RETAIL PRICE INCREASES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26847, 11 August 1948, Page 4

RETAIL PRICE INCREASES

Household Linens and Furnishings

YOUNG PEOPLE’S PROBLEM

The prices for household linens to-day have soared to undreamed of heights when compared with those of a few years ago. Indeed, as one retailer told the Daily Times yesterday, practically all linen goods have increased by about 300 per cent. This remarkable rise had been brought about by the high cost of the raw material and by increased manufacturing costs. But that is poor consolation to the young couple who are striving to set up a home and whose financial means are limited. When to-day’s prices are compared with those of 1939, the ifaci should not be lost sight of that the British manufacturer was at that time paid a subsidy by his Government in order to meet world competition, and this kept the price down so far as the Dominion buying public was concerned.

A comparison of the prices ruling in 1939 and 1948 is given below:

1939 * 1948 £ s. d. £ s. d. Twill sheeting, 54in, 1st grade (per pair) •• 0 13 6 0 42 6 Pillow cases (per pair) .. •• 0 3 11 0 12 0 Tea towels (each) .. 0 1 0 0 5 6 White towels (each) 0 3 11 0 10 6 Coloured striped towels, good quality (per pair) 0 4 6 0 18 0 Other items required by a young couple setting up a home also show an increase. 1939 £ s. d. 1948 £ s. d. Double bed mattress, best quality (each) .. 4 19 6 13 11 0 Kapoc pillows (each) .. .. 0 4 11 0 12 2 Curtain net (per yard) 0 3 6 0 5 9 Table baize (per yard) 0 2 11 0 6 2 Floor coverings show a corresponding increase: 1939 £ s. d. 1948 £ s. d. Rugs (Axminster) 4ft 6ins x 2ft 3in (each) .. 0 22 6 0 40 6 Linos, prints (per yard) .. 0 9 11 0 22 6' Inlaid linos (per yard) .. .. 0 11 6 0 28 6 Underfelt (per yard' 0 5 6 0 9 0 Feltex ‘ (per yard) 0 18 6 0 29 6 Body carpet (per yard) 0 17 6 0 36 3 Cdrpet squares (each) 12 15 0 22 13 0