Part 3

The figures in column marked "A" as before were obtained from the prices collected by Post Office officials, and those marked "B" from prices collected by officials of the Ministry of Labour and Local Government Board.

By taking the mean of "A" and "B" for March and for June, 1922, the final figures showing the increases in the Cost of Living are obtained:--

Mid-March, 1922, Mid-June, 1922, over July, 1914. over July, 1914.

=91.4= per cent. =85.2= per cent.

=and these are the final figures which we recommend the Government to adopt.=

NOTES ON THE COMPILATION.

(_a_) _Comparison of Post Office, Ministry of Labour and Local Government Board Figures._

The close similarity between the figures supplied by the various Departments can perhaps be most clearly seen in a different tabular form.

For every 100 shillings spent by wage-earning classes in July, 1914, the following would be the corresponding amounts (as shown by the different returns) which would have to be spent in order to maintain the same standard of living in March and June, 1922.

+-------+-------------+---------+--------------+-------------- | | Ministry of | Mean of | Deviation | Deviation | Post | Labour and | columns | of (_a_) and | as a |Office.| Ministry of |(_a_) and| (_b_) from | percentage of | | Local Govt. | (_b_). | the mean. | column (_c_). | (_a_) | (_b_) | (_c_) | | -------+-------+-------------+---------+--------------+-------------- March, | | | | | 1922 | 195.7 | 187.0 | 191.35 | 4.35 | 2.3 June, | | | | | 1922 | 187.8 | 182.5 | 185.15 | 2.65 | 1.4 -------+-------+-------------+---------+--------------+--------------

The last column shows that in general the difference between Post Office, Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Local Government was 2.3 per cent. of the mean for prices returned for March, 1922, and 1.4 per cent. of the mean for prices returned for June, 1922--surely a small difference considering the instability of prices.

(_b_) _Sundries._

A point of some importance is the following:--

In the British budgets only items of which the price changes could be accurately measured are understood to have been included.

In our Summary all "Sundries" shown in the budgets are included. But as the price change of only about one-third of them could be directly measured it was assumed that the change in the level of the prices of the remaining sundries varied in the same proportion as the change in the other four groups combined.

(D) Results of Different Weighting.

Calculations were also made whereby a final figure could be arrived at by different methods, and the following table shows results obtained:--

PERCENTAGE INCREASES ARISING BY USING BRITISH WEIGHTS.

+------------------- |Percentage Increase | in Cost of Living | in Ireland. DIFFERENT METHODS. |----------+--------- | July 1914|July 1914 | to | to |March 1922|June 1922 ------------------------------------------------+----------+--------- _a_ By applying British Weights in 1914 | | to the Committee's Irish Prices of all | | commodities in 1914 and 1922 the percentage | | increase in the Cost of Living | | would be | 84.8 | 80.2 | | _b_ Taking Irish Prices for Food in 1914 as | | collected by the British Board of Trade, | | but the Committee's Prices for all other | | commodities in 1914 and all commodities | | in 1922 the increase would be | 76.6 | 71.0 | | _c_ Taking British Prices for food in the | | "United Kingdom" in 1914, but the Committee's | | Prices for all other commodities in 1914 | | and all commodities in 1922 the increase | | would be | 72.1 | 67.3 ------------------------------------------------+----------+--------- Prices obtained entirely on Irish weights | | and prices, and recommended for adoption | | are | 91.4 | 85.2 ------------------------------------------------+----------+---------

As regards this table it should, however, be pointed out that the commodities selected by us are not in all respects identical with those selected by the British authorities and that the application of the weights, although broadly speaking correct, could not be accurate in every detail.

It only remains for us to express our gratitude for all the assistance given to us by the officials of the Departments already mentioned and by the staff assisting in the actual compilation. Our thanks are especially due to Mr. C. J. Barry, of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction and to the National School teachers who furnished such excellent budgets.

(Signed) JOHN HOOPER, _Chairman_. T. K. BEWLEY. +T. Mac Giolla Padraig.+ STANLEY LYON. _4th August, 1922._

APPENDIX.

Form A.

DIRECTIONS.

1. All prices should be quoted in pence, and should be cash prices at the shop (not delivered).

2. Please note the quantity mentioned in the first column in each case, and let your figures correspond.

3. If actual prices paid for any item are not available--leave space blank. _Do not estimate._

4. The figures quoted for the month of March, 1922, should be those prevailing on the date on which you fill up the form.

5. In the column headed "Observations," please furnish any particulars concerning the retail prices of food in your district, which, in your opinion are worthy of observation.

6. Fill in on the back page of the form particulars of the sources from which information as to the prices of the commodity has been obtained, for example:--

+-----------------------------+---------------------- COMMODITY. | SOURCE. | NATURE. ------------+-----------------------------+---------------------- Butter | John Macken, Main Street | Large Shop--Day Book Eggs | Personal knowledge | Direct Country supply Eggs | Mrs. O'Kane, Dublin Road | Household Pass Book ------------+-----------------------------+----------------------

7. The figures representing the majority of the sales are the figures required. Exceptional prices are of no value.

8. In every case you should check your information, whether given of your knowledge or after investigation by enquiry from more than one source.

RETAIL PRICES OF CERTAIN FOOD COMMODITIES IN __________________________ AT UNDERMENTIONED DATES. (City, Town, or District). -----------------------+--------------------+---------+---------+--------- | 1913 | 1914 | 1922 | +----+-----+----+----+---------+---------+ Observa- Commodity |Jan.|April|July|Oct.|Feb.|July|Feb.|Mar.| tions -----------------------+----+-----+----+----+----+----+----+----+--------- Beef (Irish). | | | | | | | | | Best cuts per lb.| | | | | | | | | Second parts lb.| | | | | | | | | Rough meat lb.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mutton (Irish). | | | | | | | | | Best cuts lb.| | | | | | | | | Second parts lb.| | | | | | | | | Rough meat lb.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Bacon. | | | | | | | | | Smoked (piece) lb.| | | | | | | | | Smoked (rashers) lb.| | | | | | | | | Unsmoked (piece) lb.| | | | | | | | | Unsmoked (rashers) lb.| | | | | | | | | Shoulder (piece) lb.| | | | | | | | | Shoulder (rashers) lb.| | | | | | | | | American (piece) lb.| | | | | | | | | American (rashers) lb.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fresh Pork. | | | | | | | | | Chops lb.| | | | | | | | | Steaks lb.| | | | | | | | | Puddings lb.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sausages. | | | | | | | | | Beef lb.| | | | | | | | | Pork lb.| | | | | | | | | "Limerick" lb.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Lard lb.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Dripping lb.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Butter. | | | | | | | | | Irish Creamery lb.| | | | | | | | | Irish farmer's lb.| | | | | | | | | New Zealand lb.| | | | | | | | | Danish lb.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Margarine. | | | | | | | | | First Grade lb.| | | | | | | | | Second Grade lb.| | | | | | | | | Third Grade lb.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Cheese (give brand | | | | | | | | | or other description).| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Eggs. | | | | | | | | | First Grade doz.| | | | | | | | | Second Grade doz.| | | | | | | | | Third Grade doz.| | | | | | | | | Third Grade doz.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Milk. | | | | | | | | | Fresh quart| | | | | | | | | Buttermilk quart| | | | | | | | | Skim Milk quart| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Tinned Milk. | | | | | | | | | Irish (give size | | | | | | | | | of tin) | | | | | | | | | Imported (give | | | | | | | | | size of tin) | | | | | | | | | Bread (per 2-lb. Loaf) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Flour. | | | | | | | | | Household per stone | | | | | | | | | Household per sack | | | | | | | | | of ___ stones. | | | | | | | | | Best American per | | | | | | | | | sack of ___ stones. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Meal. | | | | | | | | | Oaten stone| | | | | | | | | Wheaten stone| | | | | | | | | Indian stone| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Rice lb.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Potatoes stone| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sugar, White | | | | | | | | | granulated lb.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Tea. | | | | | | | | | Best quality lb.| | | | | | | | | Cheapest quality lb.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Coffee, Ground lb.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Cocoa. | | | | | | | | | Shell lb.| | | | | | | | | Tinned lb.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Jam, Irish (give name | | | | | | | | | of kind in most | | | | | | | | | demand). | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -----------------------+----+-----+----+----+----+----+----+----+--------- Please add any | | | | | | | | | information available | | | | | | | | | as to prices of the | | | | | | | | | following commodities,| | | | | | | | | giving description of | | | | | | | | | each item:-- | | | | | | | | | Fish | | | | | | | | | Vegetables lb.| | | | | | | | | Poultry lb.| | | | | | | | | Fruit lb.| | | | | | | | | -----------------------+----+-----+----+----+----+----+----+----+--------- Signature________________________ Date_________________

PARTICULARS OF SOURCES from which information has been obtained:--

+---------------------+--------------------------- COMMODITY. | SOURCE. | NATURE. -------------+---------------------+--------------------------- Beef | | Mutton | | Bacon | | Fresh Pork | | Sausages | | Lard | | Dripping | | Butter | | Margarine | | Cheese | | Eggs | | Milk | | Tinned Milk | | Bread | | Flour | | Meal | | Rice | | Potatoes | | Sugar | | Tea | | Coffee | | Cocoa | | Jam | | Fish | | Vegetables | | Poultry | | Fruit | | -------------+---------------------+---------------------------

Form B 1.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILLING IN SPECIAL FORMS FOR RETAIL PRICES.

(1) The necessary inquiries for filling up these forms should be made immediately.

(2) The returns duly completed should be posted so as to reach this Office _not later than Thursday, 22nd June_. Please do your utmost to post them as early as possible.

(3) Get the information from the shops most frequented by the wage-earning classes. Prices representing the kind, quality, etc., on which these classes spend most money are the prices required.

(4) Please note the quantity for which the prices of each commodity are to be quoted.

(5) All prices on Forms B 2 and B 3 should be quoted in pence (but correct to farthings)--thus Sugar 5-¾d. per lb.

(6) Give actual prices. If you cannot get them leave blanks; do not give estimates or averages. For prices for the dates prior to June, 1922, get the Shopkeepers to look up their books.

(7) All prices should be cash prices at the shop (_not delivered_) they should represent the majority of sales and they should be checked by inquiry from more than one source.

(8) (_a_) Get prices in all cases from Shopkeepers, giving on each Form the names and full postal addresses of those who supplied the information for that Form.

(_b_) Give exact descriptions of beef, mutton, etc., where you are asked to do this on the Form.

(9) Give on the space provided on each Form any explanations or observations which you think would be helpful.

=Form B 2.=

RETAIL PRICES OF CERTAIN COMMODITIES

in ________________ of __________________________________ (_Parish_) (_City, Town or District_).

[_Prices to be correct to the nearest farthing._] -----------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----------------------+-------+----- | |Mid | | | | | |Mid- |Mid- | | |Mid- | |Mar.,|June,| | |June, Commodity. |Per |1922.|1922.| Commodity.[B] |Per |1922. -----------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----------------------+-------+----- | |_d._ |_d._ | | |_d._ Butter, Irish Factory |lb. | | |Pork Chops |lb. | Cheese, Golden Spray[A]|lb. | | |Pork Sausages |lb. | Condensed Milk, Irish |1 lb.| | |Lard |lb. | full Cream. | tin| | | | | Condensed Milk, |1 lb.| | | | | Nestle's | tin| | |Butter, Irish Creamery |lb. | Rice, Rangoon |lb. | | |Butter, Irish Farmer's |lb. | Rice, Java |lb. | | |Margarine, First Grade |lb. | Jam, Strawberry |lb. | | |Margarine, Second |lb. | | | | | Grade. | | Fresh Pork, Shoulders |lb. | | |Eggs, First Grade |doz. | Fish--Red Herrings |doz. | | |Milk, Fresh |Quart | Fish--Fresh Herrings |doz. | | |Bread |2 lb. | | | | | | loaf | Fish--Cod Steak |lb. | | |Flour, Household |14 lbs.| Tea (quality most used |lb. | | |Oatmeal |14 lbs.| by working classes). | | | | | | Cabbage |head | | |Potatoes, Old |14 lbs.| =============================| | | | | |July,| | | | | |1914.| | | | | Soap, Household (bar) | | | |Sugar, white granulated|lb. | per lb.| | | | | | | | | |Tea, Best Quality |lb. | Candles per lb.| | | | | | | | | |Tea, Cheapest Quality |lb. | Paraffin Oil per gal.| | | |================================ | | | | OBSERVATIONS. Coal per 112 lbs.| | | | | | | | Turf[A] per 112 lbs.| | | | | | | | Gas for lighting[A] per| | | | | | | | Gas for cooking, per| | | | &c.[A] | | | | Electricity for per| | | | lighting[A] | | | | Electricity for per| | | | cooking, &c.[A] | | | | ========================================================================== [A: SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.--(_a_) _Cheese_, _Golden Spray._--If this kind of Cheese is not sold, strike out last two words, insert kind most usually sold to working classes, and give prices. (_b_) _Turf._--Note, price is asked for per 112 lbs. State on back of this form how it is sold in your Parish, and give number of sods, creels, etc., to the 112 lbs. (_c_) _Gas and Electricity._--Insert the quantity which you are pricing, and state any "observations" (on the front or back of this form) which will help in compiling uniform quotations for the different parts of Ireland.]

[B: NOTE.--Prices for Mid-June, 1922, only are required for these particular commodities.]

_Date_ ______________ (_Signature_) ____________________________

=Form B 2=--CONTINUED.