| Average| Average | Average| Average
| weekly | yearly | weekly | yearly
| cost | cost | cost | cost
------------------------+--------+----------+---------+----------
Food | $11.00 |$ 572.00 | $12.15 |$ 631.80
Shelter | 2.25 | 117.00 | 3.50 | 182.00
Clothing | 4.68 | 243.36 | 6.20 | 322.25
Fuel, heat and light | 1.35 | 70.20 | 1.62 | 84.25
Sundries | 5.10 | 265.20 | 6.80 | 353.60
+--------+----------+---------+----------
All items | $24.38 |$1,267.76 | $30.27|$1,573.90
------------------------+--------+----------+---------+----------

INCREASE IN THE COST OF LIVING SINCE 1914

_Food._ It was difficult to compare the cost of food in Fall River in
October, 1919, with the cost in October, 1914, since no stores could
be found in the city from which prices of all articles at these two
dates could be secured. One store, however, for years has published a
"fair price-list" in one of the daily papers, covering most articles
of food except fresh meat and vegetables. It was possible to compare
prices quoted in this list in October, 1919, with those in October,
1914. Prices of meats were obtained from advertisements of certain
stores in 1914 and compared with prices prevailing at the same stores
in 1919.

From these lists and advertisements, two 1914 food budgets were
constructed and compared with the cost of the same articles in 1919.
The articles of food included were as nearly as possible the same as
those used in Tables 1 and 2.[4] The less expensive budget was found
to have increased 77%, and the more liberal budget 82% during the
five-year period. An estimate of 80% as the increase in the cost of
food is therefore representative. This compares with an average
advance of 89% up to August, 1919, on the basis of prices in 1913, as
shown by the retail food price index numbers of the United States
Bureau of Labor Statistics.[5] August, 1919, prices of food were the
highest ever recorded by the Bureau and there has been a decline of
several points since that time.

[4] In a few cases, owing to lack of October, 1914, quotations,
it was necessary to make substitutions.

[5] _Monthly Labor Review_, October, 1919, p. 76.

_Shelter._ Figures and estimates regarding increases in rents we