COST OF LIVING.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18407, 14 August 1931, Page 9

COST OF LIVING.

DEFINITE DECREASE SHOWN. — | GROCERY SECTION DOWN. ■ A further definite decrease in the j I cost of living is Indicated in the latest ■ I figures issued by the Government I Statistician. The retail price index number for the three food groups on July 15 was I 1322 (on the base annual average i prices in the four chief centres 1909- ' 13 equal 1000), a decrease of 13 1 points since the previous month, and 1 an increase of 23.6 per cent, over the July, 1914, level of prices for these commodities. A fall of 18 points is recorded in the groceries group, the Statistician • says, a decrease in the price of i potatoes in practically every town | from which price statistics are col- i lected being the primary cause of this reduction in the index number. Most | other items in this group have been I I practically stationary in price during Hip past two months. Eggs have decreased considerably in price, while [ ! cheese prices have fallen slightly | ■ during the month. The dairy pro . , duels index number, as a result of | • these price movements, has fallen by | I 28 points. Meal prices continue Io i remain at a relatively low level de- i | spile the fart that a slight increase | I of i p.i-nls was recorded in Ihe in dex number of this group as com pared with the previous month. Constituents of Expenditure. Expenditure on food constitutes somewhat less than two-fifths of the ■ expenditure of an average household.

In order to present a more complete picture in movements in retail price# generally, regarding the retail prices of nothing, drapery and footwear, and of miscellaneous Items of family expenditure, are collected, at quarterly intervals, and when combined with the indexes for food, rent, and fuel and light approximately 87 per cent, of the average household expenditure is represented The June food, fuel, and light index numbers combined with Hie May clothing and drapery, footwear, and miscellaneous index numbers, and the February rent index, give an all-groups index 47 5 per cent, above the July, 1914, dexel, so that it now takes £1 9s 6d on the average to purchase what could have been purchased for £1 in that month. Wholesale Prices. The whole sale price Index number for June shows very little movement in comparison with Muy, although a drop of 6 points In the to! <1 for all groups combined was recoded. The movement was fairly evenly distributed over most of the groups, although outstanding reductions were recorded for meats (41 points , leather (37 . “other foodstuff*'* 33 , amt chemi ’als and manor- s (30 . <»n the other hand, melds ami their products increased by 28 points, and agricultural produce by 12. \ comparison with .lum- twelve months ago reveals a substantial i< - ditctlon in Hip prices of prartica y every commodity covered. The total Index number shows a decrease of 133 points, or 8.7 per rent., whin the following item- record the hoavb <t falls:—Moats »<»3 point- . qrri-’n - 1 lira I produce 275 . outlier 23 7 “other foodstuffs of animal origin'* (213 , and semi- manufactured • mil products (213;.