COST-OF-LIVING RETURN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18296, 12 January 1923, Page 6

COST-OF-LIVING RETURN.

<^— ———— LITTLE VARIATION SHOWN. NELSON'S " BAD EMINENCE. [Br TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ' WELLINGTON. ThursdayThe December issue of the Monthly Abstract of Statistics states that the index number for the three food groups as at November 15 last, was 1486, or five points less than the preceding month's figure: (1491), and 38.88 per cent, above that for July, 1914. "Very little movement/ says the Government Statistician, " has been recorded in prices in the groceries group, the index number (1752) remaining the same as that for the previous month. A fall of 38 points in the dairy products group is due mainly to an all-round fall of from Id to l£d per lb. in the price of butter in most towns. In the meat group the index number has risen five points, mainly on account of a slight rise in the prices of mutton and pork in some towns. Most items have, however, remained stationary." A table giving the three food groups index for each of 25 towns in New Zealand, shows that in November, Nelson headed the list with 1655 points. The index numbers for the four chief towns were:—Auckland, 1463; Wellington, 1462; Christchurcb, 1496; Dunedin,- 1473. The moving average index number for the Dominion during the six months ended November, 1922, is given as 1486 for the food, rent, and fuel and light groups combined. . If ... a comparison is j made with the average for .the six months ended July, 1914, the increase is seen to be 42.88 per cent.