THE COST OF LIVING

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue 271, 18 November 1919, Page 6

THE COST OF LIVING

STILL RISING,

The movement of prices in Ne*v Zealand is shown in a new way in the latest number of the official' Abstract of Statistics. The Government Statistician v has compiled a table which gives a, series of index numbers representing the "moving aiverage" for each period of six calendar months since the beginning of 1914. Bach month is taken with the five months preceding it. The figures, compiled in this way, indicate ments of prices without giving undue prominence to mere temporary fluctuations. They cover food, rent, fuel, and Tight. The Government Statistician mentions that the cost of living index number for the three food groups (groceries, dairy produce, and meat) for September nvis 1585, an increase of 20 points as compared with the August number, and an increase of 48.13 per cent on the f number for July, 1914. This increas© in food prices is due to increases in prices of groceries and mea;t, which have been counteracted to some extent by seasonal fall in prices of dairy produce. The index number for the groceries group has boon forced up by rising prices for a number of articles, the most important of which arc potatoes, onions, soap nnd tinned foods. Thje increase in prices of potatoes and onions, is a seasonal movement,- retail prices of soap are still moving up in response to the advance in wholesale prices; prices of tinned foods have been increased as a result of increases in packers' prices find the continued adverse condition of the American exchange . Prices of moat have advanced considerably in a number of tovvnr,, particularly in Ohristchurch. and Dimdein.