COST OF LIVING.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 January 1923, Page 4

COST OF LIVING.

| BY TKr.eoriAt’H-TER I’ItKSS ASSOCIATION] ■WELLINGTON. .Tan 13. The December issue of the “Month-Ab-traet of St;il i'tics’’ state*? that tb.e index number for the throe lood groups as at November 15th. last is 1480. or five points less than the precedin'.!: month's figure (1401) and 38.88 per cent, above the July. 1014 level. “A’ery little movement,” says the Stntnstieian, “lias been recorded in prices ill the groceries group, the index tyimher (17-Tl?) remaining the same as that for the previous month. “A fall of 38 points in the dairy products group is due mainly to an all-round fall of from Id to ltd per lb. in the price of butter in most towns. “In the meat group the index number has risen live points, mainly on account of a slight rise in the prices of mutton and pork in some towns. Most items have, however, remained stationary.” A table giving the three-food-groups index for each of twenty-live towns in New Zealand shows that in November. Nelson headed the list with 1G33 points. Thu index numbers for the tour chief towns were: Auckland. 4403: Wellington. 1402; Christchurch. 1490: Dunedin 1473. The moving average index number for the Dominion during the six month sended November, 1922. is given as 1486 for the food. rent, and fuel and light groups combined. If a com- ; parisou is made with the average lot : six months ended July. 1914, the. increase is .seen to be 4*2.88 per cent. :