HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 109, 4 November 1926, Page 13

HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES

FOOD GROUPS DECREASE

POSITION OF ALL GEOUPS.

The retail-price index (Dominion weighted average) for the three food groups as at 15th August was 1583 (on base: average prices in four chief centres during the years 1909-13 equal 1000), a decrease of 13 points since the previous month, and of 47.9 per cent. over that for July, 1914, states the Government Statistician in the "Abstract of Statistics" just issued. The slight increase of 9 points in the index number for the groceries group was caused by minor fluctuations in prices of bread and flour. Again, the seasonal reductions, in the prices of eggs, milk, and butter have caused a further decrease of 63 points in the index number for the ,dairy produce group. Meat prices have altered but slightly, there being a decrease of 4 points in the September index number for this group. As compared with September, 1925, the individual combined food groups all show decreases—groceries, 5 points; dairy produce, 27 points (seasonal reductions have taken place slightly earlier this year); and the meat group 128 points—the index number lor the group in September, 1925, reflected the great upward movement in prices that took place last year—the peak being, reached in November. The index number for the combined food groups for , September, 1926, was 51 points lower than that for the same month in 1925. Expenditure on food constitutes somewhat less than two-nfths of the expenditure of the average household. It is necessary, therefore, to take into account other' groups of household expenditure in estimating price movements. Statistics regarding chouse rents, retail prices of clothing and drapery, footwoar, furnishings, household ironmongery, and other miscellaneous items of family expenditure have therefore'been collected as at 15th August, and, combined with the index for fuel and light for the same month in their proper proportions, the resultant "all groups" price index showing a lovel.of 62.8 per cent, over that for July, 1914. It now takes 32s 6Jd, on the average, to purchase what 20a would purchase in that month. The September, .1926, price index for fuel and light showed a decrease of 1 point compared with the corresponding figure for the previous month.