Average Cost Of Food Per Working Man's Family

N. Atlantic

S. Atlantic

N.Central

S. Central

Western

U.S.A.

1897

$312

$271

$289

$266

$286

$299

1907

385

341

367

341

358

374

(Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1910) (According to geographical divisions)

Purchasing Power Of Weekly Wage Per Worker

Decreased 1.5% from 1897 to 1907 and was .9% less than in 1906 (measured by retail prices of food).

Increase in Wholesale and Retail Prices from 1897 to 1907

Wholesale food-prices averaged 1/3 higher in 1907 than 1897 Retail food-prices averaged 1/4 higher in 1907 than 1897

Specific Increase In Retail Prices Of Staple Foods

Price Increase,

1897-1907

Relative Increase in

1910 over Average for

1890-1899= 100

Price Increase,

1897-1907

%

%

%

%

Eggs

50.7

137.7

116.8

17.2

Milk

Chicken

39.8

131.4

120.6

20.4

Beef, steaks

Butter

37.1

127.6

119.1

18.7

Roasts

Cheese

39.8

123.2

114.1

13.1

Salted

Lard

49.4

134.2

125.

25.I

Veal

Pork, fresh

45.

142.5

120.6

20.8

Fish (fresh)

Salt (bacon)

61.5

157.3

121.6

27.7

Fish (salt)

Salt (dry)

45.1

I41.2

96.

4.1

Sugar

Ham

33.1

130.7

107.7

10.2

Molasses

Mutton

30.6

130.1

104.5

7.3

Vinegar

Potatoes

29.7

120.6

105.3

6.9

Tea

Cornmeal

40.4

131.6

95.

•4

Coffee

Beans (dry)

29.8

118.8

108.5

10.8

Rice

Apples

41.9

124.6

104.5

4.5

Bread

(Evaporated)

117.7

12.8

Flour

88.4

4.9

Prunes

(Corn meal, in 1907 production and consumption larger than either before or since, yet price increased 40% over 1897 and 31.6% over average in 1890-1899)