The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1939-12-13
COST OF LIVING
ON UP-TREND,
What TO DO

The present prosperity" though
bringing few more jobs, is, like mos
properties" squeezing the workers
pocketbook. In the first few weeks Of
the war, according to Consumers I'm
ion, prices Of 81 foods in the u. S
scared, In some cases as much as 2E
percent, adding millions of dollars tc
the American grocery bill. Textiles
cotton, rayon, silk, and wool-have
gone up with one hosiery company
raising its lowest-price line of WON
ems stockings from 85c to 81 per
pair. Rises in gasoline, fuel and lu'
bricating oils have occurred in many
parts of the country Soft coal has
gone up. Leather has advanced and
shoe prices have already followed.
Cause of Food Price Rise
The soaring prices of food in Sep
| TENDER, especially in such items as
sugar and lard, were widely blamed
upon boarding by housewives. Con-
sumers Union, however, called the
boom in sugar prices case of mark
ing up sugar on hand with no part
of the profits going to producers or
workers. 1t is estimated that profit
seers made $25,O00,0O0 in the process
Farm Research, Inc, an independent
organization, attributed the rises in
both sugar and lard to speculation and
price-gouging. 1t cited government
figures showing that prices paid to
farmers had not gone up in keeping
with Is to 35 percent advances in
retail prices and on the exchanges.
Increases Despite SURPRISES
Most of the price rises have oc-
Cured despite the fact that great sur
pluses are on hand. The real capac-
ity of the country's industries has
not been near approach, according to
financial reports, only steel, airplanes.
and railroads looking anything like
their 1929 boom-day selves.
Prices of flour have risen in some
cities as much as So per barrel in the
face of a wheat carryover from last
year of 54,000,000 bushels; rises in
cotton prices have occurred in the
face of the largest cotton surplus in
history and with the European con-
flict apt to reduce rather than in
crease the European demand Yet |
bed sheet prices were advanced 1914 |
DtlCtnl ny Oht COMPANY
In any event, the cost of living, |
which had been declining almost with
out interruption for more than year,
began to rise in the middle of August |
and, according to the National In
dustrial Conference Boards survey,
had gone up percent by the middle
Of September.
The NICB's report shows that food,
which it says accounts for 33 percent
Of the workers pay, went up 81 per-
cent from August to September, 1889.
Rent, which accounts for 20 percent
Of his budget, advanced or per cent;
clothing, IL percent of the budget, in
creased 04 per cent; coal, the per-
DC percent; and sundries, 30 percent
If the budget, increased Oh percent.
This survey points out that the pur-
chasing value of the dollar, taking its
1923 value as 100 cents, was 1888
tents in August and only 1854 cents
n September. The trend of the cost
If living is still upward and is ex-
)ected to continue so, although the
,Iement of speculation which boosted
t in September is expected to be less
Important.
What We Can Do
First, we can bargain to advantage i.
low, trying, of course, not merely to
,eep abreast of prices but to en-
hasize general improvement of union
tandards.
Second, the outlook for prices is
ital to union members, and unions
an be of important help in prevent
ng undue increases. A rapid rise in
rices of food and other necessities
ould cancel workers increased in
ONE and keep buying power at its
resent low level.
The Consumers National Fedora
on of ITO Morningside Drive, New
'ork City, has advised consumers to
rite to the U. S. Commissioner of
abor Statistics in Washington for
ne weekly report of average food
rices and changes. This list should
e checked with any outstanding price
dvances in your own locality, which
nould be protested to Washington il
ley occur.
Labor unions and their auxiliaries,
is suggested, might set up consumer 1
1mmittees to watch prices in their I
wn communities.
Complaints should be made to local 1
stailers and they should be advised I
lat similar complaints will be made
, Washington. Complaints addressed
President Roosevelt will be relayed (
, proper authorities for investiga-
on
Finally, no matter how great the 4
ar orders might become, they would I
)t make any appreciable dent in the
INKS of our unemployed. The WPA 1
Ills were cut in 1889 up to the be- I
inning of the war by about 100000
orkers with the argument that there 4
ould be increased private employ (
ent. Before the war began, few of 4
ese workers had obtained such en-
oyment, according to the Bureau of
abor Statistics. The Bureaus high
It estimate of new war jobs is $780,
10 and it points out that next year
ere will be about 100000 new young
orkers entering the labor market in
,cess of these older workers who
ave it. II we are going to build
, a prosperity that will have real 1
,wer, we have to insist on the gov
nment providing more, not less
ork-Guild RepOrter