COST OF LIVING.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1921, Page 5

COST OF LIVING.

A SLIGHT FALL SHOWN. MONTHLY ABSTRACT FIGURES. The December Monthly Abstract indicates a slight fall in the cost of living as far as the food groups are concerned. “The index number for the three food groups for the month of November (Dominion weighted average) is 1887, a decrease of 12 points iu compared with the preceding month’s figure (1899), and an increase of 76.36 per cent as compared with that for July, 1914,” states the Government Statistician in an explan- ' atory note. “The decrease for November is accounted for by a fall in price of items in the groceries and the dairy produce groups. In the former group tea, rice, potatoes, and cereal preparations (such as rolled oats) show the biggest and most general fall in price, while the fixation of the price of butter has accounted for the fall of 16 points in the index number of the latter group as compared with the previous month. “During the September 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 as indicated below, the corresponding figures for June quarter, 19*20, and September quarter, 1919, being given by way of com-

parison:— Sept., 1020. June, 1920. Sept’., 1019. Centre fi. d. B. d. s. d. Auckland v.ti» r , 30 21 34 31 3i Wellington rj. 30 fi 35 0 31 Christchurch . . 39 Si 34 4 30 M Dunedin ..... 36 7 34 30 9J Average .. * 30 7 34 s 31 1