COST OF LIVING

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 December 1940, Page 3

COST OF LIVING

A SLIGHT INCREASE. [ An increase of four points in the all-groups index over the October figure is shown in the Government Statistician’s report on the cost of living for November. The index is now 67.5 per cent, above the 1914 level, and 5.7 per cent, above the last pre-war month (August, 1939). The retail prices index (base: 1926-30—1000) for the three food groups for November is 1087, remaining unchanged since October, though the individual groups show considerable movement, the statistician says. The, groceries index is 1046, an increase of 23 points,since October, reflecting mainly the increased charges for new season’s potatoes; conversely, the index for the meat group (1193) has fallen 21 points as a result of the general reduction of jd a pound operating from the beginning of November. The'index for the dairy produce group, has advanced 2 points. Further increases in the indexes for tlothing, drapery and footwear, and for miscellaneous items are combined with the August rent index, an allgroups index of 1052 is. obtained, an increase of 4 points since the previous month. This index is now 67.5 per cent, above the 1914 level, and 5.7 per cent, above the last pre-war month (August, 1939).

The wholesale pricey index. (base 1926-30 —1000) rose 5 points (from 1253 to 1258) between October arid November. Small increases in the prices .of both potatoes. and onions caused an advance of 8 points in the index for locally-produced commodities, and further slight increases in the prices of metals were responsible, for the 3-point rise in the index for imported commodities. The export prices index (base: 1909-13 —1000) for November is 1537, an increase of 18 points since October. The principal rriovemerits were in the following groups:—lncreases: Minerals, 272 points; hides, skins, etc. 226 points; timber, 73 points. Decrease: Meat, 27 points. The share prices index (base: 1926 —1000) for all groups at the end of November was 903, a' decrease of 2 points as* compared with, the October index. The index for industrial shares separately was 933, a decrease of 6 points below' .that for the previous month.