The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-07-14
Much Higher Than at
Any Time in Recent
Years.
RATE FOR FAMILY $509.55
Seasonable Decline in Dairy Products
and Garden TEuck-BTeadstuffs At
tain Almost q Record Price-SIght
Fluctuations IL Clothing Class.

The cost Of living, as computed by
the price and the average consumption
Of various articles throughout the Uni
ted States is higher today than at any
time in recent years.
a detailed computation Of the entire
consumption IN the country at the be-
ginning Of the fiscal year July 1. has
been made by Dun's financial agency.
This shows the average cost per in
dividuaI, adults and children included,
70 have been s1019f per annum-
Taking the. accepted ratio of five peo-
PIE to a family, the cost of living per
family per year was S509.55.
This average is higher than it has
been at the beginning Of any fiscal year
since the war It is more than SO
per capita, OF so per family, higher
) than it was year ago. when the per
capita figure was S9I-51-
Slight Decline.
a slight decline in the price Of Iiv-
ing has occurred. however. since May !.
Of this year. when high water mark
was reached. S1O229-
4 seasonabIe decline has occurred in
dairy products and garden truck as the
supplies come forward more literally
but the end Of the crop year witnesses
unusually low stocks OF grain. and alb
normal prices have followed specula-
tive manipulation
Scarcity Of live stock has also put the
meat market al an exceptionally high
/ position. These Influences outweigh
many declines in articles less freely
consumed
a Record Price.
BreadstuHs rose o. per cent during
June, attaining almost a record price.
In many respects the situation as to the
cereals is remarkable. During the crop
year Just ended the production Of corn
and oats was much below normal, while
the greatest yield Of wheat was har-
vested. Exports Of leading grain. in
cluding -four. FAR surpassed the previous
banner year, 1882, when the aggregate
was 225. sos, SD bushels.
Domestic consumption was also IN
paraIeIed. for there was much substitu-
ton OF wheat for coarse grain in feed
ing live stock. AS a result the visible
supply and farmers stocks were light
on july :, while OF coarse grain the
scarcity made II possible for q few ma
aiPulators to secure practical control Of
the market Aided by numerous heavy
rains the speculative markets rose vio-
lently, and cash prices responded
That December options are sold much
lower does not relieve the present situa-
ton.
Abundant Supplies.
a decline Of over 6 per cert in dairy
and garden products must be attributed
10 the advancing season. which has
brought on the market abundant sup
plies Of vegetables. fruits. milk and
butter The only important advance IN
this class occurred in eggs, while hay
rose Slightly IA price. IN misceIlane-
Gus food products there was prac ticalIy
no net alteration, although coffee and
sugar fell TO the lowest prices ever re-
corded, and fish also averaged lower.
These declines were balanced by. gains
IN tea, malt spices and other minor
items. insignificant fluctuations were
also reported in the clothing class: silk
+ and wool rising, while cotton, rubber
and all divisions OF footwear declined.