I H D i UC-MBLF P ^ ,i ^3 $B TM 3M2 COST OF LIVING AND THE WAR AN ANALYSIS OF RECENT CHANGES ' by W. JETT LAUCK CLEVBLAHD. OHIO TBS OOrXB kWilLIZ PKI»TINO COMPAinr IMS in 2007 with funding from - Microsoft Corooration fittp^/wvi^arch]ve:org/details/costoflivi^ (J // /a/^' COST OF LIVING AND THE WAR AN ANALYSIS OF REGENT CHANGES hy W. JETT LAUGK CLEVELAND. OHIO THE DOYLE & WALTZ PRINTING COMPANY 1918 Z.3 COPYRIGHT 1918, by W. JETT LAUCK FIRST EDITION, JANUARY 1918 7i£~ PREFACE This volume is a summarization and analysis of official and authorita- tive data bearing upon the cost of living with special reference to the families of wage-earners. Part II consists primarily of reprints from official publications of retail and wholesale price data and the results of original investigations and studies relative to the budgets of working- men's families. Part I is a brief analysis and interpretation of the data contained in Part II. This analysis has been made in an impartial way and with no object in mind beyond the presentation in a concise and readable form of the facts as to recent increases in prices and family living costs. The data in Part II is so arranged as to be readily acces- sible for reference or for use as a basis for further study or interpretation. The author wishes to make acknowledgment to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics for its co-operation in giving him access to its records and data. He wishes also to express his grateful appre- ciation especially to Mr. Leifur Magnusson, of the staff of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, whose assistance in collecting and compiling data has been invaluable. The graphs were drawn by Mr. O. T. Feamster. I 778934 TABLE OF CONTENTS Part I. — Analyses and conclusions from authoritative information which is available : Page. Chapter I. — Retail prices of foodstuffs 3 1. High prices and dietary changes 3 2. Index numbers of retail prices, 1910-1917 5 3. The increase in the cost of bread 11 4. The advance in the cost of fuel and light 11 5. Retail food prices and the purchasing power of the dollar 13 6. Variations in food prices in the leading cities of the country 17 Chapter II. — Wholesale prices 18 1. Wholesale price advances, by commodities, 1911-1917 19 2. Wholesale prices since the outbreak of the European War 26 Chapter III. — The value of budgetary studies 29 1. Weekly budgets, 1911-1917 29 2. A minimum monthly diet and its cost 30 3. Tentative budget of Philadelphia Bureau of Municipal Research. 31 4. Revisions and testimony of shipbuilders 33 5. Annual budgets to cover a minimum of subsistence and comfort.. 33 6. Scientific study of increased budgetary costs 34 7. Changes in standard of living in the District of Columbia as affected by the increased cost of living 39 Part II. — Official, documentary and other authoritative data relative to prices, family budgets, and increased living costs : Chapter I. — Retail prices 43 1. Scope of study and method of obtaining prices by United States Bureau of Labor Statistics 43 2. Index numbers of retail prices of all articles of food, 1907-1917. . . 44 3. Average and relative prices of fifteen articles of food, 1912-1917. . 44 4. Change in average prices and in amount of various articles of food that could be bought for one dollar, 1890-1917 52 5. Increased cost of foodstuffs in the United States since the beginning of the European War 54 6. Comparative retail prices in leading cities of the United States, 1913-1917 55 7. Retail prices of dry goods 61 8. Relation between changes in wholesale and retail prices, 1913-1917 64 9. Price of bread in selected cities, 1913-1917 67 10. The advance in price of fuel 68 11. Price of manufactured and natural gas 68 12. Relative cost of food in the principal American cities 70 13. Retail prices in twenty-four cities 70 14. Report of the Rhode Island Commission 71 III CONTENTS Part II.— (Continued) Page. Chapter II. — ^Wholesale prices 75 1. Average and relative wholesale prices of twenty- four commodities 75 2. Index numbers of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. . . 79 3. Index numbers of the Annalist 83 4. Index numbers of Bradstreet's 85 5. Index numbers of Dun 88 6. Index numbers of Gibson 93 7. Canadian index numbers of wholesale prices 96 8. Wholesale prices in the United States, since 1914 — the beginning of the European War 101 Chapter III.— Budgetary studies 103 1. Proportion of family expenditures for various items 103 2. Navy department ration for enlisted men 105 3. Canadian budget 105 4. Cost of living in the District of Columbia. Investigation by United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1916. 5. Budget proposed by Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, street rail- way employees 6. Budget awarded to Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, street rail- way employees 7. Higher food prices and the proper nutrition of workingmen's families 125 8. Increased living costs, 1916-1917 128 9. A minimum budgetary estimate for Pacific Coast workers 131 10. Study made on the Pacific Coast by the Labor Adjustment Board of the United States Shipping Board of the United States Emergency Fleet Corporation 133 11. Budget of the annual cost of living, 1914-1917, compiled by the State Bureau of Labor, Olympia, Washington 135 12. Cost of a minimum food supply for a representative city family. . 138 13. Report on the increased cost of living for an unskilled laborer's family in New York City 142 14. Digest of literature on cost of living of workingmen in New York City 159 15. Minimum standards of family income. (From Conditions of Labor in American Industries, Lauck and Sydenstricker, 1917) . 169 16. Cost of bread among the workers 177 Chapter IV — Bibliography ^ 179 IV PART I. ANALYSES AND CONCLUSIONS FROM AUTHORITATIVE INFORMATION WHICH IS AVAILABLE. CHAPTER I RETAIL PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS. 1. High Prices and Dietary Changes. Either in the case of the individual or of the family outlays for food and rent must be made whatever options may be exercised as to other expenditures. If a family has had a large income and has been in the habit of purchasing high-grade articles of food, advances in the cost of foodstuffs would probably be met by purchasing less high-priced and more medium-priced articles. There will be'jjalling off in the nutritive value of the family diet. Families of moderate incomes which had been consuming medium and low-priced foods, under a period of rising prices would purchase less of the medium and more of the low-priced foods, and also still maintain wholesome standards of nutrition. On the other hand, advances in cost of staple food are a positive danger to the families of low incomes. These families under normal conditions are forced to buy cheap foods. When there is a general rise in the price level, they cannot substitute a cheaper food of the same nutritive value. They are compelled to consume cheaper foods, but these articles do not contain the food values to which they have been accustomed. Beans or eggs cannot be substituted for meat. So far as these families are concerned their normal diet constituted an irreducible minimum so far as nourishment was concerned. Higher prices, without a corresponding advance in income, means to them under-nourishment and under- development,' with greater liability to disease and all the other dangers which the term implies. This state of affairs has been most forcibly and interestingly shown in a graphical way by Professor Jaffa, of the University of California. His diagram illustrating this point is reproduced on the following page and is so clear and conclusive as to require no explanation.^ This study is reproduced in full in Part II. 4 RETAIL PRICES. ABILITY QF FAMILIES UNDER HIGH, MEDIUM AND LOW WAGES TO MEET INCREASING FOOD PRICES BY SELECTIVE CHANGES IN THEIR DIETARY. 'V.-^' ;'..'- " ' ' ' ■ High Wages. Medium Wages. Low Wages. Dietary when prices are Selective changes when prices are Dietary when prices are Selective changes when prices are Dietary when prices are Selective changes when prices are Normal. High. Very High. Normal. High. Very High. Normal. High. Very High. High Priced Foods. Medium Priced Foods. - - — — Low Priced Foods. Danger zone. RETAIL PRICES. 5 2. Index Numbers of Retail Prices, 1910-1917.^ Under these conditions the recent trend in the retail prices of articles of food possesses unusual interest and significance. During the past ten years the United States Bureau of Labor has by the co-operation of private dealers secured records from the leading cities in all sections of the country as to the retail prices of fifteen principal articles of food which enter most prominently into the consumption of an average wage- earner's family. The prices thus obtained have been averaged for speci- fied cities and then for the country as a whole. Upon this latter figure have been based computations as to relative changes in prices through- out the country during the past ten years. In the following table and chart, the average price of the fifteen articles of food for the year 1907 has been taken as a base, or as equalling 100, and compared with varia- tions during subsequent years. INDEX NUMBERS OF RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD, 1907 TO OCTOBER, 1917. Year. Retail prices of food. 1907 100 103 108 113 112 119 122 125 123 139 156 162 162 177 184 185 178 181 187 192 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 January, 1917 February, 1917 March, 1917 April, 1917 . .. May, 1917 June, 1917 July, 1917 August, 1917 September, 1917 October, 1917 In working out the foregoing relative prices or index numbers, the articles of food have been weighted according to their comparative im- portance in the food budgets of an average workingman's family, the weights used being those ascertained by an extensive cost of living in- vestigation throughout the country made in 1901 by the Bureau of Labor. This gives an added significance to the results shown. The general upward trend of prices during this entire period is shown graph- ically by the accompanying line chart. The advance in the retail prices of all the fifteen selected articles in 1917 as compared with each of the preceding years is set forth in the following diagram : 2-5. 'For detailed tables as to retail price statistics of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, see Part II, Section 6 RETAIL PRICES. INCREASE IN RETAIL PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS IN 1917 AS COMPARED WITH EACH PRECEDING YEAR DURING THE PERIOD 1907-1916. Year Per Cent 1907 92.0 1908 86.4 1909 77.8 1910 69.9 1911 71.4 1912 61.3 1912 57.4 1914 * 63.6 191fi 66.1 1916 38.1 It will be at once noted that during the past ten years the rise in prices has been 92 points. During the three years preceding the out- break of the European war, or the period 1911-1914, the advance was 13 points as contrasted with 67 points during the three years subsequent to the beginning of the war. Expressed in terms of percentages, general retail prices, according to these index numbers, advanced 71.4 per cent during the period 1911-1917, and 53.6 per cent during the period 1914- 1917. In 1917 retail prices were 38.1 per cent higher than in 1916 and 56.1 per cent higher than in 1915. So far as the fifteen separate articles of which the index numbers are composed are concerned, their increase in terms of percentages in 1917 as contrasted with 1914 and 1911 are shown in the following table and diagram : INCREASE IN RETAIL PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS, 1917 OVER 1911 AND 1914. [Compiled from Reports of U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.) Articles. Per Cent of Increase, 1917 over 1911 1914 Sirloin steak 61.8 78.6 53.0 116.8 92.0 79.0 163.1 60.8 73.3 49.9 47.7 110.9 159.3 35.0 59.0 27.9 32.1 26.0 74.8 72.8 57.2 136.3 42.5 58.3 39.6 39.6 105.9 133.3 62.5 64.4 Round steak Pork chops Bacon Ham Lard Hens Butter Milk Flour Corn meal Potatoes Sugar Total 71.4 53.6 RETAIL PRICES. 8 RETAIL PRICES. INCREASE IN RETAIL PRICES OF PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF FOOD, 1917 OVER 1914. RETAIL PRICES. ' 9 The largest percentages of increase in prices since 1911 are shown for round steak, ham, bacon, flour, pork chops, corn meal, and lard, in the order named. They range from 78.6 per cent in the case of round steak to 163.1 per cent in the case of lard. The articles enumerated, together with potatoes and sugar, also advanced more during the past three years than the other foodstuffs for which information was secured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rapid advance in retail prices of food- stuffs since the outbreak of the European war has been set forth in a special study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics which was published in its Monthly Review of August, 1917.^- In analyzing the results of this study the following pertinent comment was made: "Comparing prices on July 15, 1914, just prior to the present war, with prices on July 15, 1917, food as a whole advanced 42 per cent. In July, 1917, flour was 125 per cent higher — that is, two and one-fourth times the price in July, 1914; corn meal was 89 per cent higher; lard was 78 per cent higher; sugar; 75 per cent Mgher; and potatoes and bread each 50 per cent higher." ^^ By November, 1917, the prices of these foodstuffs had advanced as a whole until they were, as already pointed out, more than 50 per cent higher than at the beginning of the war in Europe in 1914. The really pronounced rise in retail prices of foodstuffs did not begin, however, until the latter part of 1916. There was a small advance as a rule during the latter half of 1914. In the case of some commodities this was main- tained or slightly increased in 1915 and the first half of 1916, while in the case of others there was a small decline. By August and Septem- ber, 1916, the upward tendency set in very rapidly and has continued up to the present time. These variations during the past three years are clearly shown by the following comparison of prices on January 1 and July 1, 1914-1917, and for the subsequent months of 1917. RELATIVE RETAIL PRICES. 1914-1917. Commodities. 1914 Jan. July Hens..- ' Eggs Butter 90 116 101 100 85 73 92 93 80 87 98 85 73 92 Milk Bread Flour Corn meal Rice Potatoes 70 65 100 65 Sugar Beans Prunes Raisins Coflfee Tea 1915 Jan. 86 118 98 99 92 92 97 100 55 75 69 66 102 97 100 100 July 74 87 96 97 93 96 100 55 87 72 69 101 97 100 100 1916 Jan. 92 113 97 98 95 89 95 100 88 84 83 83 99 98 100 100 July 102 85 90 97 95 86 96 100 87 109 109 106 100 99 100 100 1917 Jan. 108 145 115 109 108 127 118 100 145 100 141 132 104 109 100 100 July 119 112 117 122 135 164 174 116 159 114 104 177 119 115 102 110 Nov. 125 155 134 141 135 155 209 125 119 119 118 172 124 115 101 113 See Part II, Chapter I, Section 5. 10 RETAIL PRICES. INCREASE IN WHOLESALE PRICES OF A LOAF OF BREAD, 1917 OVER 1914, BY PRINCIPAL CITIES. RETAIL PRICES. 11 3. The Increase in the Cost of Bread. Probably one of the bevSt single indicators of the increased cost of liv- ing, especially in the case of families of low incomes, is the price of bread. Some illuminating statistics in this connection have recently been col- lected by the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. They consist of com- parative prices in 16 leading American cities during the past three years of a standard loaf of bread weighing sixteen ounces before baking. The following table and chart which are based on these figures show by cities the advance in cost in terms of cents and percentages of this stand- ard loaf in 1917 as compared with 1914: INCREASE IN THE PRICE OF A LOAF OF BREAD WEIGHING SIXTEEN OUNCES OR OVER BEFORE BAKING, 1917 OVER 1914 BY PRINCIPAL CITIES. [Compiled from Reports of United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.] City. Cost of loaf of Bread. Increase in 1917 over 1914. 1914. 1917. Cents. Per cent. Atlanta, Ga Baltimore, Md Birmingham, Ala Chicago, 111 $0,054 .050 .049 .053 .044 .051 .050 .048 .050 .053 .041 .059 .049 .050 .054 .051 $0,091 .082 .094 .093 .081 .089 .088 .089 .092 .089 .077 .088 .086 .093 .083 .090 .037 .032 .045 .040 .037 .038 .038 .041 .04i .036 .036 .029 .037 .043 .029 .039 68.5 64.0 91.8 75.5 84.1 74.5 76.0 85.4 84.0 67.9 87.8 49.2 75.5 86.0 53.7 76.5 Cincinnati, Ohio Cleveland, Ohio Dallas, Tex Denver, Colo Minneapolis, Minn New Haven, Conn New Orleans, La New York, N. Y. . ..' :.:...... Portland, Ore St. Louis, Mo San Francisco, Cal Washington, D. C The foregoing statement shows that the range of advance in bread prices since the beginning of the European war has been from 2.9 cents to 4.5 cents a loaf. Expressed in terms of percentage, the smallest in- crease in 1917 as compared with 1914 was 49.2 per cent in New York, and the highest, 91.8 percent, in Birmingham, Alabama. In eleven out of the sixteen cities for which returns are given in the table above, the price of a loaf of bread advanced 75 or more per cent during the period, 1914-1917. 4. The Advance in the Cost of Fuel and Light. Comparative prices are available as to the cost of gas for lighting and other purposes in the principal cities of the country. These figures show considerable variations from one locality to another, but practically no increase during recent years. Owing to the recent rapid advances in the cost of fuel, labor, and materials, however, applications from public utility corporations for permission to increase their rates are now pend- ing in all sections of the country and it may be expected that increases in these items of expenditure will take place in the near future.^ ' See Part II, Chapter I. 12 RETAIL PRICES. Increases in the cost of coal have been very rapid during recent years and especially since the beginning of the calendar year, 1917.2 Up until a year ago, or January, 1917, the advances in the retail prices of coal as compared with the corresponding months of 1914 and 1917, ranged from 22 to 34 per cent. By certain kinds of domestic coal they were as follows: Kind of coal. Per cent increase in relative prices in January, 1917, over January, 1914, January, 1911. Pennsylvania white ash: Stove 22 21 30 28 28 34 Bituminous . The relative retail prices upon which the above comparisons are based and which cover the period January, 1907, to January, 1917, are as follows: RELATIVE RETAIL PRICES OF COAL EACH YEAR. 1907-1917. INCLUSIVE. AND ON JANUARY 15. AND JULY 15, OF EACH YEAR OF THE SAME PERIOD. [Average price for 1915 = 100.] Month and year. Pennsylvania white ash, stove. Pennsylvania white ash. Chestnut. Bituminous. January. 1907 94 95 95 95 95 96 104 100 101 103 122 92 94 94 94 94 96 103 100 101 103 121 102 103 99 100 103 100 105 106 102 101 138 January, 1908 '. . January. 1909 January. 1910 January, 1911 January. 1912 January, 1913 January. 1914 .... January. 1915 January, 1916 January, 1917 There is no authoritative data as to relative prices of coal for the country as a whole subsequent to January, 1917. The following fig- ures, however, which show the price of bituminous coal (run of mine) at the mine in the Pittsburgh District for the period January, 1905, to January, 1918, afford an insight into the trend of retail coal prices. PRICE OF BITUMINOUS COAL (RUN OF MINE) AT THE MINE PITTSBURGH DISTRICT JANUARY. 1905, TO JANUARY, 1918. 1905 $0 95 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 $1.05 1.35 1.22 1.10 1.70 4.85 2.45 1906 1907 1908 1.20 1.15 1 15 1909 1910 1.15 1 20 1911 1 97'; 2 See Part II, Chapter I. RETAIL PRICES. 13 From the above prices it is at once evident that the price of bitumin- ous (run of mine) coal at the pit mouth in the Pittsburgh District was about 300 per cent greater in 1917 than in 1914 and 1911. On July 5, 1917, the Federal Government, through the Coal Committee of the Council of National Defense, fixed a price of $3.00 a ton, and this was later changed, on November 1, by the National Fuel Administrator to $2.45 a ton. This latter price was practically 200 per cent higher than in 1914 or 1911. 5. Retail Food Prices and the Purchasing Power of the Dollar. Perhaps a better insight into the significance of recent advances in the retail prices of foodstuffs is to be found in a comparison of the pur- chasing power of the dollar, or the standard of American values, during recent years. The table and diagram which immediately follow show the declining purchasing power of the dollar over leading articles of foodstuffs during the period, 1911-1917: DECLINE IN PURCHASING POWER OF THE DOLLAR, 1911-1917. Article. Sirloin steak lb, Round steak lb Rib roast lb Pork chops lb Bacon lb Ham lb Lard lb Hens lb, Eggs doz Butter lb Milk qt Flour i bbl Corn meal lb Potatoes pk Sugar lb. Total Relative purchasing power of the dollar. 1911. 1912. 1913. 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917. 100.0 87.8 81.6 79.6 79.6 75.5 67.3 100.0 87.9 77.6 74.1 75.9 70.7 55.2 100.0 78.1 79.7 76.6 78.1 73.4 60.9 100.0 92.9 83.9 80.4 87.5 78.6 46.4 100.0 100.0 92.5 90.0 92.5 87.5 52.5 100.0 100.0 90.5 88.1 92.9 81.0 54.8 100.0 95.8 88.7 90.1 95.8 80.3 38.0 100.0 96.2 90.4 88.5 92.3 80.8 61.5 100.0 96.8 96.8 93.5 96.8 87.1 58.1 100.0 89.7 89.7 93.1 96.6 86.2 69.0 100.0 98.3 94.8 94.8 95.7 94.8 68.1 100.0 96.7 101.6 97.6 81.3 75.6 47.2 100.0 104.1 93.2 90.0 87.3 79.5 38.6 100.0 96.7 130.0 120.0 146.7 83.3 73.3 100.0 97.0 111.0 103.0 92.7 76.2 62.8 100.0 94.1 91.8 89.6 91.1 80.6 58.3 The purchasing power of the dollar in 1917 as compared with 1911, as can be seen from the foregoing figures, declined almost 42 per cent. In other words, practically only three-fifths of the quantities of foodstuffs could be purchased in the latter j^ear as compared with the former. The decline in the buying power of the dollar has been especially marked since the outbreak of the European conflict in 1914. From 1911 to 1914 the purchasing power of the dollar over foods fell only 8 points, while from 1914 to 1917 the decline was 31 points, or almost four times as much as in the three years preceding the war. This tendency is more clearly brought out in the following table, which shows the falling off in the purchasing power of the dollar as compared with each pre- ceding year during the period, 1911-1917. 14 RETAIL PRICES. DECLINE IN THE PURCHASING POWER OF A DOLLAR, BY YEARS AND PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF FOOD, 1911-1917. 19H 19X2 1913 1914 19X5 1916 1917 SIRLOIN STEAK. LB ROUND STEAK LB RIB ROAST LB PORK CHOPS. Lb [logloH Mioo.o LARD LB RETAIL PRICES. 15 DECLINE IN THE PURCHASING POWER OF A DOLLAR, BY YEARS AND PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF FOOD. 1911-1917.- 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 EGGS. Dor. BUTTER. LB CORN MEAL. LB POTATOES PK ^9 ^P ^p ^p ^^ C^ &F SUGAR. LB ■100.0^ ^II^B Blll.oB Ml03.0 ##eee^€ Represents IVCRSiSE over 1911. 16 RETAIL PRICES. DECLINE IN PURCHASING POWER OF THE DOLLAR. RELATIVE PURCHASING POWER OF THE DOLLAR IN OCTOBER, 1917, AS COMPARED WITH Article. 1911. 1912. 1913. 1914. 1915. 1916. Sirloin steak 67.3 55.2 60.9 • 46.4 52.5 54.8 38.0 61.5 58.1 69.0 68.1 47.2 38.6 . 73.3 62.8 76.7 62.7 78.0 50.0 52.5 54.8 39.7 64.0 60.0 76.9 69.3 48.7 37.1 75.9 64.8 82.5 71.1 76.5 55.3 56.8 60.5 42.9 68.1 60.0 76.9 71.8 46.4 41.4 56.4 56.6 84.6 74.4 79.6 57.8 58.3 62.2 42.2 69.6 62.1 74.1 71.8 48.3 42.9 61.1 60.9 84.6 72.7 78.0 53.1 56.8 59.0 39.7 66.7 60.0 71.4 71.2 58.0 44.3 50.0 67.8 89.2 78.0 83.0 59.1 60.0 67.6 47.4 76.2 66.7 80.0 71.8 62.4 48.6 88.0 82.4 Pork chops Bacon Ham Lard Hens Eggs Butter Milk Flour Corn meal Potatoes Sugar Total 58.3 62.0 63.5 65.1 64.1 72.4 From this table the fact stands forth that less than one-half as much flour, corn meal and lard could be bought with a dollar in 1917 as con- trasted with 1914 and 1911, and less than three-fifths as much pork chops and bacon. Expressed in terms of all the enumerated articles of food the dollar had the following relative values in 1917 as compared with the years listed: 1911 58.3 cents 1912 62.0 cents 1913 63 . 5 cents 1914^. 65 . 1 cents 1915 64 . 1 cents 1916 72.4 cents This comparison reveals the astonishing fact that the purchasing power of the dollar, during the past year alone, has declined more than one- fourth. RETA L PRICES. 17 6. Variations in Food Prices in the Leading Cities of the Country.^ The retail price of foodstuffs, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, seems to vary under normal conditions about 24 per cent in the principal cities of the country. The best comparison along these lines has been carefully worked out by Professor J. C. Ogburn of the Uni- versity of Washington. While a member of the faculty of Reed College at Portland, Oregon, he worked out from the detailed reports of the Bureau of Labor Statistics the relative prices of food stuffs in the leading cities of the country. Portland, Oregon, was taken as 100 and the rela- tion of prices in other cities to Portland and to each other compared on the basis of these returns. Because of their interest and value his final results are reproduced below: RELATIVE COST OF FOOD IN LEADING CITIES. (Portland, Oregon = 100) Minneapolis. . . St. Paul Denver Milwaukee Cincinnati. . . . Detroit St. Louis Buffalo Portland Baltimore Chicago Salt Lake City Omaha Kansas City . . Richmond .... Memphis Seattle Springfield. . . . Indianapolis. . Cleveland... . Atlanta New Orleans. . 92.7 94.8 96.2 97.6 97.8 98.1 98.2 98.8 100. 100.2 101.3 101.9 102.3 102.4 102.5 102.7 102.8 103.5 103.6 104.4 104.4 104.6 Manchester. . Schenectady . Scran ton .... Washington . . Little Rock . . Pittsburg. . . . San Francisco New York. . . Philadelphia . Dallas Boston Charleston. . . Louisville Los Angeles. . Fall River. .. New Haven.. Providence.. . Jacksonville.. Newark Birmingham. . 105.7 106. 106.3 106.4 106.6 106.6 106.6 106.7 107.5 107.6 108.4 108.6 109. 110.3 110.3 110.8 112.5 113. 114.1 115.1 See Part II, Chapter I, Sections 12 and 13. CHAPTER II. WHOLESALE PRICES. Wholesale prices, especially of foodstuffs, show an even greater ad- vance than retail prices during recent years. For the purpose of showing the tendencies as to wholesale prices in a brief, comparative form, the following table has been prepared. It sets forth the increase in the authoritative index numbers of wholesale prices in this country and Canada in the year 1917 as compared with the years 1914 and 1911. INCREASE IN WHOLESALE PRICES AS INDICATED BY REPRESENTATIVE INDEX NUMBERS, 1917 OVER 1911 AND 1914. Index number. Increase per cent. 1917 over 1911. 1917 over 1914. Dun 79.1 104.4 98.6 93.5 93.1 90.4 77.3 100.1 78.1 86.3 80.8 78.3 Bradstreet . United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Gibson ... The commodities which are used in computing these index numbers together with the basis of computation are technically explained in detail at a later point. ^ Dun and Bradstreet's have been established as one branch of the activities of commercial agencies in reporting the general level of prices in the country. For this reason they represent the prices of a large variety of commodities in order to correctly reflect commercial and industrial tendencies. The same is true but to a less extent of Gibson's index numbers, which are used in connection with a service which aims to analyze and reflect contemporaneous business and financial conditions. The index numbers of the New York Times Annalist, on the other hand, are based on prices of food products alone arranged according to the consumption of an average family. While the index numbers of the Canadian and United States Bureaus of Labor Statistics include other groups of articles than foods, they are also selected and arranged to correspond to the commodities demanded and consumed by a normal or average family. This can readily be seen from the following classification of articles upon which the index numbers of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics are based: Farm products Food, etc. Cloths and clothing Fuel and lighting Metals and metal products Lumber and building materials Drugs and chemicals House furnishing goods Sundries Upon referring to the table immediately preceding, together with the following charts, it will be seen that the tendencies in price increases shown by all fi ve of the series of index numbers are remarkably uniform. 1 See Part II, Chapter II. 18 WHOLESALE PRICES. 19 With the exception of Bradstreet's they all show the same general advances both for the three years preceding and the three years subse- quent to the year 1914. The higher points reached by Bradstreet's were undoubtedly due to the effect of the prices of metals and other primary articles included in the computation of Bradstreet's index num- bers. For the period, 1911-1917, the general increase in the wholesale price level, as indicated by these index numbers, ranged from 79.1 to 104.4 per cent. The minimum and maximum, however, were repre- sented by the index numbers of Dun and Bradstreet, which, as already pointed out, were affected by the inclusion of prices for metals and simi- lar commodities which have fluctuated violently during the past three years. The general advance in wholesale prices during the seven years, 1911-1917, as shown by the other four index numbers, ranged from 90.4 per cent in the case of the Canadian series to 98.6 per cent in the case of the Annalist. The increase shown by the Gibson and Bureau of Labor Statistics series was almost the same, being 93.1 per cent in the former, and 93.5 per cent in the latter series. During the past three years the same relative tendencies have been exhibited. With the exception of Dun and Bradstreet's, the other five series have shown almost similar increases, the difference between the highest and the lowest advance being only 8 points. The Canadian Department of Labor, Gibson, and the Annalist series are almost identi- cal in point of increase, the variation between them being only 2.7 per cent. These results point to the conclusion that the general advance in wholesale prices since the outbreak of the European war has been approximately 78 to 80 per cent. 1.— WHOLESALE PRICE ADVANCES, BY COMMODITIES, 1911-1917. The advances in wholesale prices made by various classes of commod- ities entering into the computation of the index numbers of the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 1917 as against 1911 and 1914, is shown in the fol- lowing table: INCREASE IN WHOLESALE PRICES BY CLASSES OF COMMODITIES. ENTERING INTO INDEX NUMBERS OF BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, 1917 OVER 1911 AND 1914. Per cent of increase. 1917 over 1911. 1917 over 1914. Farm products , 118 81 96 113 157 33 98 67 55 93.5 95 74 91 86 161 39 98 60 64 86.3 Food , etc Cloths and clothing Fuel and lighting Metals and metal products Lumber and building materials Drugs and chemicals House furnishing goods . . Miscellaneous All commodities. . . Farm and food products, fuel and lighting, cloths and clothing, so far as general household consumption is concerned, it will be noted, show the greatest increases for both periods for which comparisons are made. Metals and metal products and drugs and chemicals in their unusual advances reflect war demands for munitions and other purposes. 20 WHOLESALE PRICES. TREND IN WHOLESALE PRICES OF PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES AS IN- DICATED BY THE INDEX NUMBERS OF U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, 1890-1917. ittt IMl MM IMS MM iwo ttoi xMa IN* i*(H IMS itM iwT tto* iM iuo i«ii itu m« i*u tn> >«i* mr Tear Index ' . 1890 66 1891 66 1892 61 1 - 1893 63 1894 66 1895 57 1896 54 169^ RA 185 18S 19C 19C 8 S6 9 60 K) 65 )1 64 2 69 3 69 4 TO 6 69 19C 19C 19C 19C — 1907 76 1908 74 1909 79 1910 81 19: 19] 19] 19] L2 82 L3 81 L4 80 L6 81 L6 100 1 * 149 eptembar. / 19] 19] ♦ £ ./ / ^ / / ^ \ / — \ ^ \ / / \ X ^ / WHOLESALE PRICES. 21 TREND IN WHOLESALE PRICES OF PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES AS IN- DICATED BY N. Y. TIMES ANNALIST YEARLY INDEX NUMBERS, 1890-1917. iMo in> uta MM IWT IM* 1«M l«Oe IMt IMS 1M> IM* 1*0* IMt l*eT 1*M t«0« lUO ItU 1*U MU ltl4 UU 1*M 1M1 b«r 262 Tear Ind noB 1890 109, 1891 119, 1892 108, 1893 116, 1894 102 488 624 100 1896 94,604 1896 80,096 1897 84,092 - 1899 93, 1900 99, 1901 104, 1902 116, 1903 107, 1904 108, 1906 110, 1906 114, 1907 117. 1908 125. 1909 133. 1910 137. 1911 131. 1912 143, 1913 139. 1914 146. 1916 148. 1916 ^ 176. 1917 * 260. * To December 348 388 666 264 616 664 364 940 766 9b2 172 068 ?54 ' 980 069 066 286 10tl> 1 / / / ^ / -^ / y' \ / / / / \ / \ / \ ^ y r \ s y / \ \ V J ^ / \ ^ / 22 WHOLESALE PRICES. TREND IN WHOLESALE PRICES OF PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES AS IN- DICATED BY DUN'S INDEX NUMBERS, 1890-1917. UM Ml im UM IIM IH* ItH^UM 1M« UM IMO X«01 i«M «0» 1«M 1«M 1404 IWt MM IM* lUO HU lU* lUl 1«U IMS IMt l»»t \? 1 i i 1 1' i 1 aanuary 1 - Dollara 1890 90.191 1891 98.247 3,892 89.822 1893 94.166 . 1894 96.032 1896 80.992 1896 77.780 1897 76.502 1 190 1898 79.940 1899 80.423 1900 95.295 1901 96.668 1902 101.687 " 1903 100.356 1904 100.142 1906 100.318 [ 1(0 1907 107.264 1908 113.282 1909 111.848 1910 123.434 r 1911 116.102 1912 123.438 1913 120.832 1914 124.528 1 1915 1916 124.168 137.666 169.562 * 220.172 150 1917 1917 * December let. iko 1 130 1 1 \ / "^ y ~ 1 110 / 1 \ / / y / w L V ^^ V / / ~ •0 N \ Se- / 70 S ^ / WHOLESALE PRICES. 23 TREND IN WHOLESALE PRICES OF PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES AS IN- DICATED BY BRADSTREET'S YEARLY INDEX NUMBERS, 1892-1917. tMO INl 1N2 1*03 1*0* ins IIM IW* INO 1(U ItU 1*1* IN* 1U» 1*1* 1*10 Year DollSK 1892 1893 1894 1896 1896 1897 1898 1899 7.776 7.632 6.684 6.434 6.912 6.116 6.671 7.210 1 1901 7.674 1902 7.876 1903 7.936 1904 7.918 1906 8.098 1906 8.417 1907 8.904 1908 8.009 1 1 1909 8.616 1910 8.988 19U 8.713 1912 9.186 1913 9.207 1914 8.903 1916 9.853 1916 11.826 1917 17.811 / / y s. / r — ^ / \ / / ^ / ^ \ J / N ^ — • \ ^ \ / / 1 — L 24 WHOLESALE PRICES. TREND IN WHOLESALE PRICES OF PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES AS IN- DICATED BY GIBSON'S AVERAGE YEARLY INDEX NUMBERS. 1890-1917. )Mo iMi ina iM) ia»> ism ism ia*t km ism imo itoi i«oj ik3 i«o ao 10 1907 1908 1909 1910 — 19U 1912 1913 1914 1916 _ lOlR 50.9 59.2 59.3 52.6 58.1 60.8 54.0 59.3 )9.9 ) \ y \ 1 917 U ■on 1 ths. J \ y / "^ / \ y* / \ - X V ,^ ^ / "^ ^ oo \ y _ _J WHOLESALE PRICES. 25 TREND IN WHOLESALE PRICES OF PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES AS IN- DICATED BY CANADIAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR INDEX NUMBERS, 1890-1917. IMO IMl tl IMS IWt IMT 18fS laM 1«C0 IKl IMt ItO} 19M ItOS IK< IMT IMS ItOt ItlO l«ll lUZ 1*11 1«1« 1*13 1U( lU* „i 1 Index nofflber ■ £40 MO eco 810. too 1890 110.3 1891 108.6 1892 102.8 1893 102.6 1894 97.2 1896 96.6 1896 92.6, 1897 92.2 1898 96.1 11899 100.1 . 1900 10 1901 10 1902 10 ■1903 IK 1904 11 1906 11. 1906 12( 1907 12 1908 12( 1909 12- 1910 12^ 1911 12 1912 13( 1913 13 ).2 ).0 L.4 s.e }.0 }.8 leo 7.4 ).0 3.6 / 1916 148.0 1916 ^ 182.0 1917 * 242.6 / 160. * 10 n ontl la 1 / f / / / \ ^ ^ / ^ ■^^ \ s. / S ^ \ X y 26 WHOLESALE PRICES. INCREASE IN WHOLESALE PRICES AS INDICATED BY REPRESENTA- TIVE INDEX NUMBERS, 1917 OVER 1911. ii°. 2i? !4?_ io li. sio 190 79.1 per cent. BRADSTREET 104,4 per cent. BUREAU OF LABOR 93.6 per cent. 93.1 per cent. CANADIAN OEPT OF LABOR 90.4 per cent. 2.— WHOLESALE PRICES SINCE THE OUTBREAK OF THE EUROPEAN WAR. Out of fourteen foodstuffs enumerated in the following table, the whole- sale prices of six in June, 1917, were more than double, and in the case of one three times greater than what they were in July, 1914. The greater number of other articles of food advanced in price during the same period at least 75 per cent. The same was true of cotton and cot- ton yarns, while wool and worsted yarns increased in price more than 130 per cent. The percentages of increase for different commodities are shown in detail in the table which follows: INCREASE IN WHOLESALE PRICES OF SELECTED COMMODITIES, JUNE, 1917, OVER JULY, 1914. Article. Per cent increase June, 1917, over July, 1914. Cattle, good to choice steers 36.1 19.6 76.8 79.1 71.8 75.7 107.2 200.2 102.4 141.6 173.7 144.5 79.5 70.3 93.8 74.4 134.6 138.5 172.7 142.5 194.9 102.6 267.1 419.7 90.7 77.1 Beef, fresh, native steers Beef, salt, mess Hogs, heavy Pork, salt, mess Lard, prime, contract Wheat, No. 1, Northern Flour, standard patent. . . . Corn, No. 2, mixed Meal, fine, yellow Potatoes, white Sugar, granulated Hides, packers' Cotton, upland, middling Cotton yarns, carded 10-1 Wool, fine, fleece, scoured.. Worsted yarns, 2-32s Copper, electrolytic Pig lead Pig tin Pig iron, Bessemer Steel billets Spelter Petroleum, crude WHOLESALE PRICES. 27 INCREASE IN WHOLESALE PRICES OF PRINCIPAL ARTICLES, 1917 OVER 1911. Coal, Anthr.-«tova, long ton 18.2 Svigar. lb. 29.5 Egg», doi. New York, }>*.0 kUk, fresh qt. Now York, i^S.S Butter, lb. 51.5 Haa. lb. 51.6 Cotton, lb. New York, 51 .8 Cheese, lb. New York. 59.9 Beeves , live lot, 100 Iba . 66.1 Pork, bbl. 75.6 Bacon, clear lb. 68.6 Lard, lb 90.5 Corn meal, yellow, bbl. IIO.U Wool, lb. Ohio, 113.1 Corn, bu. [Pi^lron, "long ton 122.0 134.8 U H'Al 11 l^JtH'M-im 182.9 28 WHOLESALE PRICES. INCREASE IN WHOLESALE PRICES OF PRINCIPAL ARTICLES, 1917 OVER 1914. CHAPTER III THE VALUE OF BUDGETARY STUDIES. Statistics as to retail prices are valueless so far as their bearing upon family living costs are concerned, unless it is known what proportions of different classes of food, other articles, and services enter into the con- sumption of families of various incomes. When it is known what pro- portion of a family's outgo is for food, rent, fuel, clothing, and miscella- neous items, the retail prices of certain articles can be weighted accord- ing to their relative importance from a consumption standpoint, and the increased family living costs correctly ascertained. For this reason a number of original investigations have been made to ascertain these facts. Other studies have been made to determine the cost of a minimum family subsistence or of a minimum standard of comfort. Because of the great importance of these classes of investigations, they have been brought together and analyzed in the following sections.* 1 For a reprint of the more important budgets, see Part II, Chapter III. 1.— WEEKLY BUDGETS, 1911-1917. The Canadian Department of Labor publishes each month an average workingman's family budget showing the weekly cost of staple foods, fuel and lighting, and rent.* Beginning with the year 1914, the Bureau of Labor of the State of Washington has also prepared each April a budget showing the weekly and annual cost to a family of five for gro- ceries, fresh meat and fish, and fuel.^ In 19-17, as compared with 1914, the Canadian budget shows an advance in the cost of living for the items enumerated of 27.7 per cent, while the Washington budget, probably because of the exclusion of rent, shows an increase of 35.6 per cent. This general comparison, together with the advance in the detailed items of food, fuel and rent during the past six years, is set forth in the follow- ing table: COMPARISON OF CANADIAN AND WASHINGTON (STATE) WEEKLY BUDGETS, 1911-1917. Canadian Department of Labor. 1911. 1914. 1917. Per cent 1917 increase over 1911. 1914. Food $ 7.14 1.78 4.05 $ 7.99 1.90 4.54 $11.68 2.40 4.36 63.6 34.6 7.7 46.1 26.5 »14.1 Fuel and lighting Rent Total $12.97 $14.44 $4.57 2.52 1.01 $18.44 $6.48 3.39 1.10 42.1 27.7 41.9 34.7 9.2 Washington Department of Labor. Food, groceries Food, meat and fish Fuel Total $8.10 $10.97 35.6 » See Part II, Chapter III. 2 See Part II. Chapter III. 'Denotes decrease. 29 30 BUDGETARY STUDIES. The food cost as shown by the Canadian budget in 1917, amounted' on an annual basis to $607.36; in the Washington budget to $513.24. Assuming that the food cost was 40 per cent of the total outlays of the families from which data were secured, the total annual budget for an average workingman's family in Canada would have cost as far back as last August, $1,518.40, and in the State of Washington, $1,283.10. In 1911, the Canadian budget, which is representative of American conditions, according to this basis of calculation, would have cost $751, and $1,039 in 1914. In other words, an average family in Canada, in 1911, would have required double its income to maintain the same standard of living in August, 1917. Assuming that the food and fuel cost of the Washington budget was 45 per cent of the whole, the total cost of this budget in 1914 would have been $936, or $347.10 less than in 1917. In October, 1917, Inspector Graef, of the Department of Health, New York City, made a careful comparison of the costs of the various elements in a standard, palatable weekly dietary for a family of five in the largest cities of the United States.^ The results of his study in terms of weekly and annual expenditures for food, by leading cities, was as follows: Kind of food. New York City. Average of 24 cities throughout U.S. Boston. Chicago. New Orleans. San Francisco. Canned goods $0,185 2.943 .690 .515 3.340 .665 3.229 .110 $0,177 3.144 .650 .570 3.343 .673 2.717 .110 $0,180 2.202 .670 .515 3.925 .765 2.834 .110 $0,200 3.153 .626 .537 3.165 .685 2.834 .110 $0,200 3.022 .625 .540 2.801 .660 2 . 409 .110 $0,150 2.902 .605 .581 2.950 .582 2.284 .110 Cereals Dried fruits Dairy products Vegetables Condiments. Total weekly cost of food budget $12,953 673.40 $12,685 659.36 $12,451 647.40 $12,593 654.68 $11,929 619.36 $11,460 595.92 Annual cost The annual cost of this minimum food diet for a family of five ranges, as it will be noted, from $595.92 in San Francisco to $673.40 in New York City. The average of 24 cities throughout the United States was $659.36, which would be representative of an annual income of $1,500 to $1,600. See Part II. Chapter III. 2.— A MINIMUM MONTHLY DIET AND ITS COST. The cost of a minimum monthly diet upon which health can be main- tained by a family of five has been estimated by Professor Jaffa, of the University of California, at $45.32 per month, or $543.84 annually. The cost of this diet he shows has advanced from $27.09 a month in 1912, and $29.66 a month in 1914, to $45.32 in 1917, an increase of 67 per cent in the ten years, 1907-1917. The detailed statement of this diet and its increase in cost, is as follows: BUDGETARY STUDIES. 31 TABLE SHOWING INCREASE IN COST OF FOOD FROM MAY, 1907, TO MAY, 1917. MINIMUM DIET ON WHICH HEALTH CAN BE MAINTAINED FOR A WORKINGMAN. HIS WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN BETWEEN FOUR AND FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE. Food materials. Food and cost for one month. Pounds. 1907. 1912. 1916. 1917. Class I— 50 120 6 8 60 17 4 10 35 55 50 8 10 25 2 $5 . 75 4.80 .81 .40 1.88 .49 .28 .60 .70 1.38 2.25 2.29 1.35 1.38 .73 2.00 $7.25 4.80 1.12 .40 1.92 .77 .32 .60 1.05 1.65 2.50 2.55 1.90 1.53 1.00 2.30 $8.00 4.80 1.08 .40 1.92 1.02 .32 .60 1.05 1.65 2.50 2.40 2.00 1.75 1.00 2.50 $10.00 6,00 1.56 1.60 4.80 1.36 .50 .83 2.17 1.65 2.50 3.60 2.50 2.25 1.00 3.00 Milk Beans Class II— Cereals Rice Class Ill- Potatoes Vegetables Fruits Class IV— Butter Oils and fats Class V— Extras — Coflfee and tea $27.09 $29.66 $32.99 $45.32 Sundries include yeast, corn starch, cocoa, cheese, syrup, salt, etc. 3.— TENTATIVE BUDGET OF PHILADELPHIA BUREAU OF MUNICIPAL RESEARCH. On December 20, 1917, the Bureau of Municipal Research of the City of Philadelphia, which was organized to promote efficient and scientific management of municipal business, submitted a tentative budget as a minimum standard of living for a workingman's family. It w^as accom- panied by the following statement: "A recent press notice of the Patriotic Education Society, in com- menting upon the present labor situation, states that 'the Government must make a comprehensive studv of living conditions in all sections of the United States. ********** -phen Gov- ernment arbitrators can say, with real knowledge of conditions, what is a fair day's pay, instead of basing their decision on the argument of might.' "The world tragedy now upon us is forcing us to think fundamentally on many issues that we have been wont to pass over superficially. In the statement quoted above we have a bit of fundamental thinking on the perennial issue of a 'fair day's pay' that is decidedly encour- aging. The 'law of supply and demand,' which has served for so long to blind men to the real social significance of the wage question, is quietly 32 BUDGETARY STUDIES. left out of account and 'living conditions' are frankly recognized as the vital factor in determining wages. In other words, we are asked hence- forth to make the standard of living that we wish our citizens to maintain our prime concern in dealing with labor. "The Bureau of Municipal Research is in hearty agreement with this view. As a matter of fact, in its endeavor to arrive at a 'fair day's pay' for laborers employed in the city government, it has begun an inquiry into the cost of living of a workingman's family in Philadelphia. As a result of this inquiry it is hoped to establish a standard of living, expressed in actual goods and services, that will enable a family to live in a manner befitting the citizens of a great democracy. * * * For this purpose we are submitting, as a basis for discussion merely, a tentative minimum standard expressed mainly, for the sake of brevity, in dollars and cents. * * * Since this tentative standard is so decidedly the minimum on which a family can exist, we would be espe- cially pleased to have your suggestions take the form of how much more ought to be added to make it a fair standard." The budget submitted was as follows: TENTATIVE MINIMUM STANDARD OF LIVING FOR A FAMILY OF FIVE, COMPOSED OF TWO ADULTS AND THREE CHILDREN UNDER INCOME-EARNING AGE. Housing — $15.00 per month This provides from four to six rooms, depending upon locality. Fuel and light Four and one-half tons of coal $ 39.38 Gas 33.80 Kindling, matches, etc 1 . 82 Food Food $581.67 Ice 8.33 Clothing Health For services of physician, dentist, oculist and nurse, and also for surgical appliances, drugs, etc. Furniture and furnishings Replacements of towels, bedding, dishes, breakage, etc. Taxes, dues and contributions i To government, churches, patriotic societies, etc. Recreation, vacation and amusements Education and reading School expenses $1 . 50 Newspaper 8 . 84 Postage and stationery .66 Insurance Carfare To and from work and one dollar for the rest of the family for the year. Cleaning, supplies and services Soap, washing material, brooms, brushes, laundry, etc. — thirty-eight cents per week. Other expenses Includes funeral expenses, moving expenses, tobacco and re- freshments. Total $180.00 75.00 590.00 166.00 27.00 20.00 20.00 15.00 11.00 23.40 32.30 20.00 20.30 $1,200.00 BUDGETARY STUDIES. 33 4.— REVISIONS AND TESTIMONY OF SHIPBUILDERS. At a hearing held by the Labor Adjustment Board of the Emergency Fleet Corporation in Philadelphia during the month of January, 1918, representatives of the shipyards employees held that the budget of the Bureau of Municipal Research fell short of the minimum requirements by $231.30 annually. They revised the budget by additions to the vari- ous items as follows: $240.00 Fuel and light 90 00 Food 640 . 00 Clothing 226 00 Health 27.00 Furniture and furnishings 50 . 00 Taxes, etc 30 . 00 Education and reading 12.50 39.00 Carfare 36.50 Cleaning, supplies, etc Other expenses >. . 20.00 20 . 30 Total SI 431 30 5.— ANNUAL BUDGETS TO COVER A MINIMUM OF SUB- SISTENCE AND COMFORT. To maintain a minimum standard of comfort — not only to cover Sub- sistence, but also the minimum requirement of education, recreation, and well-being — according to the most recent estimates, requires an annual income or wage of approximately $1,500. ^This is indicated by the partial budgetary studies and estimates which have already been submitted. The most detailed and scientific estimates, however, as to this standard are furnished by the budgets below. During the latter half of 1917, the street railway employees of Tacoma and Seattle, Wash- ington, submitted a demand for higher wages to an arbitration board. Exhaustive documentary and personal evidence was submitted as to the cost of maintaining a minimum standard of comfort. On the basis of this estimate, the counsel for the employees prepared a budget for the purpose of showing that a minimum annual wage of $1,917.88 was necessary. The members of the arbitration board, after their own analysis of the evidence supplemented by an original investigation by the faculty of the Department of Economics of the University of Wash- ington, awarded the street railwaymen a budget of $1,505.60, or, in other words, it was stated as the final decision of the board that an annual wage of this amount was necessary, and the hourly rates of pay were fixed with the object of yielding $1,505.60 to each employee, as a minimum. This budgetary estimate was closely approximated by a contem- porary and independent study by Dr. Jessica B. Peixotto, of the faculty of the University of California. She showed that $1,476.40 was re- quired annually under existing conditions to maintain a decent minimum of comfort for an average workingman's family of five — husband, wife, and three children under the working age. The details of these three budgets are set forth summarily in com- parative form in the following table: 1 See Part II, Chapter III. 34 BUDGETARY STUDIES. ANNUAL BUDGETS TO COVER A MINIMUM OF SUBSISTENCE AND COMFORT FOR AN AVERAGE WORKINGMAN'S FAMILY. Items. Groceries, meats and fish ^ Fuel Clothing Maintenance of household equipment . Education Church and fraternal organizations . . . Dentistry, medicines, etc Insurance Reading matter Savings Gas (household use) Electric light Rent and water Street car fare Tobacco, ice cream, etc Incidentals, stamps, barber, etc Miscellaneous Sundries Total. Proposed by- Seattle street railway employees. $540.95 59.70 611.87 60.00 12.00 12.00 60.00 120.00 30.00 120.00 22.16 12.00 180.00 65.00 12.20 $1,917. Awarded by Arbitration Board to Seattle employees. $533.40 60.00 291.50 40.00 11.00 20.00 60.00 30.00 100.00 20.00 15.00 184.00 35.70 30.00 25.00 20.00 $1,505.60 Dr. Jessica B. Peixotto. $540.00 36.00 288 . 40 2132.00 240 . 00 270.00 $1,476.40 1 Included in education. 2 Includes household operation. 6.— SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF INCREASED BUDGETARY COSTS. The Bankers Trust Company of New York, at the close of 1917, made an exhaustive study of increased family living costs as a basis foi salary bonuses to its employees. The methods employed and results obtained were described in the New York Times Annalist of January 14, 1918. Because of their great value, the article of the Annalist is reproduced below: "How much has the cost of living increased since 1915? How much more does the average head of a family pay now for rent, food and clothing than he did two years ago? The question interests every family in the country, yet the average man, or woman, knows little more than that expenses are rising faster than income can keep pace, with the result that attempts to bring receipts and expenditures into a relation more nearly approaching that on which family budgets were based a year or so ago frequently take the form of misdirected efforts at economy which must be abandoned when their futility, or impossibility, becomes apparent. ''Index numbers on the cost of living, such as are prepared weekly by the Annalist, by Bradstreet's, and others, indicate the trend of prices. In the case of the Annalist they show the fluctuations in the average wholesale prices of twenty-five food commodities selected and arranged to represent a theoretical family's food budget. But at best they con- sider price changes as a whole and afford no information to the man who wishes to know the proportionate and relative increases in the costs of the items which comprise his daily expenditures. BUDGETARY STUDIE§. 35 "With these points in mind, Seward Prosser, President of the Bankers Trust Company, facing the duty of apportioning bonuses among his employees to compensate them for the increased cost of Hving, recently hit upon the plan of enlisting the aid of those who were to benefit by the apportionment by requiring them to keep a record of their daily expendi- tures so that an actual, rather than a theoretical, basis on which to make the distribution might be obtained. "An account of the operation of this plan and the work of the com- mittee that directed it follows, and it is indicative of the merit of the index number that the increase in living cost for the last six months of 1917 over 1915, disclosed by averaging tj;ie actual records kept by indi- vidual members of the staff of the trust company, differs from the per- centage increase shown by the Annalist index number by less than a single per cent. Accompanying is a chart prepared by the committee to show the 'Relative Average Price of Food and Clothing' for the last six months of 1917 over the year 1915. "The first task of the committee, of which J. H. Lewis was Chairman, with G. F. Trefcer, C. O. Cornell, Herman Knoke, and Charles C. Gardner as associates, was to determine the relative parts of his salary which the average bank clerk expends for rent, food, and clothing. In Chapin's 'New York Study' the committee obtained a table which it selected 'as the best available authority as to proportions of salary bases which are applicable to the necessities of life.' From records supplied by its own members and other employees of the trust company the committee then amended this table to the standard of living of the trust company employees. RELATIVE AVERAGE PRICE OF FOOD AND CLOTHING. 1 1 1315 1 iii^iua fncrease over /$f5 1 ^^^^^^^^^^^■^62^^^^^^^^^^^^|h Origmali ':om tiiteeJSasi 5 1 [ ^ j _ 1 ■||H|||^|9ai^ri|||HHB Re^dedCommUitceasL 9^ ~4 ■BIBIiiSlHHIl 1 ^datrKtsdrnpli xtth idcx 1 mm E ^eAmal^tkidexMtmbtr ♦ Based, upon Bra.d^ireets prices for sbbso/uiely essentia,/ commodet/es 36 BUDGETARY STUDIES. PERCENTAGE PRICE INCREASE. "A" "B" "C" "D" "E" "F" Fresh vegetables: Potatoes 35.0 172.0 165.0 98.0 181.0 103.0 163.0 127.0 177.0 122.0 122.0 122.0 136.0 Cabbage Beans Grains: Wheat Corn Barley Raw material: , Wool Meats: 44.0 48.0 50.0 57.0 45.0 78.0 90.0 88.0 52.2 48.0 71.5 45.7 50.0 37.0 Plate roast . . • • 49.5 91.0 84.0 69.0 Ham Pork loin 93.0 '■82.0" 103.0 38.0 69.6 Hogs Beef Groceries — canned goods: Beans 64.9 160.9 104.6 146.0 90.0 Ul.O 127.0 66.0 58.0 128.0 63.0 87.0 51.0 51.0 Peas Tomatoes 174.0 75.9 69.6 Peaches Pineapples Staples: Flour 85.2 45.7 49.4 53.9 99.0 58.0 64.0 Sugar Butter 35.0 Cheese Rice 59.0 55.0 140.0 16.0 21.0 66.0 Eggs 54.0 83.0 28.0 lIS Coffee Tea Bread 100.0 55.0 180.0 Milk 22.0 Cornmeal Fabrics, etc.: Table linen 195.0 56.0 47.0 49.0 50.0 110.0 50.0 Women's stockings, three-quarter silk Shoes Men's underwear, cotton BUDGETARY STUDIES. PER CENTS OF SALARY EXPENDED FOR 37 Salary. Committee Table Chapin's Table Food. Clothing. Rent. Food. Clothing. Rent. Bases. $500- $599 P. C. 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 44K 44 43K 43 42K 42 41K 40 38M 37 37 35 P. C. 12.4 12.9 13.4 14 14.6 15.5 15.5 17 17.2 17.4 17.6 17.8 18 18.2 18.5 18.8 19.1 19.7 20 20 P. C. 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 23 23 22 21 " 20 20 P. C. 44.4 44.6 45.6 44.3 44.7 44.7 45.6 45.0 43.6 36.8 P. C. 12.4 12.9 13.4 14.0 14.6 15.5 14.9 15.2 13.7 16.8 P. C. 25.9 23.6 21.9 20.7 19.0 18.1 16.2 19.8 16.8 16.3 600- 699 700- 799 800- 899 900- 999 1,000-1,099 1 100-1 199 1,200-1,299 1,300-1,399 1,400-1,499 1 500-1 599 1 600-1 699 1 700-1 799 1 800-1 899 1 900-1 999 2 000-2 099 2 100-2 299 2 300-2 399 2 400-2 499 ? 'JOO nnH tin "With this as a basis the committee set about determining the actual percentage increase in the cost of food, rent, and clothing. An increase of 10 per cent over the cost in 1915 was considered representative of the rise in the cost of rent, including fuel. To fix the increase in the price of food and clothing the committee employed the Annalist and Bradstreet indexes, supplemented by data furnished by committee members and other employees, and by figures reported by trade and Government pub- lications. "From these sources the accompanying table was drawn up showing the percentage increase in the cost of fresh vegetables, grains, raw ma- terials, meats, groceries, staples, and fabrics. Where possible, com- parisons were made for the whole year 1915 and the last half of 1917. In some instances, however, prices for given periods in 1915 had to be compared with prices for periods in 1917. The *A' column was derived from American Grocer prices to jobbers, the 'B' column from a chain- store organization, the *C' column from the United States Labor Bureau in New York, the ' D ' column from The Butchers' and Packers' Gazette, the *E' column from a department store, and the 'F' column from monthly crop reports of the United States Department of Agriculture. "For the purposes of the committee it was assumed that the increase in living cost began to show alarming proportions in July, 1916, and the greatest compensation was apportioned to those who had been in the service of the company prior to that date, the amounts being propor- tionately reduced for lesser terms of employment. Although their in- vestigations showed that the increase was slightly more, the committee took 80 per cent as a basis on which to make its adjustments and the trust company afterward authorized its findings. On this scale tables 38 BUDGETARY STUDIES. were prepared showing the approximated percentages of compensation to salary, and the actual amounts, at various salary bases and for varying terms of service, necessary to offset the increased cost of living for the six months ended last year. The percentages for those employed prior to July 1, 1916, are given here: Annual salary bases. Percentage, Inc. $500- $5Q9 . . 48.4 48.8 49.2 49.7 50.2 50.9 50.9 52.0 51.8 51.5 51.2 51.0 50.8 50.6 50.3 49.3 48.3 48.3 47.5 47.6 * 600- 699 700- 799 800- 899 900- 999 1,000-1,099 . . 1,100-1,199 1,200-1,299 1,300-1,399 1,400-1,499 1,500-1,599 1,600-1,699 1,700-1,799 1,800-1,899 1.900-1,999 2 000-2 099 2,100-2,199 2,200-2,299 .... 2,300-2,399 2,400-2,499 2,500 and up. ." *A fixed sum of $575. "These 'percentages were arrived at as follows: Taking the case of an employee receiving $2,000 a year salary, it was found by reference to the amended Chapin table that he spent 40 per cent of his salary, or $800 a year, for food; 18.8 per cent, or S376 a year, for clothing, and 23 per cent, or $460 a year, for rent. Figuring an 80 per cent increase in the cost of food and clothing, it was assumed that this man spent $940.80 additional for these items, and, allowing for a 10 per cent increase in rent, added $46 more, a total of $986.80 for the year, or $493.40 for the last six months of the year, a percentage of 49.34 of his salary. "The conclusions of this banking committee are probably applicable to a large share of the community whose manner of living compares to that of the investigators, and their findings are of interest even to the man who cannot look forward to the receipt of a bonus to cover his increased expenses. At least he can discover the sources from which come thf strongest attacks on his income and, so far as these may be offset by hard-practiced economy, the committee findings offer him a guide where best to aim his efforts. BUDGETARY STUDIES. 39 |7.— CHANGES IN THE STANDARD OF LIVING IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AS AFFECTED BY THE INCREASED * COST OF LIVING The Bureau of Labor Statistics has made comparable studies of the cost of living in the District of Columbia for widely separate years, namely, 1901 and 1916. The study for 1901 is contained in its Eighteenth Annual Report of the cost of living, which appeared in 1904, and forms part of the larger study for the whole United States for that period. The second was made in 1916 and the results of the investigation pub- lished in the 1917 issue of the Monthly Review for October, November and December. The study applies to the average-sized family of a wife, husband and three children. The families in each case are divided into certain well marked income groups. It is possible to compare expenditures for different items of expenditures made by the families in similar income groups in 1901 and 1916. The first table below shows the actual amounts expended for the items of food, clothing, rent, fuel and lighting and sundries for each group of families in five different income classes. Table 1 below shows the actual expenses, and Table 2 the percentage distribution of the same items of expenditures. Taking the income group in which the families earn $1100 and under $1200 per year, it appears that in 1900, families of that amount of in- come spent 40.3 per cent for food, while in 1916 they were compelled to spend 42.5 per cent of their income for food. The families of 1916, presumably because of the increased cost of necessities, such as food, had only 9 per cent to spend for clothing as against 13.8 per cent in 1900, and 21.4 per cent for sundries such as insurance, club dues, amuse- ments, in a word, the "cultural wants,' ' as against 23 per cent for families in 1900. Families in 1917 were compelled to increase their expenditures for fuel and lighting to 6.9 per cent of their budget over 5.1 per cent in 1900. Similar changes of the ones outlined above for the income class $1100 and under $1200 per annum are shown in all the other income groups. There is clearly evident a reduction in the standard of living in 1916> over 1900 for similar income groups. 40 BUDGETARY STUDIES. TABLE 1. ACTUAL AMOUNT EXPENDED FOR DIFFERENT ITEMS OF EXPENDITURES BY FAMI- LIES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, CLASSIFIED BY INCOME GROUPS, IN THE YEARS OF 1900 AND 1917. ITEMS $800 and under $900 $900 and under $1000 $1000 and under $1100 $1100 and under $1200 $1200 and over 1901 1916 1901 1916 1901 1916 1901 1916 1901 1916 Food $303 $370 $345 $406 $494 $418 $494 $445 $504 Clothing 107 75 109 88 104 143 104 199 121 Rent 131 187 142 214 235 185 235 179 258 Fuel and light. . 45 59 44 67 80 52 80 57 79 Sundries 148 172 237 184 249 238 249 321 268 Total $734 $863 $877 $959 $1162 $1036 $1162 $1201 $1230 TABLE 2. PER CENT OF EXPENDITURES EXPENDED FOR DIFFERENT ITEMS OF EXPENDI- TURES BY FAMILIES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, CLASSIFIED BY INCOME GROUPS, IN THE YEARS OF 1901 AND 1916 ITEMS $800 and under $900 $900 and under $1000 $1000 and under $1100 $1100 and under $1200 $1200 and over 1901 1916 1901 1916 1901 1916 1901 1916 1901 1916 Food 41.3 42.9 39.3 42.3 42.5 40.3 42.5 37.0 41.0 Clothing 14.6 8.7 12.4 9.2 8.9 13.8 9 16.6 9.8 Rent 17.8 21.7 16.2 22.3 20.2 17.8 20.2 14.9 21.0 Fuel and light.. . 6.1 6.8 5.0 7. 7.0 5.1 6.9 4.8 6.4 Sundries 20.2 19.9 27.0 19.2 21.4 23. 21.4 26.7 21.8 Total 100. 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 PART II OFFICIAL, DOCUMENTARY AND OTHER AUTHORI ITATIVE DATA RELATIVE TO PRICES, FAMILY BUDGETS, AND INCREASED LIVING COSTS. 41 CHAPTER I RETAIL PRICES 1.— SCOPE OF STUDY AND METHOD OF OBTAINING PRICES BY UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics since the year 1907 has published annual returns as to retail prices in the principal cities of the country. From these data have also been worked out relative prices for the principal articles of foodstuffs for the country as a whole. According to the preliminary statement of the last annual report there are sent to the Bureau from 46 of the most important industrial cities in the various sections of the United States, returns as to retail prices of the principal articles of food, the weight and prices of the principal brands of wheat bread, the retail prices of articles of dry goods, the retail prices of anthracite and bituminous coal, and of gas for house- hold use. "Data are furnished to the Bureau," the report states, "by approximately 725 retail stores, 150 bakeries, 215 retail coal dealers, 66 gas companies, and 205 dry-goods companies. "Excellent results have followed the use of the form books for report- ing prices. Over 90 per cent of the reports f-or January to December, 1916, requested from retail merchants, dairymen and bakers were re- ceived. A number of merchants have also stated that the stub record of prices was of considerable value to them, as it is an easy method of preserving a record of prices each month from year to year. In several cities practically every report requested from merchants, dairymen, and bakers has been received each month. This is notably true for Atlanta, Baltimore, Indianapolis, New York, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis. Almost every coal firm, gas company, and dry-goods merchant from whom price statements were requested has also responded to the request. "The 46 cities included in this report are important industrial cities, representing 33 States. In a general way the city selected in each sec- tion of the country was the city having the largest population in that section; but, in addition, six smaller cities were included as being in- dustrially important in those sections. The six cities are Bridgeport, Conn.; Butte, Mont.; El Paso, Tex.; Fall River, Mass.; Scranton, Pa.; and Springfield, 111. 43 44 RETAIL PRICES. "Within the 46 cities live one-fifth of the total number of people, two-fifths of the urban population, and approximately one- third of thdj| total number engaged in gainful occupations (not including those in| agricultural pursuits) in continental United States." 2.— INDEX NUMBERS OF RETAIL PRICES OF ALL ARTICLES OF FOOD, 1907-1917. Taking the retail prices of the 15 articles of food as a whole for which returns are secured, the Bureau has constructed, according to the relative articles of foodstuffs in the budget of a typical workingman's family, an index number of retail prices for the ten years, 1907-1917. The results of these computations are set forth in the table below, which shows by years the index numbers of retail prices of food, 1907- 1916, and, by months, January-October, 1917. INDEX NUMBERS OF RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD, 1907 TO OCTOBER, 1917. Retail Prices Year of Food. 1907 100 1908 103 1909 108 1910 113 1911 112 1912 119 1913 122 1914 125 1915 123 1916 139 January, 1917 156 February, 1917 162 March, 1917 162 April, 1917 177 May, 1917 184 June, 1917 185 July, 1917 178 August, 1917 181 September, 1917 187 October, 1917 192 3.— AVERAGE AND RELATIVE PRICES OF FIFTEEN ARTICLES OF FOOD, 1912-1917. The table next presented shows both the average and relative prices of 27 principal foodstuffs by years, 1912-1916, and for October, 1917. It has been compiled from the records of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. RETAIL PRICES. 45 AVERAGE AND RELATIVE RETAIL PRICES OF FIFTEEN PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF FOOD. BY YEARS AND BY ARTICLES. 1912-1917 Article. Unit. Average Money Price, September IS. 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 Sirloin steak RoundSteak Rib roast Chuckroast Plate beef Pork chops Bacon Ham Lard Hens Salmon, canned .... Eggs Butter Cheese Milk Bread Flour Corn meal Rice Potatoes Onions Beans, navy Prunes Raisins, seeded Sugar Coffee Tea All articles combined Lb Lb I A Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Doz Lb Lb Qt 16 oz. loaf! Lb Lb Lb Lb. Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb $0 246 208 191 179 131 220 255 253 154 203 349 359 086 034 031 016 062 $0,262 .233 .199 .227 .281 .282 ,161 .215 .375 .378 .089 .033 .031 .019 .057 $0,270 .247 .208 .179 .131 .236 .290 .291 .156 .219 368 378 089 057 037 033 018 $0,265 .238 .204 .165 .123 .225 .270 .262 .138 .208 .198 .349 .335 .227 .088 .062 .038 .033 .091 .014 .030 .076 .135 .125 .065 .299 .546 $0,284 .257 .218 .177 .131 .261 .296 .332 .222 .243 .202 .413 .390 .230 .091 .068 .048 .034 .091 .028 .046 .121 .134 .129 .077 .299 .546 Article. Sirloin steak Round steak Rib roast Chuck roast Plate beef Pork chops Bacon Ham Lard Hens Salmon, canned .... Eggs Butter Cheese Milk Bread Flour Corn meal Rice Potatoes Onions Beans, navy Prunes Raisins, seeded Sugar Coffee Tea All articles combined Unit. Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Doz Lb Lb Qt 16 oz. loaf Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Lb Relative Price, September 15. 90 85 90 104 102 97 89 86 88 86 95 61 77 86 1913 100 98 96 92 91 100 96 98 74 91 71 1914 99 101 98 104 102 104 101 99 89 93 1915 98 93 85 88 97 96 87 96 100 51 61 69 101 97 81 100- 100 89 1916 104 105 103 103 102 115 103 113 127 103 100 110 99 89 100 105 110 100 100 104 94 110 100 100 96 100 100 104 116 ounces, weight of dough. 46 RETAIL PRICES. The table which is next submitted supplements the preceding tabh and carries the comparison as to prices back to 1907. It shows relativ< retail prices of 27 leading articles of food by years for the period 1907 1916, and by months from January, 1912, up to and including Sep tember, 1917. RELATIVE RETAIL PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS, BY YEARS, 1907-1916 AND BY MONTHS, JANUARY 1912-SEPTEMBER 1917. (Compiled from the Reports of the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.) [Average price for 1916=100.] Year or month. 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1912. January . . . February.. March . . . . April May June July August September October . . . November, December . 1913. January. . . February . March . . . . April May June July August. . . , September October . . , November December . 1914. January . . , February . , March . . . , April May June July August. . . September October . . . November, December . Sir- loin Round Rib steak. steak. roast. 66 62 71 68 65 73 71 67 76 75 71 79 75 72 79 85 81 87 93 91 93 95 96 96 94 94 94 100 100 100 76 73 79 76 73 80 78 74 81 81 78 85 87 83 90 88 85 92 89 85 91 91 86 92 90 85 90 88 84 89 86 82 88 86 82 87 87 84 88 88 84 89 90 87 91 93 91 94 94 91 94 95 92 95 97 95 95 97 95 95 96 95 94 94 95 94 93 93 93 92 92 94 92 93 93 93 93 94 93 94 94 93 94 95 95 95 95 96 97 96 99 100 98 102 103 101 99 101 98 96 97 97 93 96 96 94 94 94 i Plate Chuck ! boiling Pork roast, i beef. Chops. Bacon. Ham. Lard. 70 69 73 72 71 73 78 75 81 89 84 94 86 82 80 85 83 84 94 92 90 96 93 89 94 89 84 100 100 100 81 79 78 80 79 78 80 79 78 82 81 80 84 83 84 84 83 85 85 84 85 85 84 86 • 89 86 88 91 86 91 91 86 91 90 85 90 89 86 88 89 86 88 91 89 89 93 90 90 94 91 90 95 93 90 97 96 91 98 97 92 98 96 92 97 94 91 95 92 91 93 90 90 92 90 90 92 90 90 93 90 89 93 91 89 93 91 89 94 92 88 95 95 88 100 99 89 101 99 89 100 96 89 98 93 89 97 91 88 RETAIL PRICES. 47 RELATIVE RETAIL PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS, BY YEARS, 1907-1916 AND BY MONTHS, JANUARY 1912-SEPTEMBER 1917— Continued. [Average price for 1916=100.] Year or month. Sir- Plate loin Round Rib Chuck boiling Pork Bacon. Ham. Lard. steak. steak. roast. roast. beef. chops. 93 93 94 95 97 82 95 90 88 91 91 93 94 96 79 93 88 87 90 90 92 93 95 78 92 87 87 92 91 93 93 95 87 92 86 86 94 94 94 95 96 92 92 87 86 96 96 96 96 96 91 93 89 86 97 98 97 97 96 93 94 90 83 97 97 96 97 96 95 94 89 80 97 97 96 96 96 99 94 89 79 95 95 95 96 95 102 95 90 82 94 93 94 94 94 92 95 91 83 92 92 93 93 93 81 95 92 83 94 93 94 94 94 82 95 100 100 94 93 95 94 . 95 85 95 101 101 96 95 97 96 97 96 96 103 104 99 98 99 100 100 99 98 106 107 102 102 102 102 102 101 99 108 115 105 106 105 106 105 102 100 109 117 105 106 104 104 103 103 101 110 119 104 105 103 103 101 107 102 111 120 104 105 103 103 102 115 103 113 127 101 101 100 101 101 109 104 113 132 99 99 99 99 100 103 104 113 146 98 98 99 98 100 98 104 113 148 101 101 102 101 103 104 103 104 122 105 106 106 108 110 115 107 108 125 108 109 110 112 114 123 116 115 136 116 118 119 123 126 135 133 124 151 118 121 121 127 130 135 145 132 159 120 123 123 129 133 136 148 133 160 120 125 121 127 129 139 149 135 157 121 126 120 126 134 152 150 134 158 122 121 122 127 127 171 154 139 169 1915. January. . , February . , March ... April May June July August. . . . September October. . . November, December . 1916. January. . . February . . March . . . . April May June July August. . . . September October . . . November. December . 1917. January. . , February. , March . . . . April May June July August.. . . September 48 RETAIL PRICES. RELATIVE RETAIL PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS. BY YEARS. 1907-1916 AND BY MONTHS, JANUARY 1912-SEPTEMBER 1917=Continued. [Average price for 1916 — 100.] Year or month. Hens. Sal- mon, canned. Eggs. Butter. Cheese. Milk. Biead. Flour. Com meal. 1907 74 75 80 85 82 84 90 92 88 100 81 82 85 87 87 84 84 85 86 85 83 83 86 88 91 94 94 93 92 91 91 90 87 88 90 94 95 98 96 93 93 94 93 91 87 85 ■"■98" 100 77 79 85 90 86 91 92 94 91 100 117 107 73 70 69 70 76 82 93 104 120 112 99 84 70 67 70 74 80 88 100 111 132 127 116 97 82 68 71 75 80 89 98 104 120 127 83 83 88 91 85 95 97 92 91 100 109 100 94 95 92 86 85 86 91 95 99 105 104 105 105 103 91 89 88 90 96 97 98 101 101 91 89 83 83 85 87 92 96 95 100 100 ■■■*96" 100 85 88 89 93 94 95 98 98 97 100 95 95 95 95 94 94 94 95 95 97 98 98 98 98 98 97 97 97 97 97 98 99 100 100 100 100 99 98 98 97 97 98 98 99 99 99 96 100 85 85 85 85 85 85 85 86 87 88 88 89 71 75 81 80 76 78 74 77 93 100 77 77 77 78 81 82 81 79 78 77 76 74 74 75 74 74 75 75 75 74 74 74 74 73 73 73 74 74 74 73 73 79 84 83 83 84 78 82 83 84 84 90 89 93 96 100 87 87 87 89 • 92 92 92 92 92 92 91 89 88 87 87 87 87 87 87 88 91 92 92 92 92 92 91 91 92 92 92 93 97 97 96 95 1908 1909 . . 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1912. January February March April May June July August September October November December 1913. January February March April ........ May June July August September .... October November December 1914. January February March April... May July August September October November December RETAIL PRICES. 49 RELATIVE RETAIL PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS, BY YEARS, 1907-1916 AND BY MONTHS, JANUARY 1912-SEPTEMBER 1917— Continued. [Average price for 1916=100.] Year or month. Sal- Hens. mon, canned. Eggs. Butter. Cheese. Milk. Bread. Flour. Corn meal- 86 98 118 98 90 99 92 92 97 88 98 90 96 91 98 97 102 98 90 98 68 91 90 97 97 101 97 91 98 69 91 90 97 97 102 97 91 98 70 88 91 96 98 103 97 89 98 71 88 91 96 98 96 97 88 98 74 87 90 96 97 93 96 87 98 81 85 88 97 97 92 96 88 98 93 85 88 97 96 87 96 87 98 107 89 89 97 95 84 96 86 98 122 93 90 98 95 84 95 86 98 124 98 92 98 95 85 95 92 99 113 97 94 98 95 89 95 94 99 93 96 96 98 95 93 96 97 99 76 102 97 97 95 89 95 100 99 73 105 96 97 95 89 96 102 99 75 94 96 97 95 89 96 103 99 80 92 95 97 95 87 96 102 99 85 90 94 97 95 86 96 101 100 97 93 95 99 98 100 98 103 100 110 99 99 100 105 110 100 103 101 122 106 104 103 115 104 101 103 137 111 113 106 115 129 112 102 105 141 114 120 110 107 124 116 108 106 145 115 121 109 108 127 118 113 107 135 119 122 110 109 127 120 117 110 93 117 125 110 110 130 122 123 117 103 129 128 112 115 153 137 124 127 106 118 131 115 130 198 158 122 130 109 119 131 116 131 183 162 119 132 112 117 128 122 135 164 174 118 134 123 121 127 125 140 170 194 128 137 140 126 130 130 135 166 241 1915. January. . . February. , March . . . , April May June , July August September October . . . November, December . 1916. January. . , February. . March . . . , April May June July August. .. . September October. . . November, December . 1917. January. . February. March . . . April .... May June July August September 50 RETAIL PRICES. RELATIVE RETAIL PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS, BY YEARS. 1907-1916 AND MONTHS, JANUARY 1912-SEPTEMBER 1917— Continued. [Average price for 1916=100.] BY Year or month. Rice. Pota- toes. Onions. Beans. Prunes. Raisins. Sugar. Coffee. Tea. 1907 68 72 73 65 84 85 65 70 57 100 94 98 105 117 110 109 82 72 61 58 58 58 59 58 57 56 59 67 71 71 71 68 69 69 70 70 69 68 72 85 100 72 68 58 54 54 72 74 73 75 76 79 68 74 82 100 83 83 84 81 79 79 77 77 77 76 75 74 73 69 68 67 67 66 68 70 71 69 68 67 65 64 64 62 62 64 65 98 99 90 77 1908 1909 . . 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 100 100 71 100 71 100 101 100 97 100 100 100 100 100 1916 1912. January March May June . . . July August October November December 1913. January February March April May June July August September October November. . . . December 1914. January • February. ..... March April May June July August September October November December 75 RETAIL PRICES. 51 RELATIVE RETAIL PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS, BY YEARS, 1907-1916 AND BY MONTHS. JANUARY 1912-SEPTEMBER 1917— Continued. [Average price for 1916=100.] Year or month. 1915. January. . . February . . March . . . . April May June July August. . . , September October . . . November, December . 1916. January. . . February. . March. . . April May June July August. . . , September October . . . November December . 1917. January. . . Februaiy. . March . . . . April May June July August. . . , September Rice. Pota- toes. Onions. Beans. Prunes. Raisins. Sugar. Coffee. Tea. 100 55 69 66 102 97 75 100 100 100 54 69 69 102 97 80 100 100 100 53 67 69 102 97 82 100 100 100 55 74 70 102 97 83 100 100 100 58 87 69 102 97 85 100 100 100 64 82 69 101 97 86 100 100 100 55 72 69 101 97 87 100 100 100 53 63 69 101 97 84 100 100 100 51 61 69 101 97 81 100 100 100 61 67 72 100 97 76 100 100 99 62 68 77 99 97 81 100 100 99 69 71 81 99 97 84 100 100 100 88 83 83 . 99 98 84 100 100 100 91 90 84 99 98 85 100 100 100 90 91 84 99 98 93 100 100 100 89 98 85 99 98 99 100 100 100 91 104 85 99 98 106 100 100 100 108 111 88 99 98 108 100 100 100 87 109 106 100 99 109 100 100 100 91 102 110 100 99 106 100 100 100 104 94 110 100 100 96 100 100 100 106 96 111 101 101 102 100 100 100 128 105 124 103 106 107 100 100 100 128 116 130 103 108 104 100 100 100 145 141 132 104 109 100 100 100 100 188 249 135 105 109 101 100 100 100 192 255 140 105 109 109 100 100 104 219 273 152 108 110 120 100 101 ll.s 227 176 174 114 112 125 101 102 119 237 142 177 117 113 . n0.119 $0,094 $0,127 $0,098 $0,130 Per yard .175 .250 .197 .235 .187 .223 .175 .228 .176 .188 Per yard .113 .168 .119 .171 .113 .166 .108 .147 .133 .170 Per vard .15C .205 .162 .202 .165 .215 .147 .196 .160 .188 Per yard .140 .187 .157 .213 .159 .201 .143 .200 .152 .217 Per yard .406 .530 .454 .553 .447 .578 .450 .542 .418 .498 Per sheet 1.100 1.342 1.206 1.443 1.147 1.412 1.213 1.467 1.105 1.422 Per yard .144 .189 .149 .182 .153 .193 .167 .176 Calico Percale Gingham, apron.. Gingham, dress. . Muslin, bleached. Sheeting .bleached Sheets, bleached. Outing flannel. . . Richmond, Rochester, St. Loni.s, St. Paul. Salt Lake Va. N. Y. Mo. Minn. City. Utah. Calico Per yard $0.10.^ JO. 131 $0.08( 50.095 $0,103 $0,141 $0,087 $0,108 $0,110 $0,142 Percale Per yard .171 .221 .158 .200 .190 .250 .175 .210 .200 .238 Gingham, apron.. Per yard .122 .168 .115 .150 .125 .I.SO .115 .147 .125 .167 Gingham, dress. . Per ayrd .157 .234 .191 .223 .170 .245 .147 .172 .173 .234 Muslin, bleached. Per yard .169 .222 .144 .201 .142 .193 .169 .208 .149 .203 Sheeting, bleached Per yard .446 .581 .424 .508 .554 .540 .386 .474 .442 .571 Sheets, bleached. Per sheet 1.107 1.392 1.167 1.387 1.090 1.318 1.078 1.370 1.363 1.638 Outing flannel. . . Per yard .148 .184 .156 .200 .156 .195 .142 .170 .168 .216 San Fran- cisco, Cal. Scranton, Pa. Seattle, Wash. Springfield, 111. Washington, D. C. Calico Per yard Per yard Per yard Per yard Per yard Per yard Per sheet Per yard $6 .208 .125 .163 .161 .493 1.270 .162 50.250 .193 .214 .230 .626 1 . 540 .213 $0,088 .190 .110 .151 .145 .422 1.070 .150 $0,125 .220 .158 .185 .198 .546 1.320 .190 $0,103 .200 .125 .164 .170 .526 1.313 .170 $0,150 .250 .190 .219 .209 .626 1.538 .214 $0,100 $0,125 $0,102 .178 .134 .194 .154 .461 1.138 .168 $0,130 0.217 192 .257 .219 .601 1.563 .198 Percale Gingham, apron. . Gingham, dress. . Muslin, bleached. Sheet ing,bleached Sheets, bleached.. Outing flannel... .125 .146 .146 .448 1.225 .142 .165 .207 .190 .520 1.625 .173 64 RETAIL PRICES. 8.— RELATION BETWEEN CHANGES IN WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES, 1913-1917. i The December, 1917, issue of the Monthly Review of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, contains a very significant tabulation which shows the relation in variations between wholesale and retail prices. It is apparent from this table, that fluctuations between retail and wholesale prices conformed quite closely to each other up to Octo- ber, 1913. Since that date the margin between retail and wholesale prices has widened quite materially. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES OF IMPORTANT FOOD ARTICLES IN SELECTE CITIES, OCTOBER, 1913 TO 1916, AND JANUARY, APRIL, JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, 1917. [The initials W=wholesaIe; R=retail.] I? ■ Article and city. Bacon, short clear sides, Chicago W Bacon, sliced, Chicago. . . R Beans, medium, choice, New York W Beans, navy, small, white. New York R Beef: Fresh, carcass, ChicagoW Round steak, Chicago. R Fresh, sides. New YorkW Rib roast, bone in. New York R Butter, creamery, extra. Chicago W Butter, creamery, extra Chicago R Butter, creamery, extra. New York W Butter, creamery, extra, New York R Butter, creamery, extra, San Francisco W Unit, Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. October. 1913 $0,129 .327 .038 .130 .216 .130 .216 .290 .354 .308 .375 .335 1914 $0,137 .334 .047 .144 .238 .135 .222 .295 .340 .310 .372 .305 1915 $0,113 .314 .059 .087 .138 .254 .128 .226 .275 .324 .291 .339 .270 1916 $0,162 .329 .088 .119 .138 .235 .130 .231 .345 .394 .350 .408 .340 1917 Jan. $0,158 .316 .108 .149 .138 .227 .133 .238 .370 .438 .395 .460 .355 Apr. $0,218 .395 .130 .162 .160 .256 .173 .270 .440 .484 .450 .513 .390 July. $0,247 .439 .154 .188 .163 .266 .163 .279 .375 .432 .395 .453 .385 Aug. $0,261 .429 .150 .189 .168 .273 .170 .286 .394 .448 .408 .470 .435 Sept. $0,274 .476 .135 .185 .190 .281 .185 .298 .425 .484 .444 .507 .435 Oct. $0,318 .475 .138 .185 .190 .273 .183 .298 .435 .487 .443 .515 .460 iWhoIesale prices of fancy patent flour at St. Louis for the months shown in the November issue of the Monthly Review and not in the present issue are as follows: September, 1913, $4,300; September, 1914, $5,324; September, 1915, $5,200; September, 1916, $7,300. RETAIL PRICES. 65 U HOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES OF IMPORTANT FOOD ARTICLES IN SELECTED CITIES. ETC.— Concluded. Article and city Butter, creamery, extra, San Francisco R Cheese, whole milk, Ameri- can twins, Chicago. . . .W Cheese, full cream. Ameri- can, Chicago R Cheese, whole milk. State, New York W Cheese, full cream, Ameri- can, New York R Cheese, fancy, California flats, San Francisco . . . W Cheese, full cream, Ameri- can, San Francisco . . . . R Eggs, fresh, firsts, Chi- cago W Eggs, strictly fresh, Chi- cago R Eggs, fresh, firsts, New York W Eggs, strictly fresh. New York R Eggs, fresh, extra, pullets' San Francisco W Eggs, strictly fresh, San Francisco R Flour, winter patents, Kan sas City W Flour, Aristos, Kansas City R Flour, standard patents Minneapolis W Flour, Pillsbury's Best Minneapolis R Flour, fancy patents, St Louis W Flour, Gold Medal, St. Louis R Ham, Smoked, Chicago. .W Ham, smoked, sliced, Chi- cago R Lamb, dressed, round, Chi- cago W Lamb, leg of, yearling, Chi cago R Lard, prime, contract. New York W Lard, pure, tub. New York R Meal, corn, fine, yellow, New York W Meal, corn. New York. . .R Milk, fresh, Chicago. . . W Milk, fresh, bottled, deliv- ered, Chicago R Milk, fresh. New York. .W Milk, fresh, bottled, deliv- ered. New York R Milk, fresh, San Francisco W Milk, fresh, bottled, deliv- vered, San Francisco. .R Potatoes, white, good to choice, Chicago W Potatoes, Chicago R Poultry, dressed fowls. New York W Poultry, hens, dressed. New York R Rice, head, Honduras, New Orleans W Rice, head, Louisiana, New Orleans R Sugar, granulated. New York W Sugar, granulated. New York R Unit. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Doz Doz Doz Doz Doz Doz Bbl Bbl. Bbl. Bbl. Bbl. Bbl. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Qt. Qt. Qt. Qt. Qt. Qt. Bu. Bu. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. October. 1913 1914 1915 1916 $0,400 .153 .161 .165 .255 .333 .290 .479 .350 .564 4.075 5.900 4.450 5.600 4.150 6.200 .164 .320 .135 .198 .107 .163 .016 .035 .040 .080 .040 .090 .039 .100 .605 1.020 .185 .218 .051 $0,379 .128 .145 .130 .042 .049 .220 .301 .250 .421 .335 .533 5.075 6.534 5.750 7.000 5.075 7.400 .173 .346 .135 .204 .102 .159 .019 .036 .043 .080 .040 .090 .039 .100 .480 .775 .195 .223 .048 .059 .066 $0,342 .140 .230 .148 .234 .165 .226 .253 .340 .300 .456 .385 .542 5.050 7.300 5.550 6.400 5.325 6.880 .163 .328 .155 .204 .100 .150 .017 .035 .039 .080 .038 .090 .038 .100 .615 .796 .220 .220 .043 .070 .048 .O54I $0,404 .186 .277 .208 .255 .165 .238 .308 .383 ^.345 .517 .435 .558 7.550 9.700 8.850 10.000 7.600 9.667 .193 .359 .170 .223 .152 .196 .021 .044 .045 .090 .050 .098 .038 .100 1.200 1.640 .230 .259 .043 .073 .070 .074 1917 $0,425 .218 .321 .220 .301 .180 .242 .485 .525 .505 .667 .380 .480 8.950 10.600 9.450 10.800 8.675 10.587 .188 .333 .200 .232 .159 .213 .027 .051 .045 .100 .051 .100 .038 .100 1.750 2.370 .220 .261 .048 .074 .066 .074 $0,452 .223 .327 .245 .335 • .215 .297 .305 .376 .330 .424 .280 .374 11.450 13.689 11.025 13.200 11.375 12.853 .243 .382 .220 .263 .215 .263 .031 .057 .054 .100 .049 .109 .038 .100 2.700 3.455 .265 .293 .049 .088 .081 .087 July. Aug. $0,455 $0,504 .216 .215 .339 .342 .238 .229 .328 .331 .200 .235 .297 .306 .310 .323 .406 .428 .350 .380 .477 .544 .320 .370 .392 .475 11.150 12.900 13.680 14.320 12.000 13.200 13.424 14.336 11.375 12.875 13.200 .243 14.800 .233 .414 .407 .260 .230 .287 .288 .201 .226 .274 .275 .040 .070 .047 .052 .067 .051 .100 .050 .100 .060 .114 .043 .125 .043 .100 .100 2.625 2.975 1.600 2.012 .248 .240 .287 .288 .071 .072 .101 .103 .074 .082 .084 .090 $0,530 .240 .344 .244 .338 .235 .316 .385 .465 .413 .592 .430 .538 10.700 13.289 11.350 12.208 10.800 13.700 .263 .439 .280 .320 .240 .294 .050 .076 .051 .100 .060 .124 .058 .121 1.250 1.623 .258 .316 .070 .101 .082 .092 $0,545 .246 .368 .255 .340 .220 .316 .370 .469 .400 .627 .435 .608 10.500 13.066 10.550 11.984 11.250 13.100 .283 .439 .270 .314 .246 .313 .049 .082 .074 .129 .072 .138 .059 .121 1.135 1.184 .285 .323 .077 .100 .082 .097 66 RETAIL PRICES. "A comparison of wholesale and retail price fluctuations, expressed as percentages of the price in October, 1913, is contained in the table that follows. It will be seen from this table that the wholesale prices of practically all articles in October, 1917, had increased to a larger extent than had retail prices. This is particularly noticeable in the case of bacon, flour, ham, lamb, lard, meal, milk, and potatoes. Of the 22 articles included in this table, only 1, granulated sugar, showed a larger per cent of increase in the retail than in the wholesale price. In nearly all instances retail prices were relatively lower in the other months shown in the table than were wholesale prices. RELATIVE PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. OF IMPORTANT FOOD ARTICLES IN SELECTED CITIES, IN OCTOBER, 1914, 1915, AND 1916. AND IN JANUARY, APRIL, JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, AND OCTOBER, 1917, COMPARED WITH OCTOBER. 1913. [The initials W=wholesale; R=retail.] Article and city. October. 1917 1913 1914 1915 1916 Jan. Apr. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. 100 106 88 126 122 169 191 202 212 247 100 102 96 101 97 121 134 131 146 145 100 111 106 106 106 123 125 129 146 146 100 110 118 109 105 119 123 126 130 126 100 104 98 100 102 133 125 131 142 141 100 103 105 107 110 125 129 132 138 138 100 102 95 119 128 152 129 136 147 150 100 96 92 111 124 137 122 127 137 138 100 101 94 114 128 146 128 132 144 144 100 99 90 109 123 137 121 125 135 137 100 91 81 101 106 116 115 130 130 137 100 95 86 101 106 113 114 126 133 136 100 86 99 121 190 120 122 127 151 145 100 90 102 115 158 113 122 129 140 141 100 86 103 119 174 114 121 131 142 138 100 88 95 108 139 89 100 114 124 131 100 96 110 124 109 80 91 106 123 124 100 95 96 99 85 66 70 84 95 108 100 125 124 185 220 281 274 317 263 258 100 111 124 164 180 232 232 243 225 221 100 129 125 199 212 248 270 297 255 237 100 125 114 179 193 236 240 256 218 214 100 122 128 183 209 274 274 310 260 271 100 119 111 156 171 207 213 239 221 211 100 105 99 118 115 148 148 142 160 173 100 108 103 112 104 119 129 127 137 137 100 100 115 126 148 163 193 170 207 200 100 103 103 113 117 133 145 145 162 159 100 95 93 142 149 201 188 211 224 230 100 98 92 120 131 161 168 169 180 192 100 119 106 131 169 194 250 325 313 306 100 103 100 126 146 163 200 191 217 234 100 108 98 113 113 135 118 128 128 185 100 100 100 113 125 125 125 125 125 161 100 100 95 125 128 123 125 150 150 180 100 100 100 109 111 121 127 139 138 153 100 100 97 97 97 97 110 110 149 151 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 121 121 100 79 102 198 289 446 434 264 207 188 100 76 78 161 232 339 292 197 159 116 100 105 119 124 119 143 134 130 139 154 100 102 101 119 120 134 132 132 145 148 100 140 114 167 157 193 176 195 195 195 100 135 110 151 151 178 171 184 188 198 Bacon, short clear sides. Chicago W Bacon, sliced, Chicago R Beef: Fresh, carcass, Chicago W Round steak, Chicago R Fresh sides, New York W Rib roast, bone in. New York K Butter, creamery, extra, Chicago. . . W Butter, creamery, extra, Chicago R Butter, creamery, extra, New York. . . W Butter, creamery, extra. New York. . . R Butter, creamery, extra, San Fran- cisco W Butter, creamery, extra, San Fran- cisco R Eggs, fresh, firsts, Chicago W Eggs, strictly fresh, Chicago R Eggs, fresh, firsts. New York W Eggs, strictly fresh, New York R Eggs, fresh, extra, pullets', San Fran- cisco W Eggs, strictly fresh, San Francisco. . .R Flour, winter patents, Kansas City . . . W Flour, Aristos, Kansas City . . . ". R Flour, standard patents, Minneap- olis W Flour, Pillsbury's Best, Minneapolis . . R Flour, fancy patents, St. Louis W Flour, Gold Medal, St. Louis R Ham, smoked, Chicago W Ham, smoked, sliced, Chicago R Lamb, dressed, round, Chicago W Lamb, leg of, yearling, Chicago R Lard, prime, contract, New York. . . . W Lard, pure, tub. New York R Meal, corn, fine, yellow, New York.. . W Meal, corn. New York R Milk, fresh, Chicago W Milk, fresh, bottled, delivered, Chi- cago R Milk, fresh. New York W Milk, fresh, bottled, delivered, New York R Milk, fresh, San Francisco W Milk, fresh, bottled, delivered, San Francisco R Potatoes, white, good to choice W Potatoes, Chicago . R Poultry, dressed fowls. New York . . . . W Poultry, hens, dressed. New York R Sugar, granulated. New York W Sugar, granulated. New York R RETAIL PRICES. 67 9.— PRICE OF BREAD IN SELECTED CITIES, 1913-1917. The prices given below are the computed prices of a loaf scaled at 16 ounces — that is, 16 ounces of dough — based on reports secured by ithe Bureau of Labor Statistics, of the actual scaling weights of the 5- icent loaf sold. While it would be highly desirable to present the price of the loaf as actually purchased by the consumer, the complications involved in the relation of the scaled weight to the weight of the bread when it passes over the retailer's counter were found to be such that it was impossible to do so. The loss of weight in baking varies with the formula, with the style of loaf, and with the temperature of the oven. Furthermore, the weight, of course, varies with the time intervening between the removal of the loaf from the oven and its delivery to the consumer, the loss by evaporation also being partly determined by the conditions under which the bread is kept and by the state of the atmos- phere. The customary loss in baking is variously estimated by bakers, but it may be said that a loaf weighing 16 ounces before baking will, when baked and cooled, weigh about 14>^ ounces. It must be borne clearly in mind that the price of bread varies with the kind of bread and the quality of materials used in its composition. No fancy, special, graham, rye, or restaurant breads are included in these prices. The following table shows the price of a loaf of bread weighing 16 ounces before baking in 16 important industrial cities of the United States, on August 15 of each year, 1913, 1914, 1915, and 1916, and October 15, 1917. PRICE OF A LOAF OF BREAD WEIGHING 16 OUNCES BEFORE BAKING ON THE ISTH OF AUGUST, 1913 TO 1916. AND OCTOBER 15, 1917. City. Atlanta, Ga Baltimore, Md .... Birmingham, Ala. . Chicago, 111 Cincinnati, Ohio. . . Cleveland, Ohio. . . Dallas, Tex Denver, Colo Minneapolis, Minn New Haven, Conn, New Orleans, La. . New York, N. Y . . Portland, Ore St. Louis, Mo San Francisco, Cal Washington, D. C. Price of loaf on August 15, August 15, August 15, August 15, October 15, 1913. 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917. $0,056 $0,054 $0,061 $0,063 $0,091 .050 .050 .057 .056 .082 .047 .049 .054 .057 .094 .052 .053 .058 .058 .093 .043 .044 .052 .051 .081 .050 .051 .054 .056 .089 .051 .050 .060 .060 .088 .049 .048 .055 .057 .089 .050 .050 .058 .057 .092 .053 .053 .056 .057 .089 .044 .041 .049 .048 .077 .055 .059 .060 .059 .088 .049 .049 .055 .054 .086 .049 .050 .062 .057 .093 .054 .054 .057 .056 .083 .052 .051 .056 .059 .090 68 RETAIL PRICES. 10.— RETAIL PRICES OF COAL, 1907-1917. Reports as to retail coal prices are received by the Bureau of Labo Statistics from approximately 250 coal dealers in the same 44 cities fro which reports are received as to retail prices of food. The table given herewith shows the relative prices of Pennsylvani anthracite stove and chestnut coal and of bituminous coal on January 15th, for the years of 1907-1917, inclusive. RELATIVE RETAIL PRICES OF COAL EACH YEAR, 1907-1917, INCLUSIVE, AND ON JANUARY 15 AND JULY 15, OF EACH YEAR OF THE SAME PERIOD. [Average price for 1915 =100.] Month and Year. January, 1907 January, 1908 January, 1909 January, 1910 January, 1911 January, 1912 January, 1913 January, 1914 January, 1915 January, 1916 January, 1917 Pennsylvania white ash, stove. 94 95 95 95 95 96 104 100 101 103 122 Pennsylvania white ash, chestnut. 92 94 94 94 94 96 103 100 101 103 121 Bituminous 102 103 99 100 103 100 105 106 102 101 138 11.— PRICE OF MANUFACTURED AND NATURAL GAS, 1915-1917. The following table shows the returns made by gas companies to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by cities, during the period, 1915-1917. PRICE OF MANUFACTURED AND NATURAL GAS PER 1,000 CUBIC FEET, BY COMPANIES AND CITIES, 1915-1917. City and company. Price per 1 ,000 cubic feet. October 15, 1915. April 15, 1916. April 15, 1917. Atlanta, Ga $1.00 .80 .95 .80 .80 .80 $1.00 .75 .95 .80 .80 .80 1.00 1.00 1.50 1.10 .80 .80 .80 .75 1.30 .80 .55 1.15 1.00 1.00 $1.00 .75 .95 .80 .80 .80 1.00 1.00 Baltimore, Md Birmingham, Ala Boston, Mass.: Company B ... Bridgeport, Conn Buffalo, N. Y 1.00 1.50 1.10 .80 .80 .80 .75 1.30 .80 .55 1.15 1.00 1.00 Butte, Mont Charleston S. C , . 1.00 .80 .80 .80 .75 Chicago, 111 Cleveland, Ohio Detroit, Mich EI Paso, Tex Fall River, Mass .80 .55 1.15 1.00 1.00 Indianapolis, Ind Manchester, N. H Memphis, Tenn . RETAIL PRICES. 69 PRICE OF MANUFACTURED AND NATURAL GAS PER 1,000 CUBIC FEET, BY COMPANIES AND CITIES, 1915-1917— Continued. City and company. Price per 1,000 cubic feet. October 15, 1915. April 15, 1916. April 15, 1917. $0.75 .80 .90 .90 1.00 .80 .80 .95 .80 .80 .80 .80 .80 .80 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 .95 .85 .90 $0.75 .77 .90 .90 1.00 .80 .80 .95 .80 .80 .80 .80 .80 .80 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 .95 .85 .80 $0.75 .77 .90 .90 1.00 .80 .80 2.95 .80 .80 .80 ■ .80 .80 .80 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 .95 .85 .80 .95 .75 .85 1.90 .85 .95 1.20 1.00 1.00 .75 .85 Minneapolis, Minn Newark, N.J New Haven, Conn New York, N. Y.: Company A Company D Company F Company H Company J Omaha Nebr Philadelphia, Pa Pittsburgh, Pa.: Portland, Ore Rochester, N. Y . . .80 .90 1.90 .85 .95 1.20 1.00 1.00 .85 1.00 .80 .85 1.90 .85 .95 1.20 1.00 1.00 .85 1.00 St. Paul, Minn Salt Lake City, Utah San Francisco, Cal Scranton, Pa.: • Company A Seattle, Wash Springfield, 111 Washington, D. C: Company B NATURAL GAS. Buffalo, N. Y . . $0.30 .30 .30 $0.30 .30 .30 $0.30 .35 .30 .30 .45 .30 .40 .645 .648 .n\ .30 .27i .27- .27i Cincinnati, Ohio Cleveland, Ohio Dallas, Tex .45 .27 .40 .645 .648 .271 .30 .27^ .27J .27i .45 .27 .40 .645 .648 .27^ .30 .n\ Kansas City, Mo Little Rock, Ark Los Angeles, Cal.: Company B Pittsburgh. Pa.: Company D Company G 1 Rate entered is for first 2,000 cubic feet; next 20,000 cubic feet, 80 cents; all over 22,000 cubic feet, 70 cents. 2 Rate being contested. MANUFACTURED AND NATURAL GAS MIXED. City and company. Price per 1,000 cubic feet. October 15, 1915. April 15, 1916. April 15, 1917. Los Angeles, Cal.: Company A $0.68 .68 $0.68 .68 $0.68 70 RETAIL PRICES. 12.— RELATIVE COST OF FOOD IN THE PRINCIPAL AMERICAN CITIES. The following table, which was prepared by Professor Ogburn, of thii( University of Washington, is of interest and value in showing com- parative prices of foodstuffs in the principal American cities. It ij based on prices contained in a Bulletin of the United States Bureati. of Labor Statistics (Whole Number 156). RELATIVE COST OF FOOD IN LEADING CITIES. [Portland, Oregon =100]. Minneapolis. . . St Paul Denver Milwaukee . . . . Cincinnati Detroit St. Louis Buffalo Portland Baltimore Chicago Salt Lake City Omaha Kansas City. . . Richmond Memphis Seattle Springfield . . . . Indianapolis. . . Cleveland Atlanta New Orleans . . 92.7 94.8 96.2 97.6 97.8 98.1 98.2 98.8 100. 100.2 101.3 101.9 102.3 102.4 102.. S 102.7 102.8 103.5 103.6 104.4 104.4 104.6 Manchester. . Schenectady. . Scranton Washington . . Little Rock... Pittsburgh. . . San Francisco New York.. . Philadelphia. . Dallas Boston Charleston . . . Louisville . . . . Los Angeles . . Fall River. . . . New Haven . . Providence . . . Jacksonville. . Newark Birmingham. . 105.7 106. 106.3 106.4 106.6 106.6 106.6 106.7 107.5 107.6 108.4 108.6 109. 110.3 110.3 110.8 112.5 113. 114.1 115.1 13.— RETAIL PRICES IN 24 CITIES. PREPARED FOR COMMITTEE ON HEALTH OF CITY COUNCIL OF CITY OF CHICAGO, BY FREDERICK REX, MUNICIPAL REFERENCE LIBRARIAN. This pamphlet contains retail prices of 20 principal articles of food as of November 1, 1916, in 24 cities of the United States. For purposes, of comparison the following table is of interest. AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF THE 20 ARTICLES OF FOOD IN EACH OF THE 24 CITIES Rank. Average retail price. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. $0.45 .42 .41 .40 .40 .40 Los Angeles, Cal Philadelphia, Pa Toledo, Ohio Baltimore, Md Pittsburgh, Pa Birmingham, Ala. . ... ... Chicago, 111 .38 .38 .38 .38 .38 .37 .37 .37 .36 .35 .34 .33 .32 .31 .31 .30 .25 Milwaukee, Wis .• Minneapolis, Minn Rochester, N. Y New York City Jersey City Atlanta, Ga Cleveland, Ohio ... . . Dayton, Ohio Indianapolis, Ind Oakland. Cal . . Kansas City, Mo RETAIL PRICES. 71 14.— REPORT OF THE RHODE ISLAND COMMISSION. The Food Products Report of the Commission on Living Costs in Rhode Island, on January 29, 1917, published as part of its findings the following data as to the increase in retail prices in Rhode Island (luring the year ending November 1, 1916. (pp. 16-20). FOOD PRICES. "So many factors enter into the fixing of prices for food, such as grades, special sales, quality of containers, frequency of deliveries, and kngth of credit, that it is difficult to compare prices in one store with {)rices for the same commodities in another store upon any fixed date. It is even more difficult to accurately compare prices for a certain num- ber of commodities from year to year, but it is believed that fair com- parisons are obtainable when prices for a certain number of commodities are secured from more than a hundred stores upon a certain date, and the average of these prices be compared with average prices for the >ame commodities in the same stores upon the same date of the pre- ( eding year. "The statistics presented in the following tables are based upon prices obtained as of November 1, 1916, in 110 representative stores in the State of Rhode Island, of which 32 were in Providence, 20 in the cities nt Pawtucket and Central Falls, 10 in Woonsocket, 9 in Newport and ^9 in other populous sections of the State. *The average wholesale prices for table necessities show an average increase of 27.8 per cent, November 1, 1916, as compared with the average wholesale prices for the same necessities, November 1, 1915; while the average increase in retail prices for the same comparative period equals 23.4 per cent. '*It is noticeable that wholesale prices show increases averaging 4.4 per cent more than the average increase in retail prices. "Increase of more than 50 per cent in both wholesale and retail prices are found in the following: Beans, 60 per cent; bread flour, 58.8 per cent by the barrel and 62.5 per cent by the bag; currants, 72.3 per cent; lard, compound, 56.3 per cent; lard, pure, 57.1 per cent; cabbage, 115.7 per cent; potatoes, 98.5 per cent; and yellow onions, 62.5 per cent. "Only one article in the list of wholesale prices (fresh pork) shows a decrease in 1916 over 1915, and upon investigating the reason therefor it was found that an abnormal wholesale supply on hand November 1, 1916, compared with November 1, 1915, caused a temporary reduction in wholesale quotations. "Rice is the only article of food which shows any reduction in retail prices, and that but an infinitesimal one. "It should be noted that since November 1, 1916, sharp advances have taken place in a number of articles of food, noticeable among which are the advances which have caused almost prohibitive prices for flour and potatoes. "Other than for pork products, the advance in meats, compared with many other articles of food, has been comparatively small. The reason is undoubtedly because meats have reached a point where the average 72 RETAIL PRICES. family has curtailed its purchases in this direction and refuses to pay higher prices, the result being that meats are disposed of in the average retail store or market with a much less margin of profit, if any at all, than for any other articles of food. "In connection with the investigation of retail prices for 1916, a num- ber of facts have been ascertained which it is believed are so important in connection with the tabulation of average prices that they should be made a matter of record. "The live-cent loaf of bread, 16 ounces to the loaf, has been almost entirely superseded by the six-cent loaf of 13 ounces; although a few large stores operating their own bakeries at the time of this investigation were selling a 16-ounce loaf of bread for five cents. "Domestic or near-by eggs may be classed as an article of food, prices for which are fixed in accordance with season and proximity to markets. In suburban or country stores the price for eggs is generally five cents per dozen cheaper than in the cities of the state, and variations in cityr prices are apt to be the result of mixing selected fresh Western eggs with ' domestic eggs, thereby reducing the average cost to the dealer. "Prices for fresh meats are so affected by quality or grade, and style of trimming, that the variations between high and low prices for lamb and mutton chops, roasts, and steaks of all kinds produce prices which as presented seem abnormally low. "Such low prices as help to make up the average for the 110 stores visited are not necessarily economical ones, as the waste and quality which accompanies such prices are apt to deduct from their real worth. "Prices for coffee and tea are so dependent upon quality and brand that comparative prices for the same are rather misleading. Retail prices for coffee range from 17 to 40 cents and for so-called Formosa tea from 22 cents to $1.00 per pound. "Imported rnacaroni and spaghetti have been almost entirely super- seded by the domestic article during the past two years, so much so, in fact, that but few stores can be found which are carrying the imported product. "The sharp advances in prices for cabbage, potatoes and onions are due to short crops caused by unseasonable weather, although there is no reason for believing that even under normal conditions these articles of food would not have risen in proportion to the rise in other table necessaries during the past year. "Other than for reductions in prices which always come in certain seasons of the year, there is little hope of any general reduction in the cost of food until exports are reduced for one reason or another." RETAIL PRICES. 73 I ABLE I.— AVERAGE WHOLESALE PRICES, 45 ARTICLES OF FOOD IN THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE, SHOWING COMPARATIVE PRICES FOR NOVEMBER 1. 1915 AND 1916. Foda. Average prices. Percent of November 1 , November 1, Increase for 1916. 1915. 1916. $4,125 $7,292 76.8 .296 .371 25.4 .193 .229 18.6 .238 .238 00.0 .487 .592 21.6 .382 .427 11.8 .261 .321 23.0 .139 .161 15.8 6.15 8.37 36.1 6.064 10.114 66.8 5.48 8.82 60.9 .124 .208 67.7 .098 .106 8.2 .099 .119 20.2 .105 .158 50.5 .115 .184 60.0 .079 .088 11.4 .0195 .0305 56.4 .031 .037 1.9 .179 .207 10.1 .188 .231 22.9 .176 .222 26.1 .159 .198 24.5 .154 .162 5.2 .13 .152 16.9 .182 .167 *— 8.2 .117 .158 35.0 .114 .123 7.9 .153 .17 11.1 .134 .147 9.7 .12 .124 3.3 .117 .124 6.0 .086 .091 5.8 .175 .203 16.0 .046 .055 19.6 .39 .432 10.8 2.166 2.475 14.3 .066 .066 00.0 .012 .014 16.7 .079 .088 11.4 .056 .078 39.3 .335 .343 2.4 .006 .025 150.0 .86 1.74 102.3 1.116 1.781 59.6 i'.ians, pea, York State, per bu. . . . Butter, creamery, tub, per lb lieese, creamery, per lb ■iTee, per lb .^'^3, domestic, per doz -;«?, fresh. Western, per doz. ; . . . ;l;s,' storage, per doz isli, cod, cured, boneless, per lb. . !')ur, rye, per bbl. (196 lbs.) our, wheat, bread, per bbl. . ; . . . our, wheat, pastry, per bbl lit, currants, per lb I iiit, prunes, Calif., per lb niit, raisins, seeded, per lb ird, compound, per lb I rd, pure, per lb .l:icaroni, domestic, per lb. Meal, corn, per lb Meal, oat, per lb Meat, bacon, per lb '. . Meat, fowl, native, per lb Meat, fowl, Western, per lb Meat, hams, wiiole, per lb ;. . Meat, lambs, whole, per lb Meat, mutton, whole, per lb Meat, pork, fresh, per lb Meat, pork, salt, per lb Meat, beef, sides, per lb Meat, beef, loins and rumps, per lb Meat, beef, standing ribs, per lb. . . Meat, beef, legs, per lb Meat, beef, chucks, per lb Meat, beef, plates, per lb Meat, sausage, per lb Meat, tripe, per lb Molasses, New Orleans, per gal Oil, Olive, imported, per gal Rice, Carolina, per lb Salt, table, per lb Spaghetti, domestic, per lb Sugar, granulated, per lb Tea, Formosa, per lb Vegetables, cabbage, per lb Vegetables, potatoes, per bu Vegetables, onions, yellow, per bu. ♦Decrease, 74 RETAIL PRICES. Table II.— AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES, 59 ARTICLES OF FOOD IN 110 RHODE ISLAND STORES, SHOWING COMPARATIVE PRICES FOR NOVEMBER 1, 1915 AND 1916. Food. Average prices. Percent of Increase or decrease November 1 , 1915. November 1, 1916. $.15 13.5 oz. $.24 12.53 oz. 12.10 $.432 .279 .306 .639 .473 .374 .19 .051 11.435 1.429 9.996 1.262 .212 .139 .138 .172 .209 .148 .043 .066 .256 .205 .162 .285 .266 .239 .170 .254 .342 .373 .123 .203 .246 .303 .233 .197 .242 .332 .251 .222 .418 .383 .389 .328 .299 .114 .614 .924 .094 .015 .147 12.07 lbs. $.041 1.985 .569 60.00 7.2 Bread, no. oz. per 5c loaf Bread, no. oz. per 6c loaf Butter, creamery, tub, per lb $.333 .222 .303 .58 .40 .31 .168 .043 7.20 .879 6.30 .766 .123 .134 .121 .11 .133 .13 .036 .045 .223 .195 .153 .248 .225 .189 . 158 .205 .316 . 365 .117 .197 .225 .277 .203 .155 .229 .318 .213 .216 .405 .378 .373 .316 .285 .104 .588 .855 .095 .015 .131 15.5 lbs. $.019 1.00 .35 29.73 25.67 1.01 10,17 18.25 20.64 13.10 18.60 58.82 62.57 58.51 64.77 72.35 3.73 14.05 56.36 57.14 13.85 19.44 46.66 14.79 5.12 5.88 14.91 18.22 26.45 7.59 23.90 8.23 2.19 5.13 3.05 9.33 9.38 14.77 27.09 5.67 4.40 17.84 2.77 3.21 1.33 4.29 3.80 4.91 9.62 4.42 8.07 *— .10 .00 12.21 22.14 115.79 98.5 62.57 Coffee, per lb Eggs, domestic, per doz Eg^s, storage, per doz Flour, rye, per lb Flour, wheat bread, per bag Flour, wheat pastry, per bbl Fruit, currants, per lb Fruit, raisins, seeded, per lb Lard, pure, per lb Meal, corn, per lb Meal, oat, per lb Meat, bacon, sliced, per lb Meat, corned beef, brisket, per lb Meat, corned beef, other, per lb Meat, fowl, native, per lb . . . Meat, fowl. Western, per lb Meat, ham, whole, smoked, per lb Meat, lamb, legs, per lb Meat, lamb, chops, rib, per lb Meat, lamb, chops, loin, per lb Meat, mutton, forequarters, per lb Meat, mutton, legs, per lb Meat, mutton chops, rib, per lb Meat, mutton, chops, loin, per lb Meat, pork, fresh, per lb Meat, pork, salt, per lb Meat, beef, rib roast, per lb Meat, beef, sirloin, roast, per lb Meat, sausage, per lb Mea'-, steak, hamburg, per lb Meat, steak, porterhouse, per lb Meat, steak, rump, per lb Meat, steak, sirloin, per lb Meat, steak, top round, per lb ■ Meat, steak, whole round, per lb Meat, tripe, per lb Molasses, New Orleans, per gal Oil, olive, imported, pei qt Rice, Carolina, whole, per lb Salt, table, per lb Spaghetti, domestic, per lb Sugar, granulated, lbs. for $1 Vegetables, cabbage, per lb • Vegetables, potatoes, per bu Vegetables, onions, yellow, per pk ♦Decrease. CHAPTER II WHOLESALE PRICES, 1. AVERAGE AND RELATIVE WHOLESALE PRICES OF to 24 COMMODITIES. I The following table which has been compiled from the publications I of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics shows by years, for the ! period 1890-1917, the average and relative wholesale prices of 17 foodstuffs, together with lumber, timber, raw cotton, wool, pig and bir iron, and anthracite and bituminous coal. AVERAGE AND RELATIVE WHOLESALE PRICES OF COMMODITIES 1890-1917. Year. Beeves, good to choice live weight, 100 pounds Hogs, fair to good live weight, 100 pounds Bacon, clear, pound Ham, sugar cured, pound. Average Relative. Average. Relative. Average. Relative. Average. Relative. 1890-1899 .... 1890 $4.7347 4.1375 5.0976 4.4995 4.8394 4.5245 4.9344 4.2712 4.7736 4.8846 5.3851 5.3938 5.5901 6.5572 5.0615 5.1923 5.2192 5.3572 5.8120 5.9976 6.4529 7.0173 6.7272 8.4024 8.5072 9.0387 8.7015 9.573 11.177 100.0 87.4 107.7 95.0 102.2 95.6 104.2 90.2 100.8 103.2 113.7 113.9 118.1 138.5 106.9 109.7 110.2 113.1 122.8 126.7 136.3 148.2 142.1 177.5 179.7 190.9 183.8 202.2 236.1 $0.0675 .0603 .0699 .0787 . 1048 .0751 .0650 .0494 .0541 .0596 .0583 .0752 .0891 .1073 .0959 .0775 .0800 .0942 .0954 .0901 .1173 .1332 .0949 .1107 .1274 .1323 .1155 .149 .179 100.0 89.3 103.6 116.6 155.3 111.3 96.3 73.2 80.1 88.3 86.4 111.4 132.0 159.0 142.1 114.8 118.5 139.6 141.3 133.5 173.8 197.3 140.6 164.0 188.7 195.9 171.1 220.7 265.2 $0.0984 .0995 .0982 .1076 .1249 .1019 .0947 .0943 .0894 .0807 .0923 .1025 .1075 .1211 .1271 .1072 .1046 . 1235 .1303 .1125 .1310 .1644 .1398 .1429 .1662 .1670 .1531 .185 .212 100.0 101.1 99.8 109.3 126.9 103.5 96.2 95.8 90.9 82.0 93.8 104.2 109.2 123.1 129.2 108.9 106.3 125.5 132.4 114.3 133.1 167.1 142.1 145.2 168.9 169.7 155.6 188.0 215.4 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 . 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 $8,371 7.159 9.508 12.584 1915 1916 1917 75 76 WHOLESALE PRICES. AVERAGE AND RELATIVE WHOLESALE PRICES OF COMMODITIES, 1890-1917— Continued I Year. Pork, salt, mess., barrel. Lard, pound. Eggs, dozen. New York. Milk, fresh, quart. New York. Average. Relative. Average. Relative. Average. Relative. Average. Relative. 1890-1899.... 1890 $11.6332 12.1502 11.3029 11.5252 18.3389 14.1262 11.8255 8.9399 8.9087 9.8678 9.3462 12.5072 15.6108 17.9399 16.6514 14.0288 14.4183 17.5120 17.5684 15.9736 21.3438 23.7380 19.1587 19.2854 22.4712 22.7358 18.3173 26.770 33.646 100.0 104.0 97.2 99.1 157.6 121.4 101.7 76.8 76.6 84.8 80.3 107.5 134.2 154.2 143.1 120.6 123.9 150.5 151.0 137.3 183.5 204.1 164.7 165.8 193.2 195.5 157.5 230.1 289.2 $0.0654 .0633 .0660 .0771 .1030 .0773 .0653 .0469 .0441 .0552 .0556 .0690 .0885 .1059 .0877 .0731 .0745 .0887 .0920 .0908 .1169 .1253 .0908 .1049 .1101 .1037 .0940 .135 .173 100.0 96.8 100.9 117.9 157.5 118.2 99.8 71.7 67.4. 84.4 85.0 105.5 135.3 161.9 134.1 111.8 113.9 135.6 140.7 138.8 178.7 191.6 138.8 160.4 168.3 158.5 143.7 206.4 264.5 $0.1963 .1945 .2160 .2167 .2247 .1835 .2002 .1741 .1718 .1817 .1994 .1977 .2095 .2409 .2418 .2650 .2712 .2615 .2771 .2788 .3146 .3258 .2977 .3315 .3268 .2656 .2569 .293 .399 100.0 99.1 110.0 110.4 114.5 93.5 102.0 88.7 87.5 92.6 101.6 100.7 106.7 122.7 123.2 135.0 138.2 133.2 141.2 142.0 160.3 166.0 151.7 168.9 166.5 135.3 130.9 149.3 203.3 $0.0255 .0263 .0267 .0268 .0279 .0263 . 0253 .0234 .0235 .0239 .0253 .0274 .0262 .0288 .0288 .0275 .0289 .0301 .0335 .0329 .0338 .0368 .0336 .0368 .0353 .0351 .0355 .039 .050 100.0 103.1 104.7 105.1 109.4 103.1 99.2 91.8 92.2 93.7 99.2 107.5 102.7 112.9 112.9 107.8 113.3 118.0 131.4 129.0 132.5 144.3 131.8 144.3 138.4 137.6 139.2 148.3 190.1 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 . 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 Year. Sugar, granulated, pound. Potatoes, white, bushel. Beans, Navy, bushel. Coal, anthracite, stove, long ton. Average. Relative. Average. Relative. Average. Relative. Average. Relative. 1890-1899.... 1890 $0.0473 .0617 .0471 .0435 .0484 .0411 .0416 .0453 .0450 .0497 .0492 .0533 .0505 .0446 .0464 .0477 .0526 .0452 .0465 .0494 .0476 .0496 .0533 .0505 .0427 .0471 .0556 .069 .069 100.0 130.5 99.7 92.1 102.3 87.0 87.9 95.9 95.1 105.2 104.2 112.8 106.8 94.2 98.2 101.0 111.2 95.5 98.4 104.5 100.7 104.9 112.8 106.7 90.4 99.7 117.5 145.9 145.9 $0.4991 .5956 .7730 .4546 .6714 .6128 .4326 .1965 .3279 .5094 .4172 .3736 .5642 .5958 .5249 .7301 .4026 .5476 .4912 .7119 .6858 .4275 .7706 .9133 .5932 2.1200 1.3041 1.111 2.180 100.0 119.3 154.9 91.1 134.5 122.8 86.7 39.4 65.7 102.1 83.6 74.9 113.0 119.4 105.2 146.3 80.7 109.7 98.4 142.6 137.4 85.7 154.4 183.0 118.9 424.8 261.3 222.6 436.8 $1.6699 2.0292 2.2531 1.8698 1.9906 1.8469 1 . 7896 1.1740 1 . 0448 1.2479 1.4531 2.0969 2.1927 1.9198 2.2625 2.0104 2.1500 1.9000 1.7771 2.3198 2.4500 2.3990 b2.2885 b4.6614 b3.9896 b4.0333 b5.8125 b8.450 bll.517 100.0 121.5 134.9 112.0 119.2 110.6 107.2 70.3 62.6 74.7 87.0 125.6 131.3 115.0 135.5 120.4 128.8 113.8 106.4 138.9 146.7 143.7 137.0 279.1 238.9 241.5 348.1 506.0 689.7 $3.7949 3.7108 3.8542 4.1532 4.1931 3.6003 3.1264 3.7942 4.0146 3.7978 3.7047 3.9451 4.3224 4.4627 4.8245 4.8246 4.8226 4.8615 4.8215 4.8226 4.8196 4.8178 4.8063 5.0329 5.0613 5.0607 5.0446 5.454 5.682 100.0 97.8 101.6 109.4 110.5 94.9 82.4 100.0 105.8 100.1 97.6 104.0 113.9 117.6 127.1 127.1 127.1 128.1 127.1 127.1 127.0 127.0 126.7 132.6 133.4 133.4 132.9 143.7 149.7 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 . . . . 1915 1916 1917 b — For 100 pounds. WHOLESALE PRICES. 77 AVERAGE AND RELATIVE WHOLESALE PRICES OF COMMODITIES. 1890-1917— Continued. Year. Lumber, white pine, clear, th<5usand feet. Wheat, Chicago, spring, bushel. Corn, bushel. Wheat, flour, barrel. Average. Relative. Average. Relative. Average. Relative. Average. Relative. 1890-1899.... 1890 $18.4646 20.7500 19.9583 18.5000 18.5000 18.5000 16.9167 16.4167 16.4375 18.6250 20 0417 20.7083 19.6667 21.0000 21.0000 21.4167 24.9167 29.3333 30.50000 30.5000 33.0417 30.8000 30.5909 33.1364 32.1364 29.6250 28.1818 31.82 100.0 112.4 108.1 100.2 100.2 100.2 91.6 88.9 89.0 100.9 108.5 112.2 106.5 113.7 113.7 116.0 134.9 158.9 165.2 165.2 178.9 166.8 165.7 179.5 174.0 160.4 152.6 172.3 $0.7510 .8933 .9618 .7876 .6770 .5587 .6000 .6413 .7949 .8849 .7109 .7040 .7187 .7414 . 7895 1.0390 1.0104 .7931 .9073 .9899 1.1997 1.0973 .9844 1.0490 .9533 1.0412 1.3443 100.0 118.9 128.1 104.9 90.1 74.4 79.9 85.4 105.8 117.8 94.7 93.7 95.7 98.7 105.1 138.3 134.5 105.6 120.8 131.8 159.7 146.1 131.1 139.7 126.9 138.6 179.0 $0.3804 .3950 .5744 .4500 .3964 .4326 .3955 .2580 .2546 .3144 .3333 .3811 .4969 .5968 .4606 .5046 .5010 .4632 .5280 .6843 .6677 .5810 .5900 .6855 .6251 .6953 .7295 .825 1.310 100.0 103.8 151.0 118.3 104.2 113.7 104.0 67.8 66.9 82.6 87.6 100.2 130.6 156.9 121.1 132.6 131.7 121.8 138.8 179.9 175.5 152.7 155.1 180.2 164.3 182.7 191.8 216.9 344.4 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 Not obta in able. 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 4.363 5.860 6.364 8.833 1915 1916 dl917 d — January-March, 1917. Year. Corn meal, yellow, barrel. Butter, pound. Cheese, pound. New York. Cotton, upland, middling (N.Y.), pound Average. Relative. Average. Relative. Average. Relative. Average. Relative. 1890-1899.... 1890 $1.0169 1.0200 1.4579 1.1608 1.0833 1.0629 1.0613 .7854 .7633 .8463 .9273 .9908 1.1875 1.5250 1.2783 1.3333 1.3250 1.2625 1.3575 1.6146 1.6104 1.4792 1.2913 1.6521 1.4250 1.5708 1.7250 2.060 2.717 100.0 100.3 143.4 114.2 106.5 104.5 104.4 77.2 75.1 83.2 91.2 97.4 116.8 150.0 125.7 131.1 130.3 124.2 133.5 158.8 158.4 145.5 127.0 162.5 140.1 154.4 169.6 202.6 267.2 $0.2170 .2238 .2501 .2528 .2581 .2194 .2064 .1793 .1837 .1886 .2075 .2178 .2114 .2413 .2302 .2178 .2429 .2459 .2761 .2692 .2893 .2977 .2644 .2968 .3077 .2881 .2846 .327 .400 100.0 103.1 115.3 116.5 118.9 101.1 95.1 82.6 84.7 86.9 95.6 100.4 97.4 111.2 106.1 100.4 111.9 113.3 127.2 124.1 133.3 137.2 121.8 136.8 141.8 132.7 131.2 150.7 184.3 $0.0987 .0958 .1011 .1058 .1076 .1060 .0929 .0908 .0968 .0822 .1075 .1128 .1011 .1126 .1217 .1019 .1212 .1313 .1414 .1364 .1485 .1572 .1401 .1645 .1541 .1518 .1509 c.174 c.224 100.0 97.1 102.4 107.2 109.0 107.4 94.1 92.0 98.1 83.3 108.9 114.3 102.4 114.1 123.3 103 . 2 122.8 133.0 143.3 138.2 150.5 159.3 141.9 166.7 156.1 153.8 152.9 176.3 227.0 $0.0776 .1109 .0861 .0769 .0832 .0700 .0730 .0792 .0715 .0597 .0658 .0961 .0863 .0893 .1124 .1210 .0955 .1103 .1188 .1046 .1211 .1512 .1304 .1150 .1279 .1210 .1015 .145 .198 100.0 142.9 110.8 99.0 107.2 90.0 94.0 102.0 92.0 96.9 84.7 123.8 111.1 115.1 144.7 155.9 123.1 142.0 153.0 134.8 156.0 194.8 168.0 148.2 164.8 155.9 130.8 186.9 255.2 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 dl917 d — January-March, 1917. c — American-Chicago. 78 WHOLESALE PRICES. AVERAGE AND RELATIVE WHOLESALE PRICES OF COMMODITIES, 1890-1917— Concluded. Year. Wool, Ohio, medium fleece scoured, pound. Pig Iron, No. 1, foundry, long ton. Bar Iron, best, refined, long ton. Coal, bituminous, ton. Average. Relative. Average. Relative. Average. Relative. Average. Relative. 1890-1899 1890 $0.4564 .6143 .5820 .5276 .4620 .3542 .3280 .3186 .3999 .4805 .4966 .5296 .4315 .4436 .4658 .4869 .5.348 .5125 .5158 .4899 .5429 .4884 .4490 .4792 .4710 .4398 .5714 .680 .957 100.0 134.6 127.5 115.6 101.2 77.6 71.9 69.8 87.6 105.3 108.8 116.0 94.5 97.2 102.1 106.7 117.2 112.3 113.0 107.3 119.0 107.0 98.4 105.0 103.2 96.4 125.2 149.0 209.7 $14.8042 18.4083 17.5208 15.7492 14.5167 12.6642 13.1033 12.9550 12.1008 11.6608 19.3633 19.9800 15.8683 22.1933 19.9158 15.5725 17.8850 20.9825 23.8950 17.7000 17.8058 17.3617 15.7125 16.5575 17.0675 12.8733 13.7408 al9.760 a36.892 100.0 124.3 118.4 106.4 98.1 85.5 88.5 87.5 81.7 78.8 130.8 135.0 107.2 149.9 134.5 105.2 120.8 141.7 161.4 119.6 120.3 117.3 106.1 111.8 115.3 100.9 107.7 133.5 249.2 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901. . 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 . . . . 1911 1912 1913 $2,200 2.200 2.200 2.675 4.833 1914 $35,840 38.976 73.248 97.731 1915 1916 dl917 -Basic pig iron. -January-March, 1917. WHOLESALE PRICES. 79 2.— INDEX NUMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.* PUBLICATION. "An index number is published in connection with the reports on wholesale prices issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor at Washington. These reports are issued in bulletin form and appear annually. HISTORY. "The publication of this index number was begun in 1902. Prior to that time the Department of Labor, now the Bureau of Labor Sta- tistics, had conducted an inquiry into ^ the course of wholesale prices from 1890 to 1899, the results of which were published in March, 1900.* The purpose of this inquiry was to continue, so far as practicable, the investigation made for the Senate Committee on Finance for the years 1840 to 1891 under the direction of Roland P. Falkner, statistician to the committee.^ In the report of the Department of Labor alluded to, the index numbers appearing in the Senate Finance Committee's report were brought down to 1899, important changes with respect to the base period and the method of weighting being adopted. In 1902, however, when the material for the new report on wholesale prices was being assembled, it was found that many articles included in the report of the Senate Committee on Finance were either no longer manufac- tured or had ceased to be important factors in the market. On the other hand, a number of articles not shown in that report had become I of such importance as to render necessary their inclusion in the new ! report. These facts necessitated the computation of a new series of index numbers based on the revised list of commodities. It was found, i however, that prices of such commodities could be obtained for a period dating back to 1890, so that the new series of index numbers, as pub- ! lished in the 1902 report,^ covered the 12 years from 1890 to 1901, in- clusive. This series has been continued in subsequent wholesale-price reports. ' Bulletin of the Department of Labor, No. 27. 2 Report from the Committee on Finance of the United States Senate on Wholesale Prices, Wages, and Transportation. March 3, 1893. 52d Congress, 2d session, Report No. 1394. 3 Bulletin of the Department of Labor. No. 39, March, 1902. ' In July, 1915, the U. S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics published a Bulletin (Whole- sale Price Series Number 3), entitled Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in the United States and Foreign Countries. Extracts, descriptive of the methods of compiling the various index numbers, have been taken from this Bulletin and are reprinted in the following pages. The Index Numbers themselves have been brought up to date by additional research and investigation. 80 WHOLESALE PRICES. SOURCE OF QUOTATIONS. "The commodities included in the reports have been selected, not only with regard to their representative character, but also with regard to their availability in the future in the continuation of the price record. Standard trade journals, reports of boards of trade, chambers of com- merce, produce exchanges, and leading manufacturers or their selling agents are the usual sources from which the price quotations are obtained. It has been the aim to secure the quotations for the various commodities from their primary markets. At present about one-half of the quoted prices are those in the New York market. For grains, live stock, etc., Chicago prices are quoted; for fish, New York and Boston prices; for pig iron, Pittsburgh prices; for tar, Wilmington, N. C, prices; etc. The prices for textiles are those prevailing in the general distributing markets, such as New York, Boston, and Philadelphia; and where no market is mentioned it should be understood that the prices are for the general market.^ BASE PERIOD. "In the compilation of the bureau's index numbers it was recognized that in reducing a series of actual prices to relative prices a base must first be chosen that represents, approximately at least, prices when business conditions are normal. This may be either a single quota- tion, the average price for one year, or the average for two or more years. If the price for a single year is chosen, it is essential that the year be a normal one, for if prices are high in the year chosen for the base any subsequent fall will be unduly magnified, while on the other hand, if prices are low any subsequent rise will be unduly magnified. For the reason that all commodities probably never present a normal condition as regards prices in any one year, it was decided that an average price for a number of years would better reflect average con- ditions and form a broader and more satisfactory base than would the price for any single year. The period chosen as this base was that from 1890 to 1899 — a period of 10 years. In the cases of a few articles for which prices for the entire 10-year period could not be obtained, the average for such years prior to 1899 as were available was chosen as the base. "The relative prices included in the series have been calculated in the usual manner and represent the percentage which each monthly or yearly price is of the average price for the base period 1890-1899. The average price of every article for the base period is represented by 100, and the relative prices for each month or year show the percentage of rise and fall, from month to month or from year to year, of the prices of each single commodity, of each group of commodities, and of all commodities in terms of the average prices in 1890-1899. * * * * Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, No. 149. p. 27. WHOLESALE PRICES. 81 NUMBER AND CLASS OF COMMODITIES. ''In the record of prices from 1890 to 1913, 234 series of quotations have been presented for the entire period and an additional 3S for some portion of the period. The number of commodities included in the re- port for 1913 was 252, classified as follows: Farm products, 20 articles; food, etc., 54 articles; cloths and clothing, 63 articles; fuel and light- ,ing, 13 articles; metals and implements, 38 articles; lumber and building ■materials, 28 articles; drugs and chemicals, 9 articles; house-furnishing (goods, 14 articles; and miscellaneous, 13 articles. It was recognized by the bureau that, in the computation of an index number of this character, it is important that the greatest care be exercised in the choice of commodities, in order that a simple average of their relative prices shall show a general price level, and it has been the aim to select only- important and representative articles in each group. The use of a large number of articles, carefully selected, minimizes the effect on the general price level of an unusual change in the price of any one article or of a few articles. ********** The following table contains index numbers of wholesale prices, by years, from 1890 to 1917. The average price for the year 1916, is taken as the base or 100 in this table instead of the period 1890-1899. 82 WHOLESALE PRICES. INDEX NUMBERS OF WHOLESALE PRICES, BY GROUPS OF COMMODITIES, 1890 TO SEPTEMBER, 1917. [1916=100.] • Year or month. Farm prod- ucts. Food, etc. Cloths and cloth- ing. Fuel and light- ing. Metals and metal prod- ucts Lum- ber and build- ing mate- rials. Drugs and chemi- cals. House fur- nish- ing goods. Miscel- lane- ous. All com- modi- ties. 1890 56 60 54 55 48 49 44 48 50 50 56 59 66 62 66 53 64 70 69 79 84 76 82 82 85 86 100 89 89 91 93 95 95 96 103 107 111 118 116 120 123 132 147 160 160 162 167 166 70 70 63 69 60 58 53 56 60 59 62 63 67 64 68 68 66 70 74 78 79 78 85 79 81 83 100 90 90 91 93 94 94 96 101 106 111 119 115 119 127 127 144 151 148 142 142 141 73 71 70 70 62 61 59 60 62 65 70 65 66 70 70 72 77 82 75 78 79 76 78 79 78 78 100 87 89 92 94 96 97 99 100 103 108 114 122 127 127 128 132 136 140 145 150 149 59 59 56 56 52 59 59 52 53 61 70 68 80 92 79 75 78 81 78 76 72 70 77 87 80 75 100 88 89 90 91 90 91 91 92 96 111 130 141 147 154 157 154 162 167 168 152 149 77 68 63 57 48 52 54 48 48 73 71 66 66 65 60 66 76 81 63 62 63 60 67 67 59 65 100 85 89 95 99 102 101 98 98 100 102 108 125 123 128 134 140 146 161 173 168 154 71 69 66 67 65 64 62 61 64 70 75 72 76 79 80 84 93 96 91 96 100 100 98 99 96 93 100 98 99 100 100 101 100 98 99 99 100 103 105 105 107 109 113 116 126 130 131 133 63 65 64 63 58 62 64 62 65 67 68 69 68 6r 68 67 66 67 70 71 72 72 71 70 72 80 100 98 101 103 105 107 105 100 92 92 95 99 100 101 103 106 109 115 116 130 139 143 109 108 106 106 105 99 97 90 96 95 101 112 112 111 106 99 99 99 95 96 94 90 90 91 94 92 100 95 95 95 99 99 99 101 101 101 104 104 116 117 117 137 137 148 150 150 150 76 76 73 75 71 68 66 67 66 68 75 74 76 78 78 78 80 84 80 90 96 86 84 83 81 81 100 89 88 91 92 95 100 101 103 105 110 112 113 114 115 116 120 122 126 130 131 133 66 66 61 63 56. 57 54 54 56 60 65 64 69 69 70 69 72 76 74 79 81 77 82 81 80 81 100 89 90 92 94 96 96 97 100 103 108 116 118 122 126 130 139 147 130 151 151 149 1891 1892 1893 . . 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 . ... 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 . . 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1916. February March .... April May July . . '. September October December , 1917. February March April May July September WHOLESALE PRICES. 83 3.— INDEX NUMBERS OF THE ANNALIST. PUBLICATION. "The Annalist, a magazine of finance, commerce, and economics, published weekly in New York City, has compiled an index number based on the wholesale prices of 25 food commodities in the United States. These articles are so selected as to represent a theoretical family food budget. HISTORY. ''The publication of this index number began with the first issue of the Annalist on January 20, 1913, and has been continued weekly since that date in connection with the exhibit of various other items of busi- ness activity appearing under the caption of 'Barometrics.' SOURCE OF QUOTATIONS. ''The prices used in the computation of the index number are those prevailing in the New York and Chicago markets. BASE PERIOD. "The 10 years, 1890-1899, constitute the base period used in com- puting the index number. PRICES: HOW SHOWN AND COMPUTED. "During the period from May 19 to September 1, 1913, the Annalist published in each week's issue the mean price of each selected com- modity during the preceding week, together with the relation of such price to the price for the base period, 1890-1899. The sum of these relative prices, divided by 25 (the number of commodities), constitutes the index number for the week. In all other issues of the Annalist up to date no exhibit of wholesale prices is made in connection with the presentation of the index number. NUMBER AND CLASS OF COMMODITIES. "As previously stated, 25 articles of food are included in the index. These are listed in the Annalist of May 19, 1913, and in subsequent numbers to September 1, of the same year, as follows: Steers. Hogs. Sheep. Beef, fresh. Mutton, dressed. Beef, salt. Pork, salt. Bacon. Codfish, salt. Lard. Potatoes. Beans. Flour, rye. Flour, wheat, spring. Flour, wheat, winter. Corn meal. Rice. Oats. Apples, evaporated. Prunes. Butter, creamery. Butter, dairy. Cheese. Coffee. Sugar, granulated. 84 WHOLESALE PRICES. DESCRIPTION AND GROUPING OF COMMODITIES. "The following description of the commodities included in the index number has been supplied by the publishers of the Annalist: NEW YORK MARKETS. Codfish (Georges), corn meal, rice, beans, evaporated apples, Cali fornia prunes, extra creamery butter. New York State dairy butter, cheese (New York State, whole milk, held). No. 7 Rio coffee, fine granu lated sugar, fresh beef, dressed mutton, salt beef, salt pork, wheat flour (winter straights and spring patents). Middle West lard, and rye flour. CHICAGO MARKETS. Good to choice steers, hogs (250-300 pound packers and fair to select butcher's), sheep (good to choice wethers), bacon (short, clear sides), white potatoes, and cash oats (2 white, 3 white, and standards). WEIGHTING. ^ "The index number is unweighted and is obtained by computing the simple arithmetic mean of the relative prices of the different com modities." TABLE OF RESULTS. The course of the index number by years from 1890 to 1917 is shown in the following statement. INDEX NUMBERS, BY YEARS, 1890-1917. [Base period, 1890-1899=100.] Yearly. Year. Index number. Year. Index number. Year. Index number. 1890 109.252 119.488 108.624 116.100 102.076 94.604 80.096 84.092 92.208 1899 1900 93.348 99.388 104.656 116.264 107.516 108.664 110.652 114.364 117.940 1908 125.756 133.952 137.172 131.068 143.254 139.980 146.069 148.055 175.720 260.285 1891 1909 1892 1901 1910 1893 1902 1911 . 1894 1903 1912 1895 1904 1913 1896 1905 1914 1915 1916 1917 (to Dec. 10).... 1897 1906 1898 1907. . WHOLESALE PRICES. 85 4.— INDEX NUMBERS OF BRADSTREET»S. PUBLICATION. "This 'index'* represents the record of wholesale prices of staple articles in the primary markets of the United States and is now pub- lished every month. Formerly it was issued only every quarter. HISTORY. ''Bradstreet's index had its beginning in the issue of September 21, 1895, of the periodical of that name, which presented a table of com- parative prices of 110 staple articles for each quarter from October 1, 1890, to July 1, 1895, under the heading, 'Five years' prices for 110 staple products.' "The compiler evidently had in mind a record of price movements in the United States similar to that furnished by Sauerbeck's index of English prices, as he refers to it in the introductory paragraph as follows: ********************** "The comparative prices continued to be presented on the first of each quarter until May 8, 1897, when in connection with 'A study of prices' an index number was published for the first time. "The index as constructed was simply the sum obtained by adding the per pound prices of the different articles included. At first it was not expressed in dollars and cents, but as an abstract number. No attempt was made at weighting, nor was consumption taken into account, so that the result was 'not an absolute indication of the price movement based on the proportions in which each of the products and articles are used, but a fair indication of the tendency.' The author stated that only 97 articles were included in the index, but as actual prices were shown for 108 articles and only 10 articles were stated to be excluded it would appear that the index comprised 98 articles. "In the issue of June 11, 1898, actual prices were shown for 107 articles, quotations for onions being dropped, and the index number was revised to exclude the price of quicksilver. ******** "Again on September 10, 1898, the index appeared with revised figures. This revision was due to the quotation of a different grade of hides ******************* "In the issue of October 12, 1901, the first group indexes were shown and consisted of the sum of the per pound prices for all of the articles included in the group. The sum of the 13 groups was the index shown for all commodities. The general index was expressed in dollars and cents and continued to be stated this way until April 9, 1904, when it was restated in dollars, cents, and fractions thereof. This was not a revision of the index, but simply a change in the method of pointing off. The index numbers for the groups had been expressed in this way for some time before this date. The index now began with January 1, 1892, instead of October 1, 1890, as formerly, and was computed upon the basis of the revision of September, 1898, until December 16, 1905, when a general index 'revised to exclude some staples showing wide fluctua- 86 WHOLESALE PRICES. tions' in price was published. It is not stated in connection with these figures what articles were excluded or on how many commodities the revised index number was based. The exhibit as published contained the index number by quarters from January 1, 1892, to October 1, 1898, and by months from January 1, 1899, to December 1, 1905, inclusive. No further revision of the index number appears to have been made. SOURCE OF QUOTATIONS. "The source of these quotations is not disclosed, but it is stated that they are from primary markets. BASE PERIOD. "No base period was selected in the compilation of the index num- ber, the need of such being obviated by the method employed, which consists simply in adding together the prices per pound of the various selected articles at the date named. PRICES: HOW SHOWN AND COMPUTED. "Prices are published each month for a selected list of representative commodities. These prices are shown for the first day of the current month and, for purpose of comparison, the first day of several preceding months and the first day of the corresponding month in the preceding year. No range of quotations is shown in any case, and it is evident that a single price has been used, but whether either extreme or the mean was taken it is impossible to determine with the source of quotations unknown. No yearly average actual prices are published. * * * * * NUMBER AND CLASS OF COMMODITIES. "In the beginning 110 articles were shown in the comparative table of actual prices, but now only 106 are included, and of these only 96 are included in the index. Oranges, naphtha, onions, and aluminum were the articles dropped from the table of comparative prices, but the reason for their discontinuance is not given. Two of these, onions and aluminum, were never included in the compilation of the index. Two articles that at first were included in the index are no longer in- cluded — namely, quicksilver and rubber — but these are still shown in the table of actual prices. When these articles were dropped the index was recomputed from that date to the beginning, necessitating a new index figure for every previous date. The list of articles includes both raw and manufactured commodities that are of general consumption in the United States. DESCRIPTION AND GROUPING OF COMMODITIES. "The articles on which the index is based are divided into 13 general groups, as follows: Breadstufi^s, live stock, provisions and groceries, fresh and dried fruits, hides and leather, raw and manufactured textiles, metals, coal and coke, mineral and vegetable oils, naval stores, building materials, chemicals and drugs, and miscellaneous. Since October 12, 1901, an index has been computed usually for each of the different groups separately. The sum of the indexes for the 13 groups is the index for the whole number of articles. Index numbers for years are computed by averaging the 12 monthly totals. ******** WHOLESALE PRICES. 87 WEIGHTING. "Apart from the basic plan of expressing in terms of dollars and cents the value of 1 pound avoirdupois of each commodity, there is no attempt at assigning varying degrees of importance to the different articles in- cluded in the index. "For some years past a yearly index has been computed by averaging the 12 monthly indexes. The manner of presenting this imformation is shown by the following table, which is reproduced from Bradstreet's of January 6, 1917: 1916 .-.$11.8251 1915 9.8530 1914 8.9034 1913 9.2076 1912 9.1867 1911 8.7132 1910 8.9881 1909 8.5153 1908 8.0094 1907 8.9045 1906 8.4176 1905 8.0987 1904 7.9187 1903 $7.9364 1902 7.8759 1901 7.5746 1900 7.8839 1899 7.2100 1898 6.5713 1897 6.1159 1896 5.9124 1895 6.4346 1894 6.6846 1893 7.5324 1892 7.7769 Ten-year average, 1902-1911, inclus've, $8.3377. Ten-year average, 1892-1901, inclusive, $6.9696. The index numbers computed from the wholesale prices of 96 articles on the first day of each month from January, 1903, to December, 1917, inclusive, are shown in the subjoined table. BRADSTREET'S INDEX NUMBERS. JANUARY, 1903, TO DECEMBER, 1917, INCLUSIVE. Index number: Fiist of each month. 1 Year 1 Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. July. " Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 1903. .$8.0789 $8.0824 $8.1300 $8.1247 $7.9567 $7.8751 $7.8706 $7.7473 $7.7583 $7.9083 $7.8671 $7.8383 1904. 7.9885 8.0973 8.0882 7.9690 7.9352 7.9877 7.6318 7.7623 7.7845 7.9213 8.0015 8.0579 1905. 8.0827 8.0805 8.0979 7.9996 7.9700 7.9073 7.9160 8.1111 8.2795 8.2298 8.2097 8.3014 1906. 8.3289 8.2415 8.2321 8.2987 8.3054 8.3203 8.2835 8.3376 8.4528 8.5580 8.7509 8.9023 1907. 8.9172 8.9953 8.1293 8.9640 8.9356 8.9901 9.0409 8.9304 8.8297 8.8506 8.7468 8.5246 1908. 8.2949 8.1289 7.9862 8.0650 7.9629 7.7227 7.8224 7.9328 7.9051 8.0139 8.0674 8.2133 1909. 8.2631 8.3022 8.2167 8.3157 8.3016 8.3960 8.4573 8.5039 8.5906 8.7478 8.9635 9.1262 1910. 9.2310 9.0730 9.1113 9.1996 9.0385 8.9105 8.9246 8.8222 8.9519 8.9267 8.8841 8.7844 1911. 8.8361 8.7662 8.6929 8.5223 8.4586 8.5294 8.5935 8.6568 8.8191 8.8065 8.8922 8.9824 1912. 8.9493 8.9578 8.9019 9.0978 9.2696 9.1017 9.1119 9.1595 9.2157 9.4515 9.4781 9.5462 1913. 9.4935 9.4592 9.4052 9.2976 9.1394 9.0721 8.9521 9.0115 9.1006 9.1526 9.2252 9.2290 1914. 8.8857 8.8619 8.8320 8.7562 8.6224 8.6220 8.6566 8.7087 9.7572 9.2416 8.8620 9.0354 1915. 9.1431 9.6621 9.6197 9.7753 9.7978 9.7428 9.8698 9.9213 9.8034 9.9774 10.3768 10.6473 1916. 10.9163 11.1415 11.3760 11.7598 11.7485 11.6887 11.5294 11.4414 11.7803 12.0399 12.7992 13.6805 1917. 13.7277 13.9427 14.1360 14.5769 15.1203 15.4680 16.0680 16.3985 16.6441 16.9135 17.1701 17.8113 The following statement shows by groups of commodities the " Index Number" on the first day of January, November, and December, 1915 and 1916, and the first day of January, 1917. 88 WHOLESALE PRICES. Jan. 1, Nov. 1. Dec. 1, Jan. 1, 1915. 1915. 1915. 1916. $0.1193 $0.1057 $0.1089 $0.1169 .4170 .4230 .4085 .4120 2.4075 2.3312 2.3992 2.4051 .1614 .2520 .2545 .2537 1.4600 1.5800 1.5925 1.5900 2.1729 2.5273 2.6033 2.7074 .5807 .6749 .7446 .8449 .0065 .0071 .0071 .0083 .3632 .3982 . 4256 .4702 .0736 .0867 .0962 .0946 .0821 .0840 .0894 .0930 1.0379 1.6320 1.6469 1.6519 .2610 .2747 .2706 .2683 9.1431 10.3768 10.6473 10.9163 Breadstuffs Live stock Provisions Fruits Hides and leather. . . Textiles Metals Coal and coke Oils Naval stores Building materials. . Chemicals and drugs Miscellaneous Total Breadstuffs Live stock Provisions , Fruits Hides and leather. . . Textiles Metals Coal and coke Oils Naval stores Building material . . . Chemicals and drugs Miscellaneous Total Jan. 1, Nov. 1, Dec. 1, Jan. 1. 1916. 1916. 1916. 1917. $0.1169 $0.1632 $0.1607 $0.1648 .4120 .4970 .5030 .5165 2.4051 2.9491 3.0684 3.0826 .2537 .3727 .3447 .3002 1.5900 2.1650 2.5650 2.6250 2.7074 3.4107 3.6236 3.6581 .8449 .9248 1.0331 .9855 .0083 .0124 .0125 .0137 .4702 .5518 .5620 .5978 .0946 .0843 .0917 .0956 .0930 .1045 .1163 .1165 1.6519 1.2116 1.2166 1.1941 .2683 .3521 .3652 .3773 10.9163 12.7992 13.6628 13.7277 5.— INDEX NUMBERS OF DUN. PUBLICATION. "An 'index' number based on the wholesale prices of a large num- ber of representative commodities in general use in the United States is published by the mercantile agency of R. G. Dun & Co., of New York City. The information appears monthly in Dun's Review, the weekly journal of finance and trade issued by the above-named company.. HISTORY. "The publication of this index number was begun in 1901 and covered a period of time extending back to 1860. From 1901 to 1907 periodical presentation of the index in Dun's Review appears to have been made. With the issue of May 11, 1907, however, its publication was discon- tinued and apparently was not resumed until May 9, 1914. The issue of the latter date contained data for the first five months of the years 1912, 1913, and 1914, respectively, but no attempt was made in this number to supply figures for all of the period intervening since 1907.' Data for other months of 1912, 1913, and 1914 are shown in subsequent issues; and in Dun's Review of January 9, 1915, a presentation is made; of the index number on the first of each month for the entire period from 1907 to 1914, inclusive, thus furnishing a continuous series since the in- ception of the undertaking. WHOLESALE PRICES. 89 SOURCE OF QUOTATIONS. "The price quotations on which the index number is based are those gathered by Dun & Co. in the principal markets of the country, New York and Chicago prices predominating. BASE PERIOD. "Under the method followed in the computation of the index num- ber no base period is employed, the index in the case of each article and group being the actual amount in dollars and cents required to purchase a year's supply for a single individual at the date named. PRICES: HOW SHOWN AND COMPUTED. "With regard to the method of calculation, the following statement is reproduced from Dun's Review of May 9, 1914: "'Quotations of all the necessaries of life are taken and in each case the price is multiplied by the annual per capita consumption, which pre- cludes any one commodity having more than its proper weight in the aggregate. Thus, wide fluctuations in the price of an article little used do not materially affect the 'index,' but changes in the great staples have a large influence in advancing or depressing the total. * * * The per capita consumption used to multiply each of many hundreds of com- modities does not change. There appears to be much confusion on this point, but it should be seen at a glance that there would be no accurate record of the course of prices if the ratio of consumption changed. It was possible, however, to obtain figures sufficiently accurate to give each commodity its proper importance in the compilation. This was done by taking averages for a period of years when business conditions were normal and every available trade record was utilized, in addition to official statistics of agriculture, foreign commerce, and census returns of manufactures.' NUMBER AND CLASS OF COMMODITIES. "The following excerpt from the same source shows what commodities are included : "For convenience of comparison and economy of space the prices are grouped into seven classes: Breadstuff^s include quotations of wheat, corn, oats, rye, barley, beans, and peas; meats include live hogs, beef, sheep, and many provisions, lard, tallow, etc. ; dairy and garden products embrace eggs, vegetables, fruits, milk, butter, cheese, etc.; other foods include fish, liquors, condiments, sugar, rice, also tobacco, etc.; clothing covers the raw material of each industry, as well as quotations for woolen, cotton, silk, and rubber goods, also hides, leather and boots and shoes; metals include various quotations for pig iron and partially manu- factured and finished products, as well as the minor metals, tin, lead, copper, etc., and coal and petroleum; miscellaneous includes many grades of hard and soft lumber, lath, brick, lime, glass, turpentine, hemp, linseed oil, paints, fertilizers, and drugs. "The precise number of articles included in the index is not stated; but in Dun's Review of January 9, 1915, it is said that 'about 200 products are taken.' 90 WHOLESALE PRICES. DESCRIPTION AND GROUPING OF COMMODITIES. "As previously stated, the commodities are divided into seven groups: viz., breadstuffs, meats, dairy and garden products, other foods, cloth- ing, metals, and miscellaneous articles. No further description of the articles entering into the index is given." ********** TABLE OF RESULTS. The following statistics, showing the trend of wholesale prices from January 1, 1860, to December 1, 1917, have been compiled from Dun's Review. WHOLESALE PRICES OF SPECIFIED COMMODITIES, JAN 1. 1860, TO DEC. 1, 1914. Date. Bread- stuffs. Meats. Dairy and garden prod- ucts. Other foods. Cloth- ing. Metals. Miscella neous. Total. 1860, Jan. 1 1864, Sept. 1 1870, Jan. 1 1875, Jan. 1 1880, Jan. 1 1885, Jan. 1 1888, Jan. 1 1889, Jan. 1 1890, Jan. 1 1891, Jan. 1 1892, Jan. 1 1893, Jan. 1 1894, Jan. 1 1895, Jan. 1 1896, Jan. 1 1897, Jan. 1 1897, July 1 (low) . . . 1898, Jan. 1 1899, Jan. 1 1900, Jan. 1 1901, Jan. 1 1902, Jan. 1 1903, Jan. 1 1904, Jan. 1 1905, Jan. 1 1906, Jan. 1 1907, Jan. 1 Feb. 1 Mar. 1 Apr. 1 May 1 June 1 July 1 Aug. 1 Sept. 1 Oct. 1 Nov. 1 Dec. 1 1908, Jan. 1 Feb. 1 Mar. 1 Apr. 1 May 1 June 1 $23,652 46.138 29.076 26 . 048 22.955 16.342 18.565 18.195 13 . 765 19.725 17.700 15.750 13.530 14.311 11.380 11.729 10.587 13.511 13.816 13.254 14.486 20.002 17.104 17.102 18.278 16.554 16.079 16.389 17.478 16.982 18.165 20.089 20.306 19.872 22.483 22.940 21.987 21.290 22.254 21.120 21.480 22.032 22.882 23.163 $10,084 17.789 15.255 11.932 9.206 9.432 8.920 8.705 7.620 7.810 7.895 9.315 8 . 655 8.359 7.540 7.327 7.529 7.336 7.520 7.258 8.407 9.670 9.522 8.138 7.950 8.426 9 . 350 9.693 9.673 9.629 9.641 9.982 10.196 10.090 10.150 9.667 9.229 8.929 8.146 8.246 8.546 9.221 9.777 9.620 $14,169 29.426 21.178 17.832 14.007 14.304 15.030 14.670 12.675 16.270 13.180 15.290 13.945 12.196 10.969 10.456 8.714 12.371 1 1 . 458 13.702 15.556 15.248 14.613 15.287 13.948 14.399 14.965 14.411 15.727 14.792 14.461 15.417 14.767 15.458 15.019 15.646 15.840 17.169 17.380 15.643 15.904 14.369 14.303 13.114 $ 8.978 29.562 16.240 14.546 11.873 8.996 10.340 10.480 9.935 10.215 9.185 9.595 8.945 8.607 8.898 8.170 7.887 8.312 9.096 9.200 9.504 8.952 9.418 9.653 10.699 9.822 9.760 9.804 9.767 9.817 9.824 10.100 10.013 10.041 10.180 10.446 9.629 10.152 10.236 10.384 10.3.'>4 10.501 10.397 10.314 $22,094 91.667 32.986 25.718 22.673 18.081 15.140 15.170 14.845 14.135 13.430 13.900 12.880 11.886 12.787 12.407 13.808 14.654 14.150 17.484 16.024 15.547 15.938 17.316 16.319 19.313 19.637 19.798 20.000 19.997 20 . 098 20.252 20.355 20.281 20.529 20.169 19.933 19.389 18.849 18.313 17.731 17.200 16.804 16.919 $26,082 61.964 27.682 22.833 25.002 15.065 17.330 17.360 16.240 15.875 14.665 15.985 14.565 12.026 12.803 13.014 1 1 . 642 11.572 1 1 . 843 18.085 15.810 15.375 17.185 15.887 16.188 17.141 18.087 18.162 18.135 17.372 17.524 17.689 17.688 17.667 17.626 17.296 17.179 16.937 17.232 16.944 17.122 17.176 16.872 16.659 $16,572 36.191 23.056 18.669 16.963 14.245 14.577 14.496 15.111 14.217 23.767 14.320 13.512 13.607 13.403 12.399 12.288 12.184 12.540 16.312 15.881 16.793 16.576 16.759 16.936 18.809 19.386 19.109 19.133 19.305 19.242 20.125 20.335 20.319 20.086 19.976 19.836 19.406 19.185 19.264 19.252 18.229 19.150 18.198 $121,631 312.737 165.473 137.578 122.679 96.465 99 . 902 99.076 90.191 98.247 89.822 94.155 86.032 80.992 77.780 75.502 72.455 79 . 940 80.423 95 . 295 95 . 668 101.587 100.356 100.142 100.318 104.464 107.264 107.366 109.913 107.895 108.955 113.654 113.660 113.728 116.073 116.140 113.633 113.272 113.282 109.910 110.389 108.728 110.185 107.987 1 The issue of May 9, 1914. contains the statement that "Dun's index number does not propose to show the cost of living, because wholesale prices are taken and all luxuries omitted. Its economic value lies in showing the percentage of advance or decline from month to month." WHOLESALE PRICES. 91 WHOLESALE PRICES OF SPECIFIED COMMODITIES, JAN. 1, 1860, TO DEC. 1, 1914- Continued. Date. 1908. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 1909, Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 1910. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec 1911. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 1912, Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 1913, Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Bread- stuffs. $22,826 24.161 24.176 23.990 23.579 21.879 21.480 22.900 23.967 24.129 25 . 696 26.781 25.854 23 . 705 22.002 21.530 21.638 22.315 23.830 23.509 23.423 22.172 20.992 20.590 21.690 21.863 20.263 19.120 18.830 18.567 18.010 J&.175 17.762 18.176 19.973 20.508 21.283 21.695 22.145 23.828 24.864 23.125 23.523 24.278 24.718 25 . 590 27.637 27.391 25.964 25.760 24.088 21.765 22.371 20.665 19.883 19.565 19.596 19.966 20.673 21.277 21.192 21.632 22.975 22 . 586 22.610 23.006 Meats. $10,197 9.992 9.488 9 . 534 9.175 9.135 9.142 10.277 8.860 9.247 9.022 9.498 9.955 9.617 9.540 9.450 9.351 9.546 9.642 9.683 10.786 12.359 11.542 11.692 11.406 11.080 11.029 10.370 9.897 9.788 9 . 483 9.963 10.146 9.742 9.363 9.638 9.414 9.900 10.080 9.612 9.218 8.924 8.920 9.173 9.514 10.590 11.283 11.016 10.715 10.848 11.186 10.923 10.457 10.629 10.912 11.522 13.047 13.478 13.183 12.963 13.090 13.080 12.786 13.053 12.211 12.059 Dairy and garden prod- ucts. $12,552 13.357 13.924 14.620 15.016 17.019 18.104 15.645 15.212 16.142 15.705 16.053 15.268 15.767 16.014 16.265 17.508 19.164 18.906 17.564 16.927 15.237 14.321 14.325 14.663 15.457 15.738 16.234 16.810 18.013 18.073 16.468 14.588 13.634 14.759 14.701 17.473 19.248 18.001 16.501 19.190 22.177 21.286 21.898 19.364 21.774 20.776 18.087 15.501 16.752 16.491 18.627 19.416 19.223 17.925 16.651 16.142 15.319 15.112 16.525 13.039 14.916 16.604 17.934 19.978 20.454 Other foods. $10,465 10.349 10.090 10.090 10.314 10.428 10.396 10.506 10.417 10.680 10.620 10.650 10.628 10.810 10.740 10.975 11.073 If. 052 10.803 10.810 10.906 10.778 10.515 10.549 10.556 10.830 11.037 11.038 10.866 10.509 11.196 11.258 11.018 11.078 11.283 10.981 11.384 11.604 12.055 12.339 12.597 12.610 12.261 12.237 12.222 12.323 11.753 11.976 11.828 11.705 11.590 11.757 11.103 11.112 11.073 10.877 10.732 10.165 10.120 10.250 10.213 10.267 10.571 10.700 11.068 11.010 Cloth- ing. $17,233 17.348 17.325 17.226 17.308 17.828 18.024 18.277 18.893 18.633 19.078 19.587 20.062 20.924 21.061 21.528 22.145 22.130 20.635 21.671 21.785 22.061 22.194 21.281 21.173 20.508 20.556 19.932 19.896 20.042 19.644 19.596 19.789 19.355 20.021 18.845 19.324 18.778 18.509 18.638 18.191 18.191 18.630 19.048 19.493 19.868 19.979 20.003 20.449 20.588 20.703 20.705 20.789 21.066 21.015 20.835 21.143 20.938 20.807 20.705 20.534 20.250 20.507 20.947 21.074 20.815 Metals $16,542 16.537 16.720 16.821 16.788 16.920 16.919 16.935 16.652 16.388 16.353 16.453 16.426 16.615 16.948 17.200 17.304 17.437 17.496 17.419 17.265 17.132 16.937 16.894 16.744 16.587 16.652 16.574 16.144 16.092 16.519 16.591 16.742 16.718 16.694 16.617 16.583 16.526 16.502 16.307 16.294 16.361 16.371 16.356 15.961 15.550 15.918 16.104 16.349 16.664 17.022 17.633 18.029 18.046 17.942 17.850 17.379 16.924 16.753 16.760 16.512 16.528 16.742 16.760 16.758 16.596 Miscella- neous. $18,359 17.751 17.608 17.710 17.734 17.781 17.783 18.914 21.419 21.635 21.789 22.003 20.828 20.582 20.656 21.362 21.751 21.770 22.122 21.743 21.748 21.816 21.806 21.910 22.936 22.171 22.156 22.181 22.180 21.653 22.177 22.201 22.243 22.225 22.166 22.083 22.669 22.024 22.040 22.067 21.616 21.534 22.437 22.435 22.255 22.354 21.640 21.411 21.471 21.575 21.465 21.696 21.360 21.313 22.082 22.428 22.422 22.427 21.676 21.570 21.739 21.842 21.868 21.922 21.804 21.794 Total. $108,174 109 . 495 109.331 109.991 109.914 111.008 1 1 1 . 848 113.454 115.420 116.864 118.263 121.025 119.021 118.020 116.961 118.301 120.770 123.414 123.434 122.399 122.840 121.555 118.307 117.241 119.168 118.524 117.431 115.449 114.623 114.664 115.102 114.252 112.288 110.928 114.259 113.373 118.130 119.775 119.332 119.292 121.970 122.922 123.438 125.425 123.527 128.049 128.986 125.988 122.277 123.892 122.545 123.106 123.525 122.054 120.832 119.728 120.461 119.217 118.324 120.050 116.319 118.515 122.053 123.902 125.503 125.734 92 WHOLESALE PRICES. WHOLESALE PRICES OF SPECIFIED COMMODITIES, JAN. 1, I860. TO DEC. 1, 1914— Concluded. Date. 1914, Jan. 1,. Feb. 1.. Mar. 1 . . Apr. 1.. May 1 . . June 1 . . July 1.. Aug. 1 . . Sept. 1., Oct. 1.. Nov. 1 . Dec. 1.. 1915, Jan. 1.. Feb. 1.. Mar. 1 . . Apr. 1.. May 1 . . June 1 . . July 1.. Aug. 1 . . Sept. 1 . , Oct. 1.. Nov. 1 . . Dec. 1.. 1916, Jan. 1.. Feb. 1.. Mar. 1 . . Apr. 1 . . May 1 . . June 1 . . July 1.. Aug. 1.. Sept. 1.. Oct. 1.. Nov. 1 . . Dec. 1.. 1917, Jan. 1.. Feb. 1.. Mar. 1 . . Apr. 1.. May 1.. June 1. . July 1.. Aug. 1.. Sept. 1 . . Oct. 1.. Nov. 1 . . Dec. 1.. Dairy Bread- and Other Cloth- Miscella- stuffs. Meats. garden prod- ucts. foods. ing. Metals. neous. Total. $21,961 $12,150 $20,087 $10,950 $20,664 $16,170 $22,546 $124,528 20.962 12.625 18.056 11.002 20.241 16.185 22.570 121.641 22.146 13.168 16.009 11.361 20.434 15.881 22.772 121.771 21.402 12.868 15.872 10.684 20.641 15.784 22.540 119.791 21.544 12.813 16.437 10.467 19.969 15.559 21.441 118.230 23.162 13.068 16.114 10.610 20.686 15.695 21.761 121.096 21.086 12.979 17.244 10.449 20.834 15.691 21.425 119.708 22.567 13.427 16.201 10.284 20.975 15.764 21.522 120.740 26.253 12.839 17.432 11.729 20.398 16.126 22.198 126.975 24.441 12.093 17.326 11.423 20.259 15.974 22.015 123.531 25.300 11.907 18.586 10.880 19.970 15.849 21.848 124.340 24.426 11.324 19.825 10.548 19.883 16.134 22.043 124.183 25.891 10.705 19.289 10.602 19.724 16.163 21.794 124.168 29.052 10.601 17.464 10.478 20.117 16.296 21.654 125.662 28.606 10.731 15.580 10.822 20.221 16.343 21.855 124.158 28.867 11.072 15.585 10.761 20.480 15.942 22.383 125.090 29.807 11.668 15.464 10.705 20.786 15.834 22.385 126.649 28.357 12.513 15.132 10.597 20.748 16.138 22.507 125.992 26.467 12.134 15.563 10.724 20.902 16.607 22.561 124.958 25.999 11.388 16.030 10.970 21.400 16.616 22.676 125.079 24.978 11.440 16.256 10.850 21.462 16.956 22.742 124.684 23.540 11.469 18.769 10.717 21.926 17.065 23.177 126.663 24.024 11.392 20.616 10.956 22.325 17.276 23.878 130.467 25.164 10.551 20.971 11.224 22.808 18.328 24.100 133.146 27.318 11.494 20.509 11.212 23.420 18.893 24.820 137.666 28.781 12.233 20.400 11.401 23.601 19.819 26.025 142.260 26.278 13.222 20.812 11.527 23.783 20.387 26.101 142.110 26.703 14.166 21.256 11.932 24.947 20.643 26.043 145.690 26.773 14.611 20.633 12.070 25.139 20.889 26.082 146.197 25.631 15.045 19.267 12.231 25.392 21.656 26.175 145.397 26.378 14.400 19.435 12.156 25.800 21.174 25.799 145.142 28.660 13.655 17.366 12.016 25.899 21.057 25.277 143.930 31.061 14.690 21.541 11.962 26.516 21.224 25.024 152.018 31.821 13.691 20.702 12.616 26.826 21.326 25.373 152.355 36.772 14.238 24.273 13.021 29.099 21.798 25.639 164.840 36.090 14.248 25.403 12.923 30.234 23.390 25.802 168.090 36.152 15.020 25.167 12.928 30.082 24.451 25.762 169 562 37.865 16.124 27.372 12.988 30.380 25.029 26.515 176 273 40.955 17.031 31.509 13.166 30.389 25.977 27.217 186.244 43.813 18.894 29.301 13.289 30.678 26.683 27.354 190.012 55.360 19.385 30.722 13.717 32.081 28.443 28.727 208.435 53.504 19.810 33.606 13.865 33.025 29.888 28.887 212.585 53.918 18.824 26.449 14.225 36.527 32.390 29.617 211.950 64.071 17.746 21.247 15.213 36.917 32.575 31.010 218.779 54.688 55.518 19.355 19.127 22.751 25.802 15.552 16.086 38.615 39.436 32.657 31.159 31.392 32.551 215.010 219.679 55.680 18.168 25.886 18.720 40.444 29.843 32.009 220.750 53.996 19.008 27.021 18.767 40.745 28.413 32.222 220.172 Note. — Breadstuffs include quotations of wheat, com, oats, rye and barley, besides beans and peas; meats include live hogs, beef, sheep and various provisions, lard, tallow, etc.; dairy and garden include butter, eggs, vegetables and fruits; other foods include fish, liquors, condiments, sugar, rice, tobacco, etc.; clothing includes the raw material of each industry, and many quotations of woolen, cotton and other tex- tile goods, as well as hides and leather; metals include various quotations of pig iron, and partially manu- factured and finished products, as well as minor metals, coal and petroleum. The miscellaneous class embraces many grades of hard and soft lumber, lath, brick, lime, glass, turpentine, hemp, linseed oil, paints, fertilizers and drugs. WHOLESALE PRICES. 93 6.— INDEX NUMBERS OF GIBSON. PUBLICATION. "This index of wholesale prices in the United States is published by Thomas Gibson, New York, every Saturday, in his weekly market letter. HISTORY. "In March, 1910, Prof. J. Pease Norton published a 'report on a new method of compiling index numbers on the Sauerbeck selection of commodities modified with the Dun system of weighting,' which was prepared for use in the weekly market report of Thomas Gibson. ^ The work was undertaken as a continuation of the Dun index, which had been suspended in May, 1907. "In this compilation 50 articles, divided into four general groups, were used instead of the much larger number included in Dun's index. The general food group was in turn divided into vegetable foods and animal foods. The descriptions of the 50 articles whose prices formed the index were the same as those used for these 50 articles in Bulletin I of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 75. The actual and relative i prices for 1907 of these 50 articles appear to have been taken from the latter source. The plan followed in the compilation of this index was ! intended to be that used by Sauerbeck. It is claimed that no manu- \ factured or derivative products are included, but that only primary com- modities have been used. "Since November, 1912, only 22 articles, all of which belong to the food group alone, have been included in the index number. ***** I BASE PERIOD. "The years 1890 to 1899 are used as the base period in the compu- I tation of the index number. PRICES: HOW SHOWN AND COMPUTED. "The actual prices of the articles are not shown for any period, the only data published in Gibson's weekly market report being the index I for all commodities. I NUMBER AND CLASS OF COMMODITIES. i "As has been stated, when this index was first published it covered ' 50 articles from the farm, mines, and other sources, and included such as had been subjected only to an initial manufacturing process. Since November, 1912, it has been calculated on the food group alone, includ- ing 22 articles. It is stated that the articles covered are those essentially I primary in their nature. I ■ ~ iSee also article by Prof. Norton in Quarterly Journal of Economics, August, 1910, pp. 750-759. Pub- lished by Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. 94 WHOLESALE PRICES. DESCRIPTION AND GROUPING OF COMMODITIES. "The present list of articles is divided into two groups, as follows: Vegetable foods (13 articles). Wheat, contract price. Wheat flour, spring patents. Wheat flour, winter patents. Barley, by sample. Oats, cash. Corn, No. 2, cash. Corn meal, fine yellow. Potatoes, white. Rye, No. 2. Sugar, 89°, fair refining. Sugar, 96°, centrifugal. Coffee, Rio, No. 7. Tea, Formosa, fine. Animal foods (9 articles). Beef, steers (average of quotations for two grades). Beef, fresh native sides. Beef, salt. Mutton, sheep (average of quotations for two grades). Mutton, dressed. Pork, hogs (average of quotations for two grades). Bacon, short rib sides. Hams. Butter (average of quotations for three grades). WEIGHTING. "The weights assigned to the four groups formerly included in the index number were 50 for foods, 18 for textiles, 16 for minerals, and 16 for other commodities. "The weighting was accomplished by using a combination of figures from Dun's report and the material published by the United States Bureau of Labor. ********** "Since the reduction of the number of articles on which the index number is calculated from 50 articles of all classes to 22 food com- modities, no explanation has been given concerning the method of weighting employed, so far as can be ascertained. It is stated, how- ever, in Gibson's weekly market letter of January 11, 1913, and in sub- sequent issues that the index number is weighted according to Dun's method. WHOLESALE PRICES. TABLES OF RESULTS. 95 The average yearly index numbers for the cost of foodstufifs, the only part of .the original series now published, as computed by this process from 1890, down to the present time, are shown in the following tables appearing in Gibson's weekly market letter of December 7, 1917. AVERAGE YEARLY INDEX NUMBERS, 1890-1917. Year. Average yearly index number. Year. Average yearly index number. Year. Average yearly index number. 1890 1891 43.4 50.8 45.3 46.0 43.4 42.0 34.0 34.7 38.7 41.6 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 . 1908 1909 42.2 44.5 53.5 49.0 48.3 47.3 49.8 50.9 54.2 59.2 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 (11 mos.) 59.3 56.9 62.6 58.1 60.8 64.0 .S9.3 109.9 1892. . . 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 Monthly averages for the years 1913-1917 are as follows: MONTHLY AVERAGES. 1913-1917. Month. 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 Average. Average. Average. Average. Average. January .... 55.5 57.0 57.8 59.0 57.8 57.3 58.6 59.3 60.0 58.4 58.4 58.2 58.2 58.2 57.8 57.7 57.9 59.4 58.9 64.9 68.6 62.9 63.1 62.3 64.7 68.0 66.7 67.8 68.3 64.3 64.4 63.1 58.5 60.0 60.6 62.1 65.6 68.2 69.5 71.3 72.3 70.8 71.9 76.1 78.4 82.2 87.1 85.1 87.4 90.5 96.4 109.2 118.5 114.2 116.4 117.9 119.4 120.1 119.9 March May July September October November 96 WHOLESALE PRICES. 7.— CANADIAN INDEX NUMBERS OF WHOLESALE PRICES. "This compilation of wholesale prices for the Dominion of Canada is published yearly by the Department of Labor of Canada at Ottawa. Index numbers for each group of commodities and for its main sub- divisions are also published monthly in the Labor Gazette, the official organ of the department of labor. HISTORY. "The first report on wholesale prices made by the Canadian Depart- ment of Labor was published in 1910 and covered the years 1890 to 1909, inclusive. The object in undertaking this work was to determine as accurately as possible the nature and extent of the general rise in wholesale prices which had occurred in Canada during recent years. Prior to the beginning of this work the Labor Gazette, the official organ of the department, had for some time published each month certain data regarding prices in connection with its review of industrial and labor conditions. The importance of the subject and the unsatisfactoriness of general statements in a matter of this kind led the department in 1910 to adopt a more comprehensive and systematic method of treating the subject of prices in the monthly summary and also to extend the inquiry into the wholesale prices of a selected list of representative staple commodities back over the preceding 20 years. ^ In subsequent annual and monthly reports the price data have been brought down to the present time. SOURCE OF QUOTATIONS. "It is stated that the practice followed throughout the investigation was ' to collect and collate the best available published information and to submit the result for verification to long-established firms at the whole- sale center in question.* The daily press and weekly trade journals of Canada and the printed reports of exchanges, boards of trade, etc., are mentioned as the principal sources of data. When reliable printed matter failed, information was obtained from books of manufacturers and wholesalers. "A source used for verification purposes in the case of a few impor- tant raw materials imported by manufacturers direct from the primary markets of the world, and in which there is no wholesale trade in Canada, was the declared import values, which were divided by total quantities to show the average prices. Toronto and Montreal markets furnish the great mass of the quotations published in the reports.^ BASE PERIOD. "The base period selected for the computation of index numbers for practically all commodities is the decade 1890-1899. Two reasons are given for this selection: (1) The period was considered as repre- sentative of normal conditions as any available, containing a time of falling and a time of rising prices, and (2) direct comparison with the similar study of the United States Department of Labor was considered very desirable, and this was made possible by choosing the same base period.^ In a few instances, owing to special reasons, a period other than the decade 1890-1899 has been chosen as the base. . ( » Wholesale prices in Canada 1890-1909, p. 2. 2Idem, p. 8. WHOLESALE PRICES. 97 PRICES:. HOW COMPUTED AND SHOWN. "In the first report the prices quoted are stated to be 'for the most part those prevailing on the opening day of each month, though if, in particular cases, these were found to be abnormal, an average of the week was taken.^ In the report for 1912 it is stated that the manner of quoting prices is the same as in the earlier reports except that for certain articles subject to rapid fluctuations (grains, live animals, cer- tain meats, butter, eggs, potatoes, and fresh fruits — 40 in all) weekly instead of monthly quotations were obtained.^ This plan was continued in the preparation of the wholesale-price data for 1913. "Difficulty was encountered in obtaining quotations of a uniform quality of certain articles, particularly of manufactured articles, through a series of years. It is stated in the reports that wherever such articles are quoted, care has been taken to see that changes in quality are accounted for in the prices given.'' In a few cases — as, for example, in the case of cotton goods — the prices published are not simple quota- tions on a single variety, but averages of a large number of varieties. "In the annual reports the actual prices are published for each com- modity by months, or, in some cases, by weeks, and the average of these quotations is given as the price for the year. Index numbers are pub- lished in the annual reports for each commodity by years and in the Labor Gazette for each group and subgroup (56 items in all) by months currently. Index numbers do not seem to be published for single com- modities by months. Many of the actual prices are stated in the for^n of a range of price, and apparently the mean is used for computations based on these figures. "Some commodities whose price is largely governed by seasonal conditions are quoted for only those months of the year when they are in season — as, for example, blue grapes, for which quotations are given only for September and October. 1 Wholesale prices in Canada, 1890-1909, p. 440 ' Idem. 2912, p. 2 2 Idem, p. 439. * Idem, 1890-1909, p. 439 98 WHOLESALE PRICES. CANADA— WHOLESALE PRICES INDEX. TABLE SHOWING INDEX NUMBERS OF ALL COMMODITIES BY GROUPS, 1890-1916. [Average Prices 1890-1899=100.] 1 . Grains and fodder 2. Animals and meats 3. Dairy produce 4. Fish 5. Other foods 6. Textiles 7. Hides, leather, boots 8. Metals and implements: — (a) Metals (b) Implements 9. Fuel and lighting 10. Buildings materials: — (a) Lumber (b) Miscellaneous (c) Paints, oils, glass . . 1 1 . House furnishings 12. Drugs and chemicals 13. Miscellaneous: — (a) Furs, raw (b) Liquors, tobaccos . . (c) Sundries All 1. Grains and fodder 2. Animals and meats 3. Dairy produce 4. Fish 5. Other foods 6. Textiles 7. Hides, leather, boots 8. Metals and implements: — (a) Metals (b) Implements 9. Fuel and lighting 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 116.7 123.9 106.7 99.1 94.3 98.8 85.2 80.6 98.8 111.2 104.7 108.5 117.7 98.7 92.2 82.4 90.4 97.9 103.0 106.2 105.8 110.4 104.6 94.8 90.1 90.1 92.9 103.3 97.3 90.6 99.7 96.4 101.4 102.6 98.6 99.6 120.3 121.3 104.7 102.1 95.0 95.2 87.1 86.0 94.3 111.4 104.2 102.2 101.2 97.3 93.6 96.9 98.0 95.2 100.6 102.6 99.8 101.8 89.9 98.6 92.9 100.1 105.0 125.4 114.4 107.6 102.1 91.1 87.0 87.5 85.7 87.6 103.8 103.2 102.9 102.6 102.2 101.0 98.5 93.1 94.3 107.4 106.7 106.6 102.9 97.5 97.0 98.9 96.4 93.5 103.5 102.7 104.4 103.7 104.6 102.8 97.1 93.9 90.8 117.6 110.4 106.8 103.7 98.7 95.2 93.9 87.7 87.4 109.5 103.8 98.2 98.6 95.5 96.1 96.2 95.5 100.0 100.2 100.5 100.9 101.1 101.3 97.9 97.5 99.8 99.6 110.5 110.3 104.4 104.4 103.1 100.3 99.8 96.5 96.8 86.5 99.7 103.7 123.6 113.5 80.5 80.7 88.0 111.1 94.9 99.0 99.7 99.4 98.7 99.4 98.0 103.9 103.9 112.0 106.7 98.9 100.3 93.7 91.3 92.6 91.2 103.3 110.3 108.5 102.8 102.5 97.2 95.6 92.5 92.2 96.1 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 96.7 99.9 107.3 116.1 106.5 115.5 116.4 118.5 140.2 95.1 103.4 111.3 122.2 117.9 111.3 120.7 130.1 133.8 101.4 109.0 120.5 106.9 108.9 107.2 115.1 120.2 131.5 110.0 106.4 113.2 110.2 116.2 119.5 115.7 121.8 129.5 93.6 96.4 98.6 98.4 98.1 101.8 100.7 103.1 112.5 99.8 100.0 103.6 101.0 105.9 110.4 114.6 123.4 126.1 109.4 113.8 112.8 118.2 115.7 113.6 119.6 128.1 125.5 111.9 121.2 110.4 102.8 105.5 99.7 108.4 128.6 134.8 98.0 100.1 102.2 104.7 105.7 106.2 106.1 10<5.0 107.1 96.9 100.8 98.1 104.9 111.0 103.0 104.1 106.4 108.8 WHOLESALE PRICES. 99 TABLE SHOWING INDEX NUMBERS OF ALL COMMODITIES BY GROUPS, 1890-1916. [Average Prices 1890-1899 = 100.] 10. Buildings materials: — (a) Lumber (b) Miscellaneous . . . (c) Paints, oils, glass . 11. House furnishings 12. Drugs and chemicals. . . 13. Miscellaneous: — (a) Furs, raw (b) Liquors, tobaccos (c) Sundries All 1889 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 95.8 114.0 114.6 122.0 128.8 131.3 134.1 152.7 165.2 97.2 111.8 106.0 104.6 107.7 107.2 106.8 104.7 108.7 107.6 125.9 121.9 128.1 126.3 122.4 125.3 135.3 141.2 100.2 110.2 107.9 109 . 2 109.6 112.7 107.3 113.0 112.7 93.3 101.5 99.8 102.2 105.5 109.0 106.4 106.3 108.5 111.8 147.3 140.9 145.2 168.1 171.3 217.4 229.2 239.4 102.3 103.3 103.3 103.7 107.0 107.8 108.1 108.1 125.5 109.5 113.0 110.9 116.8 115.9 119.1 121.1 120.9 123.0 100.1 108.2 107.0 109.0 110.5 111.4 113.8 120.0 126.2 TABLE SHOWING INDEX NUMBERS OF ALL COMMODITIES BY GROUPS. 1890-1916. [Average Prices 1890-1899=100.] 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 19131 1914 1915 1916 Grains and fodder Animals and meats Dairy produce Fish Other foods Textiles Hides, leather, boots Metals and implements: — (a) Metals (b) Implements Fuel and lighting Buildings materials: — (a) Lumber (b) Miscellaneous (c) Paints, oils, glass. . House furnishings Drugs and chemicals Miscellaneous: — (a) Furs, raw (b) Liquors, tobaccos. . (c) Sundries All 148.3 129.6 136.3 120.5 110.3 111.0 120.0 106.3 104.2 102.2 162.6 107.5 136.8 112.8 107.1 231.8 118.0 117.6 149.9 148.6 133.6 134.0 107.6 108.3 135.4 101.9 102.4 103.8 154.6 105.7 135.2 110.4 103.9 227.2 117.5 121.6 140.7 163.6 135.7 145.1 111.3 114.6 135.4 97.6 104.5 103.0 158.5 109.2 145.5 110.6 109.5 234.5 132.9 118.0 148.4 146.6 136.2 143.6 118.7 119.2 139.6 108.3 104.5 100.5 165.4 102.6 154.5 110.4 112. 252.9 151.2 110.3 167.3 160.8 159.0 155.7 126.0 120.7 152.4 117.4 104.7 113.3 166.5 105.4 148.6 114.5 115.5 297.3 155.2 104.0 136.8 180.8 154.7 158.0 117.4 130.8 163.9 119.1 105.6 118.2 181.3 112.7 144.8 126.2 113.3 307.9 134.7 113.1 156.5 192.3 154.4 156.0 118.8 133.5 171.8 113.9 106.8 110.9 182.1 111.4 140.7 129.5 121.6 205.4 136.9 108.5 186.9 187.2 161.4 149.7 125.5 149.2 180.5 152.4 112.1 108.8 175.7 115.9 157.1 136.5 181.3 161.9 135.6 116.6 195.2 217.7 183.5 184.8 156.2 193.4 233.4 198.9 135.2 132.6 182.1 154.9 200.5 157.1 252.2 299.8 142.4 143.0 120.8 121.2 124.2 127.4 13. 135.5 136.1 148.0 182.0 100 WHOLESALE PRICES. 1917 Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec 1 . Grains and fodder 2. Animals and meats 3. Dairy produce 4. Fish 5. Other foods 6. Textiles 7. Hides, leather, boots. . . 8. Metals and implements: (a) Metals (b) Implements 9. Fuel and lighting 10. Buildings materials: (a) Lumber (b) Miscellaneous. . . . (c) Paints, oils, glass. n. House furnishings 12. Drugs and chemicals. . 13. Miscellaneous: (a) Furs, raw (b) Liquors, tobaccos. (c) Sundries All 1 Calculated. 258.7 249.2 233.3 183.8 199.4 216.4 275.9 210.9 156.5 159.7 185.8 179.6 213.0 168.9 236.7 399.5 167.2 155.5 243.0 260.2 234.8 188.7 212.5 223.8 264.7 234.2 165.2 162.5 189.2 186.0 222.8 168.9 237.0 403.7 164.8 155.6 254.1 269.1 224.2 195.1 218.4 230.7 254.2 241.1 165.2 174.9 193.5 191.3 244.4 170.2 246.3 403.7 164.8 157.2 275.9 283.0 216.0 218.0 233.8 238.0 254.2 250.0 165.2 171.1 198.8 146.7 252.4 179.5 248.7 412.4 167.2 161.3 304.2 306.5 221.8 199.2 253.6 242.6 273.5 265.0 167.7 290.9 280.4 205.7 198.4 264.6 261.1 275.4 274.2 192.3 204.3 202.5 258.4 190.2 255.3 396.6 175.^5 183.5 204.4 209.3 257.8 195.7 254.4 396.6 175.5 194.2 294.1 292.6 208.6 190.4 251.6 266.2 267.6 277.8 198.7 216.1 215.9 214.7 256.0 198.4 256.6 396.6 175.5 193.4 294.7 289.2 225.2 201.5 217.9 274.1 269.7 278.0 200.7 205.8 221 3 216.1 259.6 198.4 262.8 388.4 175.5 196.5 280.7 293.5 229.7 214.3 222.4 274.8 268.8 1 274.0 199.8 213.8 221.3 214.5 260.0 205.6 268.6 388.4 175.5 196.5 281.0 298.4 245.2 233.0 218. 291.9 272.6 1 261.8 199.8 167.0 222.5 212.2 259.9 205.6 265.7 415.1 165.9 197.8 208.1 217.3 220.6 228.7 240.0 242.7 242.6 245.0 243.2 242.6 WHOLESALE PRICES. 101 8.— WHOLESALE PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES, SINCE 1914, THE BEGINNING OF THE EUROPEAN WAR. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows by its compilation that the wholesale prices of many commodities have more than doubled in the United States since the outbreak of the European war. This is par- ticularly true of grains and metals, immense quantities of which have been sent abroad. As compared with the prices prevailing in July, 1914, the month immediately preceding the opening of hostilities, wheat and flour in the Minneapolis market had increased in June, 1917, more than 200 per cent, corn in Chicago had increased more than 140 per cent, corn meal in New York had increased more than 170 per cent, and good to choice potatoes in Chicago had increased more than 140 per cent. Other articles showing large increases were wool (Ohio, fine fleece, scoured) 134.6 per cent, worsted yarn (2-32s, crossbred stock) 138.5 per cent, bituminous coal (run of mine at Cincinnati) 172.7 per cent, electrolytic copper 142.5 per cent, pig lead 194.9 per cent, pig tin 102.6 per cent, Bessemer pig iron 267.1 per cent, and steel billets 419.7 per cent. A comparison of wholesale prices of important commodities in repre- sentative markets from July, 1914, to June, 1917, is contained in the two tables which follow. The average actual money prices for the specified months are shown in the first table. The relative prices in the second table are based on the actual prices, the prices for July, 1914, being taken as 100. 102 WHOLESALE PRICES. •\\^HOI.,ESALJi: PRICES OF IMPORTANT COMMODITIES, JULY, 1914-1916, AND JANUARY-JUNE. 1917. Actual Prices. ! Article. Unit. Average monthly price. July. 1917. 1914. 1915. 1916. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. 100 lbs. $9,219 $9,213 $9,985 $10,530 $11,131 $11,869 $12,310 $12,475 $12,550 Pound Barrel 100 lbs. .135 17.250 8.769 .132 17.500 7.281 .141 18.250 9.825 .138 23.250 10.955 .141 23.250 12.575 .149 24.313 14.794 .160 26.250 15.795 .160 29.600 16.088 .162 30.500 15.706 Pound Barrel .141 23.625 .111 18.500 .157 27.167 .165 32.250 .175 33.250 .196 35.438 .218 39.000 .242 41.450 .242 41 . 500 Pound .102 .081 .131 .161 .172 .200 .213 .225 .212 Bushel .897 1.390 1.170 1.917 1.808 1.984 2.381 2.981 2.694 Barrel Bushel 100 lbs. Bushel Pound Pound 4.594 .710 1.425 1.206 .042 .194 7.031 .783 1.725 .444 .058 .258 6.100 .808 1.900 .863 .075 .270 9.215 .982 2.650 1.795 .066 .335 9.069 1.016 2.750 2.469 .069 .318 9.631 1.123 2.750 2.275 .071 .305 11.619 1.397 3.100 2.669 .082 .305 14.880 1.625 3.700 2 . 705 .079 .315 13.894 1.716 3.900 2.950 .075 .330 Pound .131 .092 .130 .176 .163 .186 .203 .208 .255 Pound .215 .160 .253 .340 .320 .310 .360 .365 .375 Pound .575 .652 .761 1.000 1.087 1.130 1.152 1.304 1.348 Pound 2000 lbs. .650 2.200 .850 2.200 1.100 2.200 1.250 4.500 1 . 250 5.000 1.270 5.000 1.300 5.000 1.400 6.000 1.550 6.000 Pound Pound Pound 2240 lbs. 2240 lbs. Pound Barrel .134 .039 .311 14.900 19.000 .051 1.750 .199 .058 .391 14.950 21.380 .220 1.350 .265 .069 .389 21.950 41.000 .113 2.600 .295 .075 .430 35.950 63.000 .098 2.850 .330 .085 .490 35.950 65.000 .099 3.050 .363 .095 .515 37.700 56.250 .109 3.050 .340 .094 .543 42 . 200 73.750 .108 3.050 .310 .099 .585 45.150 86.000 .095 3.100 .325 .115 .630 54.700 98.750 .096 3.100 Cattle, good to choice steers . . . Beef, fresh, native steers Beef, salt, mess.. . Hogs, heavy Bacon, short clear sides Pork, salt, mess . . Lard, prime, con- tract Wheat, No. 1, Nor- thern Flour, standard patent Corn, No. 2, mixed. Meal, fine, yellow. Potatoes, white. . . Sugar, granulated Hides, packers'. . . Cotton, upland, middling Cotton, yarn, carded, 10-1 Wool, fine fleece, scoured Worsted yarn, 2-32S Coal, bituminous. Copper, electroly- tic Pig lead Pig tin ' Pig iron, Bessemer Steel billets Spelter Petroleum, crude. WHOLESALE PRICES OF IMPORTANT COMMODITIES, JULY, 1914-1916, AND JANUARY-JUNE, 1917. Relative Prices. Article. Cattle, good to choice steers Beef, fresh, native steers Beef, salt, mess Hogs, heavy Bacon, short clear sides. . . . Pork, salt, mess Lard, prime, contract Wheat, No. 1 Northern .... Flour, standard patent Com, No. 2, mixed Meal, fine, yellow Potatoes, white Sugar, granulated Hides, packers' Cotton, upland, middling. . . Cotton yarns, carded 10-1 . . Wool, fine, fleece, scoured. . . Worsted yarns, 2-32s Coal, bituminous Copper, electrolytic Pig lead Pig tin Pig iron, Bessemer Steel billets Spelter Petroleum, crude Unit. Relative price. 1 J uly. 1917. 1914. 1915. 1916. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June. 100 lbs. 100 99.9 108.3 114.2 120.7 128.7 133.5 135.3 36.1 Pound 100 97.4 104.7 101.9 104.7 110.4 118.5 118.5 19.6 Barrel 100 101.4 105.8 134.8 134.8 140.9 152.2 171.6 76.8 100 lbs. 100 83.0 112.0 124.9 143.4 168.7 180.1 183.5 79.1 Pound 100 78.8 111.3 117,3 124.3 139.3 154.8 171.8 71.8 Barrel 100 78.3 115.0 136.5 140.7 150.0 165.1 175.4 75.7 Pound 100 79.1 128.3 157.1 168.4 195.4 208.3 220.0 7.2 Bushel 100 155.0 130.5 213.6 201.5 221.2 265 . 5 332.2 0.2 Barrel 100 153.1 132.8 200.6 197.4 209.7 252.9 332.9 2.4 Bushel 100 110.2 113.7 138.2 143.1 158.2 196.7 228.8 41.6 100 lbs. 100 121.1 133.3 186.0 193.0 193.0 217.5 259.6 73.7 Bushel 100 36.8 71.5 148.8 204.7 188.6 221.2 224.2 44.5 Pound 100 138.6 178.6 157.6 163.3 168.1 194.0 189.0 79.5 Pound 100 132.9 139.3 172.9 163.8 157.4 157.4 162.5 70.3 Pound 100 70.1 99.3 134.3 124.2 141.6 154.8 1.58.1 93.8 Pound 100 74.4 117.4 158.1 148.8 144.2 167.4 169.8 74.4 Pound 100 113.5 132.4 174.1 189.2 196.8 200.6 227.0 34.6 Pound 100 130.8 169.2 192.3 192.3 195.4 200.0 215.4 38.5 2000 lbs. 100 100.0 100.0 204.5 227.3 227.3 227.3 272.7 72.7 Pound 100 148.4 197.8 220.1 246.3 270.5 253.7 231.3 42.5 Pound 100 147.4 175.6 192.3 217.9 243.6 239.7 253.3 94.9 100 lbs. 100 125.7 125.0 138.3 157.6 165.6 174.4 188.1 2.6 2240 lbs. 100 100.3 147.3 241.3 241.3 253.0 283.2 303.0 67.1 2240 lbs. 100 112.5 215.8 331.6 342.1 348.7 388.2 452.6 19.7 Pound 100 435.6 222.8 193.1 195.6 215.4 212.9 188.1 90.7 Barrel 100 77.1 148.6 162.9 174.3 174.3 174.3 177.1 77.1 CHAPTER III BUDGETARY STUDIES. 1.— PROPORTION OF FAMILY EXPENDITURES FOR VARIOUS ITEMS. (From Conditions of Labor in American Industries — Lauck and Sydenstricker, 1917.) • Several important collections of family budgets of wage-earners have been made in the United States in the last fourteen years. The most important of these have been: "Chapin— The Standard of Living in New York City (1907); More— Wage-Earners' Budgets (1903-1905); Byington— Homestead : A Mill Town (1907-1908); New York State Conference of Charities and Cor- rectives (published in Chapin, supt. cit., 1907); U. S. Bureau of Labor — Women and Child Wage-Earners, Vol. xix (1909); British Board of Trade — The Cost of Living in American Towns (1909); Eighteenth Annual Report of the Commissioner of Labor on Cost of Living (1901); J. C. Kennedy and others — Wages and Family Budgets in the Chicago Stockyard District (1909-1910); Pittsburgh Associated Charities re- port (1910). "From these the conclusion appears warrantable that the family of average size and of earnings within the predominant ranges of income disposes of its income in approximately the following manner of existing prices. Per Cent. Food 40 to 50 Rent 17 to 20 Clothing 12 to 15 Fuel and lighting 4 to 8 Sundries 10 to 1 7 "These approximations take into consideration the rise in prices of foods and in rents. They indicate the important fact that something like four-fifths of the family income must be spent for subsistence, cloth- ing and shelter. For all of the other items of expenditure which con- tribute to the health, comfort and contentment of the family a com- paratively small proportion of the family income is available. As an illustration the more detailed data obtained from an intensive study by the U. S. Bureau of Labor of the annual budgets of 2,567 workingmen's families may be presented." 103 104 BUDGETARY STUDIES. PER CENT OF EXPENDITURE FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES IN 11.156 NORMAL FAMILIES > BY CLASSIFIED INCOME Classified Income. Rent Fuel Light- ing Food Cloth- ing Sun- dries Total Under $200 $16.93 18.02 18.69 18.57 18.43 18.48 18.17 17.07 17.58 17.53 16.59 17.40 $ 6.69 6.09 5.97 5.54 5.09 4.65 4.14 3.87 3.85 3.77 3.63 3.85 $ 1.27 1.13 1.14 1.12 1.12 1.12 1.12 1.10 1.11 1.16 1.08 1.18 $50.85 47.33 48.09 46.88 46.16 43.48 41.44 41.37 39.90 38.79 37.68 36.45 $ 8.68 8.66 10.02 11.39 11.98 12.88 13.50 13.57 14.35 15.06 14.89 15.72 $15.58 18.77 16.09 16.50 17.22 19.39 21.63 23.02 23.21 23.69 26.13 25.40 $100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 $200 or under $300 300 or under 400 400 or under 500 500 or under 600 600 or under 700 700 or under 800 800 or under 900 900 or under 1,000 1.000 or under 1.100 1,100 or under 1.200 1,200 or over Total $18.12 $ 4.57 $ 1.12 $43 . 13 $12.95 $20.11 $100.00 PER CENT OF TOTAL FAMILY INCOME EXPENDED FOR MEAT, ALL FOOD, RENT, AND FOR FOOD AND RENT IN 3,215 FAMILIES IN 1909. (a) Items of Expenditures Families Reporting Weekly Incomes of Under $ 9.73 $9.73 and under 14.60 $14.60 and under 19.47 $19.47 and under 24.33 $24.33 and under 29.20 $29.20 and under 34.07 $34.07 and under 38.93 $38.93 and over Meat All food $12.95 51.39 19.53 70.92 $13.49 47.62 17.74 65.36 $12.22 44.15 16.66 60.81 $11.36 41.19 15.34 56.53 $10.50 37.88 14.04 51.92 $ 9.32 33.53 12.01 45.54 $10.23 34.49 12.04 46.53 $ 9.28 28.40 9.91 38.31 Rent Food and rent (a) Compiled from digest of British Board of Trade report on the cost of living in American towns, Sen. Doc. 38, 62d Cong., 1st Sess., p. 44. The families included were native white and British-born in cities in northern states. i BUDGETARY STUDIES. 105 2.— NAVY DEPARTMENT RATION FOR ENLISTED MEN. The Paymaster General of the Navy, in his Annual Report for the Fiscal Year 1917, made the following comment on the increased cost of the "navy" ration during the past year, (pages 18-19). ''The unusual, if not indeed unprecedented, rise in the cost of nearly all staple articles of food during the year has of course been directly reflected in the cost of the NAVY ration which, for 1917, was $0,438 as against $0.37648 for 1916. ******** "While, however, the average cost of the ration increased about twenty per cent over the preceding year, statistics compiled by the Department of Labor show that there was an increase of about forty per cent in the wholesale prices of the principal items of food; so that, had the cost of the ration increased proportionately with the rise in the food market, it would have cost approximately a million and a half dollars more to feed the NAVY than it actually did — somewhat over four thousand dollars a day. "This was accomplished by the rigid enforcement of the regulations prohibiting the purchase of patent and proprietary foods, by closely scrutinizing all reports of the survey of provisions rendered unfit for use to the end that wherever possible all causes for loss would be eliminated by inquiry into every case where ships operating under the same con- ditions showed a marked difference in the cost of the ration, by the prep- aration of such items as cakes, pies, ice cream, etc., on board ship rather than the purchase of the higher priced manufactured articles and by the exercise of care in the purchase of provisions generally to the end that all items might be purchased when they are most plentiful and when, therefore, the market is the most advantageous." 3.— CANADIAN BUDGET. The Department of Labor of the Canadian (Dominion) Government prepares and publishes monthly the cost per week of an average family budget of staple foods, fuel and lighting, and rent. The following table as published in the September number of the Canadian Labour Gazette, shows this budget in a comparative form for the period 1910-1917 (through August). 106 BUDGETARY STUDIES. COST PER WEEK OF A FAMILY BUDGET OF STAPLE FOODS. FUEL AND LIGHTLNG AND RENT, IN TERMS OF THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES IN SIXTY CITIES IN CANADA. BUDGETARY STUDIES. 107 COST PER WEEK OF A FAMILY BUDGET OF STAPLE FOODS. FUEL AND LIGHTING AND RENT, IN TERMS OF THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES IN SIXTY CITIES IN CANADA. Quan- tity 191 5 1916 Jan. April July Oct. Jan. April July Oct. Beef, sirloin steak Beef, chuck roast Veal, roast 2 lbs. 2 lbs. 1 lb. 1 lb. 1 lb. 2 lbs. 1 lb. 2 lbs. 1 doz. 1 doz. 6 qts. 2 qts. 1 qt. 1 qt. 1 qt. 15 qts. 10 qts. 5 qts. 2 qts. 2 qts. 1 qt. Iqt. 4 qts. 2 qts. i qt. iqt. i qt. 2pks. ipt. c. 47.2 32.8 17.6 20.4 19.0 35.8 25.1 35.6 45.5 34.9 55.2 61.8 35.0 22.5 20.5 67.5 39.0 24.5 12.2 13.2 12.1 12.9 30.8 14.0 9.6 9.6 9.9 31.7 .8 c. 46.6 32.8 17.1 20.8 18.4 34.8 24.7 35.0 23.4 21.8 54.6 66.2 37.9 23.6 22.0 72.0 43.0 26.0 11.8 13.8 11.6 12.9 32.4 14.6 9.2 9.7 9.8 32.0 .8 c. 49.2 33.4 17.3 21.3 19.5 34.4 26.6 35.8 25.3 24.9 52.2 56.2 32.6 24.6 22.6 79.2 41.0 26.0 11.8 14.8 11.9 13.1 31.9 14.6 9.5 9.8 9.8 29.3 .8 c. 47.6 32.8 17.5 20.8 19.6 35.8 26.0 35.8 36.2 31.6 51.0 60.8 35.1 24.0 21.1 66.0 35.0 24.0 12.1 14.8 12.1 12.9 30.0 13.8 9.7 9.9 9.8 35.0 .7 c. 47.2 32.4 17.1 21.1 19.9 36.0 26.7 36.6 46.4 36.1 52.2 66.6 38.1 24.4 22.4 66.0 37.0 24.0 12.0 16.9 12.5 12.7 31.2 14.4 9.7 10.0 9.8 47.0 .8 c. 48.4 32.2 18.1 22.6 20.9 37.0 27.6 37.8 26.6 26.0 52.8 66.6 38.3 24.7 23.3 69.0 37.0 24.0 12.8 18.3 13.3 13.0 34.4 16.0 9.8 10.2 9.9 61.5 .8 c. .52.6 35.2 19.2 23.9 22.4 38.8 28.7 40.4 31.0 28.0 45.0 60.4 34.5 25.6 23.6 70.5 37.0 24.0 13.4 19.4 13.4 13.1 38.4 17.6 9.9 10.3 10.0 58.6 .8 c. 52.4 34.4 19.7 24.2 23.5 40.2 30.5 42.2 43.6 38.3 54.6 74.2 42.4 27.8 26.1 84.0 48.0 25.0 13.6 20.8 13.4 13.2 36.8 16.8 9.9 10.2 9.9 53.0 .8 Pork, roast, fresh Pork, salt, mess Bacon, breakfast Eggs, fresh Eggs, storage .... Milk Butter, dairy Butter, creamery Cheese, old Bread, plain, white Rolled oats Rice, good, medium Beans, hand picked Apples, evaporated Prunes, medium Sugar, granulated Sugar, yellow Tea. black Tea, green Coffee Potatoes Vinegar, white wine ALL FOODS . . . $7,967 $7,793 $7,797 $7,815 $8,279 $8,339 $8,457 $9,295 Starch, laundry ilb. c. 3.3 c. 3.2 c. 3.3 c. 3.2 c. 3.2 c. 3.3 c. 3.3 c. 3.5 Coal, anthracite Coal, bituminous Wood, hard, best Wood, soft iV ton 1^ ton iV cord i^ cord Igal. 54.1 38.0 42.5 31.2 23.7 53.1 37.2 34.1 31.4 23.6 52.1 35.8 41.7 30.6 23.4 51.2 36.9 41.5 30.2 23.0 53.2 36.9 41.6 30.7 23.0 53.5 37.7 41.5 30.2 23.0 54.7 38.0 41.9 30.2 22.8 57.9 39.9 43.9 31.6 23.0 Coal Oil $1,895 $1,794 $1,836 $1,828 $1,854 $1,859 $1,876 $1,963 Rent $4,370 $4,170 $4,099 $3.98 $3,975 $3,977 $4,040 $4,083 Grand total $14,265 $13,789 $13,765 $13,660 $14,140 $14,208 $14,406 $15,376 108 BUDGETARY STUDIES. COvST PER WEEK OF A FAMILY BUDGET OF STAPLE FOODS, FUEL AND LIGHTING AND RENT, IN TERMS OF THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES IN SIXTY CITIES IN CANADA. Quan- tity 1917 Jan. Feb. Mar. April May June July Aug. Beef, sirloin steak Beef, chuck roast Veal, roast 2 lbs. 2 lbs. 1 lb. 1 lb. 1 lb. 2 lbs. 1 lb. 2 lbs. 1 doz. 1 doz. 6 qts. 2 qts. 1 qt. Iqt. 1 qt. 15 qts. 10 qts. 5 qts. 2 qts. 2 qts. Iqt. 1 qt. 4 qts. 2 qts. f qt. i qt. 2pks. ipt. c. 52.8 34.8 20.3 24.8 24.6 44.8 31.2 48.6 56.9 45.3 59.4 88.4 48.9 30.5 28.8 91.5 53.0 27.0 13.6 24.4 14.6 13.6 36.8 17.0 10.1 10.1 9.9 64.7 .8 c. 54.0 35.8 20.9 25.9 26.1 45.2 32.6 50.2 54.9 44.5 60.6 86.4 48.0 31.2 29.5 91.5 52.0 26.5 13.6 25.2 14.0 13.8 36.4 17.0 10.4 10.5 10.5 78.3 .8 c. 56.2 38.2 21.6 26.5 26.8 46.8 33.3 52.8 46.9 41.8 60.6 85.4 48.7 31.9 30.1 90.5 53.0 27.5 13.0 25.6 14.2 14.0 36.4 16.8 10.7 10.7 10.0 98.7 .8 58.0 39.6 21.7 26.9 27.3 47.6 34.5 56.4 37.1 32.9 60.6 85.2 47.9 33.0 30.8 93.0 59.0 28.0 13.8 26.8 14.6 14.3 38.4 17.6 10.9 10.8 10.0 99.0 .8 c. 61.2 43.0 22.5 28.2 29.3 55.6 37.3 60.2 40.8 34.5 60.0 85.6 47.7 34.1 31.7 111.0 77.0 30.5 14.6 29.0 15.3 14.8 40.0 18.6 11.4 11.1 10.1 126.0 .8 c. 63.2 43.6 22.6 28.5 30.1 54.0 39.0 62.2 42.5 36.6 58.8 83.4 46.8 34.0 32.0 111.0 73.0 31.5 16.0 30.4 15.4 15.1 40.0 19.0 11.5 11.3 10.1 127.0 .8 c. 63.6 43.5 22.8 28.9 30.0 54.1 39.8 62.3 38.9 35.9 59.3 75.5 42.5 33.4 30.3 110.4 69.9 31.4 16.8 31.5 15.8 15.5 39.5 18.3 11.6 11.3 10.1 118.2 .8 c. 62.6 43.0 23.0 28.8 30.6 55.6 40.4 62.2 45.0 41.2 60.0 80.2 44.9 33.5 30.1 110.0 69.0 31.5 17.2 32.6 16.0 19.1 40.4 18.6 12.0 11.6 10.1 97.3 .8 Pork, roast, fresh Pork, salt, mess Bacon, breakfast Eggs, fresh Eggs, storage Milk Butter, dairy Butter, creamery Cheese, old Bread, plain, white Rice, good, medium Beans, hand picked Apples, evaporated Prunes, medium Sugar, granulated Tea, black Coffee Potatoes Vinegar, white wine ALL FOODS $10,272 $10,463 $10,695 $10,765 $11,819 $11,894 $11,618 $11,677 Starch, laundry Ub. c. 3.5 c. 3.5 c. 3.5 c. 3.6 c. 3.8 c. 3.9 c. 4.0 c. 4.1 Coal, anthracite Coal, bituminous Wood, hard, best Wood, soft A ton 1^ ton TS cord A cord 1 gal. 64.0 47.7 45.7 32.7 23.2 68.7 50.4 47.9 33.7 23.2 66.6 51.1 49.6 36.1 23.4 64.7 50.8 50.6 36.9 24.5 64.8 50.8 51.7 37.6 25.3 67.3 53.9 51.9 39.4 25.4 63.2 53.8 52.0 39.7 25.6 67.7 54.2 53.2 39.1 25.8 Coal Oil Fuel and lighting $2,134 $2,239 $2,268 $2,276 $2,302 $2,379 $2,343 $2.40 Rent $4,050 $4,040 $4,160 $4,265 $4,340 $4,360 $4.37 $4.36 Grand total $16,464 $16,778 $17,158 $17,342 $18,500 $18,672 $18,368 $18,478 BUDGETARY STUDIES. 109 4._C0ST OF LIVING IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. INVESTIGATION BY UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, 1916. A recent official budgetary investigation for the District of Columbia made by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows that the incomes of 2110 families earning less than $1,800 a year were generally insufficient to meet all family expenditures; and furthermore, that family expenditures were in a very large measure inadequate to maintain nor- mal family life in comfort or even decency. Outlays for food, clothing, care in sickness, amusements and recreation were below the minimum requirements. The study in question was based upon what was considered by the Ikireau to be a sufficiently large number of families to permit of trust- worthy deductions. It included data for 2110 families, 1481 of which were white and 629 colored. Only those families were included whose [)rincipal wage-earner had an income of $1,800 or less per year, and who had resided in the District of Columbia all of the year 1916. The average size of the family households were 4.9 person, i. e., in- cluding boarders or lodgers; the net family, i. e., excluding the latter, ^^ as 3.7 members. INCOMES Certain studies as to the minimum required to maintain a normal f cimily "upon a level of common decency" indicate a necessary income of $800 to $1,000; sums which are assumed to meet only the "creature necessities," yet 38 per cent of the families studied had yearly incomes of less than $900, and that in a year of unprecedented high prices; and 61 per cent had incomes of less than $1,200 a year. Of 629 negro fami- lies, 29 per cent had to live on less than $600 a year; and no less than three-fourths lived on less than $900. Of the white families almost one- fourth (23 per cent) existed on less than $900 a year. There con- ditions are characterized by the Federal Commissioner of Labor Sta- tistics as "a shocking state of economic indecency" and as revealing the acute pinch of economic distress among a large proportion of the fami- lies. These statements are furthermore supported by the fact that one- third of the families, both white and colored, closed the year with de- ficits; and only about a fourth of them were able to show a surplus. "Most of the families lived literally from hand to mouth," as can be readily seen from the following table: no BUDGETARY STUDIES. WHITE AND COLORED FAMILIES REPORTING A SURPLUS. A DEFICIT. OR NEITHER SURPLUS NOR A DEFICIT. BY INCOME GROUPS. Income group. Num- ber of fami- lies. Aver- size of family (house- hold.) Aver- age size of net family. Surplus. Deficit. Neither sur- 1 plus nor 1 deficit. 1 Num- ber. Per cent. Num- ber. Per cent. Num- ber. Per cent. Under $600: White 65 180 3.6 4.0 2.8 2.9 8 10 12.3 5.6 20 65 30.8 36.1 37 105 56.9 58.3 Colored Total $600 and under $900: White Colored Total 245 270 292 3.9 4.4 4.8 2.9 3.6 3.6 18 41 22 7.3 15.2 7.5 85 96 88 34.7 35.6 30.1 142 133 182 58.0 49.3- 62.3 562 375 113 4.6 4.8 5.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 63 83 23 11.2 22.1 20.4 184 126 35 32.7 33.6 31.0 315 166 55 221 152 11 56.0 44.3 48.7 $900 and under $1,200: White Colored Total 488 400 26 4.9 5.1 6.2 3.7 4.0 4.2 106 129 9 21.7 32.3 34.6 161 119 6 33.0 29.8 23.1 "1 38.0 i 42 . 3 ■ $1,200 and under $1,500: White Colored Total $1,500 and over: White ■ 426 371 18 5.1 5.5 5.6 4.0 4.0 4.1 138 186 9 32.4 50.1 50.0 125 68 3 29.3 18.3 16.7 163 117 6 38.311 31.5 33.3 Colored Total 389 1.481 629 5.5 4.9 4.8 4.0 3.8 3.5 195 447 73 50.1 30.2 11.6 71 429 197 18.3 29.0 31.3 123 605 359 31.6 40.9 57.1 Total: White Colored Total 2,110 4.9 3.7 520 24.6 626 29.7 964 45.7 EXPENDITURES. It is estimated by the Bureau on the basis of standards carefully) worked out in 1907 in the Sheffield Laboratory of Physiological Chem-i istry (Yale University), that in 1916 the minimum daily expenditure for food for an adult male should be 31 cents. Nevertheless, even when? such low standards are taken, and no allowance is made for waste and lack of knowledge of food values, a very large number of the families'! covered by this investigation fell below the "minimum of subsistence' line and many fell far below. Of 245 families with incomes of less than; $600 per year, almost three-fourths (72%) did not spend $112.50 a year — or 31 cents a day — for food per equivalent adult male. More* than one-half (51%) of the families with incomes ranging between $600( and $900 per year spent less than the minimum standard of $112.50' a year per equivalent adult male; and more than one-third (34%), even in income group $900 to $1,200, fell below the standard. The colored' families fared worse, but not very materially so. It is quite evident, the report states, that a considerable proportion of the low-income families of Washington do not buy enough food "to maintain the family members: in health and strength." According to the amounts spent in food in 1916, the families scheduled were as follows : •^i BUDGETARY STUDIES. Ill EXPENDITURES FOR FOOD PER EQUIVALENT ADULT MALE, PER FULL YEAR, 1916 Income group. Num- - berof fami- lies. Per cent of families spending, per equivalent adult male per year — Under $75 Under $87.50 Under $100 Under $112.50 Under $125 Under $137.50 Under $150 Under $162.50 Under $175 $175 and over. Under $600: White Colored . . . , . Total $600 and under $900: White Colored Total $900 and under $1,200: White Colored Total $1,200 and under $1,500: White Colored Total $1,500 and over: White Colored Total Total, all groups: White Colored Total 65 180 245 270 292 29.2 40.6 38.5 52.8 49.0 18.1 34.9 49.2 66.1 60.0 76.7 73.8 88.3 80.0 91.7 87.7 93.9 92.3 96.7 95.4 98.3 4.6 1.7 37.6 8.5 16.8 61.6 28.1 49.0 72.2 41.9 60.3 84.5 53.0 67.8 88.6 65.9 74.3 70.3 52.5 71.7 92.2 77.0 81.8 79.5 63.2 77.0 95.5 84.1 88.4 97.6 90.4 92.8 2.4 9.6 7.2 562 375 113 12.8 2.1 12.4 26.9 5.9 23.9 10.0 5.0 23.1 39.0 17.3 36.3 51.4 29.6 49.6 60.7 40.8 63.7 86.3 73.1 81.4 91.6 81.3 88.5 8.4 18.7 11.5 488 400 26 4.5 1.3 15.4 21.7 11.3 30.8 34.2 21.0 50.0 46.1 30.8 53.8 57.0 45.5 61.5 66.4 55.3 73.1 75.0 64.5 76.9 83.0 73.3 76.9 17.0 26.7 23.1 426 371 18 2.1 .3 5.6 6.1 1.6 11.1 12.4 4.9 16.7 22.8 11.1 33.3 32.2 21.8 44.4 46.5 34.8 50.0 56.3 48.2 66.7 65.3 60.9 77.8 73.5 69.8 77.8 26.5 30.2 22.2 389 1,481 629 .5 3.8 22.4 2.1 8.2 36.9 5.4 15.9 49.9 12.1 26.2 61.8 22.9 37.0 71.7 47.3 35.5 49.8 77.6 49.1 60.9 83.6 61.7 70.6 88.7 70.2 78.5 92.5 29.8 21.5 7.5 2,110 9.3 16.8 26.1 36.8 58.1 67.6 76.0 82.7 17.3 Clothing standards are difficult of determination, and all past studies have tended to place requirements too low. The Factory Investigating Committee of New York allowed $50 per year for a man at work; $38.50 for a woman in the home and correspondingly lower costs for children. Accepting these standards, however, "it may be said without hesitation, that a large proportion of the families included in this investigation were not supplied with necessary and respectable clothing and were financially unable to keep themselves so clothed." Only among families receiving incomes of $1,500 and over a year were the minimum require- ments sfecured. It appears that the average expenditures for clothing in 1916, by the white families with incomes of less than $900 a year were, for husbands, only $26.01 and for wives, only $17.60. For colored families the expen- ditures were slightly less — for husbands, $20.72, and for wives, $16.29. Even for the families with incomes between $900 and $1,200, the average clothing expenditures were only $34.36 for the husbands and $26.94 for the wives in white families, and $28.92 for husbands and $25.23 for wives in colored families. These averages are far below the cost stand- ards described above as absolutely necessary minimum expenditures for healthy and decent clothing. For the sake of brevity this analysis has 112 BUDGETARY STUDIES. been limited to husbands and wives. The expenditures for children were correspondingly low. As incomes increased, expenditures for care in sickness increased, which suggests that among poorer families such expenditures as are made are inadequate and the results "detrimental to the health of the individual sufferers, and the welfare of the community." Practically only free amusements are indulged in by families of the low-income groups. Of 83 families receiving incomes of less than $600 a year, only 35 incurred any direct expenditures for amusements. Amuse- ment, however, is a necessity in normal life, and the New York Factory Investigating Committee allowed $50 a year as a normal expenditure for recreation and amusement. The average expenditure for amusements per family was $12.70 and for vacations $32.39, or $45.09 for both items. BUDGET PROPOSED BY SEATTLE AND TACOMA, WASH- INGTON, STREET RAILWAY EMPLOYES. BRIEF ON BEHALF OF EMPLOYES. IN RE ARBITRATION OF THE MATTERS NOW IN CONTROVERSY BE- TWEEN THE PUGET SOUND TRACTION, LIGHT & POWER COMPANY, THE TACOMA RAILWAY & POWER COMPANY AND THEIR EM- PLOYES. BEFORE DR. HENRY SUZZALLO JAMES A. DUNCAN and C. J. FRANKLIN. In the course of the arbitration proceedings between the Seattle and Tacoma street railway companies and their employes, the attorneys for the employes, Reynolds and Harrow, submitted in their brief a minimum budget for the street railway workers, based on evidence which had been placed before the Board of Arbitration. After com- piling retail prices, they weighted the prices of food and fuel according to the Washington State Bureau of Labor budget (^). Applying the average prices obtained from the foregoing table to the quantities for a family of five, taken from the Government Bulletin, and as followed by the State Labor Commissioner, we have the following: See pages 99-101. BUDGETARY STUDIES. GROCERIES AND MILK. 113 200 lbs. sugar, granulated cane, @ 9.3c per lb. 14 sacks of flour, fancy patent, 49 lb. @ $3.14 2 sacks of corn meal 10 lbs. @ 7.65c 75 lbs. rolled oats, bulk @ 6Mc 8 cwt. potatoes, white, @ $2.^5 per cwt 25 lbs. beans, navy, @ 19c 26 lbs. onions @ 6.5c : . . 12 lbs. barley, pearl, @ 12 %c 10 lbs. split peas @ 12 2-3c 22 lbs. rice, Japan, @ 8.95c 80 lbs. butter, creamery, @ 50.1c 25 lbs. butter, ranch, @ 44.17c 30 lbs. soda crackers @ 16.4c 80 doz. eggs, fresh, @ 51.71c 4 lbs. macaroni @ 9.58c 20 lbs. cheese, American, @ 30.4c 6 lbs. cheese, Swiss (imp.) @ 38l4c 12 lbs. raisins, seedless, @ 15c 20 lbs. dried prunes @ IS^c 8 doz. lemons @ 35c 3 gals, syrup, corn, @ 84c 10 lbs. comb honey @ 20.8c 3 gals, pickles, sour, @ 55c 3 gals, vinegar, cider, @ 45c 18 cans canned tomatoes. No. 2, @ 19.8c 22 cans canned corn, No. 2, @ 18Kc 20 cans canned peas @ 17Kc 9 cans canned beans. No. 2, @ 14.9c 3 lbs. baking soda @ 8 l-9c 9 lbs. baking powder, cream tartar, @ 38 l-3c 12 lbs. corn starch @ 1 1.6c 50 lbs. carrots @ 2 2-3c 35 lbs. cabbage @ 2Kc 40 lbs. coffee @ 32 Kc 10 lbs. tea, medium grade @ 53 l-3c 12 pints tomato catsup @ 23 l-3c 20 lbs. salt @ 2.28c 85 bars soap @ 6.3c Vegetables Fruit Milk : Total $ 18.60 43.96 .77 4.88 18.00 4.75 1.77 1.52 1.27 1.97 40.08 11.04 4.92 41.37 .38 6.08 2.30 1.80 3.10 2.80 2.52 2.08 1.65 1.35 3.56 4.13 3.50 1.34 .24 3.45 1.39 1.34 .96 13.00 5.33 2.50 .46 5.42 20.00 15.00 46.65 $347.53 MEAT AND FISH. 75 lbs. lard @ 27.92c $ 20.94 1.17 1.01 6.18 17.66 7.32 2.74 30.30 15.10 28.50 9.44 14.38 19.26 7.03 12.34 5 cans canned oysters. No. 2, @ 23.34c 5 cans canned clams. No. 1, @ 20.26c 24 lbs. canned salmon. No. 1, @ 24^c 40 lbs. smoked bacon @ 44.14c 20 lbs. smoked ham @ 36.62c 10 lbs. smoked shoulder @ 27.4c 150 lbs. roast beef @ 20.2c 100 lbs! boiling meat @ 15.1c 120 lbs. steak @ 23J 36.65 per thousand 44 years @ 38.05 per thousand 45 years @ 39.55 per thousand 46 years @ 41.14 per thousand 47 years @ 42.80 per thousand 48 years @ 44.55 per thousand 49 years @ 46.35 per thousand 50 years @ 48.30 per thousand 51 years @ 50.35 per thousand 52 years @ 52.55 per thousand 53 years @ 54.90 per thousand 54 years @ 57.40 per thousand 55 years @ 60.06 per thousand 56 years @ 62.85 per thousand 57 years @ 65.85 per thousand 58 years @ 69.05 per thousand 59 years @ 72.45 per thousand 60 years @ 76.05 per thousand We, therefore, allow for the item of insurance the sum of $120 per annum as a very modest sum for that purpose. 118 BUDGETARY STUDIES. READING MATTER AND MUSIC -FOR THE HOME AND SOME AMUSEMENTS FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN. Under this heading we will include toys for the children, and music and reading matter for the home. The local dailies delivered to the home on the basis of annual subscription will cost as follows: 1. Post-Intelligencer, $9.00 per year. 2. Seattle Daily Times, 9.00 per year. 3. Seattle Star, 3.50 per year. Any good magazine will cost $1.20 per year. A musical instrument, together with music, in the home will cost $12 per year approximately. Toys for the children will cost not less than $6 per year. The total expenditure for these items, without extravagance, is as follows: Newspapers (allowed by Mr. Sharp, including magazine) $12.00 Musical Instruments (including music) 12 .00 Toys, etc., for children 6 . 00 Total $30 .00 GAS. Mr. Sharp allows $10 per year for gas. From experience we know that this sum falls far short of the necessary yearly expenditure for gas in a home under present prices. Mr. Sharp probably does not know that the price of gas has been increased. From figures we have been able to obtain, we feel that the sum of $22.16 should be allowed for this item. PROFIT TO PROVIDE FOR INCAPACITY OF OLD AGE. How rarely do we ever associate the employe with profits over the necessities of life! How rarely do we ever contemplate the business man apart from his profits! "How is business?" is the usual salutation. Around the word "profits" are centered the very lives of thousands of Americans. Profit is the amount left in the hands of the business man after all the costs of doing business have been paid. Profit to the em- ploye is the amount of his wages left in his hands after paying all the costs of living. If the employe is not to be a charge upon the State when he reaches the point of incapacity as the result of age, he must have profits. Some countries recognize this truism and old age pensions are provided. Our Government has not recognized it, and as a result the broken-down employe is left in old age at the mercy of charity. If a man out of his wages can save $10 per month, at the end of the first year he will have accumulated $120, and if thereafter every year he is permitted to save $120 and his savings are placed at 4% interest, compounded semi-annually, at the expiration of ten years he will have the sum of $1,442.30; at the expiration of twenty years, $3,592.81; at the expiration of thirty years, $6,779.67; at the expiration of forty years, $11,538.46. In the interim of accumulation he will be protected by insurance. The sum of $120 per year for profit is certainly not BUDGETARY STUDIES. 119 exorbitant. If you ask the average working man what he is making, he says, "Oh, I am making a Hving." What did the slave make? — a Hving. It is our contention that the employe is entitled to something more than a living. For this item we ask that he be allowed to make as a profit the sum of $120 per year. If this allowance is made it will give the very saving and the very ambitious a chance in the world. He can deny himself even the necessities of life to get to a position of safety. It will make the job held by the employe worth something. We will therefore allow this i*^em which Mr. Sharp has omitted. HOUSE RENT, CAR FARE AND TOBACCO. We will agree with Mr. Sharp in his allowance of $15 per month, in- cluding water, as the amount to be allowed for rent, and fix the sum of $180 per year to cover that item. We also accept his allowance of $65 for street car fare. Mr. Sharp has allowed the sum of $6.20 per year for tobacco. To this we add the same amount for the wife for ice cream, candy, etc., making a total of $12.40. COST OF LIVING FOR FAMILY OF FIVE PERSONS. Groceries, meats and fish , Fuel Clothing for wife Clothing for girl of 12 years , Clothing for boy of 14 years Clothing for extra child Clothing for man Maintenance household equipment . Education of children Dues to church or fraternal society . Dentistry, medicine, etc Insurance Reading matter, music, etc Savings for old age Gas for household use Electric light Rent and water Street car fare Tobacco, ice cream, etc Total $1,917 540.95 59.70 174.47 90.56 76.04 83.30 187.50 60.00 12.00 12.00 60.00 120.00 30.00 120.00 22.16 12.00 180.00 65.00 12.20 120 BUDGETARY STUDIES. 6.— BUDGET AWARDED TO SEATTLE AND TACOMA, WASH- INGTON, STREET RAILWAY EMPLOYES. The Board of Arbitration referred to in the previous section awarded the following minimum budget as the basis of its wage award: FINDINGS OF THE BOARD OF ARBITRATION APPOINTED TO DETERMINE MATTERS IN CONTROVERSY BETWEEN THE PUGET SOUND TRAC- TION, LIGHT & POWER CO., THE TACOMA RAILWAY & . POWER COMPANY AND THEIR EMPLOYES. Groceries — Meat — Fish Fuel Clothing — man Clothing — woman Clothing— girl of 8 or 9 Clothing — boy of 14 Clothing — boy of 5 or 6 Maintenance of household equipment . Education Church — Fraternal dues Medicine — doctor, dentist Insurance Reading matter, music Savings Gas. Electric light Rent and water Street car fare Tobacco, ice cream Recreation — movies, etc Incidentals — stamps, barber, etc. Miscellaneous Total $1 ,505 . 60 ♦See Education. $533 . 40 60.00 90.50 87.00 32.50 48.50 33.00 40.00 11.00 20.00 60.00 30.00 * 100.00 20.00 15.00 184.00 35.70 30.00 30.00 25.00 20.00 Minimum Comfort Budget for one year for a family of five. TOTAL BUDGET Clothing $ 291.50 533.40 366.00 314.70 Food Rent, etc Total $1,505.60 REMARKS ON TOTAL BUDGET. This budget may be called a minimum comfort budget and is slightly higher than a minimum health budget. Various minimum health bud- gets have been constructed and vary slightly from city to city and significantly from year to year as the cost of living rises. The minimum comfort budget has been rarely set by experts. Theoretically such a standard would vary according to the definition of comfort of the par- ticular investigator. Practically such varying levels are not as great as would seem theoretically because minimum comfort budgets, actually existing, group around a definite level. i BUDGETARY STUDIES. 121 The accompanying budget is not one for an ideal family. The ideal wife is one who wastes no calories in food preparation and one having the expert knowledge of sewing of a graduate in domestic economy; but few actual wives have had the benefit of such education. The budget is, however, a generalized budget. Thus some men smoke and some do not. The item for smoking should be generalized very much as the statistical term, the arithmetic mean, is a generalized term. Actual budgets vary around a particular definite level, just as men vary in stature and weight. Particular extremes are therefore not cited; but the items have been set near an approximate arithmetic mean of budgets, many of which have been collected from existing families; although there is some argument for setting items nearer the upper variations than near the mean. The budget is for a family of five. Three children are chosen for various reasons, (a) Three children at least are necessary for the race to perpetuate itself, (b) Federal and state experts do not make out budgets for less than families of five; thus, neither public nor expert opinion sanctions a smaller standard, (c) Standards of a warring and industrially competing nation would seem to demand three children as a minimum, (d) Unmarried men are less desirable than married men, individually and socially, physically and morally; and the economic barrier to marriage is recognized as an important one. (e) The family of five, while larger than the average in the company's employ, may nevertheless be taken as the standard family of workmen receiving the maximum hourly rate, and the lower differentials worked out from this rate. REMARKS ON CLOTHING BUDGET. The clothing estimates are made on the assumption that the wife does some sewing and remaking of some garments for the children. The figures are based on estimates of the life of garments to fractions of years. The clothing is also for a generalized family. CLOTHING. Man — Top coats (mackinaw-overcoat, sweater) . . . Suits (uniform, suit, extra trousers) Shoes (and repairs) Overshoes Underwear (woolen and cotton) Night garments Hats (uniform cap and hat) Shirts (flannel and cotton) Sox Gloves (average conductor and motorman) Ties, collars and handkerchiefs Suspenders and garters Incidentals (cuff buttons, brush, etc.) Total 122 • BUDGETARY STUDIES. CLOTHING— Continued. Woman — Top coat Suits ; Shoes (and repairs) Rubbers Underwear Nightgowns Underskirt Corset Kimono Waists House dresses Street dress Hats Gloves i Incidentals (veils, pins, purse, brush, slippers, hndkfs., etc.) Stockings Aprons Umbrella Total $ 8.00 12.50 14.00 .50 5.00 3.00 2.00 3.00 .50 4.50 5.00 7.50 9.00 2.50 4.50 2.50 2.00 1.00 $87.00 Boy of 13 or 14 years — Top coat (mackinaw and sweater) Suit (and trousers) Shoes (and repairs) Underwear Night garments Hats Shirts Stockings Ties, handkerchiefs, etc Total Girl of 8 or 9 years — Top coat ( and sweater) . . . Shoes (and repairs) Underwaists and garters . . , Dresses (school and best) . . Petticoat (or bloomers) . . . Night garments Hats Stockings Ribbons and handkerchiefs Umbrella Underwear Total Boy of 5 or 6 years — Top coat (and sweater) Shoes (and repairs) Suits (wash, best and coveralls) Rubbers Underwaists and garters Night garments Hats (and caps) Waists (and blouses) Mittens, ties, handkerchiefs Stockings Underwear Total BUDGETARY STUDIES. 123 REMARKS ON FOOD BUDGET. Various dietaries with differing proportions of meats, vegetables, fats, etc., have been constructed and each totals nearly the same figure. The calorie requirements are slightly over 12,000 a week for a family of five, distributed as follows: man, 3,400; woman, 2,700; boy of thirteen or fourteen, 2,700; girl of eight or nine, 2,000; boy of five or six, 1,500. The figure for meat is a little lower than is actually found among the carmen's families, but it is quite probable that during war time the item for meat will become progressively lower. FOOD Cereal $ 26.00 78.00 41.60 98.80 16.64 52.00 93.60 23.40 87.36 16.00 Vegetables . . Fruit Meat and meat substitutes Flour Bread Fats Sugar Milk Coffee and tea .*■ Total $533.40 REMARKS ON SUNDRIES. The insurance and savings item is larger than actually occurs, due probably to the fact that expenses and wages do not at present permit saving. The item is conservatively low. Medical and dental care varies widely, but $60 seems to be near the present average. The miscellaneous item is included because it actually exists. SUNDRIES. Amusements (movies, vacations, picnics, etc.) Education and literature , Insurance and savings Comforts (tobacco, candy, Christmas, etc.) . . Organizations Dental and medical care Incidentals (stamps, barbers, stationery, etc.) Household (furniture, laundry, tools, etc.) . . . , Miscellaneous (exigencies and waste) Total $ 30.00 11.00 130.00 30.00 20.00 60.00 25.00 40.00 20.00 $366.00 REMARKS ON RENT. ETC. In some houses the water is not included in the rent. Gas has recently risen and the estimate is on the proposed raise. RENT. ETC. $184.00 20.00 15.00 60.00 35.70 Gas Light Fuel Car fare Total $314.70 124 BUDGETARY STUDIES. REMARKS ON THE RATE OF WAGES TO BE SET, BASED ON THE STANDARD OF LIVING. i J a The standard of living estimated for a carman's family is $1,520 year at prevailing prices. If the employe six years and over with the company averages 288 hours of work a month, then his rate of pay should be 43 cents an hour in order to earn the standard of living wage. If the company maintains the present differential for years of servic in the employ, then a man five years in the service should receive 41 cents; one for four years, 40 cents; and so on, to 36 cents for the first' six months of service. Light may be thrown on the wage increase from another angle, that of the correlation of rising prices and rising wages. A survey recently conducted in Seattle by the departments of Economics and Sociology of the University of Washington, for the United States Government, showed that for the eighteen months since June 1, 1916, the cost of liv- ing, including rent, fuel, sundries, food and clothing, had risen 34 per cent, and figures based on various prices indicated a continued rise of; considerable magnitude for 1918, despite the efforts of Mr. Hoover. . The maximum hourly rate of wages for carmen, June 1, 1916, was 31 cents. If the carmen six years and over in the service maintain the same standard of living in October, 1917, that they had in June, 1916, the maximum rate should be 41.5 cents. This figure would represent a lowering of the standard of living from December 1, 1913, when the 31 cent rate went into effect, because the cost of living has risen more since December 1, 1913, than it has since June 1, 1916. This figure of 41.5 cents is estimated for October, 1917, a time when prices are less than they will be in the Spring of 1918. So even assuming a continuance of the same standard of living as formerly, the hourly wage should be somewhat above 41.5, probably several cents. Inquiry has recently been made of the foremost authority on prices in the United States as to the prob- able fall in prices after the war, or their probable continuance at a high level. The reply was that a definite prediction cannot be made, but the probabilities, he thought, were for continued high prices. J BUDGETARY STUDIES. 125 7.— HIGHER FOOD PRICES AND THE PROPER NUTRITION OF WORKINGMEN'S FAMILIES. (Report of Professor Jaffa of the University of California.) During September, 1917, an Arbitration Board which had been appointed to adjust the wages of employes of the street railways of Oak- land, California, requested Professor M. E. Jaffa, of the College of Agriculture, University of California, to submit for their information a report regarding the increase in cost of food during the preceding ten years. As several other members of the faculty of the University had been asked for similar reports. Professor Jaffa decided to leave the matter of the total family income to be discussed by the economists and to emphasize in his report the purely nutritional side of the problem. He arranged a table showing the approximate amounts of the different staple foods which form the diet of the average family. He then cal- culated the cost of this diet for the preceding ten years, and made his results the basis of an analysis of the increased cost of living and of the effect of rising prices upon the physical -well-being of the worker and his family. "Food is no longer," he states, "considered as a mere appeaser of the appetite. It is now recognized, in its serious aspect, as a satisfier of the physiological needs of the body. These fundamental food needs do not vary with the income, but depend upon such things as growth, weight, and amount of work performed. It takes just as much milk to nourish the body of one bab}^ as it does another, regardless of the father's earning capacity. A man engaged in heavy labor requires more food than does an office man, regardless of the difference in income. But the DIET is a different matter. One man may eat rib roast while another eats stew — but meat they both require. One may eat hot- house berries while the other eats dried apples — but fruit they both should have. In other words, a proper diet for any family should be drawn in right proportion and in adequate amounts from all five food classes, but for the family of small income the selection must be made, in large part, from the cheaper foods or grades of food in each class, and the quantity is usually found to be nearer to a minimum than can be considered desirable. "The following table shows the effect of increased prices on the total food cost for a family of small income. It expresses the average of many dietary studies of such families and has been modified just enough to overcome undesirable deficiencies due to enforced privations, and to meet the minimum demands for health and efficiency. "It can not be sufficiently emphasized that while this type of diet has been selected as a working basis, it is not therefore to be considered a sufficient or an approved diet. Only a certain proportion of people can maintain health on a minimum — which provides only that amount of energy which the body actually puts forth in the processes of living and working It provides no safety factor, and allows for no individual differences. No person should be held down to a minimum when the appetite and apparent bodily needs seem to call for more. A minimum expresses the line below which it is dangerous to go All the food which this diet calls for is necessary, but not necessarily all that is required. 126 BUDGETARY STUDIES. TABLE SHOWING INCREASE IN COST OF FOOD FROM MAY, 1907, TO MAY, 1907. MINIMUM DIET ON WHICH HEALTH CAN BE MAINTAINED FOR A WORKINGMAN. HIS WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN BETWEEN FOUR AND FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE. Food Materials. Class I— Meat and Fi.sh Milk Eggs Beans Class II— Flour Cereals Macaroni Rice Class Ill- Potatoes Vegetables Fruits Class IV— Butter Oils and Fats Class V— Sugar Extras — Coffee and Tea Sundries Total, per month Food and Cost for 1 Month Market Price per Pound. 1 Pounds 1907 1912 1916 1917 1907 1912 1916 1917 50 120 6 8 $5 . 75 4.80 .81 .40 $7.25 4.80 1.12 .40 $8.00 4.80 1.08 .40 $10.00 6.00 1.56 1.60 $0,115 .040 .135 .050 $0,145 .040 .170 .050 $0,160 .040 .180 .050 $0,200 .050 .260 .020 60 17 4 10 1.88 .49 .28 .60 1.92 .77 .32 .60 1.92 1.02 .32 .60 4.80 1.36 .50 .83 .031 .029 .070 .060 .032 .045 .070 .060 .032 .060 .080 .060 .080 .080 .125 .083 35 55 50 .70 1.38 2.25 1.05 1.65 2.50 1.05 1.65 2.50 2.17 1.65 2.50 .020 .025 .045 .033 .030 .050 .030 .030 .050 .062 .030 .050 8 10 2.20 1.35 2.55 1.90 2.40 2.00 3.60 2.50 .286 .135 .320 .176 .300 .200 .450 .2.50 25 1.38 1.53 1.75 2.25 .055 .060 .070 .090 2 .73 2.00 1.00 2.30 1.00 2.50 1.00 3.00 .20 .300 .300 .300 $27.09 $29.66 $32.99 $45.32 Sundries include yeast, corn starch, cocoa, cheese, syrup, salt, etc. A Study of this table shows that the cost of food for the family diet here presented has gone up, in ten years, from $27.00 to $45.00 — an increase of upwards of 67 per cent. Staggering as these figures are when considered in connection with a stationary income, the increase shown in the last year is by far most serious. It is quite evident that the increased cost of nearly $18.2v3 shown in the table could not have been met by many families under discussion. It will be necessary, then, to consider what adjustments have been made, and the effect of these adjustments upon the health of the family. Much has been accomplished by many people by substituting, one food for another as prices have changed. Some of this has been legiti- mate and helpful — some has been unwise and detrimental. The extent to which substitution can be practiced depends almost entirely upon the type of the original diet, and this, in turn, depends upon the income. Not only is the total supply of food more generous on the large income, representing the maximum for health rather than the minimum, but the distribution of foods in the various classes is different. On a low income, people can afford only a small quantity of the concentrated foods, meat, eggs, butter, and sugar, the largest pro- portion of their diet coming from the starchy foods which are ''bulky," and furnish the cheapest form of nourishment for the money expended. As the income goes up and people are free to exercise their instinctive BUDGETARY STUDIES. 127 choice, the use of meat, eggs, butter, sugar, etc.. increases, and the starchy foods are decreased and replaced in part by the other class of bulky foods — fruits and vegetables, which are more expensive for the nourishment they corttain, and are, therefore, not used freely by poorer people. We have, then, two very different types of diet to consider. Let us see what happens to each when prices rise: MEAT. When meat increases in price, the well-to-do, who have usually bought a large proportion of choice cuts, can substitute inferior ones on some (lays, use beans occasionally, or reduce their meat quantity somewhat. Where cheap meats, however, have been the rule, and where beans have always been used for economy, there is no recourse but to pay the price or go without. And when, at the same time, beans jump nearly three - hundred per cent, the detrimental form o*" substitution begin?, and starchy foods and inadequate amounts of milk or cheese are substituted tor protein. One food can not be used with safety to replace another unless it is in the same class, as eac*h of the five classes have important and different uses in the body. POTATOES. Again, when potatoes increase in price, most people used rice or macaroni as a substitute, although potato is a vegetable and not a (creal food. Here again the well-to-do suffered no harm. Their supply ot other vegetables, as well as fruit, was enough for their physiological IK eds. But the people on a minimum diet have always depended upon potatoes very largely to furnish that fresh quality, and those special minerals so important to health. They have never afforded much other \ egetable, nor do these others furnish the amount of nourishment in addition to the hygienic values, that potatoes do. Therefore, people of small income suffered in health. That this form of substitution was detrimental was shown in several institutions where this form of economy caused a decided increase in the drug bills. SUGAR. There is no cheap substitute for sugar, and when this food became expensive, the quantity was reduced and nothing was substituted. As the maximum and medium diets provide good amounts of all forms of concentrated foods, a moderate reduction in quantity of one kind, or several, can be made without injury to health. But where the diet is already low, the loss of nourishment is keenly felt, and when all other forms of concentrated foods are also expensive, no adequate sub- stitution can be made. 128 BUDGETARY STUDIES. The scheme works like this: Cereal food forms the cheapest and largest part of the diet. The price rises, and the pocket book is strained. Meat and beans increase in price, and people are told to eat more cereals. Result: more bulky food, unbalanced diet, less nour- ishment, but more expense. Butter increases in price. The supply is cut down. People are told that other foods can provide the nourishment. Result: more bulk, less balance, and less nourishment. Sugar increases in price. Amount is cut down and nothing is substituted. Milk increases in price. Amount is cut down and nothing is substituted. Result: more loss of protein and of fat. Cereals rise again. There is no cheaper food, and nothing can be substituted. Where the income is small this process soon drains the diet of those foods which are most esvsential to health, and forces it down below the danger line. The accompanying chart^ will help to illustrate how the high food prices have affected the diets of families of varying incomes. After pointing out many popular misconceptions as to the increased cost of living. Professor Jaffa concludes with an unusually strong point: "A great many persons," he states, "tend to ignore a small percentage of advance in price of a particular foodstuff which as a matter of fact may be very serious because of the importance of the food or the fre- quent use of it, while, on the other hand, great stress is often laid on a spectacular rise in price of a food which may be used only occasionally and, as a consequence, adds little to the total food cost of a family." 8.— INCREASED LIVING COSTS, 1916-1917. An employer of labor requested the University of California Agri- cultural Experiment Station for an estimate of the increased cost of living which he might use as a basis for adjustment of wages with his employes. Accordingly, Professor M. E. Jaffa, to another branch of whose work reference has just been made, prepared a statement (which has been printed as a bulletin of the Agricultural Experiment Station) showing for an average family the increase in cost of living from May, 1916, to May, 1917. "It is impossible," Professor Jaffa states, "to estimate the expenses of any family without knowing all the conditions, but there are certain fixed items of expense, and the percentage of increase in cost is known for others. These form a good basis for calculation in regard to the effect of high prices on the mode of living of a family of small income and will be discussed in turn. The accompanying table shows how the varying prices of foodstuffs affect the total food cost." (l) See pages 4. BUDGETARY STUDIES. 129 TABLE SHOWING INCREASE IN COST OF FOOD FROM MAY, 1916, TO MAY, 1917. MINIMUM DIET ON WHIC-H HEALTH CAN BE MAINTAINED FOR A WORKINGMAN, HIS WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN BETWEEN FOUR AND FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE. Food and Cost for 1 Month Pounds. 1916 1917 Market Price per Pound. May 1916 May 1917 Meat and fish. Milk Eggs Beans Flour Cereals Macaroni Rice Potatoes Vegetables. . . . Fruits Butter Oil and fats. . . Sugar Coffee and tea . Sundries First total Extra for man . Second total Per person per day 50 120 6 8 .60 17 4 10 35 55 SO 8 10 25 $8.00 4.80 1.08 .40 1.92 1.02 .32 .60 1.05 1.65 2.50 2.40 2.00 1.75 1.00 2.50 $32.99 2.55 $35.54 .237 $10.00 6.00 1.56 1.60 4.80 1.36 .50 .83 2.17 1.65 2.50 3.60 2.50 2.25 1.00 3.00 $0.16 .04 .18 .05 .032 .06 .08 .06 .03 .03 .05 .30 .20 .07 .30 $45.32 per 3.25 $48.57 per .324 month, month. $0.20 .05 .26 .20 .125 .083 .062 .03 .05 .45 .25 .09 .30 "The first total is adequate if the man of the family is engaged in ordinary labor. The second total allows for 1 ,000 calories extra food for heavy work. If the labor performed is that o^ a lumberman or harvest hand, a further increase of three and a quarter dollars is necessary. "Additional children will add the following amounts to the food bud- get: Between 3 and 6 years Between 6 and 9 years Between 9 and 13 years A girl over 13 years. . . . A boy over 1 3 years . . . $ 5.70 per month 6.75 per month 7.90 per month. 9.00 per month 10.50 to $11.00 per month. "The item of 'Sundries' includes such articles as corn starch, syrup, cheese, salt, pepper, mustard, yeast, etc. "The diet here presented expresses the minimum on which health and efficiency can be maintained. It admits of many rearrangements be- tween the staples of the same class, according to the preferences of people of different nationalities; more macaroni, less rice; more vegetables, less fruit; more meat and less milk; but no appreciable variations could be made in the cost without a corresponding decrease in the nourish- ment. In view of this fact the increase in cost of 33}/2 per cent is serious. "It is unnecessary to say that many families live on much less than the diet given, which may account for a large proportion of stunted children, many diseases, early death or inefiiciency. "Clothing. — This item of expense varies greatly according to the ages of the children and the ability of the family to live up to any kind of a standard. But the increase averages SSVs per cent. The most 130 BUDGETARY STUDIES. important item under this heading is shoes, the price of which has in- creased in greater proportion than that of other articles of clothing. It( is impossible to reduce the cost of shoes, as can be done with other kinds of wearing apparel, by making up cheap material at home. "Shoes show an increase in price of 50 per cent at present, but this will undoubtedly be changed to 100 per cent in the near future when the re- tailers are obliged to replace their stock at the ruling wholesale prices. The following estimate of the shoe cost for the family considered is con- servative and shows an increase of 50 per cent for the past year. COST OF SHOES PER MONTH FOR FAMILY OF FIVE. b> Shoes 1916 1917 $3.25 2.00 $5.00 3.00 Repairs $5.25 $8.00 "Rent. — The prices paid for rent in cities by families of small income from $12 to $17, so that $15 seems a fair average for the budget of the family. "Since the food cost is often 40 or 50 per cent, and the rent 20 per cent of small incomes, and since clothing, which often takes the lion's share of the balance, has increased 33% per cent, it would seem that enough data are at hand to warrant a preliminary budgeting for a family with an assumed income of $75 a month. Rent 1916 1917 $15.00 1.50 3.00 33.00 5.25 $15.00 1.50 3.00 45.00 8.00 Light Fuel Food . . . Shoes Balance $57.75 17.25 $72.50 2.50 $75.00 $75.00 "In 1916 there was a balance of $17.25 a month to cover such other expenses as Insurance Organization dues Drugs Doctor bills Dentist bills Clothing (except shoes) School incidentals Household upkeep Church support Car fares Vacation Recreation Amusements Incidentals Emergencies "In 1917 there is $2.50 a month left to cover this long list of items, many of which are unavoidable, others urgent, and few of which can be omitted. BUDGETARY STUDIES. 131 "The higher prices have in all probability been met by a reduction in the food supply of the family. Rent must be paid, shoes and some little clothing must be bought, other incidentals must be met, but food, which is the largest item of expense and is susceptible of manipulation, can generally be reduced. This should not be done at the expense of the growth and development of the children and the efficiency and en- durance of the adults." 9.— A MINIMUM BUDGETARY ESTIMATE FOR PACIFIC COAST WORKERS. Dr. Jessica B. Peixotto, of the faculty of the University of California, in October, 1917, prepared a detailed estimate of the minimum outlay required for a workingman's family of husband, wife, and three children of school age, in San Francisco. This amount she placed at $110 a month with the statement that it covered a minimum standard of whole- some living and not mere subsistence. "The typical worker in San Francisco," she states in her explanatory comment, "belongs to a class which insists upon having food enough to provide a palatable and somewhat varied dietary; shelter and clothing that conforms to the traditional idea of the 'decencies' rather than the 'necessities;' some income to pay for schooling the children, for re- laxation in leisure hours, and something to provide against the risks of ill-health, invalidity and death. Though the total looks large, it is actually little above Miss Byington's estimates in her Homestead Study, considering the rise in the prices of food and clothing Inspec- tion of the individual items will show that very modest sums have been assigned to each class of wants. The housewife who keeps within the amounts specified must still have to be a cautious purchaser, and capable in preparing foodstuffs and industrious in making clothing. "It would seem, then, that the present scale of wages is such that a family of man, wife, and three children of school age cannot be main- tained without getting into debt or receiving aid on much less than $110 a month. When the normal breadwinner is paid less than this sum, one of three things, any one of them harmful for the group and for the com- munity, is likely to happen: "1. Other members of the family will have to work to eke out the income, or "2. There will be less food than is necessary for the men to do effi- cient work. The risks of ill-health to all members of the group and the consequent costs to the group and to society are equally plain. Or "3. The group must go without many of the articles noted under Sundries and House Operations. The probabilities of stupidity, early breakdown, and dependency are evident, for the expression of the more subtle capacities, the capacity for foresight, for generosity, for sociabil- ity, depends on having some money for 'Sundries.' One of the most important differences between social dependents, potential or actual, and self-supporting citizens is that social dependents are willing to go without the money for 'Sundries' and capable men and women recog- nize the imperative need for the money that will buy those things the term covers." 132 BUDGETARY STUDIES. LIVING EXPENSES FOR FAMILY OF FIVE ' Items. Month. Year. Total. Rent $20.00 11.50 3.00 1.50 .25 1.00 .25 2.50 1.50 1.50 45.00 288.40 74.50 73.90 140.00 22.50 4.00 1.25 5.00 5.00 1.25 2.00 .25 1.25 1.00 .50 1.00 $240.00 138.00 36.00 18.00 3.00 12.00 3.00 30.00 18.00 18.00 540.00 288.40 $240.00 138.00 Fuel Light Laundry Soap, matches, etc Furnishings — maintenance and additions Telephone Incidentals — occasional help, repair of house Food Clothing Man Wife Children (3, all under 12 years) Sundries Car fare Medicines -. ■ • • • 540.00 288.40 270.00 48.00 15.00 60.00 60.00 15.00 24.00 3.00 15.00 12.00 6.00 12.00 270.00 Savings (for invalidity) Stamps and stationery Newspapers, school supplies, etc Tobacco, drinks, etc Gifts (Christmas, etc.) Grand total $1,476.40 EXPENDITURE FOR CLOTHING. MAN WIFE. CHILDREN (3 under 12) Article. Price. Article. Price. Article. Price. 1 business suit (@$20 lasts 2 years) 1 overcoat (@ $20 lasts $10.00 4.00 5.00 3.00 .75 .50 5.00 2.00 1.50 10.00 3.75 1.25 1.00 1.50 .75 5.00 1 street dress ( @ $20 lasts 2 years) $10.00 3.00 5.00 3.00 .90 5.00 5.00 1.50 10.00 1.50 10.00 3.75 3.25 5.00 7.00 9 suits or dresses $25.00 15.00 15.00 8.00 5.00 5.00 50.00 17.00 15 sets of underwear 24 pairs stockings 3 to 5 hats .... Waists 1 extra trousers 4 shirts Aprons Sundries: Cravats, rib- bons, mufflers, vsweat- ers, aprons, rompers, etc 5 collars . ... Underwear Hats 3 underwear ... Gloves Coat (@ $20 lasts 2 yrs.) Handkerchiefs 16 to 18 pairs shoes Repairs 6 pairs sox Repairs on shoes 1 pair slippers, gum Repairs on shoes Sundries: Hairpins, veils, toilet articles, repairs of clothing, frills, etc. . 1 ceremonial dress (@ $21 lasts 3 years) Handkerchiefs 1 hat (@ $3.00 lasts 2 years) 1 cap . . Sundries: Muffler, sweater, gloves, purse, watch fob, umbrella, etc $73.90 $140.00 $65.00 SUMMARY TABLE. Items. Amounts. Rent $ 240.00 138.00 540.00 288.40 270.00 Food Clothing . . $1,476.40 BUDGETARY STUDIES. 133 10.— STUDY MADE ON THE PACIFIC COAST BY THE LABOR ADJUSTMENT BOARD OF THE UNITED STATES SHIPPING BOARD OF THE UNITED STATES I EMERGENCY FLEET CORPORATION. ^. One of the most recent budgetary investigations was made on the f Pacific Coast during October, 1917, by the Shipbuilding Labor Ad- justment Board of the United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet ^Corpo ration. The investigation was made for the purpose of securing ^an equitable basis for wage increases to workers in the shipyards of |Seattle, Portland and San Francisco. The period determined upon to make a study of the advance in the cost of living of shipyard employes on the Pacific coast was the fifteen months beginning with June, 1916, and ending with September, 1917. The pre-war date of June 1, 1916, was selected because an agreement as to wages and working conditions was entered into by employers and employes in Seattle on that date. This agreement expired on July 31, 1917, and its termination was the occasion for the demand of the em- ployes in that city and elsewhere for higher rates of pay. With the determination of the principle that money wages should follow the cost of living so that real wages and standards would be un- impaired by the war, it inevitably followed that if the cost of living was practically the same in the different shipbuilding localities that the award of the Board might be extended to all localities and a uniform wage scale established. The evidence submitted to the Board, together with the results of its own direct investigations, soon convinced the Board that there was no variation between localities of sufficient im- portance to justify the establishment of any differentials. Food prices in Seattle, Portland and San Francisco were practically the same. Those in Los Angeles were somewhat relatively higher, but it was con- sidered that this was more than offset by lower fuel and clothing costs. The extensive investigation and the tabulation and weighting of price statistics incident to the investigation was made possible by the active cooperation with the Staff of the Board members of the faculty of the Department of Economics in the University of Washington, and also by the cooperation of the faculty of the University of California. Five members of this faculty of the University of Washington, one of whom was a recognized specialist in cost of living statistics, and another in food prices and marketing, did field work in collecting comparative retail prices of foodstuffs, clothing, rents, fuel and sundries. They visited a large number of dealers and made actual transcriptions from their records. These price data were checked afterwards with the exhibits presented at the public hearings of the Board, by tradesmen and others. After these price data were collected from original sources, a large amount of work was necessary in averaging and weighting them in order to make up a comparative budget for a representative workingman's budget. This work was done under the direction of the economists already referred to, with the assistance of some of their students in statistics. Prices from individual tradesmen were added and averaged. 134 BUDGETARY STUDIES. Relative prices in October, 1917, as compared with June, 1916, were then worked out. Weights were then given to the different items of expense as follows: 1. Articles of food and fuel according to the amounts shown as expended in the Washington State Bureau of Labor budget. 2. Different articles of clothing, according to sworn statements of expenditure made by the Seattle street railway workers to their wage arbitration board. 3. Sundries according to the practice of Chapin and other students. The proportion which expenditures for each group of articles con- sumed bore to the total expenditures of a workingman's family was then determined by accepting the results of an actual investigation made on the Pacific coast in 1901, by the United States Bureau of Labor. The percentage of increase in each class of commodities and the weights given to each group were as follows: Classes of expenditures. Weight or per cent of total budget. Increase in weighted prices, June 16- Sept. 17. Food 40 J 18 r, 14 -, '-. 15 ■' -i 4 •'■ / 46% 51% 22% 40% Rent Clothing Sundries Fuel !!- .^ As a net result of the weighting of different commodities, and of the several classes of commodities entering into the consumption of work- ingmen's families, it was found by the Board that the general increase in the cost of living for the period under consideration, June, 1916- October, 1917, amounted to 31 per cent, and rates of pay were advanced accordingly. BUDGETARY STUDIES. 135 11.— BUDGET OF THE ANNUAL COST OF LIVING, 1914-1917, COMPILED BY THE STATE BUREAU OF LABOR, OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON. Beginning with April, 1914, the Washington State Bureau of 'Labor has institutejj during the month of April of each year a special investi- gation of prices of food and fuel. Statistics are secured by field agents from about forty retail dealers in as many towns and cities throughout the State. As to the relative importance of different items of expendi- ture the Labor Commission states that ''when the budget was first prepared, a great many families were interviewed as to varieties of articles and quantities thereof necessary for a family of five during a period of one year, so that in this particular the average amounts used are also accurate. "A careful perusal will also convince that the quantities estimated are conservatively low. Flour, 686 pounds for a year, means only about six ounces per day per person, for a family of five; potatoes, 800 pounds means about seven ounces per day. Flesh meat and fish allowances are very small." The budgetary table is divided into three sections: one showing the cost for groceries, a second the costs of flesh meat and fish, and a third, fuel costs. Comparative costs for two of the largest industrial cities of the State, Seattle and Spokane, are shown in the table below for the four years, 1914-1917. TABLE SHOWING THE ANNUAL COST OF FOODSTUFFS AND FUEL FOR A FAMILY OF FIVE. [Survey made in month of April of each year indicated.] Seattle. Spokarfe. Quantity and article. 1914 1915 1916 1917 1914 1915 1916 1917 260 lbs. sugar, granulated cane $13.00 $16.90 $22.36 $23.92 $14.04 $17.68 $21.06 $24.96 14 sacks flour, fancy patent, 49-lb 19.08 25.90 21.84 38.74 19.08 26.00 20.30 41.02 2 sacks corn meal, 10-lb .65 .68 .68 .90 .68 .74 .68 1.00 75 lbs. rolled oats, bulk. 3.56 4.05 3.75 3.98 3.25 3.60 3.75 4.43 8 cwt. potatoes, white. 9.00 17.40 15.12 34.00 5.56 11.71 12.00 32.80 25 lbs. beans, navy .... 1.85 1.93 2.38 4.18 1.75 1.95 2.00 3.48 26 lbs. onions, dry 1.69 .73 .91 3.17 1.56 .83 .78 3.35 12 lbs. barley, pearl .84 1.00 1.00 1.12 1.02 1.04 .96 1.20 10 lbs. split peas .70 .90 .90 .97 .85 .99 .95 1.13 22 lbs. rice, Japan 1.41 1.61 1.87 1.61 1.71 1.89 1.76 2.00 80 lbs. butter, creamery 25.00 23.52 30.48 36.00 26.80 26.32 30.80 37.04 25 lbs. butter, ranch . . . 6.88 6.25 10.00 10.73 6.67 6.60 7.50 10.63 30 lbs. soda crackers . . . 3.00 2.79 2.85 3.84 2.70 2.97 3.15 4.56 80 doz. eggs, fresh 19.52 19.76 22.00 28.88 20.00 19.20 20.00 31.04 4 lbs. macaroni .36 .35 .30 .33 .39 .35 .32 .30 20 lbs. cheese, American 5.00 4.62 5.00 5.92 5.25 4.66 5.20 6.00 6 lbs. cheese, imp. Svviss 2.18 2.28 3.12 2.28 2.20 2.50 2.40 3.90 12 lbs. raisins, seedless. 1.29 1.43 1.57 1.60 1.27 1.42 . 1.54 1.90 20 lbs. dried prunes. . . . 2.40 2.58 2.62 2.66 2.35 2.. 50 2.16 2.76 8 doz. lemons 1.92 1.65 1.68 1.94 2.30 1.66 1.70 2.00 3 gals, syrup, com. . . . 1.80 1.67 1.65 1.97 2.23 1.91 1.92 2.35 10 lbs. comb honey .... 1.94 1.91 1.83 1.92 1.90 1.75 1.63 1.83 3 gals, pickles, sour. . . 1.65 1.82 1.95 1.52 1.61 1.60 2.10 2.37 3 gals, vinegar, cider. . 1.39 1.20 1.18 1.15 1.16 1.11 1.17 1.15 18 cans canned tomat- oes. No. 3 2.70 2.65 2.52 2.93 2.70 2.70 2.86 3.60 22 cans canned corn. No. 2 2.24 2.42 2.75 3.12 2.82 2.40 2.64 3.39 20 cans canned peas. No. 2 2.60 2.64 2.80 2.76 2.80 2.58 2.66 2.60 136 BUDGETARY STUDIES. TABLE SHOWING THE ANNUAL COST OF FOODSTUFFS AND FUEL FOR A FAMILY OF FIVE— Concluded. [Survey made in month of April of each year indicated.] Quantity and article. Seattle. Spokane. 1914 1915 1916 1917 1914 1915 1916 1917 9 cans canned beans, No. 2 1.24 .25 4.05 1.06 .59 1.40 14.00 4.50 3.00 .67 4.25 20.00 15.00 33.00 1.22 .27 4.09 1.08 .95 1.37 14.00 4.50 3.00 .67 4.25 20.00 15.00 33.00 1.07 .29 4.28 1.15 1.06 1.40 14.00 4.50 3.00 .67 4.25 20.00 15.00 33.00 1.31 .23 4.28 1.04 1.65 2.73 14.00 4.50 3.00 .67 4.25 20.00 15.00 36.50 1.26 .30 4.05 1.20 .59 1.66 14.00 4.50 3.oe .67 4.25 20.00 15.00 33.00 1.22 .27 4.08 1.14 .80 1.51 14.00 4.50 3.00 .67 4.25 20.00 15.00 33.00 1.18 .26 3.83 1.02 .85 .88 14.00 4.50 3.00 .67 4.25 20.00 15.00 33.00 1.42 .29 4.05 1.30 1.65 3.40 14.00 4.50 3.00 .67 4.25 20.00 15.00 36.50 3 lbs. baking soda .... 9 lbs. baking powder, cream tartar 12 lbs. corn starch 50 lbs. carrots 35 lbs. cabbage 40 lbs. coffee, medium grade. . 10 lbs. tea, medium grade . . 12 pts. tomato catsup. . 20 lbs. salt 85 bars soap Vegetables Fruit .... Milk, fresh and condensed Total for groceries .... Weekly average 1914 Relative per- centages $236.66 4.55 100. $254.04 4.89 107. $268.78 5.17 114. $331.30 6.37 140. $238.13 4.58 100. $252.10 4.85 106. $256.43 4.93 108. $342.82 6.59 144. 74 lbs. lard $11.66 1.22 .69 3.90 10.90 4.35 1.63 30.00 12.00 22.40 7.76 8.00 11.00 4.40 7.62 $137.. S3 2.64 100. $11.54 1.18 .64 4.51 11.04 4.28 1.47 31.20 11.80 22.32 7.76 9.30 10.86 5.33 8.30 $11.10 1.05 .63 4.32 11.20 5.00 1.42 31.50 12.40 22.56 7.28 10.70 10.86 5.20 11.22 $19.24 1.02 .71 5.11 14.12 6.14 2.50 35.85 12.50 27.96 8.72 10.35 14.76 8.48 16.25 $11.10 1.19 .69 4.80 10.16 4.28 1.53 24.00 9.60 21.84 7.28 6.25 9.72 4.00 8.50 $10.80 1.15 .68 3.91 9.04 3.72 1.40 29.70 10.90 22.56 9.28 9.20 10.20 4.23 9.11 $11.69 1.00 .66 3.89 9.40 4.24 1.64 32.63 12.50 24.00 7.72 10.45 10.62 4.73 12.65 $21.09 1.09 .73 5.78 13.84 6.64 2.25 25.80 12.70 25 . 56 9.68 11.10 15.12 6.45 11.76 5 cans canned oysters. No. 2. 5 cans canned clams. No. 1 . . 24 lbs. canned salmon. No. 1 40 lbs. smoked bacon . . 20 lbs. smoked ham 10 lbs. smoked shoulder. 150 lbs. roast beef 100 lbs. boiling meat.... 120 lbs. steak 40 lbs. veal . . . 50 lbs. mutton 60 lbs. pork 25 lbs. poultry 68 lbs. fresh fish Total for meat and fish $141.53 2.72 103. $146.44 2.81 106. $183.71 3.53 134. $124.94 2.40 100. $135.88 2.61 109. $147.82 2.84 118. $169.59 3.26 136. . Weekly average 1914 Relative per- centages 4K cords wood, fir, stove length $25.52 18.75 $29.25 18.90 $27.45 18.75 $27.56 20.13 $35.46 25.50 $31.95 24.99 $33.75 25.50 $37.50 29.00 4 tons coal Total for fuel Weekly average 1914 Relative per- centages $44.27 .85 100. $48.15 .92 109. $46.20 .89 104. $47.69 .92 108. $60.96 1.17 100. $56.94 1.09 93. $59.25 1.14 97. $66.50 1.28 109. Totals: Groceries $236.66 137.53 44.27 $254.04 141.53 48.15 $268.78 146.44 46.20 $331.30 183.71 47.69 $238.13 124.94 60.96 $252.10 135.88 56.94 $256.43 147.82 59.25 $342.82 169.59 66.50 Meat and fish Fuel Grand total . . 5>418.46 8.04 100. $443 . 72 8.53 106. $461.42 8.87 110. $562.70 10.82 134. $424.03 8.15 100. $444.92 8.55 105. $463.50 8.91 109. $578.91 11.13 137. Weekly average 1914 Relatives BUDGETARY STUDIES. 137 THE COMPARATIVE TOTALS FOR THE PERIOD 1914-1917 BY GROUPS OF ARTICLES. FOR SECTIONS OF THE STATE. OTHER THAN THE ABOVE NAMED CITIES, ARE SHOWN BELOW: Classes of Expenditures. Groceries Total Weekly averages .... 1914 relative percentage Meat and fish: Total Weekly average .... 1914 relative percentage Fuel: Total Weekly average 1914 relative percentage All commodities: Grand total Weekly average 1914 relative percentage Exclusive of Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane. Southwestern. 1914 1915 1916 1917 $230 4.42 100 $137 2.64 100 $39 0.74 100 $406 7.8( 100 $247 4.75 107 S134 2.59 98 $43 0.83 111 $425 8.17 105 $247 4.75 107 $138 2.65 101 $40 0.77 104 $425 8.17 105 $331 6.37 144 $175 3.36 127 $28 0.54 73 $534 10.27 132 Northwestern. 1914 1915 1916 1917 $231 4.45 100 $134 2.58 100 $51 0.99 100 $417 8.02 100 $243 4.67 105 $130 2.50 97 $45 0.87 $418 8.04 100 $254 4.8* 110 $138 2.64 102 $44 0.86 87 $436 8.38 105 $328 6.31 142 $184 3.54 137 $48 0.93 94 $560 10.78 134 Eastern. 1914 1915 1916 1917 $232 4.45 100 $138 2.66 100 $59 1.14 100 $429 8.25 100 $247 4.75 107 $138 2.67 100 $56 l.Oi 95 $442 8.50 103 $254 4.8? 110 S143 2.74 103 $57 1.09 96 $454 8.72 106 $333 6.41 144 $175 3.36 126 $61 1.18 103 $569 10.95 133 (Cents in annual expenditures have been omitted.) 138 BUDGETARY STUDIES. 12.— COST OF A MINIMUM FOOD SUPPLY FOR A REPRESENTATIVE CITY FAMILY. Inspector Graef, of the Department of Health, New York City, in October 19, 1917, made a careful comparison of the costs of the various elements in a standard dietary in the largest cities of the United States. He found that the cheapest wholesome dietary for a family of five (man, wife, and three children), cost $9.67 a week in New York City, $9.25 in New Orleans, $9.14 in Boston, $9.12 in San Francisco, and $9.89 in Chicago. The average for 24 cities and towns in the United States was $9.43. The menus provided at these figures, however, were not especially tempting (see Menu No. 1 which follows), and a really palatable dietary, it was estimated, would cost approximately 25 per cent more than the figures just quoted, or $12.95 a week in New York City, $12.59 in Chi- cago, $12.45 in Boston, $11.92 in New Orleans, and $11.46 in San Fran- cisco. The average for 24 cities throughout the United States was $12.68 a week. On an annual basis this would make a minimum food cost for a representative family from $489.36 to $659.36. The latter figures are more representative, as they contain a considerable proportion of really palatable foods. The detailed report of Inspector Graef was as follows: "With a chart of retail prices throughout the United States as basis (see American Food Journal, September, 1917), the attached weekly family food budget was calculated for a New York City family as com-^ pared with a family living in one of several other large cities. "The family — a typical one — consists of a man (at active work simi- lar to that of average city liver), a woman and three children. Accord- ing to the Atwater Standard they would require: Man 3500 calories per day. Woman 2500 calories per day. Girl (16 years) 2500 calories per day. Child (12 years) 2250 calories per day. Child (8 years) 1750 calories per day. ^ (5)... 22500 2500 average daily requirement. "From 10 to 15 per cent of these calories must be protein or tissue- building foods. "Menus No. 1, which follows, consists of low cost foods of high nutri- tious value, selected not only with a view to the requirements of a ration, balanced as far as food values, but also a selection to satisfy the palate. The meat allowed would, in all probability, not be sufficient for the man of the family; where this is true, meat has been allowed for him in shape of ham sandwich, to be taken at midday meal — presumably 'carried to work.' "Menus No. 2 consists of foods chosen more essentially for attractive- ness and with a more liberal allowance of meat. BUDGETARY STUDIES. MENUS NO. 1. 139 Breakfast Oatmeal Rye Bread Oleo, Milk Dinner MONDAY Bean Loaf Steamed Rice Apple Tapioca Milk Supper Prune Sauce Corn Dodger Cocoa, Milk Tea TUESDAY (WHEATLESS AND MEATLESS DAY) Cornmeal Rye Bread, Milk Oleo, Sugar, Coffee Brazilian Bean Soup Beet Tops Rye Bread, Oleo Prunes, Milk Junket Caramel Sauce Rye Bread Tea Oatmeal and Prunes Muffins Milk, Oleo, Coffee WEDNESDAY Rice with Cheese Peanut Butter Bread, Oleo Dried Peaches Pea Soup Corn Bread Oleo, Apple Sauce Milk Hominy, Coffee Corn Bread, Oleo Milk THURSDAY Macaroni and Cheese Apple Sauce Gingerbread Milk Cream of Tomato Soup Bread Oat Wafers Prune Sauce Cornmeal Mush Syrup for adults Milk for children Toast and Oleo Coffee FRIDAY Hashed Cod Oatmeal Wafers Milk, Bananas Lima Beans, Scalloped Graham Bread Peaches Milk Hominy SATURDAY Baked Peas and Pork Cornbread and Rice (steamed, with milk) Apple Sauce Milk Cream Toast, Cheese Stewed Prunes Milk for children SUNDAY Oatmeal Baked Corn and Beans and Cheese Rice Pudding with Prunes Baked Bananas Cornmeal Muffins Oleo, Milk 140 BUDGETARY STUDIES. WEEK'S MARKET LIST FOR MENUS NO. PRICES IN CERTAIN CITIES. Kind of food. New York City. Average of 24 cities throughout U.S. Boston. Chicago. New Orleans. San Francisco. Canned foods $0,361 2.993 .999 .195 .389 .606 2.392 .709 .937 .90 $0,331 3.032 .949 .195 .422 .610 2.011 .739 .901 .90 $0,340 2.109 .930 .195 .391 .600 2.878 .769 .850 .90 $0,350 3.289 .894 .195 .409 .640 2.347 .760 .917 .90 $0,350 2.985 .905 .195 .393 .580 2.134 .685 .939 .90 $0,300 2.036 .853 .195 .428 .700 2.048 .674 .810 .90 Cereals Dried fruits Fruits Sugar and syrup Fats . . Dairy Products Vegetables Condiments $9,672 $9,430 $9,148 $9,891 $9,256 $9,129 WEEK'S MARKET LIST AND ITS FOOD VALUE FOR MENUS NO. 2. Kind of foods. Total Calories. Protein grams. Canned goods 122.2 42272.0 5716.0 7560.5 11845.0 10355.2 3990.5 5643.5 No food value 6.46 1391.06 47.60 24.48 Cereals Dried fruits Fats 555.87 156.05 730.21 Vegetables Condiments Calories pe 88049.9 2961.73 X 4 Total prote in calories 11846.22 BUDGETARY STUDIES. 141 MENUS NO. 2. Breakfast Dinner Supper MONDAY Apple Sauce Rolled Oats Codfish Balls Coffee, Bread, Oleo Meat Balls Rice, Boiled Onions White Sauce Bread, Oleo Apple Betty Prune Sauce Gingerbread Tea, Oleo TUESDAY (WHEATLESS AND MEATLESS DAY) Hominy Scotch Barley Soup Peaches Scrambled Eggs Cheese Fondue Oatmeal Coffee, Bread, Oleo Beet Tops Macaroons (rye) Rye Bread, Oleo Cocoa Rice Pudding WEDNESDAY Shredded Wheat Scrambled Eggs Coffee, Bread, Oleo Planked Steak Onions Bread, Oleo Apple Tapioca Apple Sauce Cookies Bread Tea, Oleo THURSDAY f Rice, Prune Sauce Cream Toast Coffee, Bread, Oleo Stewed Beans Tomato Sauce Cornbread, Oleo Apple Cake Cornstarch Sauce FRIDAY Prune Loaf Milk Tea, Bread Oleo Rolled Oats Codfish Balls Coffee, Bread, Oleo Baked Fish Lettuce French Dressing Prune Jelly Fried Hominy Syrup Peach Sauce Tea, Bread Oleo Cornmeal, Apple Sauce French Sauce Coffee, Bread, Oleo SATURDAY Bean Loaf Tomato Sauce Scalloped Potatoes Peach Pie Bread, Oleo SUNDAY Junket Oatmeal Macaroons Tea, Bread, Oleo Hominy Boiled Eggs Coffee, Bread, Oleo Roast Leg Lamb Beet Tops Potatoes Chocolate Pudding Bread, Oleo Cornmeal Souffle Bread, Oleo Cocoa 142 BUDGETARY STUDIES. WEEK'S MARKET LIST FOR MENUS NO. 2. Kind of food. Canned goods Cereals Dried fruits Sugar and syrup Dairy products Vegetables Meats and fish Condiments Total cost of food budget . Average of New York 24 cities Boston. Chicago. New San City. throughout U.S. Orleans. Francisco. $0,185 $0,177 $0,180 $0,200 $0,200 $0,150 2.943 3.144 2.202 3.153 3.022 2.902 .690 .650 .670 .626 .625 .605 .515 .570 .515 .537 .540 .581 3.340 3.343 3.925 3.165 2.801 2.950 .665 .673 .765 .685 .660 .582 3.229 2.717 2.834 2.834 2.409 2.284 .110 .110 .110 .110 .110 .110 $12,953 $12,685 $12,451 $12,593 $11,929 $11,460 13.— REPORT ON THE INCREASED COST OF LIVING FOR AN UNSKILLED LABORER'S FAMILY IN NEW YORK CITY. (Prepared by the Bureau of Personal Service of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, New York City, February, 1917.) INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT. In February, 1915, the Bureau of Personal Service, in conjunction with the Bureau of Municipal Research, made a study of the cost of living for an unskilled laborer's family. After careful consideration of the average size of families among laborers in general, in the United States, in the City of New York, and among the rank and file of the Department of Street Cleaning in particular, it was decided to select! for purposes of study a family consisting of five members, a wage-earner, f his wife, and three children of school age, who could not be expected to contribute anything to the family support. It was decided to fix the sex and ages of the children as follows: Boy 13 years Girl 10 years Boy 6 years The conclusion drawn from the report was that with less than $840 a year an unskilled laborer's family of five persons could not maintain a standard of living consistent with American ideas. As a practical appli- cation of this conclusion, the Bureau of Personal Service recommended no maximum rate for the rank and file of the Department of Street Cleaning and for other comparable employments below $840. The subsequent changes in the rates for sweeper in the Department of Street Cleaning will serve to illustrate the application of standardization and minimum wage principles to unskilled laborers in the city service. The flat rate paid to sweepers in the Department of Street Cleaning up to January 1, 1915, was $780. In Spetember, 1914, a range of salary of from $720 to $816 had been recommended tentatively by the Bureau of Personal Service. Increases to the rate of $792 were actually in- BUDGETARY STUDIES. 143 corporated in the annual tax budget for 1915. As a result of the mini- mum wage study, the range of salary finally recommended for sweepers was from $720 to $840 with increases of $24 after not less than one year of service. This salary range was based upon the assumption that a sweeper entered the department with little or no family responsibility and at a slightly lower salary than the average pay for similar labor in private employment. Thereafter his salary would be increased after each year or two years of satisfactory service up to the point at which his family obligations were greatest. At this point his salary rate should approximate the minimum cost of decent living. In order to apply this range of salary successfully from the point of view of the family obliga- tions of the laborer and the pension obligations of the city, it would have been necessary to limit further the age at which laborers would enter the city service. This would be impossible under present labor conditions. It will probably be impossible in the future to have the entering age so low that laborers coming into the service will be without family responsibilities. It must therefore be admitted that the original principle of fixing the minimum wage as the maximum of the scale was too conservative. At the time the original study was made, market conditions were normal and satisfactory unskilled labor service could be purchased at rates below $2 per day. Before January 1, 1917, market conditions had changed to such an extent that not only was the Department of Street Cleaning unable to obtain sweepers at the minimum rate of $720, but large numbers of sweepers and other employes of corresponding rank at higher rates were leaving the service to accept employment in private concerns which had been forced to pay much higher daily rates on account of conditions arising from the war. In order that the city also might meet these market conditions, it was necessary in February, 1917, to raise the minimum rate for sweepers to $792. Similar increases in mini- mum rates were made in the case of other employes. Within less than a month after these increases were made, the following statement was made in a letter from the Street Cleaning Commissioner to the Director of the Bureau of Personal Service: "Yesterday a delegation of sweepers waited upon me and stated that the cost of food and necessities of life had so increased of late that they were unable to live decently on present salaries. I was much impressed by the statements made by the men, and believe that a survey of their living conditions should be made before the next revision of salary schedules is made at the end of this month. I would be glad to have your views as to the possibility of making such a survey within the next ten days." A survey such as that requested by the Street Cleaning Commissioner had already been made in connection with the publication of a new edi- tion of the Standard Specifications for Personal Service for the purpose of revising the original study of the cost of living in accordance with the abnormal rise in the price of necessities. The conclusions drawn from this survey are embodied in the following report. They indicate that the cost of living for the laborer's family of five persons, selected in the original report, has risen from $840 to approximately $980; that is, about 16% per cent. It is not, of course, to be assumed that the present con- ditions are likely to continue indefinitely. The various government 144 BUDGETARY STUDIES. agencies and committees appointed to report on or cope with the high cost of living will probably bring about considerable reduction in prices and will relieve the scarcity of certain products. It is, however, reason- able to assume that $840 cannot be recommended as a maximum rate for unskilled laborers in the revised edition of the Standard Specifica- tions if it is intended that the City of New York shall meet conditions in representative private employment or shall itself be a model employer. The maximum rate recommended for sweepers has, therefore, been raised from $840 to $888, and similar increases in the maximum rates have been recommended in a number of other groups of employes. In addition, in order to preserve proper distinction between unskilled and slightly skilled employes, it has been found necessary to recommend higher rates for a number of slightly skilled employes. These proposed changes are thought to be very conservative. They do not meet the present abnormal conditions as far as the minimum rates are concerned. In applying the new rates, it may therefore be desirable to waive temporarily one or more of the lowest rates; for example, to fix tem- porarily the minimum for laborers, sweepers, deckhands and other employes at $816 or $840 and to make similar temporary adjustments in the case of other unskilled and slightly skilled employes. In other words, while the standard minimum rates should remain as published in the new edition of the Standard Specifications, a higher minimum might be adopted temporarily to meet present conditions. The stand- ard minimum rates could be restored as soon as living conditions become more nearly normal. The following is a partial list of the changes in the salaries of low grade employes proposed in the new edition of the Standard Specifications: Title. Present Range (Amount of Increase in Brackets). Proposed Range (Amount of Increase in Brackets), Boardman .... $720-$840 ($24) 816- 960 ( 36) 780- 960 ( 36) 2.50 672- 840 ( 24) 720- 864 ( 24) 720- 840 ( 24) 768- 888 ( 24) 2..S0-2.80 (.10) 780- 960 ( 36) 744- 864 ( 24) 2.40-2.70 (.10) 720- 840 ( 24) 2.50 864- 936 ( 24) 2.75-3.00 744- 864 ( 24) 600 816- 888 ( 24) 888- 960 ( 36) 720- 840 ( 24) 2.30-2.70 (.10) 720- 840 ( 24) 2.30-2.70 (.10) 720- 840 ( 24) 2.30-2.70 (.10) 720- 840 ( 24) 2.30-2.70 (.10) 720- 840 ( 24) 744- 864 ( 24) 720- 840 ( 24) $792-$888 ($24) 876- 984 ( 36) 840- 984 ( 36) 2.70 768- 864 ( 24) 792- 888 ( 24) 792- 888 ( 24) 313 da. 900-1020 ( 24) 365 da. 840- 936 ( 24) 2.70-3.00 (.10) 840- 984 ( 36) 2.80-3.00 (.10) 816- 912 ( 24) 2.60-2.90 (.10) 792- 888 ( 24) 2.50-2.80 (.10) 888- 936 ( 24) 2.80-3.00 (.10) 816- 912 ( 24) 660 720 on repair work 864- 960 ( 24) 960- 996 ( 36) 2.80-3.00 (.10) 2.50-2.80 (.10) 2.80-3.00 (.10) 792- 888 ( 24) 2.50-2.80 (.10) 792- 888 ( 24) 816- 912 ( 24) 792- 888 ( 24) Bridgetender Caretaker — Men Cleaner — Men Cleaner (Windows) Deckhand Elevator Operator . . HostW Laborer — Unskilled Laborer— Skilled Laborer — Watchman Motor Truck Driver Park Laborer— Unskilled Park Laborer— Skilled Stableman . . Ticket Chopper Watchman BUDGETARY STUDIES. 145 CLASSIFICATION OF OBJECTS OF EXPENDITURE. The following table shows a comparison of the results of studies made in February, 1915, and February, 1917, of the cost of living for an un- skilled laborer's family in New York City. The increase in cost in those two years seems to be approximately 16 per cent. Objects of expenditure have been classified in eight standard groups, for each of which the total annual expense in the years 1915 and 1917 is as follows: I. — Housing II.— Car fare III.— Food IV.— Clothing v.— Fuel and Light VI.— Health VII. — Insurance VIII.— Sundries Total per year Sundries classified — Papers and other reading matter Recreation Furniture, utensils, fixtures, moving expenses, etc Church dues Incidentals — Soap, washing material, stamps, etc. Total 1915 1917 $168.00 30.30 383.812 104.20 42.75 20.00 22.88 73.00 $168.00 30.30 492.388 127.10 46.75 . 20.00 22.88 73.00 $844,942 $980,418 $ 5.00 40.00 18.00 5.00 5.00 $ 73.00 I. — Housing : A family consisting of five people needs at least four rooms to meet the demands of decency. Three rooms for more than four persons causes over-crowding. Four rooms, on the other hand, for five persons is slightly above the accepted standard of "one and one-half persons to a room." Rent in tenement districts at the present time, as in 1915, according to the statement of reliable real estate men, averages $4.00 per room per month. This statement is verified by the family budgets exhibited in Appendix B and by the data on present rentals in Appendix A. The housing minimum arrived at in our standard classification repre- sents therefore the rent expenditure necessary for an average of 3^ rooms at the $4.00 monthly rate, or for four rooms at a $3.50 monthly rate. The resulting annual expenditure for housing, $168, is 20 per cent of the total 1915 expenditure, which is generally considered a proper ratio of housing to total income. It is stated by representatives of Horace S. Ely & Co., real estate agents, that the decrease in immigration and increase in emigration, due to the war, have caused many vacancies in tenement houses in the upper and lower east side, with the result that both minimum and maxi- mum rental values in certain quarters have been reduced about $1. The present generally prevailing tendency to higher prices largely coun- teracts this reduction, however, so that it may be said that in general rents are the same in 1917 as in 1915. II.— Car Fare: The minimum estimate for care fare remains unchanged at $30.30, which represents only 10c per day for 303 working days. 146 BUDGETARY STUDIES. III.— Food: In arriving at a proper minimum for food expenditure, a number of factors must be taken into consideration. A laborer, in order to per- form efficient work, requires nourishing and wholesome food in con- siderable quantities. The age of children is an all important factor in determining their food consumption. The prices of foodstuffs are con- stantly changing. The schedule adopted by the United States Department of Agriculture (Farmers' Bulletin No. 142) apportions the food requirements of women and children of various ages on the basis of fractions of the integer re- quired to support a mature working man. This schedule is as follows: Man 1 8 Boy — 16 years 9 8 10 to 12 years 6 8 14 to 15 years 7 10 to 14 years 6 Child — 6 to 9 years 5 2 to 5 years 4 Under 2 years 3 According to the above table the family which we have assumed,], consisting of a man, wife, a boy of 13 years, a girl of 10 years, and a boy* of 6 years, would consume a quantity of food sufficient for 3.7 men. In 1907, Federal government dietitians agreed that families spending at the rate of 22c per man per day were not receiving food enough to maintain physical efficiency.* Moreover, this minimum was predicated upon extraordinary intelligence, in that it assumed that the mother possessed a scientific knowledge of household economy, food values and market conditions. The food prices in 1913, as compared with 1907, had risen 16 per cent, according to a report of the United States Depart- ment of Labor. (Retail Prices and Cost of Living, Series 8.) Taking the 22c per man per day minimum established in 1907 and allowing a 16 per cent increase, 25>^c would be the minimum measured by 1913 stand- ards. Adding to this a l>^c marginal limit, to provide for discrepancies and for an increase in prices in 1914, 27c per man per day was arrived at as a fair minimum for 1915. This was the minimum established at that time by the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor as the basis of their relief work and was used as a basis for calculation in the 1915 Report of this Bureau. At the present time the Associa- tion for Improving the Condition of the Poor is using 30c as its -mini- mum because of the increased cost of food. Upon these two bases the cost of food per day for our family in New York City would be: Husband Wife Boy, 13 years. Girl, 10 years. Child, 6 years. Total per day $ . 999 Total per week $7.00 1915 Per day. $ .27 .216 .216 .162 .135 1917 Per day. $ .30 .24 .24 .18 .15 $1.11 $7.77 * Report on Nutrition Investigation. Special Committee on Standards of Living. BUDGETARY STUDIES. 147 This conclusion is based upon vscientific facts regarding the number of calories of heat and grams of protein necessary for the human body. It is only one and by no means the most trustworthy of several logical methods of reaching a minimum estimate. Another and more trustworthy method of approach to such a con- clusion is to price a list of foodstuffs necessary for an American family of five. Following this method, an itemized food budget was taken from Dr. Chapin's book on ** Standard of Living in New York City," and was submitted for criticism to dietitians and social service workers, with the result that the list was slightly modified. In order to find the prevailing cost of the modified list in New York City, foodstuffs were priced in the places where unskilled laborers would naturally buy; that is, municipal markets, push-carts, co-operative stores and regular neighborhood gro- cery and butcher establishments. (For this food budget used in field work, with prices for 1915 and 1917, see Appendix A.) This method of approach led to the conclusion that $7,381 per week or $383,812 per year would be the minimum requirement for 1915. In securing facts as to the increased cost of food for 1917, this same list of foodstuffs was again priced at markets, push-carts and stores of the same type as before and the average amount of increase ascertained. From this investigation it was learned that the cost of exactly the same foods is at the present time $9,469 per week or $492,388 per year, show- ing an increase of $2,088 per week or $108,576 per year over the cost for 1915. It may be noted that it is possible to sustain life on a less varied and less expensive diet than that considered in this report, but, as stated before, this study is based upon standards of living consistent with American ideas. IV.— Clothing: The clothing estiriiate was made in the same way as that for food. A list of the clothing needed by a family of five was taken from Dr. Cha- pin's report and considerably modified. The prices of the various articles in this clothing budget were obtained from the type of stores at which workingmen would naturally buy. (For copy of this list of clothing, with prices for 1915 and 1917, see Appendix A.) It is difficult to make exact statements about the expenditure for such an item as clothing, in which there are so many personal considerations. Basing our estimate, however, upon average common-sense requirements and upon prices prevailing in 1915 for these requirements, we concluded that $104.20 for our assumed family of five was the exact clothing cost for that year. Prices for this clothing list w^ere again obtained in Febru- ary, 1917, in the same way in which food prices were checked, and were found to total $127.10 as against $104.20 in 1915: v.— Fuel and Light: The fuel and light estimate of $42 for 1915 was based on facts sub- mitted by the Consolidated Gas Company and by public and private re- lief organizations, and on past studies, taking into consideration, how- ever, the prevailing prices of coal, wood and gas. (For supplementary data see Appendix A.) All of the estimates submitted were in the neighborhood of $40 to $45. Our conclusion for 1915 was a fair mean and allowed for the following approximate consumption of fuel and gas: 148 BUDGETARY STUDIES. Fuel During the winter months, 3 bags of coal per week at 25c a bag> and 6 bundles of wood per week at 2c per bundle, resulting in a weekly expenditure of 87c. During the fall months, 2 bags of coal per week at 25c per bag, and 4 bundles of wood per week at 2c a bundle, resulting in a weekly expenditure of 58c. Assuming 18 weeks for the winter and 13 weeks for the fall, the total expenditure for fuel amounted to $23.20 for 1915. Light and Gas used for Fuel Light, assuming the use of gas during the 18 weeks of the winter, at 25c per week, 13 weeks of the fall at 35c per week, and 21 weeks of the summer at 50c per week, amounts to a total expenditure of $19.55. During the fall and summer gas is used for cooking. Thus the consumption is increased. The estimate for 1917 is changed only by an increase in the cost of coal ^ from 25c to 30c a bag. This rise causes an increase in the total yearly expenditure for fuel to $27.20 as against $23.20 in 1915. VI.— Health: The problem of arriving at a minimum for health expenditure is neces sarily involved. Several studies have been made upon this subject which for our purposes are quite satisfactory. The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, in connection with its welfare work, has considered health expenditure in more detail than has any other organization. Dr. Lewis I. Dublin, their statistician, who has studied this problem from an insurance standpoint, concludes that a workingman will average five weeks' illness once in every three years, or that one out of every three workingmen will be sick in each year. A prominent benevolent society, organized in St. Louis for the special purpose of establishing health in- surance, has arrived at the conclusion that an adult requires 50 cents and a child 25 cents a month for health expenditure. This totals $21 a year for our family of five persons. Prof. Irving Fisher, of Yale, who has devoted considerable study to health insurance, states that the average expenditure resulting from illness and death in workingmen's budgets is $27 per annum. This amount is agreed to by the United States Commissioner of Labor (1912) and by Dr. Dublin, although Dr. Dublin supplements this by stating that even at this rate the family will to some extent be dependent upon charity. Our conclusion of $20 is based upon the fact that there are more facil- ities for conserving the health of a family in New York City than else- where and that $27 under these conditions would be too high. We realize, however, that it is impossible to establish beyond criticism a definite amount for health expenditure. This amount, first established in 1915, remains unchanged for 1917. BUDGETARY STUDIES. 149 VII. — Insurance : Insurance is found to be an almost universal item in budgets of work- ingmen's families. The expenditure of $22.88 in our minimum esti- mate is based upon the assumption that the head of the family should l)e insured for $500, the wife for $100, and that the children should each have the smallest amount of insurance which can be obtained. This is merely industrial insurance and does not provide for sickness, accident, or property loss. ********** In industrial insurance weekly payments are the rule. For a $500 policy the premium is 25c a week, for a $100 policy 10c a week, while a minimum of 3c is required for the policies of children — a total weekly payment of 44c, or a yearly expenditure of $22.88 for the family. Our estimate is based on the rates offered for those policies considered most satisfactory by the three insurance companies which specialize in in- dustrial insurance. This amount remains the same in 1917 as in 1915. VIII.— Sundries: The item "Sundries" includes recreation, reading, general household expense, church contributions, etc. It is unnecessary to defend the fact that a family in order to maintain a normally happy and self-respecting existence must have proper amusements. For recreation, therefore, we have allowed occasional trips to the beach, incidental car fare, moving picture shows, Christmas and birthday presents and miscellaneous amusements. For furniture, utensils, fixtures, moving expenses and general maintenance, $18 is allowed, although this amount could be legitimately increased. $5 is allowed for church contributions. Inci- dentals, including soap, washing material, stamps, umbrellas and other miscellaneous items, are totaled at $5. For reading a one-cent daily paper is allowed, with a Sunday paper almost every week. The result- ing $73 expenditure for Sundries is a fair minimum. This amount, fixed originally in 1915, is allowed to remain unchanged for 1917, although some slight increase could legitimately be made. 150 BUDGETARY STUDIES. APPENDIX A. Field Reports — Supporting Data on Food, Clothing, Rent, Fuel and Light. The prices of the above commodities were obtained during the months of January and February, 1915, and February, 1917: MINIMUM FOOD BUDGET FOR ONE WEEK FOR FAMILY OF FIVE, WITH CURRENT PRICES. Meat and Fish — 5 lbs. beef, at 16clb K lb. beef for stew, at 12c lb 2 lbs. pork, at 14c lb., 28c or 2 lbs. ham, at 18c lb., 36c av 1 lb. chicken (4 lbs. month), at 18c lb lyi lbs. fresh fish, at 12c lb Eggs and Dairy Products — 1 lb. butter, at 33c lb yi lb. cheese, at 20c lb 2 doz. eggs, at 32c doz 16 qts. milk, at 6c qt Cereals — 2 1 loaves of bread , at 5c 1 doz. rolls, at 10c do/ 2 lbs. cake, at 10c lb Rice (1 lb. per month), at 7c lb Flour (3K lbs. twice a month), at 4Kc lb Oatmeal (2K lbs.) , at 4c lb Vegetables, Fruits, Etc.— 6 qts. potatoes, at 8c qt Turnips or carrots 2 lbs. onions, at 3c lb Fresh vegetables Dried beans and peas (K lb.) Can of tomatoes, at 10c can Can of corn (monthly), at 10c can Fresh fruit Dried prunes (1 lb. per month), at 14c lb Sugar, Tea, CofTee, Etc. — 1 lb. coffee, at 20c lb \H lbs. sugar, at Syic lb Syrup Pickles, spices, etc K lb. tea, at 40c lb $0.80 .06 .32 .18 .18 $1.54 .33 .10 .64 .96 $2.03 1.05 .10 .20 .017 .078 .10 $1,545 .48 .05 .06 .75 .05 .10 .025 .25 .035 $1.80 .20 .096 .02 .05 .10 $0,466 1917 at 20c, $1.00 at 16c, .08 at 22c, or at 22c, .44 at 23c, .23 at 15c, .225 $1,975 at 41c, .41 at 27c, .135 at 42c, .84 at 8c, 1.28 $2,665 at 6c, 1.26 at 12c, .12 at 20c, .40 at 8c, .02 at 7c. .122 at 5c, .125 $2,047 at lOc* .60 .06t at 8c, .16 .937t at 14c, .07 at 12c. .12 at 12c, .03 .25 at 14c, .035 $2,262 at 20c, .20 at 8c, .14 .02 .06 at 40c. .10 $0.52 *At 5c per lb. f Average 20 per cent increase JAverage 25 per cent increase in cost. in cost. Food Summary. Meat and fish Eggs and dairy products , Cereals Vegetables, fruits, etc. . . Sugar, tea. coffee, etc Total per week Annual total 1915 $1 .54 2 .03 1 .545 1 .80 .466 $7 .381 583 .812 1917 $1,975 2.665 2.047 2.262 .52 $9,469 $492,388 BUDGETARY STUDIES. 151 MINIMUM CLOTHING BUDGET FOR ONE YEAR FOR FAMILY OF FIVE, WITH CURRENT PRICES. Man 1915 1917 Boy (6 Years) 1915 1917 2 Caps $0.75 8.00 5.00 1.50 1.50 .50 .30 1.50 .20 .60 6.00 1.50 1.50 1.50 .25 .50 .20 .50 $31.80 $1.00 10.00 6.00 2.00 1.80 .60 .45 2.00 .20 .60 7.50 1.50 2.00 2.00 .25 .50 .20 .50 $39.10 1 Cap $0.25 1.00 .50 1.00 .60 .30 .30 .60 3.00 1.50 .50 .10 .30 $0.25 1.75 .50 1.50 .60 .40 .30 .60 3.75 1.50 .50 .15 .30 1 Suit 1 Winter suit 1 Overcoat (last 3 years) .... 1 Pair pants 1 Summer suit 1 Overcoat (last 2 years) .... 6 Pairs stockings 3 Working shirts 1 White shirt 3 Waists (material) Summer underwear (3 suits) Winter underwear (3 suits) 3 Pairs shoes 3 Collars 2 Pairs overalls 2 Ties 6 Pairs hose Repair of shoes (3 times).. . Mittens 3 Pairs shoes Repair of shoes (twice) .... Summer underwear (2 suits) Winter underwear (2 suits) Cloth for night gown Gloves and mittens 4 Handkerchiefs 3 Handkerchiefs Total $9.95 $12.10 Girl (10 Years) 2 Hats: winter 75c, summer 50c $1.25 .25 2.00 2.00 1.00 1.00 .20 .50 .50 .75 .45 .60 .90 3.00 1.00 .50 2.00 $1.25 .25 2.50 2.00 1.00 1.00 .30 .50 .50 .75 .45 .75 1.05 3.50 1.00 .70 2.00 Total . Boy (13 Years) 2 Caps $0.50 2.00 1.00 1.50 .60 .50 .60 .90 4.50 1.50 .50 .20 .50 $0.50 3.95 1.25 2.00 .60 .65 .90 1.35 6.00 1.50 .50 .30 .50 $20.00 1 Stocking cap (school) 1 Coat (last 2 years^ ?A Winter dresses (material) . . 2 Summer dresses (material) . 1 Sweater 1 Overcoat (last 2 years) .... 6 Handkerchiefs ... 3 Waists (material) 2 Pairs mittens Summer underwear (3 suits) Winter underwear (3 suits) 3 Pairs shoes 3 Petticoats 3 Ferris waists Summer underwear (3 suits) Winter underwear (3 suits) Repair of shoes (3 times). . . Repair of shoes (twice) .... R ubbers Total Sundric $14.80 Total $17.90 $19.50 Woman 2 Hats (last 2 years) 1 Coat (last 2 years) 1 Suit $2.00 4.00 6.00 1.50 2.50 1.00 .45 .30 .60 4.00 1.00 .60 1.05 .25 .50 4.00 $2.00 5.00 9.00 1.50 2.50 1.00 .45 .30 .60 6.00 1.00 .75 1.35 .25 .70 4.00 $36.40 3 Waists 2 Petticoats Clothing Summary 3 Aprons 6 Pairs stockings Man 1915 1917 Repair of shoes (twice) .... Summer underwear (3 suits) Winter underwear (3 suits) Mittens $31.80 29.75 17.90 14.80 9.95 $39.10 36.40 19.50 20.00 12.10 Woman Girl, 10 years Rubbers Linen and sundries Total Boy, 6 years Total, per year $29.75 $104.20 $127.10 APPENDIX B. Selected Family Budgets. The following family budgets have been submitted by public and private organizations. They are valuable in that they represent the ideas and conclusions of persons who are in daily contact with social problems in New York City. In particular the budget submitted by the Bellevue Hospital Social Service Bureau should be noted because it 152 BUDGETARY STUDIES. is the accurate result of an intensive survey carried on by the workers of this bureau. In almost every case a family of five persons is assumed. The Bureau of Personal Service is of course not responsible for the prices and estimates contained in these budgets. They are quoted just as they were submitted to this Bureau. MANHATTAN. Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor. Table I.— comparison of a. I. C. p. family budgets in 1915 and 1917. Items Rent Clothing Fuel and Light . Sundries Food (family of 5) — Man 1 unit $8.19 Woman 0.8 unit 6.55 Girl (10 vears) 0.6 unit 4.91 Child ( 6 years) 0.5 unit 4.10 Child ( 2 years) 0.4 unit 3 . 28 Total per month Total per year 1915 1917 (Per month) (Per month) $12.00 $13.00 10.00 10.00 3.25 3.25 2.00 $9,101 7.28 4.00 27.03 5.46 4.55 3.64 30.03 $ 54.28 $ 60.28 651.36 723.36 The fact cannot be over emphasized that the above budget indicates the allowance made by the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor for relief purposes. It is, therefore, not in any sense an ideal family budget, and it is included here only for purpose of com- parison. The following are extracts from a statement made by Bailey B. Burritt, General Director, in explanation of the various items of the above budget, and also of the food budget in Table II. Rent: The item of rent represents an approximate average of our own rents. The $13.00 item for 1917 does not represent an increase in actual rent, as we have found but little evidence of any increase, but does indicate that the average standard of a home considered acceptable by the Asso- ciation for Improving the Condition of the Poor is higher in 1917 than it was in 1915. Clothing: Clothing is the least standardized item of the normal family budget. $2.00 a month for each individual was inadequate to cover the clothing budget for 1915, and is still inadequate now, but we have made no ex- tended study of the considerable increase of which we are conscious in 1917. Our only justification for the clothing item in our budget is that much clothing is given to our families and we depend upon this to make up the deficiency. BUDGETARY STUDIES. 153 Fuel and Light ; Experience has led us to adopt the standard of $3.25 for fuel and light as being the average expenditure for these items. It is inadequate in 1917. Our families have actually spent more for fuel and have done so by drawing on the modest clothing item allowed in our budget. Eight families checked up yesterday spent $29.66 for fuel and light in the months of January, February and March, 1917, as compared with $26.75 for the same period in 1915, an increase of 16.5 per cent. Sundries : For sundries we have adopted a more or less arbitrary standard of SI each for the first three individuals in the family and 50c a month for each additional member of the family, with a maximum of $5. This allowance is supposed to include insurance, such household supplies as soap and cleaning material and other incidental expenditures. It is not adequate for the replenishing of household supplies. Insurance was not included under sundries in the $2 allowance for 1915, but is included in the $4 allowance for 1917. The increase from $2 to $4 represents progress toward recognition of the inadequacy of this item and is still inadequate. We have not included car fare. Food: Last autumn we arbitrarily changed our food allowance per diem per individual from 27c to 30c. This, however, is less than the actual in- crease in cost of food during the past two years. A more detailed study of food prices is included below. (See Table II.) Table II indicates the results of a study made last November of the actual increase in the cost of food weighted as the average workingman's family budget should be weighted. We have also added the prices of the same allowance for March, 1917. The comparison therefore is between November, 1915, November, 1916, and March, 1917. The statement indicates that during one year there was an increase in food prices of 26.9 per cent and that between November, 1915, and March, 1917, there was an increase of 41.1 per cent. We have kept for the pur- pose of this comparison the same amount of potatoes and onions as in 1915. As a matter of fact our families have adjusted their purchases in this particular so that the net increase is undoubtedly not as great as 41.1 per cent. As a check on this study we secure wholesale prices of a similar family order from Bradstreet's for 1915 and 1916. The total wholesale cost of these foods in 1915, according to their figures, was S4.86 and in 1916, $6.20 an increase of 27.7 per cent. The increase which we found in retail prices of these orders was 26.9 per cent. Brad- street's order was actually for a family of two adults and five children, but for the purpose of argument it does not change the situation. These figures check so closely as to indicate that our data was not far out of the way. 154 BUDGETARY STUDIES. Tabje II.— comparison OF ACTUAL RETAIL PRICES OF A SUGGESTIVE WEEKLY FOOD ORDER FOR A FAMILY OF TWO ADULTS AND THREE CHILDREN UNDER 14 YEARS OF AGE. Food Quantity Nov. 1915 Nov. 1916 Mar. 1917 Codfish 1 lb. $0.10 $0.15 $0.15 Eggs 1 doz. 0.31 0.49 0.39 Butter IM lbs. 0.50 0.65 0.68 Cheese M lb. 0.10 0.12 0.15 Bread 12 lbs. 0.80 0.96 0.96 Oatmeal 3 lbs. 0.12 0.15 0.15 Macaroni 1 lb. 0.06 0.08 0.08 Rice 1 lb 0.05 0.06 0.05 Sugar 3y2 lbs. 0.23 0.28 0.30 Beans 2 lbs. 0.18 0.30 0.30 Carrots 4 lbs. 0.10 0.16 0.20 Onions 4 lbs. 0.16 0.20 0.48 Potatoes 15 lbs. 0.35 0.75 1.05 Tomatoes 1 lb. 4 lbs. 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.20 0.10 0.20 Apples Prunes 2 lbs. 0.14 0.18 0.24 Cocoa Klb. 0.13 0.13 0.13 Tea Klb. 0.07 0.07 0.07 Coffee M lb. 0.10 0.10 0.10 Chuck steak 2 lbs. 2 lbs. 14 qts. 0.44 0.44 1 26 0.44 0.44 1.40 0.48 0.<4 1.54 Flank steak Milk Total per week $5.84 $7.41 $8.24 Total per year 303.68 385,32 428 . 48 26.9% 41.1% BROOKLYN. 1. Estimates by Margaret F. Byington and Margerat Perkins, Superin- tendents, Department of Service and Relief, Brooklyn Bureau of Chari- ties, of minimum American family budgets for husband, wife and three children under fourteen years, living in Brooklyn: 1915 1917 $3.00 7.00 .60 1.00 2.00 1.00 .50 $3.00 9.00 .60 1.00 3.00 1.00 .50 Food Fuel and light (maximum) Clothincr Furniture and sundries (minimum) Insurance ... ... Total per week $ 15.10 $ 18.10 Yearly total $785 . 20 S.941 .20 26.00 26.00 *Health, 50c per week $993.20 *Not included in 1915 estimate BUDGETARY STUIDES. 155 2. Estimate by Katherine A. Ward and Patrick Mallon, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Brooklyn, of a. fair standard American family budget for husband, wife, and three children under 14 years, living in Brooklyn: Rent Food Fuel (average) Gas (including occasional use of cooking stove) . Clothing Insurance Total, per week Yearly total Not included: Health, Car fare, and Sundries. $ 3.00 $ 3.00 *10.50 12.00 .60 1.25 .25 .25 .75 1.25 .40 .40 $ 15.50 $ 18.15 S806.00 $943.80 ♦Stated that the $1.50 per day food allowance would purchase only the bare necessities and good household managership would be required to keep out of debt. The clothing estimate is very low. SOCIAL SERVICE BUREAU OF BELLEVUE HOSPITAL. The following is an itemized family budget as drawn up by Mary Wadley, supervisor of the Social Service Bureau of Bellevue Hospital, and five district workers, who have obtained all the information at first hand. These figures are the conservative estimates of women who are daily meeting problems arising from poverty, and who have an exact knowledge of the needs of the typical worker's family. These are not ideal estimates. They represent the practical requirements for main- taining a decent standard of living. The basis of this budget is a family of five — husband, wife, and three children under 14 years. HOUSING Rent (3 rooms), $14 per month CAR FARE Cai fare (303 days) FUEL AND LIGHT Fuel — 3 bushels coal, at 25c per bushel 6 bundles wood, at 2c per bundle Total per week Total per year (26 weeks) Fuel (total coal and wood) Gas — $1 . 25 per month x 6K months 2.25 per month x 5% months (summer)* Total per year 1915 Per year. $168.00 30.30 0.75 .12 $0.87 22.62 $22.62 8.125 12.375 $43.12 1917 Per year. $168.00 $30.30 at 40c, 1.20 at2Kc, .15 $1.35 35.10 $35.10 8.125 12.375 $55.60 ♦No coal is used during the summer months. The gas bill is, therefore, increased $1 per month 156 BUDGETARY STUDIES. FOOD Minimum Budget for One Week. Meat and Fish 5 lbs. beef, at 13c a lb J^ lb. beef, at 10c a lb 2 lbs. pork, at 32c a lb., 64c or 2 lbs. ham, at 14c a lb., 28c av 1 lb. chicken (4 lbs. a month) IK lbs. fresh fish, at 8c a lb , Eggs and Dairy Products- 1 lb. butter K lb. cheese, at 18c 24 eggs (storage, 31c a doz.) 16 qts. milk,* at 6c a qt Cereals — 21 loaves of bread, at 5c 1 doz. rolls 2 lbs. cake, at 10c a lb Rice (1 lb. per mo) Flour (3K lbs. twice a month) . . . Oatmeal (2K lbs.), at 4c a lb Vegetables, Fruits, Etc. — 6 qt«'. Potatoes (10c foi 3K lbs.)., Turnips or carrots 2 lbs. onions, at 2c a lb , Fresh vegetables Dried beans and peas Can of tomatoes Can of corn (per month 8c) Fresh fruit Dried prunes (1 lb. per month 8c) Sugar, Tea, Coffee, Etc. — IK lbs. coffee. , at 20c a lb IH lbs. sugar (18c for 3 K lbs.) Syrup (four 10c cans per year) . Pickles, Spices, etc Food Summary Meat and fish Eggs and dairy products Cereals Vegetables, fruits, etc Sugar, tea, coffee, etc Total per week Total per year 1915 $0.65 .05 .46 .16 .12 $1.44 $1.96 $1.05 .10 $1.54 $0.18 .05 .04 .50 .05 .07 .02 .25 .02 $1.18 $0.30 .09 .008 .05 $0,448 1917 at 18c, $0.90 at 15c, .08 at 20c. or at 20c, .40 .24 at 14c. .21 at 30c, at 55c, at 9c. at 6c, at 15c, 2K lbs., per mo, at 8c, at 5c, 1 qt., at 20c. qt. at 10c, at 12c, at 14c, at 26c, $1.83 $0.42 .15 1.10 1.44 $3.11 $1.26 .12 .30 $1.96 $0.20^ .10 .20 .75 .12 .10 .03 .35 .035 $0.30 .13 .008 .05 $1.83 3.11 1.96 1.885 .488 ♦Loose milk. tit will be noted that rice is largely substituted for potatoes because of the high price of potatoes. BUDGETARY STUDIES. 157 CLOTHING Budget for One Year Man 2 hats or caps 1 suit 1 overcoat ($10, last 2 yrs.) 1 pair of pants 3 working shirts 2 white shirts 6 collars 2 pairs of overalls 4 ties 4 handkerchiefs 6 pairs hose Gloves and mittens Shoes, 2 pairs Repair of shoes (twice) .... Underwear Summer, two suits. .... Winter, two suits 1915 $2.00 10.00 5.00 2.00 1.50 1.00 .60 1.50 .50 .20 .60 .50 4.00 1.50 1.00 1.50 $33 . 40 1917 $2.00 14.00 7.00 2.50 1.50 1.50 .90 1.96 .60 .20 .90 .50 5.00 1.50 1.00 1.50 $42.56 Woman 2 hats ($6, last 2 yrs.) 1 coat ($8, last 2 yrs.) 1 suit 3 waists (2 at 50c and 1 at$l) 2 wash dresses 2 petticoats 3 aprons 6 handkerchiefs 6 pairs stockings 2 pairs shoes Repair of shoes (twice) .... Underwear Summer, three suits Winter, two suits Gloves and mittens Linen Rubbers Sundries $3.00 4.00 8.00 2.00 2.50 1.00 .45 .45 .60 4.00 1.00 .60 1.40 .75 6.00 .50 3.00 $39.25 $3.00 5.00 10.00 3.00 2.50 1.00 .45 .45 .90 5.00 1.00 .60 2.00 .75 6.00 .75 4.00 $46.40 Boys (6 and 4 Years) 2 caps 1 suit (2 trousers), winter. . 1 overcoat ($3, last 2 yrs.) 6 prs. stockings 3 waists Underwear . Summer, 3 suits Winter, 3 suits Shoes, 2 pairs Repair of shoes (twice) . . . . 3 Ferris waists 6 handkerchiefs Mittens, 2 pairs Rubbers Ties Summer suit Sundries Each 1915 $1.00 3.00 1.50 .50 " .75 .60 1.00 3.00 1.00 .75 .25 .50 .50 .25 1.00 .50 $16.10 Girl 2 hats, winter best, $1.50 Summer best, $1.00 (last 2 yrs.,), $2.50 1 stocking cap (school) .... 2 winter dresses 2 wash dresses (summer) . . 1 coat ($4, last 2 yrs.) 1 sweater 6 handkerchiefs 6 pairs stockings 2 pairs mittens 3 petticoats Linen 3 Ferris waists Underwear Summer, 3 suits Winter. 2 suits -. . . Shoes, 2 pairs Repair of shoes (twice) Rubbers Sundries 1917 $1.00 4.00 2.25 .90 .75 .60 1.50 4.00 1.00 .75 .30 .50 .65 .35 2.00 .50 $21.05 $1.25 .25 4.00 2.00 2.00 1.00 .25 .50 .50 .75 1.50 .75 .60 1.00 4.00 1.00 .50 1.50 $23.35 $1.25 .50 5.00 2.00 2.50 1.50 .30 .90 .50 1.00 2.00 .75 .60 2.00 5.00 1.00 .65 2.00 $29.45 Clothing Summary. 1915 1917 Man $33.40 39.25 32.20 23.35 $42.56 46.40 42.10 29.45 Woman Boys (2) Girl Total p er year $128.20 $160.51 Iransunce. 1915 1917 Average weekly premium, male adult 10c 10c 15c 35c per week — $18.20 per year. No change. Average weekly premium, female adult Average weekly premium, child (5c x 3) 158 BUDGETARY STUDIES. HEALTH. 1915 1917 Medicines 50c per month — $6 . 00 per year. No change, Note. — No doctor's fees are included in this budget, because the Social Service Bureau has ba: its figures on families receiving free medical treatment at Bellevue Hospital. 1 SUNDRIES. Papers and other reading matter Recreation Church dues Furniture, utensils, fixtures, etc Spending money for father Miscellaneous — soap, washing material, stamps, moving expenses, etc Total per year 1915 1917 $ 5.00 35.00 10.00 15.00 5.00 5.00 $ 5.00 35.00 10.00 20.00 5.00 8.00 $75.00 $83.00 Final Summary Housing Car fare Fuel and light Clothing Insurance ♦Health (Medicine) Sundries : Food Total per year Allowance for doctor's fees or sick benefit organization dues Grand total *This does not include fees for doctor's services. 1915 1917 Per year. Per year. $168.00 $168.00 30.30 .30.30 43.12 55.60 128.20 160.51 18.20 18.20 . 6.00 6.00 75.00 83.00 341.536 482.196 $810,356 $1,003,806 14.00 14.00 $824,356 $1,017,806 i TENTATIVE FAMILY BUDGETS SUBMITTED BY SOCIAL WORKERS OF THE UNITED HEBREW CHARITIES, FOR AN UNSKILLED LABORER'S FAMILY OF FIVE PERSONS. In submitting the revised figures for 1917, the United Hebrew Charities makes the following statement: "A recent study indicates that there is a 25 per cent increase in food prices, and though a thorough inquiry has not been made into the cost of other commodities, it is safe to say that there is a 10 per cent increase in rent, fuel, clothing and household sup- plies." (1) 1. Housing (4 rooms at $14) 2. Carfare (50 weeks at 60 cents — 1 person) 3. Food ($8 per week) 4. Fuel and light (3 tons coal — gas, $2 per month) 5. Clothing 6. Health 7. Insurance 8. Sundries Yearly total Sundries classified — Papers and other reading matter Recreation Furniture, utensils, fixtures, etc Lodge dues Spending money for the father Mi.scellaneous — soap, washing material, stamps, moving expenses, etc Yearly total 1915 $906.00 $ 5.00 40.00 25.00 5.00 15.00 10.00 ($10 per week) 1917 $184.80 30.00 520.00 49.30 110.00 20.00 25.00 110.00 $1,049.10 $100.00 Submitted by R. P. BUDGETARY STUDIES. 159 (2) Housing Car fare Food Fuel and light Clothing Health (dispensary) Insurance (lodge) . . Sundries Yearly total . Sundries classified — Papers and other reading matter Recreation Furniture, utensils, fixtures, etc Church dues Spending money for the father Miscellaneous — soap, washing material, stamps, moving expenses, etc. Yearly total 1915 $156.00 $171.60 30.00 30.00 364.00 455.00 40.00 42.00 100.00 110.00 'i6!66 'i6;6o 77.00 84.70 $783.00 $909.30 $ 5.00 40.00 15.00 5.00 7.00 5.00 $77.00 1917 Submitted by M. Halpern, Supervisor, District No. 4, February 11, 1915. (3) I am making only a rough estimate, as such a budget would take con- siderable time and should be based upon a careful investigation of a number of families of a given group. Assuming that the ages of the children are 11,9 and 7, and that they are girls, I have made the following estimate : 1 . Housing 2. Car fare 3. Food 4. Fuel and light 5. Shoes and clothing (this includes 2 pairs of shoes each for the children a( $1.50, and 2 pairs each for the man and woman at $4, excluding cost of repairs) 6. Health 7. Insurance 8. Sundries Yearly total Sundries classified — Papers and other reading matter Recreation p-urniture, utensils, fixtures, shoe repairing Miscellaneous Yearly total 1915 1917 $144.00 30.00 *377.00 31.00 100.00 20.00 25.00 51.00 $158.40 30.00 471.25 32.50 110.00 20.00 25.00 56.10 $778.00 $ 5.00 26.00 15.00 5.00 $903.25 $51.00 ♦Allowing $2 per week for man, $1.50 for woman, $1.25 for each of the three children. This is a more liberal estimate than that given by Chapin's Budget, which was made a few years ago. I increased the amount to meet the present needs of higher cost of living. Submitted by Anna Fox. 14.— DIGEST OF LITERATURE ON COST OF LIVING OF WORKINGMEN IN NEW YORK CITY. The Bureau of Standards of New York City in its report of 1915 to the Committee on Salaries and Grades of the Board of Estimate, on the Cost of Living for an Unskilled Laborer's Family, submitted a digest of the authoritative literature bearing on the subject. This is reprinted here because of its value in giving, in brief summary form, the results of independent and impartial studies as to the minimum family standards of workingmen, and the basis for an estimate as to how they have been affected by rising prices. 160 BUDGETARY STUDIES. INDEX TO DIGEST. The Standard of Living Among Workingmen's Families in New York City. Robert Coit Chapin. Russell Sage Foundation, 1909. The Influence of Income on Standards of Life. Robert Coit Chapin. American Economic Association Publication, Vol. 10, 1909. Cost of Living for Wage-Earner's Family in New York City. Louise Bolard More. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sci- ence, July, 1913. Wage-Earner's Budgets. Louise Bolard More. Financing the Wage-Earner's Family. Scott Nearing. New York, B. W. Huebsch, 1913 . A Living Wage. John Augustine Ryan. New York, The MacMillan Co., 1906 . Utilization of the Family Income. Martha Bensley Bruere. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sci- ence, July, 1913 . Some Unconsidered Elements in Household Expenditures. Margaret Frances Byington. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sci- ence, July, 1913 . Cost of Living of the Normal Family. Frank Hatch Streightoff . DIGEST. Several reliable and accurate studies have been made of the cost of living for laborers in New York City. The book generally regarded as standard is Robert Coit Chapin's "The Standard of Living Among Workingmen's Families in New York City." "THE STANDARD OF LIVING AMONG WORKINGMEN'S FAMILIES IN NEW YORK CITY." This volume is a compendium of the data obtained by the Special Com- mittee on Standard of Living, appointed by the seventh New York State Conference of Charities and Correction, and contains a detailed study of the expenditures and living conditions of 391 families in Greater New York, averaging five persons each whose incomes range approxi- mately from $600 to $1,100. Twenty-five families below the $600 mark and forty-eight above the $1,100 mark are included for the sake of indicating tendencies, but the main attention is concentrated upon the 318 families within the $600 to $1,100 range. The families under dis- cussion are distributed as follows: BUDGETARY STUDIES. 161 (a) By Borough — Manhattan 291 Bronx. 17 Brooklyn 64 Queens 9 Total 391 (b) By nationality of the father — American 88 Teutonic 46 Irish 26 Colored 29 Bohemian 14 Russian 78 Austro-Hungarian 39 Italian ^. 69 Others 2 Total 391 (c) By occupation — Domestic and personal service '. 96 Trade 47 Transportation 53 Manufacturing and mechanical trades 189 Professional 6 Total 391 The occupations represented are principally those of the less skilled employments, in which the wage is from $2 to $3 a day. In the group are found laborers, teamsters, garment workers, bar-tenders, cooks, waiters, janitors, tradesmen, agents, clerks, dealers, etc. The expenditures are analyzed under the following heads: (1) Housing, (2) Car fare, (3) Fuel and Light, (4) Food,. (5) Clothing, (6) Health, (7) Insurance, (8) Sundry minor items. Tables and charts show the apportionment (averages and percentages) of expenditures by: 1. Income group, i. e., $600 to $699; $700 to $799; $800 to $899- $900 to $999; $1,000 to $1,099 per year. * 2. Nationality. 3. Borough (in some cases), The relation of income to expenditure is compared in detail by in; come groups and nationalities carefully analyzed and summarized in the following table, which in concentrated form gives a comprehensive review of the problem: 162 BUDGETARY STUDIES. S 1/-, 00 « O Ov If •c t^o-*o-o >-^ fe « r»5»O00t>-^ ^ d lO t^" 00 <:« «> U ao'^t^ts ^ lOfOCNO-H 1 PO»H«^rO IT, vo vC l^ 00 6* a; 1 ,• r^ooooot^ -s^Sg li^ CNOOt^lO OiO^OO> -So; III C:SSS5 O00>O(N'* 'Ot^OO ^O <^ ^ 4, O . PI 0-< lO »0 2 u- C O . H-^ t^t^t^ 0«*5 •n s s 1^ Q ggjgjgjg; is 2" %^ <^ 5o o§^oo «<> ■^ E o iS « S OOrCJ-. .Si »-00«i 1 *ooo 1 "O oof^ov 1 voors 1 c OOOf' csot^ C/3 «<» * 1 fCrO C- fNroc^ CO 3 C -o bo O t^ 1/" Orr rf .S »-tCSl/" lor-CN .3 aoou" ©• OOt^ u lOOX Tl •» *9^ ' .2 Of^vC Ot} > < "2 0«N^ V0 1/5O mio"- -Hat- r^-t^ Tj OONTf< fO t rj <^ te i ^ 1^ rt U lO^O OCNOv ^ lOOOOC WTJ.VO 3 O<^0Q On-hoO >0 0'-H ■. -H-OvO u^OONO lOT*, Wi7.) The work with the people of the crowded district of Boston, and my association with them previous to the war, has led to serious thinking and many conferences with them since the increased cost of food, due to war conditions. The cry on every side is that it is almost impossible to live, and that every luxury — such as cake perhaps once a week — must be cut out. They complain a great deal of their necessity of life — flour and bread. In the book, "Food for the Worker," seven weeks' menus have been very carefully worked out relative to food values and costs, and the cost of bread in that seven weeks of the total supply, which amounts to $53.11, is about 25 per cent of the total. These menus have been care- fully worked over by experts in nutrition and people familiar with the habits of the people for whom they were intended. Variety has been given, and as much meat and vegetables as the purse would allow; and yet to make the necessary requirements of food values, bread to the amount as heretofore stated would have to be 25 per cent. (Page 119). In another group of flexible menus where difi"erent types of meals were planned, from the simplest to the elaborate, it was interesting to note that from twice to three times as much bread was needed with the simple meal as with the elaborate one. Which again leads us to see that people living on the one-piece meal must have bread to make up the required food value. It is desirable for them from many points of view: cost, ease in cooking, habit, nutrition, and a safe food for children. On page 22 of "Food for the Worker," the following statement is made: "It has been estimated that between $800 and $900 a year is the mini- mum figure at which a decent and efficient standard of living can be maintained for the typical family of five. "In a recent study by Schereschewsky, it was found that in the group whose income was $500 or less, under-nourishment and sickness were twice as great as in the groups earning $700 to $900. An average wage of an unskilled laborer is $12 per week, or $624 per year, if he is con- tinuously employed. The man who earns this income, however, is on the average unemployed eight weeks out of the fifty-two. This period of unemployment without pay reduces his annual income to $528. The cost of our menu is $364 a year — an extremely conservative estimate. Lower estimates are possible, but fail to allow for one of our essential considerations — variety. The cost of our menu is 65 per cent of an income of $528 per annum, and if we allow $144 per year for rent, a fair, ayeragej only $20 remains for all other needs of life for the family of five^ such as fuel, light, clothing, car fares, insurance, medicine, and recreation." 178 BUDGETARY STUDIES. PROPOIOTOH OP BREAD IN MENUS OF RICH AND POOR. DINNERS. 1. 2. 3. 4. i 6. Soup. Beef soup with vege- tables. Meat. 1 Slice Roast 1 Slice Roast 1 Slice Roast 1 Slice Roast Chicken Gravy. Brown. Brown. VcKetable— starchy. 1 baked potato 1 baked piotato. 1 baked potato. : Rice. Rice. Vegetable— gtintn. Beets butter. String beans butter. 2H. T. Cauliflower creamed. Lima beans and toma- toes. Lima beans and toma- toes. Lima beans and toma- . toes. i Salad. Tomato and lettuce. Tomato and lettuce. Lettuce. Dessert. Dessert. Dessert. Prune jelly and sauce. Dessert. Dessert. Dessert. Bread. 1 slice. 2 slices. 1 slice. 1 slice. K slice. 2 slices. Butter. 1370 Kt. 1323 K t.=K oz. 1329 Kt. 1301 1 t. 1324 1302 BREAKFASTS A. B. C. D. E. F. G. Bread. 3 slices. 2 slices. 2K slices. IK slices. IK slices. 2 slices. 1 slice. Butter. 4t. 2 t. 3 t. 2t. 2 t. 2 t. 2t. Beverages with milk and sugar. Coffee 1 cup. Coffee 1 cup. Fried potatoes. Milk 1 cup. Milk 1 cup. Coffee 1 cup. Coffee 1 cup. Coffee. 1 cup. Cereal with milk and sugar. 4t. 1 cup. 1 cup. 1 cup. U^cup. Fru?t. Baked Apple. Raw. Berries. Eggs. 2 Meat. 2 chops. CHAPTER IV BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PUBLICATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. Cost of living: *First Annual Report. 1886. Industrial depressions: Appendix B. Earnings and expenses of wage receivers in Europe, pp. 411-456. ♦Sixth Annual Report. 1890. Cost of production: Iron, steel, coal, etc. Cost of living, pp. 605-1376. Seventh Annual Report. 1891. Cost of Production: The textiles and glass. Part III. Cost of living, pp. 845-2013. *Bul. 8, January, 1897. Retail prices of principal foods in Belgium, February 29, 1896,** pp. 78, 79.. *Bul. 18, September, 1898. Mechanics and workingmen's returns. Wisconsin, 1895,** pp. 704, 705. Workingmen's wages and budgets in 1853 and 1891, Belgium,** pp. 708-713. Bui. 34, May, 1901. Labor conditions in Porto Rico, pp. 401-407, 413-424. Bui. 35, July, 1901. Statistics of wage earners in Colorado, 1899,** p. 781. *Bul. 37, November, 1901. Average yearly earnings and cost of living of working people, Maine, 1900,** pp. 1171, 1172. Bui. 3S, January, 1902. Labor conditions in Mexico, by Walter E. Weyl, pp. 70-73. *1902. First report of the Commissioner of Labor on Hawaii, 1901 (S. Doc. No. 169, 56th Cong., 1st sess.), pp. 99-112, 241-253. Bui. 41, July, 1902. Labor conditions in Cuba, by Victor S. Clark, pp. 677-684, 740-748. Eighteenth Annual Report. 1903. Cost of living and retail prices of food. *Bul. 46, May, 1903. Report of the Anthracite Coal Strike Com- mission, pp. 623-626. 1903. Second report of the Commissioner of Labor on Hawaii, 1902 (S. Doc. No. 181, 57th Cong., 2d sess.), pp. 222-228. Bui. 47, July, 1903. Second report of the Commissioner of Labor on Hawaii, pp. 896-902. *Bul. 48, September, 1903. Negroes of Xenia, Ohio: A social study, by Richard R. Wright, jr., pp. 1036-1038. ♦Supply exhausted. ♦♦Digest of State or Foreign itport. 17P 180 BIBLIOGRAPHY. * Cost of Living — Continued. *Bul. 49, November, 1903. Analysis of eighteenth annual report, cost of living and retail prices of food, pp. 1137-1141. Massachusetts, 1902,** pp. 1350, 1351. Bui. 53, July, 1904. Wages and cost of living, pp. 704-712. *Bul. 54, September, 1904. Cost of living and retail prices in the United States, by G. W. W. Hanger, pp. 1129-1164. *Bul. 56, January, 1905. Labor conditions in Australia, by Victor S. Clark, pp. 229-241. Bui. 58, May, 1905. Labor conditions in the Philippines, by Victor S. Clark, pp. 838-842. Bui. 58, May, 1905. Labor conditions in Java, by Victor S. Clark, pp. 943-946. *Bul. 59, July, 1905. Retail prices of food, 1890 to 1904, pp. 148-301. Railroad employes, Austria, 1898,** p. 330. *Bul. 61, November, 1905. Labor conditions in Porto Rico, by Wal- ter E. Weyl, pp. 776-778. *Bul. 64, May, 1906. Conditions of living among the poor (District of Columbia), by S. E. Forman,.pp. 598-617, 634-698. *Bul. 65, July, 1906. Retail prices of food, 1890 to 1905, pp. 170-316. 1906. Third report of the Commissioner of Labor on Hawaii, 1905 (H. Doc. No. 580, 59th Cong., 1st sess.), pp. 110-119, 309-317. *Bul. 66, September, 1906. Third report of the Commissioner of Labor on Hawaii, pp. 467-476, 663-671. *Bul. 71, July, 1907. Retail prices of food, 1890 to 1906, pp. 175-328. *Bul. 73, November, 1907. New Jersey, 1906,** p. 992. Washington, 1906,** p. 996. *Bul. 77, July, 1908. Wages and hours of labor in manufacturing industries, 1890 to 1897, pp. 1-180, Report of British Board of Trade on cost of living of the working classes of principal industrial towns of Great Britain, 1905,** pp. 336-354. *Bul. 78, September, 1908. Report of British Board of Trade on cost of living of the working classes of the principal industrial towns of the German Empire, 1905,** pp. 523-548. Bui. 83, July, 1909. Report of British Board of Trade on cost of living of the working classes in the principal industrial towns of France, 1905,** pp. 66-87. *Bul. 87, March, 1910. Report of British Board of Trade on cost of living of the working classes in the principal industrial towns of Belgium, 1908,** pp. 608-625. ♦Supply for distribution exhausted. **Digest of State or Foreign report. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 181 Cost of Living — Continued. Bui. 88, May, 1910. Report of Imperial Statistical Office of Ger- many on cost of living of families of moderate income in Germany in 1907-1908,** pp. 697-794. *1910. Increase in cost of food and other products (12 tables) (S. Doc. No. 349, 61st Cong., 2d sess.). *Bul. 93, March, 1911. Report of British Board of Trade on cost of living in principal industrial cities in the United States, 1909,** pp. 500-556. Reports of British Board of Trade on cost of living in England and Wales, Germany, France, Belgium, and the United States, 1908-1911,** pp. 557-570. *1911. Fourth report of the Commissioner of Labor on Hawaii, 1910 (S. Doc. No. 866, 61st Cong., 3d sess.), pp. 103., 104, 128-141. *Bul. 94, May, 1911. Fourth report of the Commissioner of Labor on Hawaii, pp. 764, 765, 786-799. *1912. Strike of textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, 1912 (S Doc. No. 870, 62d Cong., 2d sess.), pp. 165-186, 486-491. *Bul. 105, August 23, 1912. *Retail prices, 1890 to 1911. Part I. *Retail prices, 1890 to 1911. Part II. General tables. Bui. 106, August 28, 1912. *Retail prices, 1890 to 1912. Part I. Retail prices, 1890 to 1912. Part II. General tables. Bui. 108, October 1, 1912. Retail prices, 1890 to August, 1912. Bui. 110, December 4, 1912. Retail prices, 1890 to October, 1912. *1910-1912. Report on condition of woman and child wage earners in the United States (S. Doc. No. 645, 61st Cong., 2d sess.). *Vol. XVI. Family budgets of typical cotton mill workers. Bui. 113, March 18, 1913. Retail prices, 1890 to December, 1912. .Bui. 115, April 8, 1913. Retail prices, 1890 to February, 1913. Bui. 121, May 14, 1913. Sugar prices, from refiner to consumer, by N. C. Adams. Bui. 125, June 28, 1913. Retail prices, 1890 to April, 1913. *Bul. 130, August 15, 1913. Wheat and flour prices, from farmer to consumer, by J. Chester Bowen. Bui. 132, August 15, 1913. Retail prices, 1890 to June, 1913. Bui. 136, September 15, 1913. Retail prices, 1890 to August, 1913. Bui. 138, December 1, 1913. Retail prices, 1890 to October, 1913. Bui. 140, February 10, 1914. Retail prices, 1890 to December, 1913. Bui. 156, March, 1915. Retail prices, 1907 to December, 1914. Bui. 164, November 30, 1914. Butter prices, from producer to con- sumer, by Newton H. Clark. Bui. 170, May, 1915, Foreign food prices as affected by the war. *SuppIy for distribution exhausted. **Digest of State or Foreign report. 1.82 BIBUOGRAPHY. Wholesale prices : *BuI. 27, March, 1900. Wholesale prices, 189Q to 1899, by Roland P. Falkner, pp. 237^313. Bui. 39, March, 1902. Course of wholesale prices, 189Q to 1901, pp. 195-485. Bui. 45, March, 1903. Course of wholesale prices, 1890 tx> 1902, pp. 203-356. *Bul. 51, March, 1904. Course of wholesale prices, 1890 to 1903, pp. 219^379. *Bul. 54, September, 1904. Wholesale prices in the United States, 1890 to 1903, by G. W. W. Hanger, pp. 1165-1186. *Bul. 57, March, 1905. Course of wholesale prices. 1890 to 1904, pp. 389-549. . *Bul. 63, March, 1906. Course of wholesale prices, 1890 to 1905, pp. 338-502. Bui. 69, March, 1907. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1906, pp. 239-420. *Bul 75, March, 1908. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1907, pp. 283-471. *Bul. 81, March, 1909. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1908, pp. 195-382. *Bul. 87, March, 1910. Wholesale prices, 1890 to March, 1910, pp. 377-582 *Bul. 93, March, 1911. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1910, pp. 309-499. Bui. 99, March, 1912. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1911, pp. 501-692. Wholesale prices in Canada, 1890 to 1911,** pp. 693-695. *1913. Increase in prices of anthracite coal following the wage agreement of May 20, 1912 (H. Doc. No. 1442, 62d Cong., 3d sess.). Bui. 114, April 4, 1913. Wholesale prices (United States and Can- ada), 1890 to 1912. Bui. 121, May 14, 1913. Sugar prices, from refiner to consumer, by N. C. Adams. *Bul. 130, August 15, 1913. Wheat and flour prices, from farmer to consumer, by J. Chester Bowen. Bui. 149, May 11, 1914. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1913. Bui. 164, November 30, 1914. Butter prices, from producer to con- sumer, by Newton H. Clark. Bui. 170, May, 1915. Foreign food prices as affected by the war. Retail prices: *Bul. 3, March, 1896. Rhode Island, 1894,** p. 279. *Bul. 8, January, 1897. Retail prices of principal foods in Belgium, 1896,** pp. 78, 79. *BuI. 18, September, 1898. Comparative wages and prices in Massa- chusetts, 1872 to 1897,** pp. 694-697. *1902. First report of the Commissioner of Labor on Hawaii, 1901 (S. Doc. No. 169, 57th Cong., 1st sess.), pp. 97-99, 232-237. Eighteenth Annual Report. 1903. Cost of living and retail prices of food, Part II, pp. 635-853. 1903. Second report of the Commissioner of Labor on Hawaii, 1902 (S. Doc. No. 181, 57th Cong., 2d sess.), pp. 222-228. ♦Supply for distribution exhausted. **D»ge9t of State or Foreign report. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 183 Retail Prices — Continued. *-i Bui. 47 ^ July, 1903. Second report of the Commissiotter of Labor on Hawaii, 1902, pp. 896-902. Bui. 54, September, 1904. Cost of living and retail prices in the United States, by G. W. W. Hanger, pp. 1129-1164. *BuI. 59, July, 1905. Retail prices of food, 1890 to 1904, pp. 148-301. 1906. Third report of the Commissioner of Labor on Hawaii, 1905 (H. Doc. No. 580, 59th Cong., 1st sess.), pp. 309-317. *BuI. 65, July, 1906. Retail prices of food, 1890 to 1905, pp. 171-316. *Bul. 66, September, 1906. Third report of the Commissioner of Labor on Hawaii, pp. 663-671. *Bul. 71, July, 1907. Retail prices of food, 1890 to 1906, pp. 175-328. *Bul. 77, July, 1908. Retail prices of food, 1890 to 1907, pp. 181-332. Bui. 83, July, 1909. Cost of living of the working classes in the principal industrial towns of France, 1905,** pp. 71-80. Bui. 84, September, 1909. Sweden, 1904 to 1907,** pp. 410, 411. *1910. Increase in cost of food and other products (12 tables). (S. Doc. No. 349, 61st Cong., 2d sess.) *Bul. 87, March, 1910. Cost of living of the working classes in the principal industrial towns of Belgium, 1908,** pp. 612-619. *1911. Fourth report of the Commissioner of Labor on Hawaii, 1910 (S. Doc. No. 866, 61st Cong., 3d sess.), pp. 103, 104, 135-141. *Bul. 93, March, 1911. Reports of British Board of Trade on cost of living in England and Wales, Germany, France, Belgium, and the United States, 1908 to 1911,** pp. 566-569. *Bul. 94, May, 1911. Fourth report of the Commissioner of Labor on Hawaii, pp. 793-799. *1912. Strike of textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1912 (S. Doc. No. 870, 62d Cong., 2d sess.), pp. 165-182. *Bul. 105, August 23, 1912. *Retail prices, 1890 to 1^11. Part I. *Retail prices, 1890 to 1911. Part H: General tables. Bui. 106, August 28, 1912. *Retail prices. 1890 to June, 1912. Part I. Retail prices, 1890 to June, 1912. Part H: General tables. Bui. 108, October 1, 1912. Retail prices, 1890 to August, 1912. Bui. 110, December 4, 1912. Retail prices, 1890 to October, 1912. *1913. Increase in prices of anthracite coal following the wage agreement of May 20, 1912 (H. Doc. No. 1442, 62d Cong., 3d sess.), pp. 67-82. Bui. 113, March 18, 1913. Retail prices, 1890 to December, 1912. Bui. 115, April 8, 1913. Retail prices, 1890 to February, 1913. Bui. 121, May 14, 1913. Sugar prices, from refiner to consumer, by N. C. Adams. Bui. 125, June 28, 1913. Retail prices, 1890 to April, 1913. *Bul. 130, August 15, 1913. Wheat and flour prices, from farmer to consumer, by J. Chester Bowen. ♦Supply for distribution exhausted. **Digest of State or Foreign report. 184 BIBLIOGRAPHY. Bul. 132, August 15, 1913. Retail prices, 1890 to June, 1913. ^ Bui. 136, September 15^ 1913. Retail prices, 1890 to August, 1913. Bul. 138, December 1, 1913. Retail prices, 1890 to October, 1913. Bul. 140, February 10, 1914. Retail prices, 1890 to December, 1913- Bul. 156, March, 1915. Retail prices, 1907 to December, 1914. Bul. 164, November 30, 1914. Butter prices, frOm producer to con- sumer, by Newton H. Clark. Bul. 170, May, 1915. Foreign food prices as affected by the war. Bul. 197, Retail prices, 1907 to December, 1917 (In Preparation). Bul. 228, October, 1917. Retail prices, 1907 to 1916 (In Press). BIBLIOGRAPHY OF REFERENCES TO COST OF LIVING, FOOD CONTROL, PRICES, ETC., APPEARING IN THE MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS SPECIAL ARTICLES. General. United States. Minimum wage rate based on cost of living for unskilled laborers of New York City. October, 1915, pp. 18-21. July, 1917, pp. 138-140. Cost of living of working women in Ohio. February, 1916, pp. 51-56. Report of New York State Factory Investigating Commission. Cost of Living, Vol. IV, p. 1461. February, 1916, pp. 89-94. December, 1915, p. 76. (Brief reference only.) Cost of living in the State of Washington. August, 1916, pp. 31, 32. Cost of living in Massachusetts. June, 1917, pp. 959, 960. Supply of food in the District of Columbia. June, 1917, pp. 957-959. Cost of living in Dallas, Texas. July, 1917, pp. 136, 137. Establishment and operation of municipal public markets. July, 1917, pp. 131-135. Conditions of trade in food products. August, 1917, pp. 56-59. . Waste in food distribution in New York . September, 1917, pp. 95-98. Organization under the act to control food and fuel. September, 1917, pp. 67-71. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 185 United States— Continued, Progress of food and fuel control in the United States, etc. November, 1917, pp. 80-91. December, 1917, pp. 95-99. Cost of living in the District of Columbia. October, 1917, pp. 1-17. November, 1917, pp. 1-12. December, 1917, pp. 1-18. Foreign Countries : Food control in Germany and Great Britain. December, 1917, pp. 99-101. Prices and cost of living in Canada. April, 1916, pp. 51-54. Profits in food in Canada. August, 1917, p. 60. Government control of food supplies in European countries. March, 1917, pp. 390-407. Government control of food supplies in France. April, 1917, pp. 525-533. June, 1917, pp. 915-921. High cost of living bonus in Germany. June, 1917, pp. 945-949. Government control of food supplies in Germany. June, 1917, pp. 921-928. July, 1917, pp. 66-69. May, 1917, pp. 703-727. High cost of living conference in Gottenborg, Sweden, June, 1917. October, 1917, p. 65. Government control of food supplies in Great Britain. June, 1917, pp. 928-945. July, 1917, pp. 69-78. Food policy framed by national committee of British workers. July, 1917, pp. 78-80. Food control in Great Britain. November, 1917, pp. 91-104. Government control of food supplies in Italy. May, 1917, pp. 727-744. Cost of living in workmen's families in Portugal. July, 1917, pp. 137, 138. Minimum cost of living of workmen's families in Basle, Switzerland. September, 1917, pp. 144, 145. Cost of living and the minimum wage in New South Wales. February, 1917, pp. 2%-299. 186 BIBLIOGRAPHY. SPECIAL ARTICLES— PRICES. United States: Analysis and cost of ready-to-serve foods. November, 1916, pp. 46-48. Comparison of changes in prices of wheat and flour and in weight and prices of bread, May to September, 1916. November, 1916, pp. 41-46. Retail prices of anthracite coal. Interim report of the Federal Trade Commission, May 4, 1917. June, 1917, pp. 949-952. Retail prices of bread. October, 1916, pp. 29-31. Retail prices of bread in the District of Columbia. June, 1917, pp. 954-957. Union wage scales and retail prices of food. April, 1917, pp. 584, 585. Foreign Countries : Foreign food prices as affected by the war. July, 1915, pp. 42-44. Increase in retail prices of coal in Great Britain. July, 1915, pp. 45-56. Increase of prices of commodities in Great Britain. January, 1917, pp. 51-56. Wholesale prices in Great Britain. April, 1917, pp. 586-588. Prices and wages in India. November, 1917, pp. 75-79. Retail prices in the Scandinavian capitals. August, 1917, pp. 60-62. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES. WHOLESALE. United States: Monthly Review, February, 1916, pp. 33, 34. September, 1916, pp. 43-45. April, 1917, pp. 585, 586. July, 1917, pp. 128-131. August, 1917, pp. 54, 55. September, 1917, pp. 91, 92. October, 1917, pp. 57-59. December, 1917, p. 94. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 197 RETAIL. United States; Monthly Review, September, 1915, p. 46. October, 1915, pp. 43, 44. February, 1916, p. 32. March, 1916, pp. 31, S3. April, 1916, pp. 49-51. May, 1916, pp. 39-41. June, 1916, pp. 42-45. July, 1916, pp. 78-80. August, 1916, pp. 30, 31. September, 1916, pp. 40-42. October, 1916, pp. 28, 29. November, 1916, pp. 38-41. December, 1916, pp. 20-22. January, 1917, pp. 47-51. February, 1917, pp. 240, 243. March, 1917, pp. 385-390. April, 1917, pp. 583, 584. May, 1917, pp. 701-703. June, 1917, pp. 952-954. August, 1917, p. 53. September, 1917, pp. 92-94. October, 1917, pp. 60-64. November, 1917, pp. 67-73. December, 1917, pp. 83-90. Foreign Countries : Monthly Review, September, 1915, pp. 46-57. December, 1915, pp. 44-53. March, 1916, pp. 80-85. July, 1916, pp. 80-92. November, 1916, pp. 49-60. February, 1917, pp. 244-251. June, 1917, pp. 961-973. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. United States: Monthly Review, November, 1917, pp. 73-75. December, 1917, pp. 90-93. Foreign Countries : Monthly, Review, October, 1915, pp. 44-49. 188 BIBLIOGRAPHY. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL REPORTS CONTAINING REFERENCES TO COST OF LIVING, FOOD, PRICES, ETC. OFFICIAL. United States : Department of Commerce. Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com- merce. Wholesale prices of leading articles in the United States markets, January, 1913, to December, 1915. Washington, 1916. May, 1916, p. 89. Congress. Senate: Hearing before Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, relative to the proposal for increasing the production, improving the distribution and promoting the conservation of food supplies in the United States. Washington, 1917. Part 1, 73 pp. Part 2, 198 pp. June, 1917, p. 1030. Department of Agriculture. Office of Markets and Rural Organiza- tion. Survey of typical co-operative stores in the United States. Washington, Nov. 3, 1916. 32 pp. January, 1917, p. 163. California. Industrial Welfare Commission. First biennial report, 1913 to 1914. August, 1915, p. 31. New Jersey. Department of Labor. Thirty-ninth annual report of the Bureau of Industrial Statistics for the year ending October 31, 1916. Trenton, 1917, 275 pp. December, 1917, p. 249. - Massachusetts. (Boston). City planning board. A summary of the market situation in Boston. Preliminary report of the market advisory committee, June, 1915. Boston, 1916. 175 pp. March, 1917, p. 489. | New York City. Board of Estimate and Apportionment. Report on market system for New York City, etc. 121 pp. November, 1916, p. 141. Philippine Islands. Bureau of Labor. Fourth annual report for fiscal year ended June 30, 1913. Manila, 1913. 73 pp. October, 1915, pp. 89, 90. Porto Rico, Bureau of Labor. Fifth annual report. San Juan, 1917. 34 pp. November, 1917, p. 227. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 189 Foreign Countries : Australia. Bureau of Census and Statistics. Labor and Industrial Branch. Melbourne. Report No. 4: Review, August, 1915, p. 50. Report No. 7: Review, December, 1917, p. 251. Australia. Department of Home Affairs. Digest No. 25, 30th of September, 1916. Melbourne. 275 pp. January, 1917, p. 164. Canada. Board of Inquiry into the Cost of Living. Report. Ot- tawa, 1915. 2 vols. April, 1916, p. 97. Canada. Canadian Food Bulletin No. 1. Oct. 6, 1917. Ottawa. 8 pp. November, 1917, p. 230. Canada. Census and Statistics Office. The Canada Year Book, 1914. Ottawa, 1915. 698 pp. January, 1916, p. 69. Canada. Census and Statistics Office. Year Book, 1915. Ottawa 1916. 707 pp. February, 1917. p. 306. Canada. Department of Labor. Report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1916. Ottawa, 1916. 121 pp. January, 1917. p. 165. Canada. Department of Labor. Wholesale prices, Canada, 1914. Ottawa, 1915. 259 pp. September, 1915. pp. 66, 67. Canada. Order of his Excellency the Administrator in Council of the 10th of November, 1916, respecting the high cost of living, as amended by order in council of 29th of November, 1916. (Ottawa). 3 pp. June, 1917, p. 1032. Canada. Sixth annual report on wholesale prices, 1915. Ottawa, 1916. 312 pp. November, 1916, pp. 144, 145. Denmark. Statens Statistiske Department. Statistisk aarbog, 1915. Copenhagen, 1915. 230 pp. April, 1916, p. 97. Egypt. Statistical Department. Annuaire Statistique de I'Egypte, 1915. Cairo, 1916. 388 pp. July, 1916, p. 162. Finland. Statistiska Centralbyran. Statistisk Arsbok for Finland. Ny Serie. Tolfte Argangen, 1914. Helsingfors, 1915. 649 pp. September, 1915, p. 69. France. Bureau de la Statistique Generale. Annuaire Statistique Trente-Troisieme Volume. 1913. Paris, 1914. 33S, 239 pp. September, 1915, p. 69. 190 BIBLIOGRAPHY, Foreign Countries — Continued. Germany. (Prussia.) Statistisches Landesamt. Statistisches Jahr buch fur den Preussischen Staat, 1913. Vol. II. Berlin, 1914 693 pp. April, 1916, p. 100. Germany. Reich versicherungsamt. Viertoljahrshefte zur Statistik des Deutschen Reichs. 24 Jahrgang, 1915. Zweites Heft. Mit 11 Tafeln. Berlin, 1915. 229 pp. December, 1915, pp. S5, 86. Germany. (Saxony.) Statistisches Landesamt. Statistisches Jahr- buch fur das Konigreich Sachsen. Vol. 42, 1914-1915. Dresden, 1915. 362 pp. Aprfl, 1916, p. 101. Great Britain. Board of Education. Economy in food, etc. Lon- don, 1915. 31 pp. January, 1916, p. 71. Great Britain. India Office. Statistical abstract relating to British India. 1904-5 to 1913-14. 49th number. London, 1916. 285 pp. June, 1916, p. 126. India. Statistical Department. Prices and wages in India, 31st issue. Calcutta, 1915. vi., 226 pp. November, 1915, pp. 96, 97. Italy. Direzione Generale della Statistica e del Lavoro. Annuario Statistico Italiano, anno 1915. Series II, Vol. 5. Rome, 1916. 435 pp. August, 1917, p. 199. Italy. Ispettorato Generale del Commercio. Indici economici, 1903 to 1914. Rome, 1915, 2 Vols. April, 1916, p. 103. Japan. Department of Finance. The 15th Financial and Economic Annualof Japan, 1915. Tokyo. September, 1916, p. 106. New Zealand. Board of Trade. Report on coal prices at Auckland, Wellington, 1916, 3 p. December, 1916, p. 139. New Zealand. Department of Labor. 24th annual report, 1915. Wellington, 1915. January, 1916, p. 76. New Zealand. (Registrar General's Office.) Official year book, 1916. Wellington, 1917. 710 pp. August, 1917, p. 199. Norway. Arbeidskontor. Statistiske kontor. Husholdningeregns- kaper fort av endel mindre bemidlede familier i Kristiania, etc. Utgit ved Kristiania kommunes statistiske kontor. Christiania, 1915. 179 pp. May, 1916, p. 97. 1 BIBLIOGRAPHY. Wl Foreign Cotintries— -Continued. New Zealand. Registrar General's Office. Report on the cost of living in New Zealand, 1891 to 1914. Wellington, 1915, 168 pp. February, 1916, pp. 110, 111. Norway. Statistiske kontor. Fortsaetelse av special underskelse nr. Ill angaaende prisbevaegelsen paa livsforndenheter i Kristiania samt statistiske opgaver angaaende de kommunale funktionaerers forsigelsesbyrde. Christiania, 1916. 24 pp. August, 1916, p. 102. Norway. Statistiske Centralbyraa. Husholdningeregnskaper for handelsfunktionaerer m. v. Utgit av det Statistiske Centralbyraa. Christiania, 1915. January, 1916, pp. 78, 79. South Africa. Director of Census. Statistical year book of the Union of South Africa containing statistics for the year 1913-14. No. 2. Pretoria, 1915. 333 pp. November, 1915, pp. 98, 99. South Africa. Director of Census. Statistical year book of the Union of South Africa. No. 3, 1914-15. Pretoria, 1916. 359 pp. August, 1916, p. 103. Sweden. Dyrtidskongre sen (Stockholm), 1916. Kort redogorelse for anledningarna till dyrtidskongressens hallande, dess organisation, program och deltagare samt de vid dyrtidskongressen och vid konferenensen med livsmedelsnamndernas ombud forda proto- kollen. (Stockholm, 1917) 165 pp. . October, 1917, p. 191. Sweden. Socialstyrelsen Levnadskostnaderha i Sverige, 1913-14. Del II. Lokalmonografier. 1. Vasteras. May, 1917, pp. 801, 802. The Netherlands. Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek. Jaarcijfers voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden. 1913. The Hague, 1914. 360 pp. September, 1915, p. 74. The Netherlands. Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek. Jaarcijfers voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden Rijk in Europa, 1914. The Hague, 1915. 375 pp. September, 1916, pp. 106, 107. UNOFFICIAL. Birge, Wm. S. True food values and their low costs, or economy in living. New York, Sully & Kleinteich, 1916. 218 pp. December, 1916, p. 142. 192 BIBLIOGRAPHY. Boucke, O. Fred. Rising costs of living. George Ban ta Publishing Co. Menasha, Wis., 1916. 87 pp. May, 1917, p. 803. Chance, Lady. Housekeeping on 25s. ($6.08) a week or under. Published by the National Food Economy League, London. 16 pp. September, 1916, p. 113. Congdon, Leon A. Fight for food. Philadelphia, Lippincott, 1916, 207 pp. December, 1916, p. 143. Consumers' League of the District of Columbia. 4th report, March, 1915, to October, 1916. 40 pp. January, 1917, p. 172. Gibbs, Winifred Stuart. The minimum cost of living. Macmillan, New York, 1917. 93 pp. June, 1917, 1037. New Zealand Employers' Federation. Industrial bulletin. Welling- ton, April 5, 1917, Vol. 2, No. 3. August, 1917, p. 206. Rose, Mary S. Feeding the family. New York, Macmillan, 1916. 449 pp. December, 1916, p. 146. Stern, Frances, and Spitz, Gertrude T. Food for the worker, etc. Boston, Whitcomb & Barrows, 1917. 131 pp. October, 1917, p. 195. PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS LISTED, CONTAINING REFER- ENCES TO THE COST OF LIVING, FOOD PRICES, ETC. Argentina. Departmento Nacional del Trabajo. Boletin. Buenos Aires. Apr. 30, 1915 Review, Oct., 1915, p. 106. July, 1915 Dec, 1915, p. 96. Australia. Bureau of Census and Statistics. Labor and Industrial Branch. Labor Bulletin. Melbourne. Apr.-June, 1914; July-Sept., 1914 Review, Aug., 1915, p. 68. Jan.-Mar., 1915 Dec, 1915, p. 96. July-Sept., 1915 Apr., 1916, p. 109. Oct.-Dec, 1915 July, 1916, p. 165. Canada. Department of Labor. Labor Gazette. Ottawa. Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, 1915 Review, Aug., 1915, pp. 68, 70. July, 1915 Sept., 1915, p. 80. Aug., 1915 Oct., 1915, p. 106. Sept., 1915 Nov., 1915, pp. 100, 101. Oct., 1915 .-.-.. Dec, 1915, p. 96. Nov., 1915 Jan., 1916, p. 85. Dec, 1915 Feb., 1916, p. 115. Jan., 1916 Mar., 1916, p. 104. Feb., 1916 Apr., 1916, p. 109. May, 1916 July, 1916, p. 165. July, 1916 Sept., 1916, p. 109. Oct., 1916 Dec, 1916, p. 138. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 193 Periodicals — Continued . Chile. Boletin de la Officina del Trabajo. Santiago de Chile. Biennial. Second half, 1914 Review, Apr., 1916, p. 109. ; Denmark. Statistiske Efterretninger, udgivet af det statistiske De- I partement. Copenhagen. Jan. 5 to June 14, 1915 Review, Aug., 1915, p. 70. June 30, 1915 Sept., 1915, p. 80. July 24, 1915 Oct., 1915, p. 107. , Aug. 28, 1915 Nov., 1915, p. 101. P Aug. 21, and Oct. 2., 1915 Dec, 1915, p. 96. ^ Oct. 30, 1915 Jan., 1916, p. 85. Dec. 1, 1915 Feb., 1916, p. 116. Dec. 28, 1915 March, 1916, p. 104. Feb. 25, 1916 Apr., 1916, p. 109. Apr. 3 and 19, 1916 June, 1916, p. 130. May 26, 1916 Aug., 1916, p. 105. July 6, 1916 . Sept., 1916, p. 109. Finland. Arbetsstatistisk Tidskrift utgifven af Industristyrelsen. Hel- singfors. No. 4, 1915 Review, Nov., 1915, p. 101. No. 5, 1915 Dec, 1915, p. 96. No. 6, 1915 March, 1916, p. 104. France. Bulletin du Ministere du travail et de la Prevoyance Sociale. Paris. ^Oct., Nov., Dec, 1914 Review, Aug., 1915, pp. 70, 71. Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., 1915 Sept., 1915, p. 81. May, June, 1915 Dec, 1915, p. 97. July, Aug., 1915 Jan., 1916, p. 85. Sept., Oct., 1915 March, 1916, p. 104. Nov., Dec, 1915 May, 1916, p. 101. Jan., Feb., 1916 July, 1916, p. 165. Germany. Reichsarbeitsblatt, Herausgegeben vom Kaiserlichen Statis- tischen Amte, Abteilung fur Arbeitanstatistik. Berlin. May, 1915 Review, Aug., 1915, p. 72. Aug., Sept., 1915 Nov., 1915, p. 101. Feb., 1916 May, 1916, p. 101. Great Britain. The Board of Trade Labor Gazette. London. Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, 1915 Review, Aug., 1915, pp. 72, 73. June, July, 1915 Sept., 1915, pp. 81, 82. Aug., Sept., 1915 Nov., 1915, pp. 101, 102. Oct., 1915 Dec, 1915, p. 97. Nov., 1915 Jan., 1916, p. 86. Dec, 1915 Feb., 1916, p. 116. Jan., 1916 March, 1916, p. 105. Feb., 1916 April, 1916, p. 109. March, 1916 May, 1916, p. 101. April, 1916 June, 1916, p. 130. May, 1916 July, 1916, p. 166. June, 1916 Aug., 1916, p. 105. Aug., 1916 Oct., 1916, p. 102. 194 BIBLIOGRAPHY. Periodicals — Continued . Italy. Bolletino dell' Ufficio del Lavoro, Ministero di Agricolturs Industria e Commercio. Rome. Jan. 1, Apr. 1, May 1, 1915 Review, Aug., 1915, p. 74. June 1, July 1, 1915 Sept., 1915, p. 82. Apr., 1915, and Aug. 1, Sept. 16, 1915 Nov., 1915, p. 102. Oct. 1, 1915 Dec, 1915, p. 97. Nov. 1, 1915 Jan., 1916, p. 86. Aug., 1915, Dec. 1, 1915 Feb., 1916, pp. 116, 117. Jan. 1, 1916 March, 1916, p. 105. Feb. 1, 1916 April, 1916, p. 110. March 1, 1916 May, 1916, pp. 101, 102. Nov., Dec, 1915 June, 1916, p. 131. Apr. 1 and Apr. 16, 1916 June, 1916, p. 131. Jan., Feb., 1916, May 1, 1916.. . . July, 1916, p. 166. June 1, 1916 Aug., 1916, pp. 106, 107. June 16, July 15, 1916 Sept., 1916, p. 110. Sept. 16, 1916 Dec, 1916, p. 138. Oct. 1 and 16, 1916 Jan., 1917, p. 169. Nov. 1 and 16, and Dec 1, 1916. Feb., 1917, p. 307. New South Wales. Industrial Gazette issued by the Department ol Labor and Industry. Sydney. July, 1915 Review, Nov., 1915, p. 103. Aug., 1915 Dec, 1915, p. 98. May, 1916 Sept., 1916, p. 111. June, 1916 Oct., 1916, p. 107. July, 1916 Nov., 1916, p. 149. New South Wales. Monthly Statistical Bulletin. Sydney, 1917. March, 1917 Review, July, 1917, pp. 186, 187. New Zealand. Journal of the Department of Labor. Wellington. Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., 1915 Review, Aug., 1915, pp. 75, 76. May, June, 1915 Sept., 1915, p. 83. July, 1915 Oct., 1915, p. 107. Aug., 1915 Nov., 1915, p. 103. Sept., 1915 Dec, 1915, p. 99. Oct., 1915 Jan., 1916, p. 87. Nov., 1915 Feb., 1916, p. 117. Jan., 1916 April, 1916, p. 110. Feb., Mar., 1916 June, 1916, p. 132. May, 1916 Aug., 1916, p. 107. June, 1916 Sept., 1916, p. 111. Aug., 1916 Nov., 1916, p. 149. April, 1917 July, 1917, p. 187. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 195 Periodicals — Continued. Norway. Sociale Meddelelser utgit av Socialavdelingen under De- partementet for Sociale Saker, Handel, Industri og Fisheri, Christiania. No. 2, 3, 1915 Review, Sept., 1915, p. 83. No. 6, 1915 April, 1916, p. 110. No. 1, 1916 June, 1916, p. 132. No. 3, 1916 Oct., 1916, p. 108. No. 4, 1916 Dec, 1916, p. 139. No. 6, 1916 May, 1917, p. 800. Queensland. Industrial Gazette. Brisbane. June 10, 1916 Review, Sept., 1916, p. 111. July 10, 1916 Oct., 1916, p. 108. Aug. 10, 1916 Nov., 1916, p. 150. Spain. Boletin del Instituto de Reformas Sociales, Publicacion Men- sual. Madrid. Feb., Mar., Apr., May, 1915 . . . .Review, Aug., 1915, pp. 76, 77. June, 1915 Sept., 1915, p. 84. July, 1915 Oct., 1915, p. 108. Aug., 1915 Nov., 1915, p. 103. Nov., 1915 Feb., 1916, p. 118. Dec, 1915 Mar., 1916, p. 106. Jan., 1916 April, 1916, p. 110. May, 1916 Aug., 1916, p. 107. June, 1916 Sept., 1916, p. 111. July, 1916 Oct., 1916, p. 108. Feb., March, 1917 June, 1917, p. 1034. Sweden. Sociala Meddelanden utgivna av K. Socialstyrelsen. Stock- holm. Nov. 12, 1915 Review, Mar., 1916, pp. 106, 107. No. 1, 1916 May, 1916, p. 103. No. 2, 1916 June, 1916, p. 133. No. 5, 1916 Aug., 1916, p. 107. No. 6, 1916 Sept., 1916, p. 111. No. 7, 1916 Oct., 1916, 109. No. 8, 1916 Dec, 1916, p. 140. No. 9, 1916 Jan., 1917, p. 169. No. 10, 1916 Feb., 1917, p. 309. No. 2, 1917 June, 1917, p. 1035. No. 3, 1917 July, 1917, p. 192. Sweden. Socialstyrelsen, Sociala Meddelanden. Stockholm. No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 1915 Review, Aug., 1915, pp. 77, 78. No. 5, 6, 1915 Sept., 1915, p. 84. No. 8, 1915 Nov., 1915, pp. 103, 104. No. 10, 1915 Jan., 1916, p. 88. No. 9, 1915 Dec, 1915, p. 99. No. 11, 1915 Feb., 1916, p. 118. 196 BIBLIOGRAPHY. The Netherlands. Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, Maandschrift. The Hague. Jan., Mar., Apr., 1915 Review, Aug., 1915, p. 78. May, June, 1915 Sept., 1915, pp. 82, 83. July, Sept., 1915 Dec, 1915, p. 98. Oct., 1915 Jan., 1916, pp. 86, 87. Nov., 1915 Feb., 1916, p. 117. Dec, 1915 March, 1916, p. 106. Jan., 1916 May, 1916, p. 102. Feb., 1916 June, 1916, p. 131. March, April, 1916 July, 1916, pp. 166, 167. June, 1916 Sept., 1916, p. 110. July 1, 1916 Oct., 1916, p. 106. Aug., 1916 Nov., 1916, p. 149. Sept., 1916 Dec, 1916, p. 139. 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