On the outbreak of war, food and commodity prices rose. Those could afford to bought stocks of goods for fear of future shortages, pushing prices out of the reach of people on limited incomes. The Urban District Council appealed to the better off to stop buying more than they needed. Some traders refused to sell in bulk and Kinghams, the High Street grocers’, offered the wives of reservists and territorials the chance to buy groceries at pre-war prices on particular days. Even so employers had to advance wages to workers as prices rose so much.
Despite the rise in prices, traders struggled. Nervous wholesalers refused to extend credit, demanding payment in cash for all supplies. Traders selling groceries on account faced being unable to stock their stores until accounts were settled in cash. Local artist George Gardiner wrote to the local paper, urging people to pay for goods in cash and on August 22nd the Chamber of Commerce took out a ‘Patriotism’ notice which urged people to save jobs by supporting their local traders.
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