COST OF LIVING: (INDEX NUMBERS OF) FOR EACH MONTH FROM JULY, 1914.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1915 Session I, H-37

1915. NEW ZEALAND

COST OF LIVING: (INDEX NUMBERS OF) FOR EACH MONTH FROM JULY, 1914.

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated the Bth September, 1915. Ordered, " That there be laid before this House a return showing—(l) The index numbers of the cost of living for each month from July, 1914, to the latest date available, with percentages of increase in each month over that of July, 1914, for the four chief centres—showing bread, groceries, dairy-produce, and meat separately ; (2) the same information for the food products in the household budget as shown on pago 551 of the Labour Journal for June ; and (3) similar information for the grocery articles included in Group I. A and Group 1b on page 537 of the Labour Journal for July." —(Mr. McCombs.)

RETURN. The following are the commodities covered by the tables given in this return :— Table I. Bread. Table ll.—Groceries, excluding bread : Flour, oatmeal, rice, sago, tapioca, tea, coffee, cocoa, sugar, salt, pepper, jam, honey, golden syrup, treacle, raisins, currants, apricots (tinned), pears (tinned), peaches (tinned), prunes (dried), apricots (dried), potatoes, onions, salmon (tinned), herrings (tinned), starch, blue, soap, tobacco. Table 111.- Dairy-produce : Milk, butter, cheese, eggs, bacon (shoulder), bacon (middle cut) ham. Table IV.-- Meat: Beef —sirloin, brisket, prime ribs, rump steak, top-side, stewing-steak, corned round, corned roll, corned brisket; mutton —leg, shoulder, loin, neck, chops ; pork- leg, loin, belly, chops ; sausages —pork, beef; tripe. ' Table V. —Group la—General groceries : Rice, sago, tapioca, tea, coffee, cocoa, salt, pepper, jam, honey, golden syrup, treacle, raisins, currants ; tinned apricots, peaches, and pears ; dried primes and apricots ; tinned salmon and herrings ; starch, blue, soap, and tobacco. Table VI.- Group Ib.- -Five home products : Bread, flour, oatmeal, potatoes, onions. Table VII. Weekly budgets. (Commodities included are specified in budget.)

H.—37

Table showing Index Numbers for each Month from July, 1914, to August, 1915 (inclusive), for Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, together with Monthly Increases per Cent. over the Index Numbers of July, 1915.

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Month. . , , , Increase. ! w „. . Increase Christ- Increase -. ,. Increase , Auckland. | per ( , onf Wellmgton. per Cent I churoh . per Cent . j Dunedin. per f , ent _ Table I.—Bread. July, 1914 August, 1914 .. September, 1914 October, 1914 .. November, 1914 December, 1914 January, 1915 .. February, 1915 March, 1915 .. April, 1915 .. May, 1915 June, 1915 July, 1.915 August, 1915 .. 1.169 .. 1.023 .. 1,169 .. 1,023 1.169 .. 1,023 .. 1,169 .. .1,023 1.169 .. 1.169 14-27 1,169 .. 1.169 14-27 1,316 12-57 ] 1.169 14-27 1.169 .. 1,169 14-27 1,316 12-57 1.169 14-27 1.169 .. 1,169 14-27 1,316! 12-57 1.316 28-64 I 1.169 .. 1,316 28-64 1,316 12-57 1,316 28-64 1.316 12-57 1,316 .28-64 1.462 25-06 1,462 42-91 1.462 25-06 1,462 42-91. 1.462 j 25-06. 1.462 42-91 :| 1,462 25-06 1,462 42-91 1.462 i 25-06 1.462 42-91 1,462! 25-06 1,462 42-91 1,162; 25-06 1.462 42-91 | 1.462 j 25-06 1,462 42-91 1.462: 25-06 1.462 42-91 , 1.462 25-06: 1,462 42-91 1,462 { 25-06! 1,462 42-91 : 1,462 25-06 j 1,462 42-91 1,462 1 25-06 I 1,162: 42-91 1 ,389 i 18-82: 1.462 42-91 Table II. — Groceries, excluding Bread. July, 1914 August, 1914 .. September, 19.14 October, 1914 . . November, 1914 December, 1914 January, 1915 .. February, 19.15. . March, 19.15 .. April, 1915 May, 191.5 June, 1915 July, 1915 August, 1915 .. 950 .. 1.036 .. 1.009 .. 1,011 1.003 5-58 1.042 0-58 1,023 1-39 1,010 -0-10 964 1-47 1.075 3-76 j 1,062 | 5-25 1,021 0-99 964 1-47 1.094 5-60 1.042 3-27 1,006 -0-49 1,050 10-53 1.101 6-56 1,044 3-47 1,058 4-65 1.144! 20-42 1.261 21-72 | 1.076' 6-64 1,151 13-85 1.062! 11-79 1,145 10-52 - 1.16.1 15-06 1,270 25-62 1.087 i 14-42 1.169 12-84 j 1.137 12-69 1,227: 11-47 1.083 j 14-00 1,165 12-45 | 1,114; 10-41 1,130 11-77 1,064 ! 12-00 1.164 12-36 1.101 : 9-12 1,066 5-44 1,069 12-53 1.132 9-27 ii 1,103 9-32 1,126 11-37 1.073 12-95: 1.170 12-93 L,119 10-90 1.156 14-34 1.088 1 14-53 | 1.194 j 15-25 ! 1,133 12-78 1,155 14-24 1.095 15-26 1,190! 14-86 1.118 10-80 1.132 11-97 Table III. — Dairy-produce. July, 1914 August, 1914 .. September, 1914 October, 1914 .. November, 1914 Decembeiyl914 January, 1915 .. February, 1.915.. March, 1915 .. April, 1915 May, 1915 June, 1915 July, 1915 August, 1915 .. 1,008 j .. 1,163 : .. | 1.024 I .. 1.075 I 989 i - 1-88 ! 1.107 1-82 i 1.000 - 2-34 1,038 - 3-44 991 I - 1-69 I 1.035 -11-01 : 994 ' 2-93 1,054 ! - 1-95 1,003 | - 0-50 : 1,052 9-54 j 904 ! -11-72 1,024 *- 4-74 1.036 2-78 | 1,042 -10-40 i 911 -11-04 1,032: - 4-00 1,04.1 3-27 \ 1,078 7-31 1,019 - 0-49 1,040 - 3-26 1,079 7-04 I 1,102 - 5-25 1,040 1-56 1,056 1-77 1,094 8-53 j 1,109 - 4-64 1.080 5-47 1,094 1-77 1.129 12-00 ! 1,146 1-46 1,110 8-40 1,123 4-47 1.181 17-16 ; 1.295 11-35 1.172 14-45 1,195 11-16 1,169 15-97 1.315 13-07 1.167 13-96 1,222 13-67 1.182 17-26 1.276; 9-72 1.154 12-70 1,190 10-70 1,203 19-35 1,322; 13-67 1,178 15-04 1,209 12-47 1,140 13-10 1,259 8-25 : 1,140 11-33 -1,185 10-23 Signifies decrease.

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H.—37

Table showing Index Numbers for each Month from July, 1914, to August, 1915 (inclusive), for Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, together with Monthly Increases per Cent. over the Index Numbers of July, 1914— continued.

Month. . , , , Inoreaso. „ T ... , ' Increase .' Auckland. 0eat Wellington.; Christchurch. Increase I >-. ,. Increase .-, , : Dunedin. ,, . por Cent, i per Cent. Table IV.—Meat. July, 1914 August, 1914 September, 1914 October, 1914 . . November, 1914 December, 1914 January, 1915 February, 1915.. March, 1915 .. April, 1915 May, 1915 June, 1915 July, 1915 August, 1915 .. 1,258 1,258 1,258 1.300 1.300 1.274 1.278 1.274 1.295 1.295 1.204 1.218 1,218 1.317 1,090 .. 1,070 1,090 .. 1,070 1,100 0-92 ! 1,115 3-34 ! 1,118 2-57 1,179 3-34 1,207 10-73 1,168 1-27 1,207 10-73 | 1,159 1-59 1,176 7-89 ! l 1,1.84 1-27 1,177 7-99 1,181 2-94 1.180 8-26 1,144 2-94 | 1,169 7-25 , 1,070 - 4-29 ! 1,180 8-26 1,035 - 3-18 ! 1,171 7-43 1,050 -' 3-18 I 1,172 7-52 ' 1,053 4-69 ! 1.171 7-43 II 1,235 4-21 10-19 9-16 8-32 10-65 10-37 6-92 - 3-27 - 1-87 - 1-59 15-42 1,056 1,080 1,196 1,162 1,211 1,197 1,200 1,183 1,186 1,162 1,138 1,116 1,097 1,150 2-27 13-26 10-04 14-68 13-35 13-64 12-03 12-31 10-04 7-77 5-68 3-88 8-90 July, 1914 August, 1914 . . September, 1914 October, 1914 . . November, 1914 December, 1914 January, 1915 February, 1915 March, 1915 .. April, 1915 May, 1915 June, 1915 July, 1915 August, 1915 978 998 975 986 986 984 1,003 979 983 986 980 984 * 985 991 Table V. — Group la : General Groceries. 1,103 .. 1,057 2-00 1,072 -2-81 i 1,059 -0-31 1,076 -2-45 | 1,068 0-82 1,092 -1-00 1,045 0-82 1,065 -3-45 '" 1,052 0-61 1,085 -1-63 Ii 1,072 2-56 1,063 -3-63 ! 1,058 0-10 1,071 -2-90 1,059 0-51 1,084 | — 1-72 1,071 0-82 1,070 I -2-99 1,056 0-20 1,056 I -4-26 ! 1,049 0-61 1,064 | -3-54 i 1,052 0-72 1,079 I -2-18 1,050 1-33 1,078 ! -2-27 I 1,049 0-19 •1-04 -1-14 -0-47 1-42 0-09 0-19 1-32 -0-09 -0-76 -0-47 - 0-66 - 0-76 1,116 1,061 1,094 1,037 1,048 1,084 1,127 1,096 1,089 1,062 1,088 1,102 1,100 1,084 - 4-93 - 1-97 - 7-08 -6-09 -2-87 0-99 - 1-79 - 2-42 - 4-84 -2-51 -1-25 1-43 -2-87 July, 1914 August, 1914 .. September, 1914 October, 1914 .. November, 1914 December, 1914 January, 1915 February, 1915 March, 1915 April, 1915 May, 1915 June, 1915 July, 1915 August, 1915 Table VI. — Group lb: Home Products. 925 981 1,031 1,044 1,091 1.311 1,475 1.425 1,335 1,248 1.330 1,367 1,355 1,329 6-05 11-46 12-86 17-95 41-73 59-46 54-05 44-32 34-92 43-78 47-78 46-49 43-68 1,067 1,145 1,070 1,127 1.246 1,406 1,234 1.389 1,378 1,339 1,354 1,356 1,365 1,370 1,011 1 .. 1,019 7-31 1,021 ! 0-99 1,042 0-28 1.124 11-18 j 1.077 5-62 1.126 I 11-37 '• 1,066 16-78 I .176 ! 16-32 1,022 31-77 1 ,520 50-35 j 1.054 15-65 1 .319 30-46 i 1 ,313 30-18 1,442 42-63 1,349 29-15 1 ,418 40-26 | 1 .293 25-49 1,431 41-54 ! 1.314 26-90 1,380 36-50 | 1,302 27-09 1,423 40-75 1.323 27-93 1.437 42-14 j 1,352 28-40 1.438 42-24 1,284 2-26 5-69 4-61 0-29 3-43 28-85 32-38 26-89 28-95 27-77 29-83 32-68 26-01 — Signifies docreai

H.—37

Table showing the Comparative Costs of an Assumed Weekly Household Consumption of Certain Foodstuffs in the Months between July, 1914, and August, 1915 (inclusive), and the Percentages of Increases over the Prices ruling in July, 1914. (Based on the average of the four chief centres.) Table VII.— Weekly Budgets.

Approximate Oast of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (850 copies), £4.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9ls.

Price 3d.]

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Commodity. Quantity. Average Cost, July, 1914. Average Average Average • Average Cost, Cost, Cost, Cost, August. Sept., October. Nov., 1914. 1914. 1914. 1914. Average Cost, Dec, 1914. Average Average Average Cost, Cost, Cost, January, February. March, 1915." 1915. 1915. Average : Average Average j Average Cost, Cost, Cost, Cost, April. Mav, June. July, 1915. 1915. 1915. 1915. Average Cost, August, 1915. Groceries — s. d. Bread .. .. ! 7 2 lb. loaves 2 2J Flour .. ..31b. .. 0 4| Oatmeal .. .. 1 lb. .. 0 2 Rice .. .. lib. .. 0 21 Tea .. ..lib. .. 0 91 Cocoa .. .. |lb. .. 0 51 Sugar . . .. 3 lb. .. 0 6 Jam .. .. 2 lb. .. Oil Raisins .. .. Jib. .. 0 2| Potatoes .. ..141b. .. 0 9| s. d. 2 2i 0 5| 0 2i 0 2| 0 9i 0 5| 0 6 0 11 0 3 0 10| ; s. d. s. d. s. d. 2 24 2 4 2 4| 0 51 0 5f 0 5| 0 2i 0 24 j 0 2i 0 21 0 21 i 0 24 ' 0 91 0 94 0 91 0 54 0 51 0 54 0 6 0 64 0 6| 0 11 0 ll" 0 11 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 101 0 9i I 0 8| S. 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 o : o o d. Ol 5 i 11 3 91 s. d. 2 4| 0 5| 0 2| 0 2| 0 91 0 54 0 6f 0 11 0 3 0 8| s. d. 2 4| 0 6 0 2i 0 21 0 91 0 54 0 71 0 111 0 3 0 9f s. d. 2 64 0 6i 0 21 0 24 0 94 0 54 0 74 0 Hi 0 3 1 44 s- d.. 2 74 I 0 64 : 0 24 0 2 4 0 9i 0 54 0 74 0 111 0 3 1 3f s. d. 2 10 0 71 0 24 0 24 0 91 0 54 0 74 0 111 0 3 1 31 s. d. 2 11 0 74! 0 2f 0 24 0 91 I 0 54 0 74 0 lli 0 3 1 01 s. d. 2 11 0 74 0 2f [ 0 21 ! 0 94 0 5i 0 71 0 Hi 0 3 1 01 s. d. 2 11 0 71 0 3 0 21 0 94 0 51 0 74 0 Hi 0 3 0 llf I s. d. 2 11 0 7£ 0 3 0 24 0 9f 0 54 0 74 0 Hi 0 3 1 Of s. d. 2 11 0 7i 0 3 0 24 0 9f 0 54 0 7| 0 114 0 3 1 li s. d. 2 104 0 6f 0 3 0 2i 0 9f 0 5i 0 7f 0 iii 0 3 1 ii ! ' i ; - — 7 lOf I 19-56 7 11 19-87 8 2 23-66 Totals .. -.. .. 6 74 j Increase per cent. 6 71 '4 6 9f 3-15 6 9| 3-15 6 : 4-' 6 11 4-73 11 •73 6 11 4-73 6 11 4-73 7 H 7-89 8 04 8 0 21-77 21-14 7 llf 20-82 8 14 23-03 8 24 24-29 8 1 22-40 Dairy-produce — Milk .. .. 7 pints .. 1 2| Butter .. 3 lb. .. 3 6f Cheese .. . . 4 lb. .. 0 2| Bacon .. .. 1 lb. .. 0 11J 1 2f 3 6f 0 21 0 111 j 1 3 0 1 2 1 1 3 61 0 2| 0 11| 1 1 3 6| 0 21 | 0 llf 1 3 0 1 2 7 2i 1 2 3 9f 0 2i 0 llf 1 2 3 lOf 0 21 0 llf 1 2 3 114 0 24 0 llf 1 2f 4 5f I 0 24 : 0 llf 1 2f 4 74 0 24 j 0 llf 1 2f 4 7| 0 24 : 0 llf 1 2f 4 llf 0 2f 0 llf 1 2f 4 9i 0 2f 0 llf I — Totals .. .. .. 5 114 Increase per cent. 5 iii 5 111 5 111 5 J -0v 5 11 -0-35 11 ■35 - 5 9i -2-46" 5 91 -2-46 5 9f -2-11 5 114 I 0-35" 6 If 3-51 6 2| 4-91 6 3f 6 lOf 7 04 7 Of 6-32 ' 16-14 ! 18-60 I 18-95 7 5 24-91 7 24 21-40 Meatr— BeefSirloin .. ..31b. .. 1 81 Stewing-steak .. 21b. .. 0 llf Corned roll.. ..lib. .. 0 5| Sausages .. . . 2 lb. .. 0 9| Mutton — Leg .. 3 lb. .. 1 5i Shoulder .-. .. I 2 lb. .. 0 91 Chops .. ..2 1b. .. 1 Of 3 lb. 21b. lib. 21b. 31b. 2 1b. 2 1b. 1 81 0 llf 0 5i 0 9| 1 5i 0 91 1 01 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 8f 1 0 0 51 0 91 1 51 0 91 1 04 8| 0 5i 9J 5i 0| 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 9i 1 0i 0 54 0 91 Oi 6 Q3 1 1 Si 1 1 0 5| 0 91 0 9f 1 11 1 1 0 0 1 91 1 104 1 li 0 5| 0 94 1 6f 0 10i ; 1 14 ' 1 10 1 li 0 5| J 0 94 ; 1 61 0 101 1 14 1 9f 1 li 0 5f 0 9-4 1 6i 0 101 1 14 1 10f 1 li 0 54 0 10 1 10 1 1 0 5f 0 94 1 1 0 0 91 51 94 j 1 1 0 0 9i 0i 54 9i 1 1 0 0 9i 0i 54 9i 1 1 0 0 8| 0i 54 9i 1 IO! 1 Of 0 6 0 9-i 1 6 0 9f 1 1 1 0 1 6i 9| 14 1 5f 0 10 1 If 1 5| 0 10 1 li 1 0 1 54 °4 Q3 a 4 u 4 1 0 1 43 *4 94 | 04 1 0 1 5 94 Oi 1 0 1 4f 94 04 1 6i 0 10i 1 1 Totals .. .. . . 7 2 Increase per cent. 7 2 7 2f 0-87 7 2f 0-87 7 3-7 7 54 3-78 5*1 78 7 6i 4-94 7 6i 4-94 7 94 8-72 7 84 7-56 7 8i 7-27 7 9 8-14 7 7i 6-10 7 5i 3-78 7 3 1-16 7 3 1-16 7 24 0-58 7 8 6-98 Grand totals .. j . . 19 8J ' 1 Increase per cent. .. I 19 81 ' 19 llf .. " 1-37 19 llf i 1-37 20 2-6 20 3i 2-85 3i i 85 20 2| 2-64 20 2| 2-64 20 8f 5-18 I 21 6f 21 9 9-41 10-36 22 If 12-37 31 114 22 4 11-42 ; 13-33 22 34 13-00 22 51 22 10 13-85 15-86 22 114 16-49" Wellington, 15th September, 1915. — Signifies decrease. Malcolm Feasee, Government Statistician.