The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-05-11
INCREASE 95 PER CEN 7
IN OUR LIVING COSTS
ANNOUNCEMENT is MADE BY
THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL
CONFERENCE BOARD.

BOSTON.-The average coSC Oh
living for American wage earners
rose 7 per cent between November,
1919, and March, 1920, according to
a preliminary announcement made
today by the National Industrial Con-
ference Board. This marks total
increase of about 95 per cent since
July, 1914, and an increase of FL
per cent within the last twelve
months. These figures are the re-
suit of the boards sixth survey of
changes in the cost Of living in the
United States, a complete report OF
which will be available within few
weeks.
Some Increases.
Increases between July, 1914, and
March, 1920, in the cost of each OF
the five major items making up the
family budget were as follows:
All items, 94.8 per cent; food, 100
per cent; shelter, 40 per cent; cloth
ing. TT per cent; fuel, heat and
light, 40 per cent; sundries, SO per
cent.
Increases in the last four months,
since November, 1919, were as fol-
lows:
All items, SO per cent; food, Az
per cent; shelter, 80 per cent; CLOTH
ing. 17.9 per cent; fuel, heat and
light, z per cent; sundries, 4.6 per
cent.
Food prices in March were 100 per
cent higher than average prices be-
fore the war, according to the retail
food price index numbers of the
United States bureau of labor statis-
tics. Quotations on which this estl-
mate is based were furnished by over
1000 dealers in fifty-one cities.
Average food prices in March were
no higher than in February and were
six-tenths of / per cent lower than
in January. Since November, 1919,
they had, however, increased 4 per
cent and since March, 1919, the in
crease was IA per cent.
In January, 1920, sugar cost 224
per cent more than the average price
in 1918, which has been accepted as
representative of pre-war prices, and
potatoes were 218 per cent higher.
These were the most sensational
price advances up to that time.
Clothing.
Clothing is the budget item for
which greatest price increases were
recorded. The advance of 1T per
cent between July, 1914, and March,
1920, represents a rise of Is per
cent since November, 1919, and of
SO per cent since March, 1919. These
estimates are based on replies to
missionaries returned by 209 dry
The twenty-nine representative arti-
cles for which quotations were secur-
ed were combined in clothing budg-
cts to get the total increase in the
cost of clothing.
Price increases vary greatly. The
largest advances since 1914 continue
ed to be for cotton yard goods. Per-
Gale formerly selling for ~ cents
yard in March, 1920, brought an
average Of 80 cents; this is an in
crease of 422 per cent. Muslin I'M
derwear and women's blouses, on the
other hand, had advanced in price
only 1925 per cent and 1892 per
cent, respectively. Other important
noted were 1902 per cent
for mems overcoats; 204.4 per cent
for women's coats; 230 per cent for
women's knit vests; 211.6 per cent
for mems union suits; 247.2 per cent
for work shirts; 209.4 per cent for
women's shoes, and 217.1 per cent for
women's cape kid gloves.
Since November, 1919, average adj
vances of 25 per cent or more were
reported for percale, bingham, long
cloth, knit underwear, women's stock
ings, coats, gloves and hats.
Fuel, Heat and Light.
The combined cost of fuel, heat
and light advanced less than one per
cent between November, 1919, and
March, 1920, although the total aver
age cost was 40 per cent higher than
in July, 1914. and per cent higher
than in March, 1919.
Coal prices were secured from 121
dealers in forty-four cities represent
ing all sections of the country The
largest increases for anthracite were
in the cities of the east, where adj
in the neighborhood of six per
cent since November, 1919. were re-
ported from Providence, Bridgeport
and Boston. Baltimore, Buffalo and
on the other hand, had not
raised pricesA In the middle west the
average increase for anthracite was
less than one per cent, due to the fact
hat there had been no advance what
ever in Cincinnati, Detroit, Duluth,
indianapolis, Omaha, St. Louis or st.
Paul. In Louisville, Columbus and
Cleveland, as we'll as in Memphis, Lit
n PAL. ornI Snntt1n tho r,,.icn &c Ii