S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
The retailing agency, which comes in closest contact with the con- 
sumer, first feels the effect of these preferences of the consumer and 
recognizes them as consumer likes and dislikes. The contact is direct 
and any adjustments which the retailer makes in answer to the 
demand are accomplished in response to definite consumer wishes. 
Adjustments to changes in consumer demand by producers and 
distributors who do not come directly in contact with the consumer are 
brought about in less direct manner than in the case of the retailer. 
The producer to whom the change in demand is finally transmitted 
through successive agencies may receive it in the form of price vari- 
ation which, in all probability he does not recognize as a result of a 
change in consumer preferences. 
Consumer demand for a commodity may be expressed in several 
forms. The quantity taken by the consumer group may vary with 
changes in quality or price. There may be an actual shift to some other 
commodity, if quality or price is not in agreement with consumer 
preference and a substitute is available. Or consumer demand may 
be expressed in the form of complaints against price or quality with- 
out any consequent variation in the quantity of the commodity 
taken. Further, consumer demand may be related not so much to 
the commodity itself as to the services rendered in connection with 
its distribution. The preference for packaged goods instead of the 
same goods in bulk is a familiar example. Again, the retailer may 
be asked to extend further delivery or charge service, all of which are 
phases of consumer demand. 
The retailing of meat is subject to the conditions imposed by con- 
sumer demand, but study of this phase of meat distribution has been 
given little attention heretofore. Accordingly, when appropriation 
was made by Congress for a study of the retailing of meat in 1924-25 
and again for a continuation of the study in 1925-26, a portion of the 
study thus provided for was devoted to meat-consumer habits and 
preferences. 
It should be made clear at the outset that this study was not di- 
rected toward the determination of the relation of variation in quan- 
tity demand to price changes. On the contrary, the aim of the study 
was to obtain information which might make clearer some of the 
purchasing habits of housewives; their knowledge concerning grades, 
quality, and cuts of meat; and their preferences for various kinds 
and cuts of meat and use of meat in the household. All of these 
are of effect in bringing about some of our present methods of retail 
meat distribution. 
SCOPE AND NATURE OF STUDY 
CITIES COVERED 
Personal interviews with housewives by representatives of the 
United States Department of Agriculture were the means adopted 
for obtaining statements of meat consumer practices and opinions. 
This work was carried out in 16 representative cities, which were 
chosen to bring out regional differences and some of the racial or 
nationality distinctions which might exist in the purchasing and con- 
sumption -of meat. These, cities were: Baltimore, Md., Bingham- 
ton, N. Y., Birmingham, Ala., Denver, Colo., Fargo and Grand Forks; 
