COST OF LIVING

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20389, 4 January 1938, Page 2

COST OF LIVING

PRICE INDEX MOVEMENT HIGHER NOVEMBER LEVELS The retail prices index (base, 192630 equals the thr*»e fond groups has risen 10 points during November, the figure being 1002 as compared with 9*o in October, states I lie \t sti I fSt itlstl *s. T ils movement is almost entirely due to the influence of the groceries group, the index for has Ivanced fr >m 959 to 1013, mainly owing to higher prices for new season's potatoes. When the November indexes for groups other than rent are combined with the August rent index, and all-groups index of 945 is obtained, an Increase of seven points over that for the previous month and 50.5 per cent, above the 1914 level. The wholesale price index (base, 1909-13 equals 1000) has risen 35 points from 1529 to 1564) during the month, the predominating influence being las in the case of the retail index) a seasonal increase in the price of potatoes, which, together with a minor rise in meat prices, has served to bring the index for locally produced commodities to 1682, or 61 points in advance of the October figure. The index for imported commodities has moved upward four points only. The export price index (base, 190913 equals 1000 j exhibits a rise of 77 points from 1485 to 1563), the groups principally contributing to this movement being:—lncreases: Meat, 281 points; dairy produce, 65. Decreases: Wool, 95 points; timber, 80 points. ______________