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COST OP LIVING. '*
THE RECORD OF INCREASE.
A record of the increase in tie coat of
living in Melbourne since -Uie outbreak of
war in August, 1914, is given in the
monthly summary of Australian statistics
issued by the Commomv«alth Statistician
(Mr. G. H. Knibbs)., The statistics are
complete up to December, 1915. Under tho
general head of-prices, house rent and cost
of living, Mr. Knibbs's tables show thnf. in
the first quarter of 1915 it required 22/11 to
purchase what in 1911 might have been
purchased for 20/. In thc second quarter
blie amount increased to 25/3, and in tho
third quarter to 27/6, An analysis of
average predominant retail prices in Mel
bourne 'shows 'that in July, 1914, bread was
3d. per 2 lb. loaf. In August, 1914, this
was increased to 3Jd., in December of the
same year it went up to 4d., and from
April to November, 1015, it stood at 4id.
A decrease to 4d. occurred in December
lost. Flour increased from 32.10d. per 25
lb. in July, 1914, to 61.05d. ill April, 1915.
Then a steady decrease brought it down to
'49 Rod . iu December, l!)la. Sugar was 2.75d.
per lb. from July, 1914, to May, 1915. In
June last it roSo to 2.80d.; in July there
was a slight decrease to 2.78d., and for tlie
rest of the year it stood at 3d. In July,
19M, potatoes were 9.21d. per 14 lb. By
July, 1915, ihey had risen to 17.14d.; in
November there was an increase to 25.14d.,
and in December they stood at 2l.36d. Milk
was 5.33d. per quart in July, 1914, but after
increasing to 6.33d. in July, 1915, the price
was down to 5.17d. at the end of last year.
Butter reached its highest in July, 1915,
when it was 2(!.5(ld. per lb., an increase of
over lOd. per lb. from July, 1914. In De
cember, 1915, it stood at 17.80d. Wheat
has tfhon-n a fluctuation of. on an average,
5d. per lb., being dearest in August, 1915.
In all there has been in Melbourne an in
crease in retail prices for food and
groceries of 31 per cent, from July, 1914, to
December, 1915.
The Dailv Cir- elation of 'Tbe AgV
i is 151,740. ? . (
$