This report attempts to explain and evaluate the variations in the wage bills for retailing meat. The study is limited in scope to the degree that only 46 stores in 4 cities were included in the survey. The research on which the report is based is part of an overall program designed to help improve the efficiency of marketing and expand the markets for farm products. The program involves the study of food marketing costs, ways to reduce such costs, and ways to improve quality, services, or handling methods which might increase the demand for farm products. In 1956 a survey was made of the meat departments of retail stores located in four cities — San Francisco, Calif.; Chicago, Ill.; Atlanta, Ga.; and Columbia, S. C. Data were collected for 1 week covering meat sales, wage payments, and employment practices pertaining to persons working in the meat departments of the retail stores selected.
