COST OF LIVING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4473, 14 February 1917, Page 6

COST OF LIVING.

STILL INCREASING. G 0 VEHEMENT STATISTIC! AN ’ S REPORT. The steady increase in the cost of food commodities in the Dominion is well set forth in an article published, by the Government Statistician, Mr Malcolm Eraser, in which a further series of labels are given showing the percentages of increases in retail prices ruling for the months of November and December. 1916, and also December, 1915, over prices ruling on July 31, 1914. GROCERIES. The first commodity dealt with was groceries. The figures ior thirteen towns of the Dominion are®set out -as under: —

Dominion weignteci average ... 17.43 23.52 24.5(7 Tlie increase for this group during the month was mainly owing to the rise in price of bread, flour) potatoes, and onions. The largest individual increases occurred at Dunedin and Wellington. DAIRY PRODUCE. In this group the Dominion weighted average shows an increase of about S points on the December prices over November, the articles chiefly contributing being eggs and cheese. Napier, .Palmerston N.. New Plymouth and Gisborne were the only towns to show any marked decrease, while a decrease is registered at limaru. Details are given as follows: ■r'v AT

MEAT. The figures for this group still have an upward tendency, although the Dominion weighted average had only increased G points between November and December. Taihape showed a very marked increase while smaller increases occurred at Palmerston N. and Napier. The numbers for the remainder of the towns concerned have either remained stationary or fluctuated but slightly in either direction as will be seen from the following table:—

THE THREE FOOD GROUPS

The increase for the three groups in December was fairly evenly distributed between the groups. Increases were registered in practically all the towns under discussion, the greatest increases occurring at laihape and Dunedin, while a decrease is recorded at Timaru. Taihape was tho dearest town in the Dominion for the three food groups, Gisborne being next. The following table gives the increases for the group:—

Dec. Nov. Dec. 1915. 1916. 1916. Auckland 16.38 24.88 29.47 \V.olli iif^ton 16.65 27.59 34,66 Christchurch 16.83 20.65 21.89 Dunedin 23.91 23.87 37,48’ Gisborne 18.88 24,65 28.92' Napier 14.06 22.56 24,80' New Plymouth 10.76 12.05 10.98; Wanganui 18.39 24,32 29, ZS Taih ape 23.42 22.03 23.94 Palmerston N.... 20.12 25.92 26.69 Timaru 6.01 20.47 22.5(7 Invercargill 9.86 21.66 26.6(7

Dec. Nov. Dec. 1915. 1916. 1916. Auckland 13.69 28.08 28.57 Wellington —.17* 12.90 13.50 Christchurch 10.55 24.32 25.78 Dunedin 4.47 16.65 17.12 Gisborne 7.16 19.56 21.5S 1 Napier 5.24 10.18 13.24 New Plymouth 5.21 10.41 19.55 Wanganui 8.22 24.36 24 .46 Taihape __ —.03* 8.11 8.70 Palmerston N... 22.00 26.14 28.87 Timaru 7.41 23.39 14.92 Invercargill _ ... 7.58 20.00 20.36 Dominion weighted average ... 7.58 19.96 20.72

Dec. Nov. Dec. 1915. 1916. 1916. Auckland 10.73 13.91 13.12 Wellington 15.23 18.72 18.90 Christchurch 30.37 28.69 29.44 Dunedin 32.01 25.95 2 5.4/ Gisborne 26.26 54.88 56.59 Napier 21.48 29.24 36.15* New Plymouth 10.67 24.27 24.19 Wanganui 23.61 39.34 41.85 Tailiape 17. S3 31.04 52.31 Palmerston N... 37.87 45.99 54.52

Tiinaru 19.19 22.78 21.43 Invercargill 30.14 30.05 30.32 Dominion weighted average ... 20.69 23.53 24.07

Auckland Dec. 1915. 13.57 i\OV. 1916. 21.28 Dec. 1916. 22.84 Wellington 11.91 20.87 23.92 Christchurch 20.11 24.21 25.36 Dunedin 22.93 22.94 28.51) Gisborne 18.08 33.55 36.44 Napier 14.47 21.94 25.81 New Plymouth 9.56 16.26 20.20 Wanganui 17.96 29.71 32.94 Taihapc ••• 15.47 21.59 29.65 Palmerston N... 26.57 32.83 36.67 Tiinaru 11.12 21.96 20.45 Invercargill 16.63 24.34 26.69 Dominion weighted average ... 16.36 22.71 25.23