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Retail Prices of Coal in the United States"

HE following table shows the average retail prices of coal on January 15 and July 15, 1913; May 15, 1923; and April 15 and May 15, 1924, for the United States and for each of the cities from which prices have been obtained. Prices for coal are secured from the cities from which monthly retail prices of food are received.

In addition to the prices for Pennsylvania anthracite, prices are shown for Colorado, Arkansas, and New Mexico anthracite in those cities where these coals form any considerable portion of the sales for household use.

The prices shown for bituminous coal are averages of prices of the several kinds used. The coal dealers in each city are asked to quote prices on the kinds 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 bins where an extra handling is necessary.

AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF COAL PER TON OF 2,000 POUNDS, FOR HOUSEHOLD USE, ON JANUARY 15 AND JULY 15, 1913, MAY 15, 1923, AND APRIL 15 AND MAY 15, 1924

• Prices of coal were formerly secured semiannually and published in the March and September issues of the MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW. Since June, 1920, these prices have been secured and published monthly.

AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF COAL PER TON OF 2,000 POUNDS, FOR HOUSEhold use, ON JANUARY 15 AND JULY 15, 1913, MAY 15, 1923, AND APRIL 15 AND MAY 15, 1924-Con.

AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF COAL PER TON OF 2,000 POUNDS, FOR HOUSEHOLD USE, ON JANUARY 15 AND JULY 15, 1913, MAY 15, 1923, AND APRIL 15 AND MAY 15, 1924-Con.

* Per 25-bushel lots (1,900 pounds).

Fifty cents per ton additional is charged for "binning." Most customers require binning or basketing the coal into the cellar.

5 All coal sold in Savannah is weighed by the city. A charge of 10 cents per ton or half ton is made. This additional charge has been included in the above prices.

Prices in Zone A. The cartage charges in Zone A were as follows: January and July, 1913, $0.50; May, 1923, $1.25; and April and May, 1924, $1.25. These charges have been included in the price.

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Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in May, 1924

HE downward swing of wholesale prices which developed late in 1923 continued through May, according to information gathered in representative markets by the United States Department of Labor through the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau's weighted index number, which includes 404 commodities or price series, declined to 147 for May, compared with 148 for April and 156 for May, 1923.

Decreases in farm products and metals were chiefly responsible for the drop in the general price level, although all other groups except foods likewise showed a decrease. Among farm products there were substantial reductions in corn, oats, rye, cattle, sheep, hay, hides, milk, tobacco, and wool. In metals, iron and steel products, copper, lead, tin, and zinc averaged less than in April. Other important commodities showing price decreases were sugar, lard, raw silk, worsted yarns, bituminous coal and coke, crude and refined petroleum, Douglas fir lumber, red cedar shingles, carpets, cattle feed, hemp, and sole leather. In the food group increases in fresh meats, flour, and certain fruits offset the decreases reported for other articles, leaving no change in the general price level.

Of the 404 commodities or price series for which comparable data for April and May were collected, decreases were shown in 161 instances and increases in 76 instances. In 167 instances no change in price was reported.

INDEX NUMBERS OF WHOLESALE PRICES, BY GROUPS OF COMMODITIES

Comparing prices in May with those of a year ago, as measured by changes in the index number, it is seen that the general level has declined nearly 6 per cent. In all groups prices averaged lower than in May, 1923, ranging from a little over 2 per cent in the case of farm products to nearly 11 per cent in the case of building materials and nearly 12 per cent in the case of metals and metal products.

Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices of Commodities, by Groups and Subgroups, 1913 to May, 1924

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HE table below shows, for each commodity group and subgroup, the index numbers of wholesale prices, by months, from January, 1913, to May, 1924:

INDEX NUMBERS OF WHOLESALE PRICES BY GROUPS AND SUBGROUPS OF COMMODITIES AND BY MONTHS, 1913 TO MAY, 1924