FATS AND OILS SUPPLIES FOR CIVILIANS 

 By R. J. Muttl, Asslstaiit Professor of Marketing 



Per capita supplies of food fats for civilians in 19^p aire the smallest In 

 over 20 years and nearly 10 percent below 19^14-. Chief reason for the decline from 

 19^^ is the estimated 50 percent lower output of lard. Butter production is the low- 

 est since 1928. Production of vegetable oils during 19^5-^6 from domestic crops of 

 cotton, soybeans and flax is expected to be below that in 19if^-U5, the decline in cot- 

 tonseed being greater than the increases in soybeans and flaxseed. 



Supplies are expected to continue short for the rest of 19^5- Increases in 

 the first half of I9U6 will depend on lowered military needs for shortening and edible 

 oils, imports of tropical oils emd flaxseed and a seasonally higher output of lard. 

 Lard production will increase further if hogs continue to be marketed at heavier 

 weights. 



From 1951 through 1939* civilian consumption of butter declined slightly, 

 and margarine consumption increased slightly. These trends have been greatly accentu- ^ 

 ated during the war, although civilians will still consume about 2 3/lf pounds of but- J 

 ter to each pounds of margarine during 19l*5 (see chart). 



PER CAPITA DISAPPEARANCE OF FATS AND' OILS FOR CIVILIAN CONSUMPTION AS FOOD, 



Lb. UNITED STATES, 1931-19^5 



20r— , 20 



Shortening and 



h edible oils..-*" -.. 



\ .••■ ••. . •. 



18 



16. 

 Ih . 

 12 



10 - 



8,. 



6 



k 



2 



^-n 



U '.;'3' .' 3 ^'.^v ' 'b''il^^'"J/ ° l9^l'-^3'-3 ' $'-Jt 



Tartly forecast 



1 ^3 



