THE COST OF LIVING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 10 June 1913, Page 4

THE COST OF LIVING.

As regards the cost of living, taking the average results for thirty towns in the Commonwealth, it appears (says the Labour Bulletin, issued by the Commonwealth Statistician) that the index number decreased from 1027 in the last quarter of 1912 to 998 in the first quarter of the current year. In view of the fact, however, that the cost of living is still considerably higher (except in Queensland) than in the corresponding quarter of last year, it appears, so far as can be judged from present indications, that the decline is due almost entirely to a season ul fall in price of meat and certain agricultural and dairy produce, such as potato.:.-;, onions, flour, butter, etc. Oth' ;■ dairy produce (eggs and milk) and h.>use rents rose. As regards the six capital town s only, the amount necessary on the_ average to purchase, what would have cost £1 in 1911 was £1 2s in the first quarter of the current year, compared with £1 2g 7d in the quarter immediately preceding, and £1 Os 9d in the first quarter of 1912, ' The percentage of unemployment increased since the last quarter of 1912 from 5.5 to 6.4, the increase occurring in all the States, except West Australia and Tasmania. The industries most affected were the building, mining, and clothing trades.