COST OF LIVING.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1924, Page 2

COST OF LIVING.

STATISTICIAN'S FIGURES.

(||Y TELEGRAPH —l’l'.U IMtKSS ASSOCIATION

WELLINGTON. June 1”

The index number of the three loot* groups as at loth April is Ifiiti, an increase of seven point' over that lot the previous month, ami of oll.tlU per cent compared with that lor July 1!M I. The fall of seventeen point' in Ike groceries group has been caused mainly by a fall in tin* price ul potatoes tv most towns. An increase' in the price ot milk in two important towns ami a rise til that of eggs in all towns has caused thi' index liuiuhcr lor the dairy prudneis group to rise to lorty-seven point-. Meat prices have remained practically stationary, the index nuuiI■(* i* being the Mime a- that tor March. In compiling prices in future the will I xti'iided stales the Govcrnuicnl statistician. Formerly, the average hoU'cltold expenditure was grouped under the following head': - Food 31.13. housing 20.31. clothing 13.sp, fuel and light 2fi.H. The official index numbers have hitherto covered only the -three groups, loud, housing, and fuel and light, bin for the future further particulars will be I included, so that the elfei-t will he to extend the scope ot the index numbers from .10. fit! per cent, for household expenditure (food, housing, fuel and light’) to Sfi.ll per cent. The remaining 13.11 per cent represents mi'ccllaneotts items, for which no reliable statistics 'can be obtained, and their j omission has the elleet ot giving them t!:e same general average increase as the other groups.

Till' legislation requiring the Arbitration Court to make six-monthly pronouncements as to the movement in the cost of living expired at the end «,f 1023. and it has been arranged that the (Vii'ii' and Statistics Office shall continue to collect the information in regard to the clothing and miscellaneous items and publish the results.