AL ELECTRIC LIGHT ASSOCIATION
NATIONAL ERECTORS' ASSOCIATION
NATIONAL FOUNDERS' ASSOCIATION
NATIONAL IMPLEMENT AND VEHICLE ASSOCIATION
NATIONAL METAL TRADES ASSOCIATION
RUBBER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC.
SILK ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
THE RAILWAY CAR MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION
UNITED TYPOTHETAE OF AMERICA

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

ASSOCIATED INDUSTRIES OF MASSACHUSETTS
ASSOCIATED MANUFACTURERS AND MERCHANTS OF NEW YORK STATE
ILLINOIS MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION
MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION OF CONNECTICUT, INC.

THE COST OF LIVING AMONG
WAGE-EARNERS

FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS
OCTOBER, 1919

RESEARCH REPORT NUMBER 22
NOVEMBER, 1919

_Copyright 1919_

NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE BOARD

15 BEACON STREET
BOSTON, MASS.

CONTENTS

PAGE

FOREWORD vii

PURPOSE OF THE INVESTIGATION 1

METHOD 1

FALL RIVER AND ITS PEOPLE 2

COST OF LIVING IN OCTOBER, 1919 3
FOOD 3
SHELTER 6
CLOTHING 6
FUEL, HEAT AND LIGHT 8
SUNDRIES 9
THE COMPLETE BUDGET 11

INCREASE IN THE COST OF LIVING SINCE 1914 13
FOOD 13
SHELTER 13
CLOTHING 14
FUEL, HEAT AND LIGHT 14
SUNDRIES 15
THE COMPLETE BUDGET 15

CONCLUSION 17