COST OF LIVING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12718, 13 August 1919, Page 5

COST OF LIVING.

REPORT OF GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN. [Pstn Pwitßs AmociatjoitJ WELLINGTON, August 13. Tho cost of living index number as compiled by the Government Statistician for three food groups (groceries, dairy produce and moat) shows a, slight increase for the month of June as compared with May. The index number for June is 1528, as compared with 1524 for May. The number was 1553 itf January of this year. The Statistician states that on the June figures the increase in the cost of foodstuffs since July, 1914, has been 42.50 per cent, while the increase in food and rents eombined during the same period has been 29.67 per cent. It is not practicable at present, states the Statistician, to calculate the index number to show the increase in retail prices over the whole of tho domestic expenditure of an average household, but the three food groups and rent, in regard to which tho above increase of approximately 30 per cent has taken place, cover the most important and necessary items in the average domestic expenditure and form more than half of tho total.