THE PRICE OF BACON
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—The article on " The Price of Food " in your issue of October 22nd, states that " bacon is dear very largely because Danish supplies have been cut by 42 per cent. since 1933." This raises two points, both of which are controversial. First, " Is bacon dear ? " and sec3ndly, " To what are recent increases in price due ? "
The price of bacon this year has averaged is. 21d. (Ministry of Labour statistics), that is less than in any year from the end of the War until the depression of 1931-33. During these years the price fell very low because the market was flooded with subsidised foreign bacon. Bacon producers in all coun- tries were losing money, and a continuation of the depression prices would have meant their ruin. .Apart from 1931-33, when conditions were undoubtedly abnormal, bacon prices, in spite of recent increases, are lower 'than in pre-quota years. Since 1929 bacon prices have fallen considerably more than the prices of all foods.
Recent increases of price are not due to a shortage of bacOn. When the quota was instituted, the total supplies of bacon for the British market were stabilised at the normal pre-depression consumption, approximately 10,750,000 cwts. a year. There is just as much bacon on the market now as there was three years ago. But during the past year the cost of feeding-stuffs for pigs has risen by 3o per cent. When this is taken into consideration, the average increase of less than Id. a lb. in the Price of bacon this year compared with last year seems reason-
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