1912J 



The Provision Trade in December. 



885 



Chicago during the month ranged from $5.50 to $6.50, against $7.15 

 to $8.00 during the same period of 19 10, and $7.80 to $8.70 two years 

 back. English pigs were not marketed quite so freely, and in some 

 districts higher prices were realised. 



Cheese. — The demand has been moderate throughout the month 

 with a continued tendency for higher prices on account of the small 

 stocks available at all points, the month's advance being 15. to 2s. 

 on Canadians, or about 135. to 165. per cwt. over prices current at 

 the same time in 19 10. At the end of the month cable advices from 

 Canada confirmed the reports as to the small stocks on hand in that 

 country, and ask from 725. 6d. to 74s. c.i.f. for prompt shipment. At 

 the same period of 19 10 purchases could be made at around 565. 

 to 575. c.i.f. The shipments from May 1st to December 20th from 

 Montreal, Quebec, Portland, and St. John's, show a decrease over 

 1910 of 92,435 cheese. At the end of the month the estimated stocks 

 of Canadian cheese at the principal distributing centres (London, Liver- 

 pool, and Bristol), were 262,000 cheese, against 404,000 at the same time 

 in 1910, and 377,000 two years ago. In the United States cheese are 

 above an export basis, and extreme prices are anticipated during the 

 winter. 



Fair quantities of New Zealand cheese are arriving by each steamer, 

 and selling at from 2s. to 35. per cwt. under Canadians. Cable advices 

 from that Colony report dry weather, which will doubtless reduce the 

 make, but up to the end of December the shipments from the com- 

 mencement of this season show a decrease. 



There has been a good demand for English cheese, and really best 

 lots realised high prices, in some cases 205. to 225. per cwt. over prices 

 current at the same time in 1910. 



Butter. — During the greater part of the month the demand was 

 slow, and prices showed little change. By the end of the month the 

 market was considerably influenced by the operations of speculators on 

 the London market, and prices advanced, more especially for all descrip- 

 tions of Colonial. Stocks are smaller at all points than usual at this 

 time of year, and it is confidently expected that extremely high prices 

 will be experienced during the winter. The shipments from New 

 Zealand since the opening of the season to the end of December show a 

 shortage of 1,940 tons compared with last year, but those from Australia 

 show a slight increase. Spot prices at the end of the month ranged 

 from 22s. to 265. per cwt. over last year, and are considered by many 

 to be dangerously high for so early in the season. Canada has sent 

 us this season an increased quantity of over 107,000 packages over last 

 year, but these have been mostly consumed. She is now short of butter 

 for her home trade, and western points will have to import from New 

 Zealand and Australia to supply their demand before the new season's 

 Canadian can be placed on the market. The United States of America 

 is also short of butter, the American Warehousemen's Association 

 figures showing a shortage of nearly 26 million pounds on December 

 1st against the same date of 1910. This includes thirty-eight of the 

 principal storage depots. 



Eggs. — There has been a continued shortage of new laid eggs, and 

 prices remain high. The mild weather has curtailed the consumption. 



