STABLE LIVING COSTS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 165, 10 April 1944, Page 5

STABLE LIVING COSTS

UIS. Report Published

(British Official Wireless and Press Assn.) RUGBY. April 7. On the first anniversary of his “hold-the-line” programme for economic stabilization, President Roosevelt has made public a report showing that the cost of living iu the United States is lower now than it was a year ago, says a Washington message. The report states: "The task of stopping the rise in prices so far has been carried out. This record — oue year of stable living costs —is unprecedented either in this or the last war.”

The report recommended the continuance of the present wage and price control policies. Regarding wages, the report says that some adjustments have been made to correct gross inequities and eliminate low standards of living, lite general effect of the policy has been to increase the earnings of low-wage groups. Total earnings have risen because ot longer working hours and higher paying war jobs, but the basic wage structure is essentially unchanged. The report said that the programme had brought "tangible benefits _ to all groups.” Corporation profits and farm incomes in 1943 even exceeded the recordbreaking levels of 1942. Average weekly earnings moved up to new highs. Stabilization particularly benefited more than 20.000.000 people, whose incomes cannot be increased in a manner commensurate w'Jh rising prices—the families of servicemen, low-paid, unorganized workers, school teachers. Government employees, and pensioners. The Associated Press says that the report is issued at a time when organized labour is pressing for the relaxation of wage controls. However, Mr. Roosevelt, at his Press conference, said the report was important because it showed the Government was trying to keep prices from going through the roof and bankrupting everybody.