COST OF LIVING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18759, 12 January 1923, Page 6

COST OF LIVING

THE THREE ROOD GROUTS. MONTHLY ABSTRACT OF STATISTICS. (From. Odr Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 11. The December issue of the Monthly Abstract of Statistics states that the index number for the throe food groups as at November 15 last is 1486, or five points less than the preceding month’s figure (1491), and 38.88 per cent, above the July 1914 level. "Very little movement,” says the Statistician, “has been recorded in the 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 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 the 25 towns in New Zealand shows that in November Nelson headed the list with 1655 points. Tho index numbers for tho four chief towns were; Auckland. 1463; Wellington, 1462; Christchurch, 1496; Dunedin, 1473. The moving average index number for the dominion during tho six months ended November, 1922, is given as 1486 for the food, rent and fuel, and light groups combined. If comparison is made with tho average for the six months ended July, 1914, the increase is seen to bo 42.88 per cent