COST OF LIVING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2411, 30 March 1922, Page 2

COST OF LIVING.

HAS IT FALLEN? PRESENT C’b ST S'AND LAST YEAR’S FIGURES. For the purpose of ascertaining what has been -1 he approximate decline in the cost of living, a representative of She Dominion obtained from leading retailers in the city the. actual prices of commodities of standard quality, and in general demand-in the households of'workers earning from £5 to £6 per week, and with the following result : GROCERIES—RETAIL PRICES. Last year’s To-day’s

The reduction* in I lie above list „r goods is e(|n:il to approximately 2~> per (rent., or what cost £1 last vear can now he bought for 15s. Many grocers, in addition to the cut prices, give their customers a discount of 5 per cent, for prompt cash. HOUSE LINEN, ETC.

The fell in commodity prices does not slop ;tt groceries, for there is even a more pronounced decline in house linen, clothing for women and men, and soft furnishings for Ihe home. The following table illii'sIrates this: —

Axminster carpeting,

running: yard 1 8 6 10 6 The contraction in prices in the above lists represents approximately 35 per cent., and the items piloted are standard lines. THE FURNITURE LIST. In the standard lines of furniture there have been reductions, and the following are lines which experience shows are usually purchased by those whose circumstances are be-

with last year. It is not suggested that the above items exhaust the list of goods, on which reductions have been made during the past year, for there, are many articles needed in the home that have had their prices cut. The tendency is for further reductions, owing to labour costs being reduced. In the furniture trade, where the

minimum wqge is £5 Is 9d per week* employers have been paying up to £6 15s, but last week a cut was announced, and the top wage is now £5 15s. Furthermore; at the reduced wages the workers are said to be giving a better return, and that is being noted in all parts of the world.

prices. prices. Bacon, shoulders . . 1 3 0 94 to 1 0 Bacon, middle cut 1 6 l 3 Rashers • 1 8 1 2 i to /I 5 Butter 2 3 1 4 to r G Cheese 1 1 l 0 Eggs, per dozen 3 n 2 6 Oatmeal, 25’s .... 8 » 6 3 Pearl barley 0 44 0 3J Cornflour ' 0 10 () 64. Rice 0 8 0 4 Sago' 0 45 0 4 Tapioca 0 44 0 4 Tinned milk 1 4 1 1 Sugar, per lb 0 (U 0 43 Jam, lib tins .... 1 0 0 11 Raisins 1 f) 1 3 . Prunes 0 11 0 10 Herrings, fresh 1 0 0 10 Salt, per lb 0 2 0 IS Best baking powder 2 9 1 10 Cream of tartar .. 3 G 2 0 Carbonate soda 0 6 0 4 Peel 2 0 1 6 Soap 1 4 1 0 •Candles 1 4 1 14 Kerffsene, per tin . . 13 6 9 G Wax vestas 1 2 0 11 Holden svrup • • •• 1 0 0 10 Sultanas 1 4 1 3 Clour, 251b 7 9 G 6 Liam, per lb i (i 1 2

Horrocks' calico, £ s. d. £ 5; 'd. 3Gin 0 2 11 0 1 9 Finlay’s sheeting, douhie bed . 0 8 11 0 5 6 Imported flannelette . . 30in. 0 2 ii 0 1 11 Madopolam 42in. 0 3 G 0 2 3 Linen table damask 1 7 6 0 17 6 Table napkins, per dozen . - 2 10 0 1 19 6 Linen tea towelling, per yard ... 0 3 11 0 2 6 Turkish towels, each ...... 0 G 3 0 4 11 LADIES’ Navy serge, 56in. per yard ... 2 WEAR. ! 2 O' 1 1 6 Black coating, 5Gin. ner yard ... 1 15 0 0 1G 6 All wool gaberdine, 5Gin., per yard 2 1 2 0 c 1 18 G French face cloth, oOin 1 15 ,0 0 16 6 All wool suiting, 56in 1 7 G 0 13 11 Girls’ school serge, 5Gin 0 17 6 0 9 11 Women’s cashmere hose — First quality . 0 14 11 0 8 11 Second quality 0 10 6 0 6 11 Girls’ hose ... 0 6 11 0 4 9 MEN’S CLOTHING. Striped cambric shirts 0 13 6 0 8 11 Cashmere socks 0 5 G 0 3 9 Superior raincoats .... 10 10 0 7 5 0 Other raincoats 5 17 6 4 10 0 Suits to measure 9 9 0 G 6 0 Boys’ college \ suits ...... 2 5 0 1 12 G Boys’ College suits 4 7 6 3 9 0 SOFT FURNISHINGS. Casement cloth, per vard ... 0 5 6 0 3 9 Poplin. 48in. ?. 0 15 6 0 8 11 Cretonnes, 32in. 0 G G 0 3 11 Blind Holland, 36in. . . .. 0 4 11 0 3 9

ing considered: — £ s. d. £ s. d. Sideboard, oak 16 16 0 15 0 0 Extens. table 13 13 0 11 10 0 Dining chairs 2 10 0 2 2 0 Wardrobe .. 14 14 0 12 15 0 Duchess chest 10 10 0 8 15 0 Bedstead complete .... 13 5 0 10 17 6 Kitchen table 2 10 0 1 15 0 Kitchen chair 1 7: 6 1 1 0 Carpet square 21 0 0 14 10 0 The reductions in this group is equal to 182 per cent, as compared