Fuel, Lighting Costs High At Whangarei

Northern Advocate, 13 October 1949, Page 4

Fuel, Lighting Costs High At Whangarei

FUEL and lighting costs in Whangarei are considerably higher than most centres in the Dominion, according to a consumers’ price index published in the latest Abstract of Statistics. Foodstuffs at Whangarei cost more than at Auckland, Wellington or Gisborne, but less than Nelson, Tauranga, Hamilton or New Plymouth. * . „ _ Housing costs at Whangarei are third cheapest in the Dominion. . Contrary to the long-accepted view, living m Auckland is cheaper than in many other Dominion cities and towns.

Four chief centres, six provincial centres and all other towns have been chosen for analysis, to give as wide a coverage of the Dominion as possible. The base of 1000 points for the index is obtained from the first quarter of 194 9 . A , In the quarter ended June 30 Auckland had a figure of 1004 which exceeded Whangarei, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Those with higher figures included Napier, Gisborne, Tauranga and. New Plymouth. The cheapest is Oamaru with 905 while Nelson is dearest with 1026. In food, Whangarei has a figure of 1013, which is considerably higher than Auckland, which is the cheapest of the survey centres, with 992. The most expensive is Nelson with 1051, while Tauranga has 1042, Hamilton and New Plymouth 1034 and Gisborne 999. For fuel and lighting Dunedin is lowest with 789 and Whangarei, with 1250, is among the most expensive, being exceeded by Ashburton, 1389, and Gisborne, 1343. Rotorua has 1099, Auckland 1005 and Tauranga, 1004.

WHANGAREI HOUSING In housing Oamaru with 929 and Ashburton with 910 are cheapest, with Whangarei, 930, following. Auckland is comfortably the most expensive, having 1036, against Wellington’s 1027. The Gisborne figure is 943, Tauranga 974, and Rotorua 972. Clothing and footwear are most expensive at Palmerston North which has 1037 points, Auckland being second with 1025. In the miscellaneous group which covers a wide range of commodities, household goods, services and entertainments, Auckland with 983 is cheapest and Palmerston North with 1016 the dearest.