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The prime cost of grocery goods, therefore, being the same in

both places, they are cheapest where the least profit is charged

upon them. The prime cost of bread and butchers' meat is greater

in the great town than in the country village; and though the

profit is less, therefore they are not always cheaper there, but

often equally cheap. In such articles as bread and butchers'

meat, the same cause which diminishes apparent profit, increases

prime cost. The extent of the market, by giving employment to

greater stocks, diminishes apparent profit; but by requiring

supplies from a greater distance, it increases prime cost. This

diminution of the one and increase of the other, seem, in most

cases, nearly to counterbalance one another; which is probably

the reason that, though the prices of corn and cattle are

commonly very different in different parts of the kingdom, those

of bread and butchers' meat are generally very nearly the same

through the greater part of it.