COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2839, 2 August 1916, Page 6

COST OF LIVING

PRICES OF PEOPLE'S FOOD PERCENTAGES OF INCREASE • WAR PERIOD REVIEWED The latest statistics issued by the Government Statistician 6how the percentages of increase iu the cost of groceries, dairy produce, and meat ruling on June 15 over prices railing on July 31, 1914. The highest rise was at Palmerston North, where tho percentage of increase was .33.94, per cent. Tho increase in meat there was no less than 48.83 per cent., whilst dairy produce shows an increase nearly as high, viz., 47.49 per cent. Gisborne is next on the'list of high percentage increases with 25.72 per cent., Ashburton being next with 24.17 per cent, whilst Waihi shows a rise of 22.76 per cent. Greymouth was lowest with ,11.74 per, cent. -The increases for the four large centres wero as follow:— Auckland, 20.09 per cent.; Wellington, 20.78 per cent.; Ohristqhurch, 17.51 per cent.; D'unedin, 17.66 per cent. The averago for 25 representative towns of the Dominion was 19.25 per cent. Ah interesting "three-food group" table that is given in the statistics is that showing the amounts required to purchase in each of 25 representative towns during.tho two quarters of this year that have elapsed what would have cost £1 in the average of tho four centres in 1909-13. The following are the figures for the principal centres for tho tbreo last quarters:— Dec. March. June / quarter, quarter, quarter. ,1915. ■ 1916 1916. s. d. s. d. s. d. ..Auckland a .„. 21 10J 25' 0J 25 9i Wellington ... ■2* • -IJ 21 9 26 Oi Christoburch ... 25 6\ 24 7J 24 5* Dunediu 21 5 - 24 5| 24 6 Another table shows the relative worth in terms of commodities (but stated for convenience in terms of money), represented by a sovereign 'during 1915 and the first two quarters of 1916, taking ,the average "worth" in the years 1909-13 as 20s. The comparison is as under:— i Dairy , ThrccQuarter Gro- pro- food ending. ceries.. diice. Meat, groups. Mch.31,1915 16 6i 18 2J 16 5j 16 10* June 30,1915 16 7£ 16 6 17 1 16 9 Sept. 30,1915 16 7J 17 H 16 4J, 16 7J Dec. 31,1915, 16 5 17 7-? 15 0i 16 2 Mch.31,1916 16 6£ 16 104 15 11 ■16 1{ June.3o,l9lG 16 10$ 15 01- 15 OJ 15 9J 1