THE COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 166, 9 April 1921, Page 6

THE COST OF LIVING

GRADUALLY COMING DQWN

That the cost of living is showing a decline is indicated by the figures quoted in the “Monthly Abstract of Statistics” for March.

According to the “Abitract,” the index numl>er for the three food groups as at February 15 (Dominion weighted average) is 1873, a decrease of 33 points as compared with the preceding month’s figures (1906), and an increase of 75.05 per cent, as compared with that for July, 1914. A decrease of 58 points in the groceries group as compared with January is princinally accounted for by a fall in price (practically throughout the Dominion) of potatoes, tea, soap, and tinned fruits. the dairy produce group there has been a considerable increase in the price of eggs, but this has been discounted to a considerable extent by lower prices ruling for Imm and bacon; the net result is "an increase of 17 points for the group. In the meat group the decrease of 38 paints is duo to a universal fall in the price'■of all cuts. The percentage increase over July, 1914, for the three food groups in the United Kingdom (as at March 1) is 149. The purchasing-power of the sovereign for the three food groups in the quarter ended December, 1920, was Ils. 3d., whereas for the corresponding quarter of tho previous vear it was 13. lid. '! ' "