COST OF LIVING

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1931, Page 7

COST OF LIVING

CHEAPER meat and dearer POTATOES. WELLINGTON, March 12. Tile Govern moil t .Statistician reports that the retail price index (Dominion weighted average) for the three food groups as at January 1 5 was 1443 (on the base—average prices in the four centres during the years 1909-13—1000 a decrease of 19 points as compared wiitli that for the previous month, and an increase of 31.9 per cent over that for July, 1914. Although slight reductions have been noted in the price of sugar, the comparatively high prices ruling for potatoes in several centres are the main factors contributing to the increase of 30 points in the index number (for the groceries group. Reductions in the prices of milk, bacon eggs, and cheese have been counteract ed somewhat by the rise in the price of butter. These movements have resulted in a fall of 9 points in the dairy produce index number. Further reductions in meat prices have caused a downward movement of 85 points in the index number for tlii group. The January food, fuel, and light index numbers combined with Novembe’ clothing and drapery, footwear, and miscellaneous index numbers, and the. August rent index, give an all-groups index 53.8 per cent above the July, 1914, level, so that it now takes £1 10s 9d on ilia average to purchase what could have been purchased for £1 ip that month.