THE COST OF LIVING

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 23 May 1919, Page 5

THE COST OF LIVING

ANOTHER SMALL DROP.

(Special to Star.)

WELLINGTON, May 22. For the second time this year the Government Statistician has been able to give the worried housewife some consolation —though in fractions—over the decreased cost of commodities included in household requirements. His weekly budget figures for March of this year show that to purchase a number of articles of groceries, meat, and dairy produce which would have cost 19s Bjd in July, 1914, would have absorbed 27s 6d in March, 1919. This is better than the figures for the preceding month to the extent of 5Jd, and a great improvement on December, 1918, when the cost of these commodities would have been 29s IOJd. Potatoes again rule the position, for what would have cost 3s B£d in December now costs Is s£d. Potatoes show a drop compared with last month, and there have been farthing drops in bacon, stewing steak, sirloin, and raisins. Compared with, its purchasing power just before the war, the sovereign is only worth a farthing over fourteen shillings, but is improving its position, for its current value in goods last December was but 13s 9£d.