RISING PRICES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 80, 28 December 1917, Page 3

RISING PRICES

HOW THE CONSUMER SUFFERS A SPECIMEN WEEKLY BUDGET A table published in the December number of the official "Abstract of Statistics" show« comparative costs of an assumed weekly consumption of certain foodstuffs, flio prices are the uvorago of fte prices in the four centres on ilio dates mentioned, and the iigurcs give a concrete illustration of tho increasoin t.bo cost of living during the war period:—

The figures sliow a very substantial increase in the rost of livine, lmt they show also that Now Zealand lias fared well in comparison with countries that arc nearer the'war zone. Tho corresponding figures for the "United Kingdom would be more tlian 50 per cent, higher all round.

Commodity. July, May. Nov., 19M. 1917. 1917. Groceries—' s. d. B d; s. d. Jlread, 7 2!b. loaves 2 2} 2 93 2 93 Flour, 31b 0 4J 0 63 0 61 Oatmeal, lib 0 2 0 3} 0 3 nice, lib 0 21 . 0 23 0 22 Ten, ill) '• 0 91 1)10 OlOJ Cocoa-, Jib 0 5} 0 53 0 6 Sugar, 31b 0 6 0 83 0 8J Jam, 211) Oil 11} 12 JtaiBiiiB, ill). ...j. 0 23 0 33 0 4 TotatocB, 141b/ 0 93 1 23 1 0J Totals 6 7} 8 63 8 6 Dairy Produce— Milk, 7 pints 1 23 18 IS Butter, 31b. ' 3 63 4 83 4 10} Cheese. Jib 0 2} 0 3} 0 3} Bocou, lib. .; Ollj 1 4j 1 1j Totala 511} 710 7 Hi McatrBeef- ' Sirloin. 3lb 1 Pi 111 2 3 Stewinir steak, 21b. 0113 1 2} 1 33 Corned roll. lib. ... 0 5} 0 7 0 71 Sausages, 21b 0 9} 0 10 0 10} Mutton— Us. 31b 1 61 110} 2 01 Shoulder, 21b 9 91 1 01 1 13 Chop?, 21b 1 01 1 31 14. Tofala 7 2 8 Hi 9 71 Grand totals 19 81 25 4 26_ 1 Increaso per cent. ... — 28.54 32.35