COST OF LIVING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 30 September 1918, Page 6

COST OF LIVING.

a THE WORLD-WIDE .RISE

A statement has been prepared by the Government Statistician (Mr Malcolm ■ Fraser) showing—(a) the war increases in the retail prices of food in various countries as set out in official particulars, and (b) the increase or decrease fin house rents in New Zealiand during the war. Mr Fraser states that in Australia and New Zealand, approximately, food represents 35 to 40 per cent, of the total family expenditure, and rent 15 to 20 per cent. He further says: "It will be understood that an enquiry dealing with food and rent covers probably 50 to 60 per cent, of the expenditure of the working population. From July, 1914, to July, -1918, the retail food prices in New Zealand advanced by 39.35 per cent. During approximately the same period the Dominion weighted average of rent decreased by 1.51 per cent. The food prices and the rent combined show a weighted increase of 24.66 per cent. during the war. (to July, 1918)":— The following -statement gives the percentage increases in cost of living (retail food prices) since the beginning of the-"war in various countries, as shown by official publications:— From Per July, 1914, cent. to Country increase March, 1918 Norway 195 August, 1917 Austria 173 April, 1918 Sweden 147 October, 1916 Germany 109 June, 1918 United Kingdom 108 i* March, 1918 Switzerland 96 | January, 1918 France 91 September, 1917 Italy 88 July, 1917 Netherlands • 81 June, 1918 Canada 72 July, 1917 Japan 66 April, 1918 United' States 50 iJuly, 1918 New Zealand 39 i .July, .1918 Australia 31