The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1917. COST OF LIVING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1672, 8 February 1917, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1917. COST OF LIVING.

TABLES published in the Labour Journal for January show the increases in retail prices in December, 1910, as compared with .November, 1910, and December, 1915, and with July, 1914. Groceries are 24.59 per cent, dearer than before the war (Dominion average juices) as compared with 28.52 per cent, in November ol last year, and 17.43 per cent, in December, 1915. The increase is mainly owing to the rise in price of bread, (lour, potatoes, and onions, which has taken place in the majority of towns covered by the enquiry. The largest individual increases occur in Dunedin, Alaslerton, Nelson, and Wellington, while Rotorua and Oaiua.ru are the only towns to register decreases. Alexandra is still the dearest town in the Dominion for groceries, and Ashburton the cheapest. Alexandra, Napier, Masterton, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, and Gisborne are the only towns to show marked increases in the price of dairy produce. Eggs and cheese have been mainly responsible for the upward movement, which, on the Dominion average, represents 20.72 per cent., as compared with 19.9(1 per cent, in November, 1910, and 7.85 per cent, cent, in December, 1915. A very marked increase in the price of meat is shown by Taihape, and smaller increases are reported by Masterton, Palmerston North, and Napier. 'The Dominion increase is 24.07 per cent, compared with 23.53 per cent, in November, and 20.09 per cent, in December, 1915. Por the three food groups the Dominion average increases on pre-war figures is 25.23 per cent., against 22.71 in November and 10.30 in December, 1915. The greatest increases have occurred in Taihape, Masterton, and Dunedin, and only three towns (Timaru, Oamaru and Rotorua) out of 25 show decreases. Taihape is now the dearest food town of the Dominion, Gisborne being next, and Blenheim remaining the cheapest.