PRICE LEVELS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 11 March 1933, Page 11

PRICE LEVELS

REVIEW OF STATISTICS The general index number of export prices for the month of January, 1933 was 877 (on base: average prices ruling during 1909-13 equals 1000), an increase of 7 per cent. 1 as compared with tlm December, 1932, figure, and a decrease of 19.5 per cent, as compared with 1914 prices, states the Abstract of Statistics for ■January. Tlie retail price index number for tlie three food groups combined oil 15th January fell slightly when compared with the December, 1932, index. The January, 1933, index numbers for the individual food groups compare with corresponding figures for July, 1914, as follows: groceries, 20 per cent above; dairy produce, 11.1 per cent below; meat, 8.7 per cent, below; and three food groups combined, 0.(1 per cent above July. 1914 prices. ’The general index number of wholesale prices for January, 1933, was 1249 (oil base: average prices ruling during 1909-13 equals 1000). Locally produced commodities averaged 2.3.4 per cent., and imported commodities included in tlie index number 20.7 per cent, above 1909-13 prices. When comparison is made with the year 1914, the movements relative to that year are: Locally produced commodities ineluded, 11.0 per cent.; imported commodities included, 28.2 per cent; and all commodities, 18.0 per cent., all above 1914 prices.

The. index number of wage rates for a full week’s work (adult males) on 31st December, 1932, was 1374 (on base: average wage rates ruling in 1914 equals 1000).

The index number of market quotations for ordinary shares on the last trading day of January was 722 (on base: average of year 1920 equals 1000), an increase of 39 points. or 5.7 per cent., over the corresponding index for December, 1932.