COST OF LIVING.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17123, 19 April 1921, Page 9

COST OF LIVING.

POSITION IN UNITED STATES. ißy Calilc—Press Association—Copyright! (Auntralian and N.Z. Cahla Aaioci»tio».) . (Received April 18th, 10.40 p.m.) ' WASHINGTON, April 17. ' President Harding asked tho Federal Trade Commission to inform him whether tho cost of" living in tliD United States-had declined. The Commission reported that tao cost was too high, and must he reduced before tho normal volume of trade would restore business to healthful conditions A fundamental factor in the. cost ot living was the shortage of houses and excessive prico of fuel, which reduced tho buying powers of the gonoral public for'other commodities. Hecent declines in tu c prices of raw materials had been uneven, and inadequately reflected in the final prices to the consumers; (1) because of high transportation rates, (2) because of price-fixing, and (3) because of tho unwillingness of retailers to tako losses where they had bought goods at high prices. Tho report points out that tannersface strongly organised foreign purchasers of American agricultural products, and strongly organised ioreign sellers of products that American farmers need.