The Business of the Household (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 Excerpt: ...cost of material necessary to packing and canning. (d) Foreign ConditionsSupply and demand in foreign countries competing with us in the same commodity. A failure of the South American wheat crop, for instance, would affect prices of wheat and flour in this country. (c) War, War, whether in this country or in foreign countries, creates an unusual demand upon the foodstull's of this country. Production in the countries at war is necessarily decreased, while great armies must be provisioned. (f) Storage The holding of great quantity's of supplies in storage indefinitely, awaiting increased demands. (g) Produce Exchages, Exchanges, that endeavor to fix prices the country over, no milter how beneficial they may be to producers and jobbers, or how legal may be their action, tend to raise prices to consumers, by the amount of the cost of their services and profits. This may perhaps be counterbalanced, in part. by the effect they have in stabilizing prices over periods of time; this to the man on wages, small salary, or other uniform income, is an advantage. (h)Food Speculators, A9ide from those represented by legitimate Produce Exchanges, and storage warehouses, the professional speculators, who attempt to corner markets, add a very heavy burden to the consumer's already heavy toll, (i) I'opulation, An increasing population brings more demands, and if the supply does not increase equal to these new demands, prices must go up. (/) Unusual Conditions, There are many unusual and unforeseen conditions that affect prices, other than those already mentioned. The sudden increased demand for a little-used product might be an illustration. (k) Higher Standards of LivingHigher standards of living usually result in great wastage. Material once thought good enough for any ta...