COST OF LIVING.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15041, 8 April 1919, Page 5

COST OF LIVING.

SLIGHT FALL IN PRICES

[United Pkess Association.]

I Wellington, April 7. I The Government Statistician is able to record a slight fall in retail prices for the month of February. The cost of living index number for the three food groups (groceries, dairy produce, meat) for February is 1522, as against 1553 for January. The February num--1 ber represents an increase,of 42.24 per cent, over the number for July- 1914. The index number and percentages of increases in the three food groups for '•8 chief centres, comparing July, 1914, with February, 1919, are:—Auckland : Index . number 1507 increase 38.26; Wellington 1549 and' 43.03: Ohristchurch 1408 and 41.09; Dunedin 1522 and 46.07. Although Wellington has the highest prices as revealed by the index number its percentage: of increase is less ;than.;Puhedin.! This is due to the fact that-retail prices in Dunedin were lower, than any other centre in July, 1-914U -The figures show that rents; axe higher in Wellington than elsewhere." ....-- :