The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-08
H. C. [. GOES UP


: Continued from Page One)
goods ranged from 96.416 for poplin
to 1850 for serge, and those for
cottons from $3.50 for wolfe to
264.4K for percale.
Mems and women's coats selling for
SO in 1914 cost from s19 to $40 in
November, 1918, and suits retailing
of about 759o. Prices of knit under
wear advanced nearly 1900, while
hosiery was 90A to $3.50 higher than
in 1914. Mems shoes quoted at $3.50
in 1914 were frequently selling for Sc
shoes brought about 1915. The aver
age increases We're $3.50 and 90.5%
respectively.
The largest advances in the prices
of ~clothing were found in the case
of heavy shirts and overalls. Gar
ments of the medium and finer cot
tons like mems negligee shirts. wom-
ems bIouses and muslin underwear in
creased on the average not much over
1870.
Applying the percentages of in
crease in price to the separate arti-
cles composing representative cloth
ing budgets, the average advance in
the cost of clothing between July,
1914, and November, 1913, is esti-
mated at $3.50.
Costs More To Keep Warm.
Prices of coal secured from so deal
ers in 3S cities and from the United
States Fuel Administrators in 81 states
indicated that the average price of
for household use had risen about
1870 between July, 1914, and Novem-
Der, 1918. The price of bituminous
coal for household use advanced some
what more and the range of increase
was wider; the indicated average in
crease for the country as a whole
was 500.
Since the summer price of coal is
slightly lower than the winter price,
and since few wage-earners lay in
their years supply in July, the true
advance within the war period is
somewhat less than that shown by the
above increases.
Percentage increases in the cost of
| coal in less than ton lots showed lit
tie variation from the ton lot in
creases.
The cost of gas and electricity usual&
i ly showed smaller percentage of in
crease than the cost of coal. In many
| localities rates for gas and electricity
! for domestic use had not changed
j since 1914.
On the basis of these facts the aver
age increase in the cost of fuel and
| light for the war period is placed
at $50.
And Tobacco, Too.
Sundries include carfare, tobacco
and liquor, recreation, furniture and
furnishings. insurance, church and
charity, reading material, medical
services, drugs, and other miscel-
laneous items.
Increases in carfare were reported
from large number of communities.
In most cases the advance was 20To.
representing change from a scent
fare to Scent fare. It seldom ex
-T&s-
notably New York; Chicago. Philadei-
phia ana Los Angeles. there had been
no change. This was also true of
| many smaller communities. The aver
age increase for the entire country is.
therefore. comparatively small.
The cost of those brands.of cigarets
most frequently smoked by wage
earners Increased $3.50 to 5000: cigars,
1000 to 5000. Well known retailers
placed the increase in the cost of to-
bacco at 5000 to 1000.
| Admission to motion picture thea
ters which cost 10 cents in 1914 fire.
quently cost Is cents in November,
1918. This included the war tax.
In many communities penny news
papers now sell for 2 cents Physi-
clans fees frequently had increased
500. Life insurance premiums were
| usually no greater than in 1914.
Furnishings. especially household
-
often advanced in price 100 per cent
or more. Large increases were also
reported in the price of kitchen uten-
| sis and furniture.
Expenditures for sundries by differ
ent families show such wide variation
that no average increase can fairly
be said to be typical The estimate of
SIS per cent since July 1914, is based
on a wide range of combinations and
| is as representative figure as can be
| established.
The. boards estimate of changes in
| the cost of living should not be con-
| fused with changes in wholesale price
index numbers such as Bradstreet's.
Dun's, and those of the New York
! Times Annalist. AS shown in the
| boards previous report. such whole
/ sale commodity price changes do not
necessarily run parallel with changes
in retail prices. In times of rapidly
rising prices. especially, wholesale
| quota tons tend to advance faster than
retail. Furthermore, such wholesale
commodity price index numbers, while
a valuable reflection of market con-
! ditions, do not take account of the
| fact that different items have varying
| Importance in the family budget In
| short, they are not a measure of
changes in TIE cost of living.