DEARER FOOD PRICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19214, 31 December 1925, Page 11

DEARER FOOD PRICES.

highest for four years. meat more expensive. WHAT OFFICIAL RETURNS SHOW. Itood prices in New Zealand are now higher than they have been since October, 1921, and higher than they have been at any time prior to January, 1920. This information is contained in the December Monthly Abstract of Statistics. lhe last available returns also showed that the retail price index for the three food groups, groceries, dairy produce and meat, was 1667, an increase of 11 points compared with tho corresponding index for tho preceding month, and showing a price level 55.8 per cent, above that for July, 1914. lhe official figures show that groceries rose 26 points during the monthly period. This, however, is a usual happening at the present time of the year, and is due to seasonal changes in the prices of potatoes and onions. A fall in the price of butter accounts for a decrease of 15 points in the dairy produce group. Meat prices, which had risen 158 points during the three months ended October 15, 1925, have slackened the rate of increase. In some places, notably Tajhape and Hamilton, ail actual fall was recorded in November. The net increase was six points in tho meat group, which is now within 16 points of the peak level recorded in December 1920. Lower Sugar Prices. In November, the index number for the three food groups showed a level 88 points higher than the index number for the corresponding month last year. The index number for groceries is 23 points lower, largely owing to the much-lower prices now prevailing for sugar. On tho other hand, the meat group for November of this year shows a level 254 points above that of the corresponding month last year. The present higher prices for butter and ham, coupled with the comparatively higher price of eggs, account for an increase of 47 points in the dairyproduce group. Money spent on food, however, constitutes somewhat less than two-fifths of the total expenditure of the average New Zealand household. If the last ascertained figures for rent, clothing and miscellaneous items were to be combined in their proper respective proportions, with the food, fuel and light figures for lasi month, the result would be to show an increase for the "all groups" retail price level of 63.3 per cent, over that for July, 1914. The fall of 47 points since last July in the clothing group is due to a considerable drop in prices for clothing and drapery reinforced by a minor fall in footwear prices. Large Drop in Crockery. In the miscellaneous sub-groups, all, except that of papers and periodicals, which remains stationary, exhibit a fall. The largest drop is recorded in connection with crockery, closely followed by fares. The smallest falls were recorded in the furnishings and ironmongery sub-groups. Comparison of prices with those in other parts of the Empire is on the whole not unfavourable from the consumer's standpoint to the New Zealand cities, except as regards coal. In respect of flour also, New Zealand is less favourably situated from a consumer's standpoint than any of the other towns considered except Capetown. Sugar is very cheap in New Zealand. Despite the recent phenomenal rises in the price of meat in the Dominion, this commodity, like butter and cheese, is still exceptionally cheap relatively to the prices elsewhere, with the possible exception of Australia.