New-York tribune., 1876-07-24
THE COST OF LIVING.

WHY THE EXPENDITURES OF FAMILIES Is NOT
CoRRFsPONDINGLY REDUCED-THE AMERICAN
LACK OF PERSISTENCE AND 1HoROUGHNEss IN
ECoNoMY-FEATCEEs OF THE MARKETS
The cost of living, of procuring food, shelter
and clothing OF the few topics which couhlanos
the universal interest. The man or woman Iona ol
economic facts and figures may discuss the subject more
ably than tho man or woman Of diettantc tastes ana
uupracca views but with more earnestncss or love
OF satisfactory solution The subject is OF peculiar I'M
portance at the present time 10 all citizens OF the Wero
Oils. The average New-YOricr OF moderate means Is
believed, with truth, To be improFldeht III uSUus
that The earnings of any month in the future will oe SUI
Rceut 10 meet the wants Of that month consequently
ask him how much costs him to livc ana ne VIII So
Won an auproxma.e statement Of bis income or salary
and perhaps too frequently make an honest sIen'u'
OF a sum which his yearly income viii not 50 honesty
cover This article is designed as c0hIllod'"" 10 '"'
hearing out the opinion that income which Wou sup
port family in given style OF living three years ago.
TODAY will or ought to support the same family III the
same circumstances and leave margin OF lIOm 10 10 20
per cent for the bank account.
In the month OF July, 1873 prices most articles OF
family consumption were at a maximum Tor inc pe'Iou
of financial prosperity following the war; In the
Autumn the panic gave prices downward tendency
but after sinking gradually during these three years al
values have reached foundation known to DO s"d
Experienced merchants agree in saying int the average
wholesale price articles 81 family consumption Is nom
But most housekeepcr equally agree that it there n"s
been shrnkage in values, they have received no ar
parent benefit from it, Twenty out Of % would reply
81 think it costs me Just much 10 1--we now as II ddl
1875"
Very few housekeepers have reason TO advance FOR
this state of things other than that prices are about as
high as before. The retail and Wholesale dealers are
ready with explanations One prominent importer and
wholesale grocer the city, "ho keS reasonable econ
ony life principle says he has received the IuiI al
vantage of the decline in prices and II othcr New
Workers bave not done same is because they carry
out in practice the idea that. their convenience and tine
are worth tnan their money While prices nave
declined so per cent this grasp OF economic principles
has not improved three per cent The wants OF city peo
pie are expansive and apt to absorb any gains from
lower prices. Contraction is opposed and thwareI 10y
habit and the progrcssiycness of city education THIS
gentleman showed pair OF shoes. His shoemaker
wanted TO fit him out with a - pair and against
his expOstulations threw III the formidable argument:
But look at the quality they French caskn' lie
replied that he wouldn't have French oastsln; he
wanted American Shoes and he GOT thcm lie thinks for
every purpose as good for - 80. In ike manner at ms
taors nc would not have French b.Oadcoth but Amer
lean goods.
Vesey-st retail grocer said that many of his custo-
ers WHO could i'll afford their present manner oi livn-
would not economic with their table As prices went
down they did not find it hardship to pay the same
price better article Teas which three years aso ~
sold for so cents he sold for 90 aud could
not get jorty of the customers to touch them
at that figure They would still drink s0-ccEt tea. II
was the same with flour. After the war; when state
-four brought SC or barrel people in moderate
circumstances used it and were seemingly satisfied.
Now wnen state -four is selling from 81 so to 50 80
per barrel there is hardly market for here ana it
is Sc to the Atlantic islands, mainly the West Indies
II believed that low prices have operated to make pee
pie more fasdOus 1t may he mentioned also that when
rents came down very many families took the opportu
the plt Al fIp
inferior locality. thought that Americans will not
learn to benefit from the lowering Of market prices til
tey become close shoppers" like the Germans and
French.
The difficulty Of forming correct Judgment Of the
comparative cost living between periods OF prosperity
and decline is always increased Ivy the changing ufu
ence Of supply and demand" which frequently makes
staple article much higher in times OF depression than
1t was times Of hngnclal prosperity. comparative
statement of figures is made below to show that there
has been general reduction the prices OF groceries,
meats, and vegetables since 1875. These include both
wholesale and retail pncelists and believed 20 be
fair average statements Of tho prices actually paid In
div goods houseurnishing goods and articles entering
largely into housekeeping, which the profit marquis
with the exception perhaps of drS goods wider and
prices less nucuating, the opinions of trustworthy
dealers both retail and wholesale, have been sought and
compared
PRICES OF DRY GOODS AND CLOTHING.
It was found in the Spring tha had declined from
10 % per cent The amount OF unrencd property is
st large though the reduction had tendency TO l up
uurened stores Broadway and in other parts Of the
city where rents specially high. Wholesale dry
goods merchants say that cotton goods have declined
from 80 per since 1873, and woolcns from 30
TO 33la per cent doubted by retailers have
reduced more than from ID TO 20 per cent, bat others
give instances Of firms selling lots at retail by the
yard Chez per than the goods could have been Pur
chased at wholesale OF the firm. There has not
been much reduction in the retail price Of dry goods
Dafo k. ulu
ever the staple goods.
Clothing dealers say that there reduction
ON foreign cloths worth mentioning. Fine domestic
goods have declined somewhat, and cheap domestic
from 2S 80 per cent There has been about that re-
ducon in read ymadc clothing, though labor has been
nearly as wen paid before. Tie most fashionable
talors get as much they did, but other tcass
tailors have reduced their charges about $40 75 and
SG5 suits Ordinary clothing order is still cheaper IN
proportion Ono observer Of trade said there had
been sudden mania among gentlemen for wearing
cheap American goods, but Inc convinced they
getting tired OF It and that moro foreign goods ana line
doInestics would be worn.
EXPENSE OF FITTING Up HOUSES.
II ia estimated that the reduction custOGmade fine
furniture has been % per cent both retail and wholesale
and Is per cent ordinary furniture. The English
gothc-modiDval and Eastltke-bas maintained its price
very we'll and the same may be said OF novelties Manu-
facurers OF the finest furniture after original des gns still
ret almost whatever they choose TO ask The amount OF
business Of this kind is very large, aud genuine artistic
work defes competition. Certain New-YOrk firms have
built up such reputation for good taste and integrity
that they receive oarte blanche for furnishing fine
slons while the retire TO Europe returning 10 find
home the beauty Of which they had not dreamed OF,
aud bill the magnitude OF which they possibly had not
anticipated The OF fine furniture OF original pattern
is fast increasing, and is thought to indicate growing
fuement aud furnish conditions for better apprcca
on of art notwithstanding there is much cheap im