Evening star., 1941-11-20
Living Costs Continue
To Increase Here;
Lead
1.6 Pct. Gain Reported
Since Mid-September;
Clothing Up 3.5 Pct.
By OLIVER MCKEE.

Continuing the advance Of recent
months, District living costs in
creased 16 per cent between mid
September and mid-October. Secre-
tary of Labor Perkins reported to-
day.
The District cost Of living index
now stands at 1884, as compared
with the 1858 average Of 100.
Costs are still far below the peak of
the period Immediately following
the World War. In December. 1918,
the District index reached l195. and
in June, 1920, climbed to its high
point of .l4l9. In June, 1888, it
dropped to 92.7.
The Districts rents advanced 03
per cent during the month, accord
ing to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Its monthly estimate of rent charges
are based on a canvass OF a repre-
sentative group Of approximately
400 dwelling units, a somewhat
smaller sample than that covered by
the quarterly surveys of changes in
living costs.
Clothing Rises 3.5 Pct.
On the basis Of this sample, the
bureau estimated that rents were
increased in per cent OF the dwell
ings in the District occupied by
white tenants. The average amount
of the increases reported during the
month was II per cent, or approx
imately $3.50.
On October Is. the District rent
index was 1912 of the 1859 aver
age. In November, 1884. the index
was 97.7; in December, 1924, 1l74,
and in December, 1918. at the close
of the World War. was 84.6.
Other items in the District cost OF
living index rose more sharply than
rents. Percentage increases during
the month were reported as follows:
Food 1.3; clothing. 3.5; housefur-
nishings, As per cent, and miscel-
laneous, 19. The cost Of fuel. elec-
tricity and ice advanced 0.6 per cent.
AS compared with the 1858
average District indiceS now stand
as follows: Food, 119; clothing,
117.7; fuel, 1917: housefurnishings,
1882. and miscellaneous, LOG.
Full Effect Not Yet Felt.
Living costs in 81 large cities, in
Guiding Washington, increased on
the average of IL per cent during
the month, advancing the index to
1894 of the base period.
increases in the cost OF goods
and services were responsible for q
rise of SO per cent above the 1888
average, and defense excise taxes
levied in 1910 and l941 for the addi-
tional O.5 per cent" Secretary Per-
kins pointed out The full effect OF
the new defense taxes has not yet
been felt, because many OF the
goods now on retailers shelves were
purchased before the first OF Octo-
Der, when the additional manufac-
turers' excise taxes were levied"
For the cities as group, the fol-
lowing average percentage increases
we're reported: Food. 0.8; clothing
1.8: rent, OF; fuel. 0.3; housefur-
nishings, 2.6, and miscellaneous, 1.9
Women's Clothes Costlier.
In Savannah, where defense en-
ployment has increased rapidly thi!
| fall, rents increased AZ per cen1
during the month. Many other GEN.
ters of defense production also re-
ported substantial rent increases.
In addition to the District, Los
Angeles. Denver and Pittsburgh alst
reported increases in clothing cost!
of 3 per cent or more Since Sep.
tember, 1889, average prices Of mems
clothing show the following per-
centage increases: Topcoats, 10.6;
wool suits. ISL: cotton work trousers
20.8; cotton overalls, 286; cottor
work shirts, 281; street shoes, 14.3
and work shoes, 1853.
During the same period, percent.
age increases in prices Of womens
clothing include the following: Sport
coats. 10.9; percale dresses, 35.9, ane
silk hose, 15.4.
Since September IS, 1885, house
furnishings reveal the following per-
centages advances: Living room
suites, 800; bedroom suites, 22.6
washing machines, 1854; rugs, 20.1
mattresses, 17.2, and sheets. 30.1
The prices of electric refrigerators
however. have dropped 79 per cent
"The introduction Of the 1874.
automobile models at higher prices
and new defense taxes, were. largely
responsible for the increase in thu
cost of the miscellaneous group,
Secretary Perkins expla ated.