§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give, for the purpose of showing the relative betterment from war conditions, the percentage cost of living in respect of food for the United Kingdom and the United States for the latest months available for both countries as compared with the figures of 129 for the United Kingdom and 79 for the United States in November, 1918, at the period of the Armistice?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have been asked to reply. The following Table, showing the changes that have taken place in the level of retail food prices in this country and the United States respectively since the period of the Armistice will, I trust, enable my hon. and gallant Friend to make the comparison he has in view:
127WChanges in Level and Food Prices in United Kingdom and United States.
(i) Position at period of Armistice (as compared with July, 1914):
United Kingdom: 129 per cent. increase.*
128W
Month. Increase (.) or Decrease (-) as compared with July, 1914. Increase (.) or Decrease (-) as compared with Period of Armistice. United Kingdom.‡ United States.§ United Kingdom.‡ United States. 1920. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. July … 158 115 + 13 + 20 August … 162 103 + 14 + 13 September … 167 99 +17 +11 October … 170 94 +18 +8 November … 191 89 +27 +6 December … 182 75 +23 -2 1921. January … 178 69 +21 -6 February … 163 55 +15 -13 March … 149 -§§ +9 -§§ 1st December, 1918. † 15th November, 1918. ‡ On 1st of each month. ‡ On 15th of each month. § Figures not available. United States: 79 per cent. Increase. †
(ii) Movement since July, 1920 (when highest point was reached in the United States):