THE COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2953, 13 December 1916, Page 6

THE COST OF LIVING

PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS

INTERESTING COMPARISONS

The recent figures published by the New Zealand Government Statistician show that tlio prices of foodstuffs have increased in this country by 20.47 per cent, since the- outbreak of the war. The increase in Wellington, City_ is set down as 19.58 per cent., while it falls as low as 11.5 per cent, in Now Plymouth, and rises as high as 26.18 per cent, in SVaihi. The figures are secured by comparing the average retail prices of groceries, dairy produce, and meat at the present time, with the prices ruling on July 31, 1914. The increases are largo, but it is interesting to' notice that other countries, nearer.'to the war zone, have suffered much more severely. Statistics prepared by the British Board of Trade show that food prices in England have advanced by CO per cent, since July, 1914. This is the average over the main articles of food. Meat shows an advance of from sd. to Gd per pound, fish and eggs have advanced 80 per cent., and flour has risen CO per cent. The increases in the prices of bread, potatoes, butter, cheese, bacon, and tea averages 50 per cent. Sugar costs 5Jd. per pound in the United Kingdom at the present time, as against 2d. per pound before the war, lijd. of this increase representing taxation. The prices of Switzerland have sbown a general increaseof rather more than 40 per cent, during the war period. Milk, butter, and cheese lave advanced 18 per cent., edible fats and oils G4 per cent., bread and flour 56 per cent., meat 42 per cent., and sugar and honey 84.9 per cent. Switzerland, of course, is surrounded completely by belligerent nations, and in these conditions is hard pressed to prevent food, prices reaching starvation lovels owing to the efforts of her neighbours, particularly Germany, to buy in her markets.

Norway and Denmark have felt tho war conditions severely. The prices of foodstuffs m Norway have 'advanced more.than 70 per cent., some of the increases being: Beef 95 per cent., mutton 82 per cent., butter 27 per cent., wheat flour 42 per cent., rye flour 95 per cent., sugar 78 per cent. The increases in Denmark average 45 pc- cent.

Some of the other increases that are reported are interesting. The general cost of living in Italy has increased by ,33 per cent, since July, 1914, the largest increase boing 64 per cent, in the case of meat. Even Spain, apparently well away from tbo war area, has feltthe pressure, the cost of the necessaries of life in the Spanish cities showing an advance ,of over 15 per cent, Tho increase in Canadu is set down as 14.8 per cent., and in tho United States as 11 per cent.