TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11730, 21 June 1916, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

FOOD IN BRITAIN. COST RISING. Wlule thoro is no fear of starvation in Great Britain, retail prices of food are nevertheless increasing _ steadily. According to statistics just issued by tho Board of Trade, it appears that tne average percentage increase at the end of tho year '1915 as compared with the prices of July, 1914, was 45 per c®nt. This increase grew steadily every month during the year 1915. The figures are based on 600 retViras of predominant prioes in a number of shops in every town in the United Kingdom-with over .50,000 population. The most important_ food articles wcro included in the statistics, comprising British and imported beef and -mutton, bacon, fish, flour, bread, tea, sugar, milk, butter, cheese, margarine, eggs and' potatoes. The prices of British meat showed# asteady advance in the early months of 1915. During the first four months of tho year prices rose about 10 per cent, and "at tho beginning of J Fay they were about 20 per cent above those prevailing immediately before the outbreak of / war. During May there was a rise oi about 14 per cent, after that a slight. Advance, the highest point being reached at the beginning of September, since when there lias been a decline to the same level as in June, The average price of bread at the beginning of 1915 was 7d for 41b. At the maximum, in June, it was Bsd, and on January 1/1916, Ba. Tea prices increased steadily from January to September, the aggregate increase during this period' amounting to nearly 3d' a pound. As a. result of the increased duty (4d a pound additional), imposed in September, prices advanced by an average of 3id, making the total advance 9d, or about 50 per cent above the average price in July, 1914. Granulated sugar remained' unchanged, usually at, 3£d nor pound, from January to September—but in that month was raised to 4d. - S