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Abstract
Excerpts from the report: There is considerable interest in seasonal variation in food consumption. Frequently, such data are needed to explain current market situations. Quarterly data are also necessary for short-run demand analysis. In response to this need, quarterly per capita consumption data for caloric sweeteners and cocoa are presented here for the first time. Seasonal variation for some of these products is considerably greater than for others. For dextrose and cocoa, consumption usually varies 10 to 20 percent between the low and high quarters of the year but for sugar and corn sirup, the seasonal variation amounts to 30 to 40 percent. Quarterly patterns of consumption--as a percent of annual total--have changed only slightly for any of these products over the periods analyzed. Annual per capita consumption of each of these products except sugar has increased since the 1950s. The increase has been greatest for corn sirup.