The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-09-24
COST OF LIVING
HITS HIGH MARK
Increase lO4 Per cent
Since Pre-war
Days

A survey of the cost of living, jus,
completed in the National Industrial
Conference board, 10 East thirty
ninth street, contrasted with living
costs of pre-war times, shows tina
the increase in the six year period
has been 1915 per cent, according
to summary of the survey made
public yesterday. The summary
shows an increase of 10 per cent ir
the last year and per cent from
March, 1920 to July, when the sur
vey was completed.
The outstanding figures of the sur.
very are that food increased 119 pei
cent in price in the six year period;
shelter, IS per cent; clothing, Ice
per cent, fuel, heat and light &C
per cent and sundries IS per cent
These percentages were derived
from figures obtained fro retail deal.
ers in the commodities of life in
cities of large population thruout the
country and accordingly represent
the price the consumer had to pay
other than the wholesale cost of the
products.
Food prices were still going up in
July. Figures of the bureau of labor
statistics turned over to the board
show that prices then were the high
est ever recorded by the bureau. Be
tween July, 1919 and July, 1920,
the increase was 5 per cent, and last
April when ordinarily there is come
what of decline because of the adj
vent of early spring garden truck,
prices began to mount at a surpris-
ing rate.
The largest increases in food in
the six year period were in sugar,
which climbed 1872 per cent; pota-
toes, 36S per cent; -four, 164 per
cent; cornmeal, 1873 per cent; rice,
ia per cent; bread, 113 per cent;
ham, 112 per cent; lamb, 100 per
cent; hens, 107 per cent; and pork
chops 1O1 per cent. Figures col
lected monthly since 1913 show that
in thirty-five of thirty-nine cities the
average retail cost increased 100 per
cent. Detroit, one of the country's
great industrial centers, showed an
increase of 1873 per cent; which was
the highest, and Los Angeles was
lowest with IS per cent.
Figures supplied by 36i real
estate boards and brokers, chambers
of commerce and civic organizations
in practically all cities having a pop
ulation exceeding $4,000 gave a rent
increase percentage of So. Eighty
six cities among which were New
York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit,
Los Angeles, Pittsburg, Baltimore
and Cleveland, showed increase of
more than SO per cent. Boston, st.
Louis and San Francisco and num-
Der of smaller cities showed less than
SO per cent and in some the in
crease ran as low as 10 per cent.
The only encouraging news for
the wage Garner evolved by the
boards survey was that clothing
prices decreased per cent between
March, 100 and July, but DESPITE
this, we'll known increase over pre-
war prices still was 166 per cent.
Between July, 1919 and last July
the increase was 33 per cent. The
prices of cotton yarn goods, especi-
ally the cheaper and heavier grades
were still rising when the survey
ended. Hosiery, knit, underwear,
mems shirts and overalls, as we'll as
gloves and hats for men, women and
boys, also were increasing in price
on July L. The decreases noted were
in wooden goods, shoes, women's
blouses and muslin underwear,
which dropped off slightly between
March and July.
The board obtained retail prices
of anthracite and bituninous coal
from lis dealers in forty-three
cities. In the six year period the
stove variety of anthracite coal
jumped S5.5 per cent! chestnut an
thracite, 81.4 per cent, and bitumin-
Gus 1881 per cent. Gas and electric
ity for domestic use jumped Is per
cent. By combing all of the essent-
ials of fuel, heat and light, the board
arrived at &C per cent as the gen.
eral increase over pre-war prices.
Under the heading Of sundries the
board classified carfares, which in
creased in 100 cities and have re-
manned unchanged in 80; physicians
fees. cost of NEWSPAPERS and period