The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-12-12

After attending an Outlook
Meeting for 1869 in Elizabeth
City, we would like to pass on
some of the information that may
be of interest to Dare County.
l. Family Living Outlook
Factors influencing the total
family living situation are: family
size, married women in the labor
force, and changes in family
spending patterns.
A working wife, on an average,
spends about third of her earn
ings on expenses related to her
job such as travel, meals, clothes,
household help, etc.
If participation in the labor
force follows the pattern expected
for all married women, more of
them will be in the labor force by
1875.
Christmas trade this year is ex-
pected to break all records and
family spending during 1859 prob
ably will rise still higher. By late
1869 consumer spending is expect
ed to be as much as go above
1858 low.
II. Food Outlook
Consumers will pay about the
same or lower prices for food in
1859. There will be an increase in
supplies of pork, poultry, fats and
oils, peanuts, apples and potatoes.
There will be about the same sup
plies of beef and dairy products.
Small supplies and higher prices
are expected for citrus fruits.
Age is a factor in planning the
family food budget. Food costs
highest for teen-agers. Food costs
per person increased with age up
to 20 years, then decreased. Esti-
mates for a modern-cost food plan
based on August, 1858 prices indi-
cate that per week it costs: $3.50
to feed 3-year-old boy; $11.50 to
feed a 16-year-old boy; and $3.50
to feed a 75-year-old man. Mod
er cost, food plan means that the
family's meals would not consist
totally of steaks nor of beans.
From a nationwide survey the
food dollar.is spent this way: 1879
for milk and milk products; 34fo
for meats; 119o for grains; 1870
for vegetables and fruits; 1870 for
other foods.
III. Housing
Cost of home building has
changed very little in several
years with perhaps a slight up
ward trend, which could continue
next year if the present building
rate is maintained. Now is good
time to build.
Nv. Furniture and Appliances
If families know how long dur
able goods can be expected to last,
they can plan family spending
more realistically. Here is "a list
of the expected life span of appli-
ances: Vacuum Cleaner, Upright
18 years, Tank type Is years; Re
frigerator 10 years; Ranges 10
years, Wringer type 9 years.
The desire of American fami-
lies for continual Improvement OF
their standard of living, along
with their love of gadgets, is ex-
pected to keep the home appliance
market going strong during the
next few years. Fantastic improve
ments in electrical appliances are
predicted with or a years; ex-
ample: electric blankets that both
heat and cool; silent and vibration
free refrigerators and air condi-
TONERS; kitchen units that cook or
chill foods; refrigerated mothproot
closets and drawers, etc.
Prices may increase, some dur
ing 1869.
v. Clothing and Textiles
Life span of clothing items is
coming into the picture as an inn
portant factor in family clothing
osts, and in plans for replace
ments.. Life span of coats - .
years, dresses 3 years, street shoes
2 years. Cost of clothing is I'M
likely to rise much, if any, next