ost, $40.63, is 56% more than this. If the coal was bought in less
than ton lots the percentage of increase was practically the same.

Gas which in 1919 cost $1.05 per thousand cubic feet net cost 80 cents
net in October, 1914. This represents an increase of 31%. Electricity
has advanced from nine cents to ten cents per kilowatt hour, or 11%.

Combining the cost of fuel, heat and light in 1914 and 1919, it is
found that the average increase for the five-year period was 46%.

_Sundries._ Six tickets for car rides could be purchased for 25 cents
in 1914, whereas the present price is 10 cents a single ride, an
increase of 140%. If, however, commutation tickets are purchased, the
increase is 44%.

The three large down-town moving picture houses have not increased
their prices since 1914, except by the amount of the war tax, but
there has been an increase of 10 cents to 15 cents (17 cents with the
war tax) in some, at least, of the neighborhood theaters.

Doctors' fees have increased 100%.

Although insurance premiums in themselves have not advanced, people
have taken out more and larger policies to cover the increased cost of
burial and relief. The daily papers have not increased in price, but
the Boston Sunday paper, which is now seven cents, was six cents in
1914.

If the increases for the separate sundries items are combined on the
basis of the distribution of items within the sundries group, as noted
above, the total advance in the cost of sundries between October,
1914, and October, 1919, was 75% for the minimum budget and 74% for
the more liberal budget.

TABLE 6: AVERAGE INCREASE BETWEEN OCTOBER, 1914, AND OCTOBER, 1919,
IN THE COST OF LIVING FOR A MAN, WIFE, AND THREE CHILDREN UNDER
FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE IN FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS

(National Industrial Conference Board)

=================================================
|Increase between October,
| 1914, and October, 1919
Budget items +----------+---------------
| Minimum | More liberal
| standard | standard
----------------------+----------+---------------
Food | 77% | 82%
Shelter | 15% | 20%
Clothing | 125% | 102%
Fuel, heat and light | 46% | 46%
Sundries | 75% | 74%
----------------------+----------+---------------
All items