COST OF LIVING

Hokitika Guardian, 31 December 1931, Page 6

COST OF LIVING

STATISTICAL RECORD. INCREASE IN GROCERY PRICES The cost of living is slowly falling. In ttie month of Nevember, it took £1 qs bd to purchase what could be bought for £1 in July, 1914. According to the Abstract of Statistics for December, the all-groups index has fallen in Nevember by 7.3 per cent since Nevember, 1930, and by 11 per cent since November, 1929. Food was slightly cheaper in November than in October, -*fche average cost of groceries, dairy pioduce and meat had dropped two points on the figure^for the preceding month. Those figures groups were 11.6 per cent., cheaper than during November, 1930. The price of groceries has increased during the past few months, according to the Abstract. On : the average, these lines were 3 per cent, cheaper than November, 1930, despite an. increase of 71 points since August of this year.

Discussing this phrase of the cost of living yesterday, a grocer pointed out that the increase in sugar prices had caused am upward movement. The new method of assessing Customs duties also had the effect of increasing prices, as a great many of the lines in general use were imported. American and Canadian goods were now much dearer than they were a. few months ago, the effect of placin Canada on the general tariff having caused a sharp rise. -a Dealing with price movements, the Government Statistician, writing in the Abstract, makes the following observations: “Prices of food have increased since August, the increase in sugar prices being the main cause of this upward movement. The normal seasonal increase in potato prices, consequent on tlie introduction of the new season’s crop, is also in part responsible for the increase of twelve points recorded in the combined food-

groups index-. “Clothing, drapery and footwear prices have fallen by six points since August. The level of prices in this (Troup is now 23. S per cent above .Tulv, 1011.

The index number for the miscellaneous group lias fallen by twelve joints since August. , Among the individual items recorded in this group an increase in tobacco prices lias been offset by a reduction in railway ’fares.”