1908.] Provision Trade in September. 



553 



REVIEW OF PROVISION TRADE IN SEPTEMBER. 

 Hedley Stevens. 



Bacon. — During the first part of September the demand was very 

 disappointing, and importers found it difficult to dispose of mild-cured 

 parcels. The wet weather made buyers very cautious. During the slump 

 in prices in the month of August merchants laid in fair stocks at the low 

 prices, anticipating a much improved consumptive demand ; but in this 

 they were disappointed, which meant they were not in a position to handle 

 the fresh arrivals freely, and in order to encourage business prices were 

 again reduced. 



By the middle of the month the weather conditions somewhat improved 

 all over the country ; this gave a healthier tone to the market, and a general 

 hardening of prices followed. The prices for pigs in all countries are higher 

 than for some time past, and it is anticipated that bacon will be dear for 

 some months. 



The arrivals from America and Canada continue exceptionally small ; 

 and those from Denmark are also low. 



English bacon shows a further advance of about is. per cwt. on the 

 month. English pigs ready for the bacon curer continued in small supply, 

 although by the end of the month larger quantities were on offer. Irish pigs 

 continue to arrive in small numbers. 



Butter.— Buyers are still adopting a hand-to-mouth policy and prices are 

 abnormally high. Irish and Canadian have advanced is. to 3,9., Danish 

 and Swedish $s. to 6.5\,for the month, others being unchanged. 



Throughout the month imports have been much in excess of the demand, 

 resulting in additions to the stocks in cold storage. The demand has been 

 mostly for best selections. The markets in America continue to advance, 

 and this has almost stopped exports from that country. A good autumn 

 make is reported in Siberia. Shipments from Canada have fallen off, there 

 being no encouragement for merchants to import at present prices. 



Cheese. — The market has lacked animation throughout the month. 

 Advices from Canada report that high prices are being paid at country 

 markets, and that purchases of the autumn makes are being made, largely 

 for England for storing purposes, to be shipped during the winter months. 

 In some districts during September the weather was reported to be very hot 

 and dry, with a consequent shrinkage in the make. 



Exports from 1st May to 19th September show a shrinkage compared 

 with last year of 157,000 cheeses. At the end of the month the estimated 

 stocks of Canadian at the principal distributing centres (London, Liverpool 

 and Bristol) showed an increase of about 8,000 over last year's estimates. 



Advices from New Zealand point to a larger make of cheese there. 



The much-needed rain in -the early part of the month improved the flow 

 of milk in this country, but it is generally conceded that the make 

 will be less than last year, when it was unusually large. At Frome 

 Annual Fair on 30th September, which is the largest held in the West of 

 England, the pitch was about 20 per cent, less than last year. 



Eggs — September opened with a small demand, but it improved by the 

 middle of the month, resulting in a general advance in prices. Arrivals of 

 Russian eggs were very large. 



