Spectacular Price Increases Seen in Markets: Some Foods Now Cheaper [HE amount of fresh food stu Shanghai, Oct. 3. iff required for Shanghai's vast population is so enormous that any disturbance in its normal jentry, either on land or water, almost immediately upsets the equilibrium of supply and demand. When the disturbance is of a violent nature, as in the present case, thereby accentuating an apprehensive population's instincti ive tendency to hoard provisions, and making replacement of stocks for provision dealers problem matic—prices naturally soar en irely out of proportion to the actual seriousness of the situation, considering that stocks of the most essential foodstuffs for the majority of the population, ie. rice, flour, ish, meat, etc., normal ly suffice for a couple of months, according to an official statement issued yesterda 'Where, and to what extent, pro-Ateering' takes place, are therefore questions on which it may be wise not to express definite opinion too hastily. "Information is on record showing that it has taken place in some cocos to an exorbitant degree, and it appears that some of the prevailing war-time prices, due to artificial shortage, are nothing but profiteering in disguise.
On the other hand, it fs noteworthy that in spite of decreasing rice and our stocks, prices have been steady or even decreasing, due to adequate faction taken by authorities and cer {ain Chinese public bodies.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.