The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1904-02-10
COST OF LIVING.
Great Increase In Recent Years
shown by bureau statistics.


shown by bureau Statistics.
The eighteenth annual report of the
bureau of labor, the report for the year
1908, which has just been completed,
presents the results of an extended in
vestigation into the, cost of living OF
workingmen's families and the retail
prices of the principal staple articles
of food used by such families.
The figures of income and expendl-
ture furnished in detail by 2,561 fami-
lies in thirty three states, representing
the leading industrial centers of the
country. formed the material for the
detailed study of the cost of living
Certain data which do not enter so
much into detail were collected in re-
gard to the cost of living in 2o,44O
families, and tine results are extensive
ly summarized in the report. One table
shows that the 2,567 families consisted
on an average Of 5.S1 persons, OF per-
SONS above the average of private fam
lies in the whole country as shown by
the census of 1900. This larger size of
family was not due TO any intentional
selection of larger families, for the
only basis of selection was that the
head of the family must be wage
worker or salaried man earning not
over $1,000 during the year and must
be able to give information in regard
10 his expenditures in detail. The aver
age income for the year of these 2,oOT
families from all sources was SS21 ,l9.
The average expenditure for all pur-
poses was $76S.54, and the average ex-
penditure for food was S32690 per
family. or 42.54 per cent of the average
expenditure for all purposes.
The relative prices of food in the va
;ious years were thoroughly investi-
gated. and it was found that there
has been great increase in recent
years.
According to the statistics gathered,
the average cost of food per family III
1890 was $31S2o. In 1896, the year of
lowest prices. It fell TO $296.T6 and in
1902 reached the highest point of the
period, being $3i461. an increase. as
has been already stated. of 1871 per
cent over 1896. or of 1919 per cent when
compared with the average for the ten
year period of 1890 to 1899. The In
crease IN the cost OF living as shown
by the results of this investigation re
lates TO food alone, representing 42.oi
per cent of all family expenditures in
the 2.5G7 families furnishing informa-
ton
or the remaining articles, constitut-
ing 81 AZ per cent of the family ex
penditure. certain ones are from their
nature affected only indirectly and in
very slight degree by any rise or fall
in prices. Such are payments on ac-
count of principal and interest OF mort
gage, taxes. property and life insur-
ance, labor and other organization fees,
amusements and vacations. intoxieat-
ing liquors and sickness and death.
These together constituted 1451 per
cent of the family expenditure in 1901
Of the 2.561 families investigated. Mis-
cellaneous purposes not reported, for
which from their very character no
prices are obtanable. made up 5.S7 per
cent, and rent. for which also no prices
for the several years are available,
made up 1926 per cent
The remaining classes of family ex-
penditure n. Is per cent of all. consist
of clothing, 1404 per cent: fuel and
lighting, 5.25 per cent; furniture and
utensils. 3.42 per cent. and tobacco, LAP
per cent. For these no retail prices
covering n series of years ara availa-
BILE, but accepting as true of Wholesale
and retail prices here what this investi-
CATION has found true in the case of
food-namely. that retail prices rise
and fail more slowly and in smaller
degree than wholesale prices = an ex-
animation of the relative wholesale
prices of these classes of articles, Civ
Ing them their proper weight according
to family consumption. leads TO the
conclusion that the retail prices of these
articles as whole in 1902 could have
been but little, If at all, above the level
indicated by food.
1t Is apparently safe and conserva-
tive conclusion, therefore, says the re-
port. that the increase in the cost of
living as whole in 1902, when COM
pared with the year OF lowest prices,
was not over 16.1 per cent, the figure
given above as the increase in the cost
OF food as shown by this investigation.
This assumes OF course always the pur-
chnse of the same articles. and the
same quantities in years of low prices.
low wages and more or less irregular
employment and in years of higher
prices, higher wages and steady EN-.
ployment.
The Mission of Unionfsm
Tho fnflinU nd Il.