THE COST OF LIVING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16434, 10 January 1917, Page 9

THE COST OF LIVING.

INCREASES IN DOMINION. FOUR CENTRES COMPARED. The monthly abstract of statistics issued for last month gives the usual tables with respect to retail prices of commodities. The percentage of increase in price ruling on November 15, 1916,' over prices ruling on July 31, 1914, in groups shows that in groceries the increase in, Auckland was 24.88 per cent, Wellington, 27.59 per cent.; Christchurch, 20.65 per cent.; and Dunedin, 23.87 per cent.; the Dominion weighted average being 23.52 per cent. ■ / In tho dairy produce group the increases were: At Auckland, 28.08 per cent.; Wellington, 12.90 per cent.; Christchurch, 24.32 per cent.; and Dunedin, 16.65 per cent.; the Dominion average bung 19.96 per cent. In the meat group, the increases' were: Auckland, 13.91 per cent.; Wellington, 18.72 per cent.; Christchurch, 28.60 per cent.; and Dunedin, 25.95 per cent.; the Dominion average being 23.53 per cent. Taking the three groups together, the increases are as follow;— Auckland, 21.28 per cent.; Wellington, 20.87 per cent. Christchurch, 24.21 per cent. Dunedin- 22.94 per cent.; 'the Dominion average being 22.71 per cent. The increases in July, 1915, July, 1916, and November, 1916, over the prices ruling on July 31, 1914, in ' the four centres, show as under:— Increase Increase Increase July, 1915. July. 1916. Nov., 1916. per cent, r*?r cent, par cent. Auckland ... 972 IS 54 21.28 Wellington 14.77 20.31 20.87 Christchurch 9.53 16.97 24.21 Dunedin ... 13.05 18.43 22.24 Dominion average ... 12.15 19.25 25.71