EGG QUALITY AND PRICE 19 



In August the reduction for each dirty egg was shghtly higher except for eggs 

 sold in chain stores and for eastern eggs. For the latter group the loss in price 

 was about .25 of a cent for each dirty egg. 



Net Effect of External Quality Factors on Price 



In figuring the combined effect of external quality factors on the price of 

 eggs, range in weight may be disregarded. Considering the other two factors, the 

 influence was from zero, in the case of eggs which contained no off-color or dirty 

 eggs, to 8.36 cents a dozen with six off-color and twelve dirty eggs. The price of 

 eastern eggs in April appeared to be unaffected by these factors, but it is probable 

 that such results were obtained because of the small percentage of eastern eggs 

 which were dirty and a still smaller percentage of off-color eggs. 



In August the maximum loss of all eggs could be but 6.8 cents as compared 

 with 8.36 cents in April. For eastern eggs the maximum loss would be 5.49 cents, 

 but in any case it is hardly conceivable that the conditions under which there 

 would be a maximum loss in price would take place. 



Internal Quality Factors 



The combined effect of weight, together with the three factors of internal 

 quality for all eggs purchased in all stores, was greater during the period of high 

 prices and during the period of low demand and hot weather than in the spring 

 of the year when quality was good and supply was well in excess of current de- 

 mands. These factors had most effect on price during hot weather, the difference 

 being 15 per cent more than during the period of low prices. As between stores 

 the factors had relatively more effect on price in private stores than in chain 

 stores during every period of the year. This was especially noticeable in April 

 when the percentage was 20.5 per cent in favor of the private stores. Similarly 

 quality and weight factors had more influence on the price of eastern eggs than 

 western eggs at all seasons of the year. These relationships are also shown when 

 each major grade group is broken down as between private and chain stores. 



Table 13. — Corrected Correlation Coefficients Between Internal Quality 

 Scores (including weight) and Price 



April August November 



All Eggs .656 .762 .705 



All Eggs (omitting weight) .519 .643 



Chain Stores .517 .708 .629 



Private Stores .682 .770 .715 



Eastern Eggs .530 .663 .606 



Western Eggs .427 .582 .426 



Importance of Air Space 



Air space, representing the amount of shrinkage in the egg, is a direct function 

 of the time and conditions under which eggs have been held. It affects flavor 

 and interior quality and any relationship shown between air space and price 

 should be of significance in the establishment of grades, since it is the one factor 

 of internal quality that can be determined easily by the individual producer. 

 In November, air space was the most important single factor affecting price in 

 both types of stores. It stands second in importance to weight on the basis of 

 major grade groups, eastern and western. It is the most important internal 

 factor, being the only one having any marked relationship to price. In general, 

 an increase of one point in the score on account of air space produced a drop of 



