COST OF LIVING.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1921, Page 6

COST OF LIVING.

BURDEN IN BRITAIN. The accuracy of the British figures on the cost of living is roundly challenged by the Spectator. The chief criticism directed against the numbers is that they are compiled from lists of articles many of which are not being purchased because their prices have advanced beyontt their food value. As an example it is stated that cheese consumption has increased 400 per cent, and is taking the place of meat without? sacrifice of food value. The figures include home fed mutton, which no one can buy, and jam l which for months has been a non-selling commodity. The most impressive argument used is the following from the bal-ance-sheet of the Stockport Co-opera-tive Society:—The society’s balancesheet for September 28, 1014, gives a membership of 10.154: these members represent (although there is a small percentage of dual members) a family of fJur; the average weekly purchase for the three months ending September. 28. 1014, was about Ils, aqp during the same period in September. 1920. about 20s per week. Could you, asks the Spectator, get a better example in dealin<r with about 15,000 households to,day that the cost of living is, nearer !)O per cent than the figure of 176 given •jit the Ministry of Labor’s Budget?