THE COST OF LIVING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5039, 13 October 1926, Page 4

THE COST OF LIVING.

RETAIL PRICES FOR AUGUST.

32s B%d BUYS ONLY 20s WORTH.

The retail-price index (Dominion weighted average) for the three food groups at Auguist 15 was 1600 (oh base: average prices in four chief centres during the years 1909-1913 equajls 1000), an increase of 3 points since the previous month and of 49.5 per cent, over that for July, 1914. A s, harp rise was recorded in the groceries group, the index number having increased by 25 points sine® the previous month. Increases in prices of flour and bread are responsible for this movement. Seasonal 'reductions; in the prices of eggs and, in some townfe of butter ‘also have caused a drop of 35 points in the index number for the dairy products group.

Meat-prices have remained practically stationary, the index number for August showing an increase ot 2 points. The index number for the groceries group is 4 points higher than that for the same month la|stt year; the numbers for the other two grokips being 18 and 69 points respectively lo.wer than the corresponding figures for 1925. The differences are inconsiderable except in the ea.se of the meat group, in which prices have steadily fallen from month to mdnth during the current year with the single exception of between July and August, when a slight increase was recorded. The combined index number for the three food groups is 26 points lower than that fdr August, 1925.