COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2531, 4 August 1915, Page 8

COST OF LIVING

INTERESTING COMPARISONS DOMINION AND COMMONWEALTH. Figures estimating the increase in tho cost of living iu tlio six capital towns of Australia, as illustrated by the June quarter, 1915, as compared with tlio Juno quarter, 1914, were recently published by Mr. G. H. Kiiibbs, Commonwealth' Statistician. The following statement gives corresponding figures for the four chief centres of New Zealaud. It has been compiled by the Now Zealaud Government Statistician (Mr. Malcolm Eraser) on the samo principles and from similar facts as the Australian return. Cost of Living. Increase in cost of living between June quarter, 1914, and Juno quarter, 1915:— • Australia. N.Z. Food and groceries 17.8 9.95 Houso rent *5.8 *2.67 Food, groceries, andrejit 8.1 5.16 Purchasing Power of Money. Amounts necessary on the average in each capital town of Australia to purchase what would have cost on the average £1 in' 1911: — In Australia. 2nd Ist 2nd quarter, quarter, quarter. 1914. 1915. 1915. s. d. s. d. s. d.' Sydney 24 3 24 7 25 2 Melbourne ... 22 7 22 11 .25 3 Brisbano 19 9 21 1 22 '8 Adelaide 23 6 23 3 25 4 Perth 22 10 23-10 24 8 Hobart 22 0 22 10 24 3 In New Auckland .... 21 11 22 0 22 1 Wellington... 23 0 24 9 25 3 Christchurch 20 3} 21 9& ■21 5J Duncdin .... 20 8 22 5 22 3 These tablos aro useful for comparing the ratio of increase in prices since tlio war, but they may not bo used to compare the level of prices in Australia and in New Zealaud. Amounts necessary on the average to purchase in the six capital towns of Australia what would have cost on the averago £1 in 1911, when expended on food and groceries:— .In Australia. 2nd Ist 2nd quarter, quarter, quarter. 1914 1915. 1915. s. d. s. d. s. d. Sydney ...... 23 3 24 7 25 9 Melbourne ... 22 4 23 9 27 8 Brisbano. ... 21 2 23 11 26 4 Adelaide ... 25 0 26 4 30 2 Perth ......... 25 11 •28 5 30 2 Hobart 24 7 '25 10 28 3 In New Zealand. Auckland ... 22 6J 24 0-1 24 2| Wellington 22 5J 24 0J 24 10} Christchurch 20 Hi 23 7} 23 1{ Dunedin .. 21 7J 24 3$ 24 0^

Food and Groceries. . Percentage of increases in the six capital towns .of Australia and the four chief centres of' New Zealand calculated from priccs of Juno quarter, 1915, over prices of Juno quarter, 1914: — Australia. —Sydney, 10.6; Melbourne, 23.G; Brisbane, 24.6; Adelaide, 20.5; Perth, 16.4; Hobart, 14.8. New Zealand.—Auckland, 7.49; Wellington, 10.96; Christchurch, 10.34; Dunedin, 11.16. House Rent. • Amounts necessary on the average, to. purchaso housing accommodation in Australia and in New Zealand such as would have cost £1 in 1911:— 2nd Ist , - 2nd quarter, quarter.'quarter. 1914. 1915. 1915. s. d. s. d. s. d. Sydney 25 9 24 7 :24 5 Melbourne .;. 22 10 21 10 21 9 Brisbane .... 17 10 17 1 17 4 Adelaide ...... 21 5 . 18 10 18 6 Perth 18 5 17 5 16 11 Hobart IS 3 18 6 18 7 In New Zealand. 2nd Ist and 2nd quarter, quarters. 1914. 1915. Wellington 25 95- 25 10 Christchurch 19 2} 18 10J Auckland 20 Hi 18 8 Dunedin 19 0:} 19 5 Percentage increases and decreases in second quarter of 1915 oyer the second quarter of 1914 in each of the six capital towns in Australia, and the four chief centres of New Zealand: — Australia.—Sydney, 5.2 per cent, deorease; Melbourne, 5 per cent, decrease; Brisbane, 2.8 per cent, decrease; Adelaide, 13.6 per cent, decrease; Perth, 8.7 per cent, decrease; Hobart, 2 per cent, increase. New Zealand.—Auckland, 10.85 per cent.' decrease; Wellington, 0.16 per cent, increase; Christchurch, 1.84 per cent, decrease; Dunedin, 1.86 per cent, increaso.