PRICE MOVEMENTS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 187, 7 May 1934, Page 8

PRICE MOVEMENTS

Export Index Higher The general index number of export prices for the month of March, was 1112 (on the base: average prices ruling during 1909—13 equals 10001, an increase ot 3 points or 0.3 per cent, over the February index, reports the Government Statistician. The index number for the wool group fell from 1441 in February to 1411 in March—a reflection of the lower prices ruling at the latest wool sales as compared with those realised at the sales held early in the current year. The index number of retail food prices has risen by 6 points since February, increases in the index numbers for ' the dairy-products and meat groups being only partly counteracted by a fall in the groceries index. The increase in the dairy-products index is, however, purely a seasonal phenomenon, being due mainly to slightly higher egg prices ruling during the Lenten season, the increase this year being considerably less than is usual.

Share prices recovered in March after a slight setback in February, the official index rising from 915 in February to 921 in March. The index number of import prices for lhe calendar year 1033 is 78 (on the base: 1926 import prices equals 100). This index number is compiled 'annually only, previous Indexes back to the year 1926 being: 1926, 100: 1027, 04: 1028, 00: 1020, 86; 1030, 84; 1931, 77; and 1932, 75. This index is on a New Zealand currency basis, and is thus comparable with other official price indexes for the Dominion.