The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-05-27
FALLING PRICES
AND WAGES
WHOLESALE PRICES IN APRIL

prices, according to information
gathered in representative markets
By the United States Department
of Labor through the Bureau OF
Labor Statistics. The Bureaus
weighted index number, which gives
to each commodity an influence
equal to its Importance in the
country's markets, dropped from
1872 in March to 154 in April, a
fall of approximately per cent
The April figure is nearly AZ pei
cent below that of April, 1920, anc
nearly 431a per cent below the high
peak of last May.
Farm products again showed large
price decreases, the decline from
March to April being 8 per cent
Food articles decreased 6 per cent
and cloths and clothing a little over
8 per cent in the same time. In
the group of fuel and lighting ma.
terials the decrease was about 81
per cent. Building materials were
about 2R per cent lower in April
than in March, while metals were
only about n per cent lower. Fol
chemicals and drugs a drop of ~
per cent was reported House fur.
nishing goods showed practically nc
change in price, while a decline OF
7& per cent took place in the
group of miscellaneous commodi.
ties, including such important arti.
cles as cottonseed meal and oil
lubricating oil, jute, rubber, news.
print and wrapping paper, soap
tobacco and wood pulp.
Of 1926 commodities, or series OF
quotations, for which comparable
data for March and April were OBJ
tanned, decreases were found to have
occurred for 173 commodities anc
increases for as commodities. Ir
10S cases no change in price took
place in two months.
Compared With Year Ago
Comparing prices in April with
those of a year ago, as measured
by changes in the index numbers
it is seen that foods and cloths
and clothing have declined over Al
per cent and farm products over
SO per cent. Building materials
measured in the same way, show
a decrease of 401a per cent anc
metals and metal products a de-
cerase of 29A per cent. Fuel anc
lighting materials were 6R per cen
cheaper in April than in the same
month of last year, house-furnish
ing goods were 17A per cent
cheaper, and chemicals and drug:
were 20& per cent cheaper. II
the group of miscellaneous com
modities, the decrease was 35A pei
cent.
Comparative data for April, 1922
and March, 1921, appear in the
following table. The figures show
that in 8 industries there was ar
increase in the number of person!
or the pay roll in April as com
pared with March, and in 6 de
crease. The largest increases are
25.5 per cent in automobiles ant
22.3 per cent in wooden. Respective
decreases of 1873 per cent, LA pei
cent, and 11.3 per cent appear il
car building and repairing, paper
making and the leather industry
In comparing April with Marcel
of this year, 7 industries show ar
increase in the amuont of none.
paid to employees and Z show ;
decrease. The most important in
crease is 55.7 per cent in auto
mobiles. The wooden industry show.
an increase of 23.4 per cent. Per.
centage decreases of 20.4 and 15.s
appear in iron and steel and btu
minOus coal mining.
Change in Wage Rates and Per
Capita Earnings
During the period March Is tt
April Is, there were wage rate
changes made by establishments re
porting to the Bureau in 10 of the
Ia industries. One increase in rates
of wages was reported in the hosiery
and underwear industry, and in the
boot and shoe industry two increases
were reported. All other wage
changes were decreases.
Iron and steel: Four plants re
ported a decrease of 20 per cent
affecting all men in three plant.
and 95 per cent of the men ir
the fourth. In one concern, all 10
hour men were reduced 20 per cent
in wages, while all the S-hour mer
were ~seduced Is per cent. In an.
other concern the wages of all EN-
ployees were decreased: one-half Of
the force being decreased 10 pei
cent, one-fourth of the force, 1915
per cent, and the remaining fourth
liz per cent. A reduction of Is
per cent was made to all employees
in one concern. Two mills reported
a wage rate decrease of Is pei
cent, affecting all employees in the
first mill and 8 per cent of the
employees in the second mill. A
decrease of 10 per cent to 46 pei
one plant. All employees in an
other plant were reduced 60 cents
per day. Irregular operation, caused
by lack of order and general bust
ness depression was reporte q
throughout the industry. The per
capita earnings for April are lis
per cent less than for March.
Automobiles: In one shop a 70
per cent decrease was made to sc
per cent of the force. Improved
business conditions were reported
for this industry and the per capita
earnings show an increase of 24.1
per ceHI WHICH Sohhpaihs Apih WIFI
March.
Car building and repairing: Nc
wage rate changes were reported for
this industry, but the per capita
earnings are IL per cent higher for
the payroll period in April than
for the corresponding period in
March.
Cotton manufacturing: The en-
tire forces of five establishments
were reduced 20 per cent in wages
In one plant a bonus of 20 per cent
for full-time service and one of Ii
per cent for less than full-time
service were discontinued. Decreases
ranging from Is to 20 per cent
were made in one concern to al
ox,,Io,,oos pract;nolIy tho aptire