lies occupying these two last positions, it may be pointed out that the agricultural labourer with 17s. a week was able to feed his family better than the town unskilled labourer on 21s. 4d. This may be explained by the benefit conferred on the former by being able to grow his own vegetables at very little cost. Before the war, the lowest decile family was between the two standards: the lower quartile just attained the higher standard, while the median and upper quartile were well above. It will also be noticed that not only has each family raised its standard of living during the fifty-four years under review, but the actual money surplus has increased in all cases, even after some allowance has been made for increased rents and increased expenditure on clothing. It is not the object of this paper to give an accurate quantitative measure of the rise in the standard of living. The enquiry indicates, however, that the lowest decile family in 1914 had attained the same standard as that reached by the median family in 1860 ; and that the lower quartile family immediately before the war was living rather above the standard reached by the median of 1880, and slightly below the standard attained by the upper quartile of 1860. The following table shows the comparative calorie values of the diets (the higher standard of 95,000 calories per man per diem=100) and the percentage of the income spent upon food: It is difficult to compare the lowest decile in the different years, as in the earlier years the budgets refer to an agricultural labourer, and in 1914 to a town labourer. It is noticeable that the lower quartile and the median, in each year, spend about the same percentage of their income on food; or not until what was probably the average standard was attained, did the proportion spent on food decrease. The figures also suggest that although the representative families were better nourished in each of the three years, the more liberal diet cost a less portion of the income. The increase between 1880 and 1914 of the percentage spent on food by the lower quartile and median families may perhaps be explained by the fact that in 1914 such persons ate a fair quantity of meat, while in 1880, very little of this commodity was consumed by them. It appears, therefore, that all sections of the population of the United Kingdom have increased their standard of living during the fifty years before the war (although not to the same extent), and at the same time have to spend less of their income in obtaining the necessary nourishment. ESTIMATED BUDGET of the Lowest DECILE FAMILY IN 1860, 1880, AND 1914. 'Family "=Man, Wife, and 3 schoolchildren, or 3.87" Men." " ESTIMATED Budget of the LOWER QUARTILE FAMILY IN 1860, 1880 AND 1914. "Family"=Man, Wife, and 3 schoolchildren, or 3.87" Men." |