COST OF LIVING

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 October 1939, Page 12

COST OF LIVING

GENERAL INCREASE IN PRICES The retail prices index (base: 1926-30 equals 1000) for the three food groups rose nine points (from 1051 to 1060) between July and August, reports the Government Statistician. Increases of five points in the meat group and 34 points in the groceries group, the latter due to a further increase in the price of potatoes, were partially counteracted by a fall of 12 points in the dairy produce group, in which egg prices exercised the predominating influence. The August inquiry into house rents resulted in an increase in the index of 19 points (from 874 to 893) as compared with the position in February last. The all-groups index for August is 995. which is eight points in advance of that for July and 58.4 per cent, above the 1914 level.

The wholesale prices index (base: 1926-30 equals 1000) registered an increase of 19 points (from 1065 to 1084) during the month, increased taxation on beer (in the group for locally-produced commodities) and on motor-spirit in the group for imported commodities) being mainly responsible.

The export prices index (base 1909-13 equals 1000) rose 12 points (from 1308 to 1320), fluctuations in individual groups being: Increases, dairy produce, 28 points; meat, 15 points; YVOoI, 17 points; timber, 15 points; minerals, 23 points. Decreases: Hides, skins, etc., 71 points; agricultural produce, 81 points. The share price index (base: 1926 equals 1000) at the end of August was 855, which is 15 points below that for the previous month.