TO-DAY'S PRICES.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1920, Page 6

TO-DAY'S PRICES.

POTATOES MAY BE DEARER. SUGAR STOCKS EXHAUSTED. ■ With the frequent changes in prices of everyday articles which the housewife has to buy, the following brief summary of the market conditions reporteS In New Plymouth yesterday will interj est every woman who shops for the I home:— • Potatoes. —The growers in the south j are inclined to hold on to stocks pehdj mg a decision from the Australian Gov- | eminent. In the meantime, a few tons ; are coming forward by each steamer, but it is impossible to buy requirements. | Should the export to Australia be al- , lowed the price must advance to about ? £7 f.o.b. Dfied Fruits. —The present conversion rate of exchange makes the purchasing of goods from America almost prohibitive, and this fact will mean very little or no shipments of dried fruits from 'Frisco for the Christmas trade. Matches.—We understand a small shipment of wax matches is to hand in the Flora, and these will go into consumption as soon as available. Sugar—The sugar workers are still out on strike, and even if work commences in the near •fiitws it will mean | a fortnight or so after the start of ! operations before any srgar is available, i Local stocks' are quite bare, and eoni sumcrs should take the precaution to j make existing supplies hold out accordj inglr. Cube sugar is not manufactured jin N«v Zealand, and suppljeiß fCre i shipped from Sydney from time to j time. Quantities to hand to date have I made no material difference to sugar I supplies. i Onions.-—Supplies from the south are j now exhausted, Mrfc shipments from j Avsiralia ;,hould bo f.-.i hand any. time {now. T!i» Australian market has firmed ; sonsidwubly, so we way look for an ad- ! rsuwsd price before the new crop from j Auckland is available, i Jiisimita and Confectionery.—Most of i taw manufacturers have closed "down owijng to shortage of sugar., but this will ! 'fight, itself when sugar supplies aire ; available. Kerosene.—ls in very short supply at Present, sad is Ifeely to be for some £»»«. The nevt shipment to arrive in the Dominion is due about the end of September. Tapioca. Advices from Singapore rtatu that,'the tapioca market is very firm. Tcr^—Advices from Colombo state that prices for lower and medium grades are inclined to firm somewhat, with high prices for fine flavoured tea. POWER OF THE SOVEREIGN.

The "cost of living" index number for the three food groups for the month of July (Dominion weighted average) is 1791, an increase of 49 points as compared with the June number, and an increase of 67.38 per cent, oil the number tor July, 1014. The large increase shown by the June index number is almost wuoily due to the rise in the price of sugar. The meat group, too, shows a considerable increase, chiefly brought about by rises in Christchurch arid Dunediii. The dairy produce group, on the other hand, shows a drop of 50 points, the fall shown by eggs being more than sufficient to neutralise completely an increase in tlie price of butter. During the June quarter of 1920, the amount required on the average to purchase in each of the four centres that amount of food which would have cost 20s on the average for the four chief centres during the years 1909-13 was— Auckland, 34s 6Jd; Wellington, 355; Christchurch,*34s 4d; Dunedin, 34s Did; four centres, 34s SJd. The corresponding figures for the June quarter of 1919 were —Auckland, 30s 7d; Wellington, 31s l%d; Christchurch, 28s 10y 4 d; Dunedin, 30s 3£d; four centres, 30s 2Jd; 34s four centres, 34s 2Jd. 1920—Auckland, 33s 7d; Wellington, 33s <iy 2 d; Christchurch, 34s 8d; Dunedin, 34s 11 £d; four centres, 34s 2y 2 d. f