CEMENT 573


 Figure 53, B, compares average consumption for the 1923—25 period
with that in 1932. Study of these two maps reveals trends in cement consumption
by States during the past 10 years.

PRICES
 Before 1900 prices of portland cement were relatively high. This can readily
be understood, for the product was new, manufacturing technique had not yet
been perfected, production was small, and tiemand was increasing rapidly.
Since 1900 cement prices (compared with price indexes of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics computed on the basis of 1926 as 100) have been slightly lower
than those of building materials generally. During the price peak of 1920
cement remained unusually low, the index number increasing to only 117.2,
compared with 150.1 for building materials and 154.4 for all commodities.
 Detailed price fluctuations of cement since 1928 are shown in figure
54. Three sets of data compiled by the United States Bureau of Labor
 g BUILDING MA1tRIALS
 100 .. ..~* CEMENT, COMPOSITE

~ N.~
' I)

50


2
 I / ~
CEMENT, UNIT FACTORY


CEMENT, BUFFINGTON
 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932

FIoux~ 84.—Trends in prices of portland cement compared with a weighted
price of all building materials 1928-32. The curves, "Cement, composite,"
and "Cement, Buffington," are plotted from index numbers compiled by the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from quoted prices, fob. plant. The curve,
"Cement, unit factory value," represents prices actually received by manufacturers
as reported by them to the Bureau of Mines. All curves are plotted as index
numbers with the average for 1926 equalling 100.


Statistics and the average factory value of cement reported by producers
to the United States Bureau of Mines are plotted for comparison. The curve
labeled "Building materials" represents the weighted index of 86 price series
covering all building materials. Data for the curve "Cement, composite" are
compiled by averaging quoted prices, f.o.b. plant, at six plants in the United
States. The curve "Cement, Bufllngton" represents prices, f.o.b. plant, at
Buffington, md., and is included to show conditions in the Middle West, where
price cutting during 1931 and 1932 was especially severe. The annual average
factory value of cement—shown by the curve "Cement, unit factory value"—is
compiled by the Bureau of Mines from reports of producers, who are requested
to report the total selling value of their product, f.o.b. plant. Further
instructions are given manufacturers to exclude the price of containers and
to make proper adjustment for cash discounts allowed. The average factory
value therefore should represent the actual average price received by the
cement industry for its product. To permit ready comparison, all curves are
plotted as index numbers calculated in terms of values for 1926 as 100. The
year 1926 has been selected because it is used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
for calculations of commodity price indexes.