January 10, 1974

The New York metropolitan area is undoubtedly the urban center plagued most severely by the national gasoline crisis, but nobody seems to know why.

San Clemente White House on Jan 9 announces Pres Nixon has invited foreign mins of Canada, Japan, Norway, Brit, France, W Ger, Netherlands and Italy to conf on oil shortage on Feb 11 in Washington; repts Nixon sent messages to OPEC nations inviting them to subsequent conf (S)

mins representing Orgn of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) issue communique on Jan 9 rejecting proposal to mark crude‐oil prices downward in line with recent sharp increases in value of dollar; agree that rising dollar value is only one of several factors that has to be weighed and charge orgn's econ com to study matter and present recommendations on level of posted prices that will be applicable Apr 1 (S)

NYC Consumer Affairs Comr Elinor Guggenheimer says on Jan 9 that 0.7% rise in city's food Mkt Basket survey during wk of Dec 30 was led by increase in fruits and vegetable prices, which were up 3.4% (S)

PSC broadens ability of cos to increase rates without comm approval by permitting utilities to pass on to customers fuel adjustment costs for energy purchased from other utilities to save fuel oil and all energy bought for econ reasons; Con Ed, which led fight for broadened rate‐setting power, says impact on power bills is unknown; cites more than doubling of residual oil prices for latest increase; comm decreases from 60 days to 40 day period cos must wait before passing increased fuel costs on to consumers; orders staff to monitor closely inter‐co power purchases (L)