EGG QUALITY AND PRICE 17 



chance, the survey would show that, on the average, weight varies with price 

 through most of the price range. Quahty, as reported by air cell, condition of 

 yolk and condition of white, is a much more variable factor. Although quality 

 was more variable than weight, the lowest price of eggs usually represented the 

 lowest quality. Moderately high prices usually insured high quality, but high 

 premiums paid did not guarantee highest quality. Many of the eggs for which 

 the highest prices were paid were no better than those purchased in the moder- 

 ately priced groups. The average quality of eastern eggs was invariably higher 

 than the average quality of western eggs. Storage egg prices showed but little 

 relationship to quality, but weight varied directly with price throughout the price 

 range. 



The margin between private-store and chain-store prices was 3 cents as an 

 average in the three time periods. As the average quality was also better, the 

 extra service rendered by the private store cost nothing. 



Branded or labeled eggs should assure the consumer of some degree of uni- 

 formity of quality. The survey indicated that this was not true. There was a 

 great range of quality and some range in weight in any one of the various brands 

 purchased. Price was the only uniform factor. 



It may be concluded from the survey that price is not a satisfactory criterion 

 of egg qtiality in eggs purchased from retail stores. It is, however, the best meas- 

 ure the householder has when she buys eggs. Undoubtedly much of the variation 

 in quality occurs after the eggs are in the hands of the retailer. All the work 

 which has been done in egg grading v/ill come to naught as long as retailers treat 

 eggs as they would canned goods. Producers, consumers and dealers should be 

 interested in the consumer getting what she pays for. 



CORRELATION ANALYSIS 



The tabular analysis was conducted in order that the average reader might 

 understand the results of the study. However, in order to make a tabular analysis 

 it was necessary to classify the data and conduct the analysis by means of aver- 

 ages. In such an analysis many characteristics of the data and relationships are 

 covered up. A more scientific analysis may be made by the use of correlation 

 methods. 



Relation of External Qiiality to Price 



E.Nternal quality factors may be observed Ijy the buyer. Hence it is often 

 assumed that there should be some definite relationship between the appearance 

 of a dozen of eggs and the price paid. The quality factors considered as external 

 are: weight, number of dirties, uniformitj^ of color and uniformity of size. 

 Weight, as shown in the tabular analysis, has a dominating influence. The other 

 factors proved to have some influence on price. Weight was taken from the other 

 external factors and placed along with the internal factors for study. 



The multiple correlation coefficients which were obtained show that there is 

 some relationship between price and external quality factors (less weight) for 

 August and April. In both months the relationship was significant in each of 

 the sub-classifications except for eastern eggs in April. It appears that external 

 factors exert very little influence on price of eggs sold in chain stores in August. 

 In one case only, that of private-store eggs in August, do the external quality 

 factors cause as much as 35 per cent of the price variations due to quality. In 

 all of the remaining cases the influence is below 25 per cent. (See Table 12). 



