, except as noted in connection with the price quotation.1 1 Previous reports, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, containing data relative to retail prices of coal for household use, are Bulletins Nos. 105, 106, 108, 110, 113, and 115. GAS. This report gives prices of gas for household use on April 15, 1913, and for purposes of comparison the prices on October 15, 1912, the date of the last previous report, have been entered. The prices quoted are the net rates charged for gas for household use as distinguished from use by manufacturing plants and industrial establishments. Where a sliding scale of prices, based on amount consumed, was reported, the price for the smallest quantity has been quoted, except in Salt Lake City, where the quotation has been noted, as the smallest quantity is less than the amount usually consumed for domestic purposes. The prices are the same for gas for illuminating, cooking, and heating purposes, except as noted in the table. Prices are in most cases for manufactured gas, but natural gas has also been quoted where that is in general use. The data were furnished by the gas companies, who kindly responded to the Bureau's request for this information.1 EXPLANATION OF TABLES. This report includes four general tables, as follows: Table I.-Retail prices of the principal articles of food on the 15th of each month, March and April, 1912, and March and April, 1913, by cities and by firms. Table II.-Bread weights: Scaling weight (weight of dough before baking), in ounces, of the principal brands of wheat bread on the 15th of each month, March and April, 1912, and March and April, 1913, by cities and by firms and brands. Table III.-Relative retail prices of the principal articles of food, January, 1911, to April, 1913, by geographical divisions. Table IV.-Retail prices of coal, for household use, on April 15, 1912, and April 15, 1913, by cities and by firms. Table I.-Retail prices of the principal articles of food on the 15th of each month, March and April, 1912, and March and April, 1913, by cities and by firms (pp. 26 to 113).-This table includes 39 of the most important industrial cities in the various sections of the United States. For each city prices are quoted for 18 principal articles of food. Prices are quoted for March 15 and April 15, 1913, and for comparative purposes prices on the corresponding date in 1912 have been entered. When the 15th fell on Sunday or on a holiday the prices quoted were for either the 14th or the 16th of the month. The 39 cities are arranged in alphabetical order, and under the various cities the articles follow a uniform order, beginning with fresh meats. The particular grade or description of each article is shown in connection with the price quotations. Great care was taken to secure prices throughout the period covered for an article 1 Previous reports, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, containing data relative to prices of gas for household use, are Bulletins Nos. 105, 106, 108, 110, 113, and 115. of as nearly uniform grade or quality as possible within each store, as changes in quality are, of course, reflected in prices. Price quotations were secured from several firms in each city. In order to avoid identification, names of firms are not shown, but each firm has been given a number, which enables one to follow the prices quoted throughout the period for which a firm has been furnishing price quotations, either for the present report or for the preceding reports covering the period from 1907 to February, 1913. Three articles are included in this table which are not carried into the tables showing relative prices of food; these articles are chuck roast, leg of lamb (yearling), and "fresh" eggs. Table II.—Bread weights: Scaling weight (weight of dough before baking), in ounces, of the principal brands of wheat bread on the 15th of each month, March and April, 1912, and March and April, 1913, by cities and by firms and brands (pp. 113 to 123).—This table shows the scaling weight in ounces of the principal brands of wheat bread in the cities covered by this report. The weights are quoted for March 15 and April 15, 1913, and for comparative purposes weights on the corresponding dates in 1912 have been entered where available. When the 15th fell on Sunday or on a holiday, the weights quoted were for either the 14th or the 16th of the month. Weight quotations were secured from several representative bakeries in each city. In order to avoid identification, names of firms and brands are not shown, but each firm has been given a number and each brand reported by a firm has been designated by a letter. Table III.-Relative retail prices of the principal articles of food, January, 1911, to April, 1913, by geographical divisions (pp. 124 to 138). This table shows for each of 15 principal articles of food the relative price for each month from January, 1911, to April, 1913. Relative prices are not shown for chuck roast, leg of lamb, "fresh" eggs, and storage eggs, for reasons stated in Bulletin No. 115, page 28. Data corresponding to that shown in this table are presented for each year from 1890 to 1912 in General Table IV, in Bulletin No. 113. As explained on a previous page, a relative price, or an index number, as it is technically called, of any article is the per cent which the price of that article at any certain date is of the price of the same article at a date or period which has been selected as the base or standard. The base selected for this compilation of retail prices is the average price for the 10-year period, 1890 to 1899. This base period is the same as was used in the preceding bulletins on retail prices and wages and hours of labor and in the several presentations of wholesale prices in the bulletins of this Bureau. The average for the 10year period is used as the base for the reason that an average price for a number of years more nearly represents average or normal conditions than does the price for a single year, because of unusual conditions that may prevail in any one year. The value of the relative price is that it enables the reader to measure more readily the course of prices of a single article and, when these relative prices are combined, to follow the course of prices of groups of articles. The relative price also permits the continuation of a price series when for any reason quotations from one firm are discontinued and quotations from another firm for a different quality or brand of article are secured instead, which article, though differing somewhat from the one formerly quoted, equally well represents the trend of the general market. The many changes in firms furnishing prices and also the changes in grades and brands of articles make several steps necessary in order to arrive at the relative price of an article for a geographical division or for the United States. The methods followed during the years 1890 to 1911 are explained in the Report on Retail Prices, 1890 to 1911 (Bulletin 105), and the reader is referred to that report. The method followed for March and April, 1913, is exactly the same as that for the years 1904 to 1911 (see Bulletin No. 105), excepting that monthly quotations instead of averages for the year are compared, firm by firm. Table IV.-Retail prices of coal, for household use, on April 15, 1912, and April 15, 1913, by cities and by firms (pp. 139 to 152).—This table shows prices of Pennsylvania anthracite coal, stove size; Pennsylvania anthracite coal, chestnut size; and bituminous coal in the cities for which retail prices of food are shown. Prices are quoted for April 15, 1913, and for comparative purposes prices on the corresponding date in 1912 have been entered. In some cities practically no bituminous coal is used for household purposes and in others practically no Pennsylvania anthracite coal is used. Bituminous coal is reported only for cities in which there is considerable demand for bituminous for household use. In a few cities Colorado anthracite and in one or two cities lignite and other varieties of coal are quoted. Prices are quoted for coal in "ton lots" and in "half-ton lots." In connection with prices the number of pounds per ton and per half ton is also shown. The quotations were furnished by coal dealers in each city, who responded to a request from the Bureau for this information. To avoid identification, firm names are not shown, but each firm has been given a number which enables one to follow the prices quoted throughout the period for which a firm has been furnishing price quotations, either for the present report or for the preceding reports published in Bulletins Nos. 105, 106, 108, 110, 113, and 115. The prices quoted are for coal delivered to consumers, but do not include charges for storing the coal in cellar or coal bin where an extra handling is necessary, except as noted in connection with the price quotation. The general tables follow. |