COST OF LIVING.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17222, 4 October 1927, Page 8

COST OF LIVING.

BEEF AND MUTTON RISE. The retail price index (Dominion weighted average) for the three food groups as at August 15 was 1535 on base; average prices in the four centres during the years 1909-13 equals 1000) a decrease of 6 points as compared with that for the previous month and an increase, of 43.5 per cent, over that for July, 1914, according to the Government Statistician. There has been little movement in the price of groceries, the index number for this group showing the small increase of 2 points. The summer time reduction in, the price of eggs, and a slight fall in the charges of bacon, has caused the index number for the dairy produce group to fall 58 points. Beef and mutton now' show a tendency towards a general increase in prices, more marked than in the previous month, thus resulting in an 18-point increase in this group. Food prices are showing a falling tendency, season influences no doubt accounting in part for this movement. The rent index shows a further increase over that for the previous collection (in February last), the present figure being 89 per cent, over that for July, 1914. In the group “clothing, drapery, and footwear" another fail has been recorded, clothing and drapery ilems causing this downward movement, which was counteracted to a certain extent by a slight increase in footwear. There has been very little movement in the group “miscellaneous items.”