LIVING IN GERMANY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11307, 5 September 1922, Page 3

LIVING IN GERMANY

GREAT ADVANCE IN COST PRICE OP CLOTHING 56 TIMES MORE. IN PURSUIT OP THE MARK. The days are past when Germany was the cheapest country in Europe. In the last few months the cost of living has approached the price level of the world market with gigantic. strides, has in part surpassed it. as. for example, for a time in the case of corn. Hand-in-hand with this goes a continuous rise in salaries and wages. The assertion made abroad some little time ago with perfect truth, that Germany, in consequence of the low cost of living, was able to compete so successfully with foreign countries now no longer holds good, says "The European News" of Hamburg. As regards the cost of food the index number rose rapidly from 2463 in January last to 4680 in May. The minimum for physiological existence has thus risen 47 fold as against the pre-war rate. The costs of lighting and heating showed an index number of 2094 in January, in May one of 4411. Thus we have here a 44 fold rise. House rent has, on the whole, gone up least on account of the control still exercised in housing. In May, they came to three times that of the prewar rate. It must not be forgotten, however, that according to the new rental law of the Republic, a series of additions i« made to the atcual rent which raises the earn considerably. The following table gives the movement of trade prices from January to May Homes- Im-

The following are the average increases for the whole of the Republio in May as against pre-war prices:— Rye bread* 27 fold Milk* 88 fold Margarine 46 fold Beef 47 fold Pork 53 fold Sugar 54 fold Butter 55 fold Potatoes 64 fold •Rationed foods. To gain a complete survey of the cost of living, an index number was recently calculated for clothing by the Statistical Office of the Republic. It must, however, always be borne in mind that these are only minimum figures. The unit of consumption is a family of two grown-up people and three children. Moreover, since the beginning of the period referred to, the calculations give on the whole a correct picture of the tendency in this direction. Taking the unit as 100 for the years 1913-14, the average index number for May last amounts to 5586. Thus, in May, the minimum sum of clothing an average family, inclusive of dress, underclothing, boots and shoes, was 56 times as much as In pre-war times. The above figures show sufficiently how rapidly the price level in Germany is mounting. Moreover, since the beginning of June another wave of dearness is advancing over the country which places thefigures here given in the shade. It is dear that the purchasing power of the people cannot keep pace with the increase in price.

Month Food. Haw tie ported Total mater’ls. foods, goods, index 1913 100 100 100 100 100 Jan., 1922 3509 3955 3383 5075 3665 May, 1922 5847 7602 6036 8617 6453