goods were higher. Export goods also advanced.

The Canadian Bank of Commerce index of wholesale prices of exports rose from 161.12 for November to 163.97 for December, while that for imports declined from 166.27 to 161.24. The combined index of both exports and imports fell from 163.69 to 162.61.

EXPLANATORY NOTE AS TO WHOLESALE PRICES

The index number calculated by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics is based upon the prices of 236 commodities, price levels in 1913 being taken as the base, that is equal to 100, the figures being weighted according to the commercial and industrial importance of each article included. This index number has been calculated by years back to 1890, being unweighted, however, for the period 1890 to 1913 and has been calculated by months from 1919 to date for all groupings and from 1913 to date for the principal grouping. Summary tables of the Bureau's index number may be found in the supplement to the LABOUR GAZETTE for January, 1925, and in greater detail in the Report on Prices and Price Indexes 1913-1924," issued by the Bureau. A description of the methods used in the construction of the index number appears in the LABOUR GAZETTE for June, 1923.

EXPLANATORY NOTE AS TO RETAIL PRICES The table of retail prices and rentals shows the prices at the beginning of December of seventy-one staple foodstuffs, groceries, coal, wood and coal oil. and the rent for six-roomed houses in some sixty cities throughout Canada. All prices are for delivered goods. The exact quality, for which the quotation is given is set forth in the case of each commodity, and every effort has been made to ensure that the quotations in each case refer to the same class of commodity in order that the statistics may be available for purposes of comparison from month to month, from city to city, etc. The prices of foods and groceries in each city, except milk and bread, are the averages of quotations reported to the Department and to the Dominion Bureau of Statistics by a number of representative butchers and grocers in each. The prices of fuel and the rates for rent are reported by the correspondents of the LABOUR GAZETTE.

Statistics similar to these were published each month from 1910 to 1920, the figures during this period being secured at the middle of each month by the correspondents of the LABOUR GAZETTE resident in each locality from dealers doing a considerable business with workingmen's households. From 1910 to 1915 the table contained a list of only the twenty-nine foods included in the family budget, with laundry starch, coal, wood, coal oil and rent. In 1915 when monthly publication of the budget in the LABOUR GAZETTE was begun, it was decided to extend the list of foods to 40, and in 1920 the list of foods and groceries was still further extended to include over 100 items.

Beginning with October, 1922, a number of commodities were dropped from the list, and in the case of a number of articles the average prices of the grades most sold have been given, owing to the impossibility of securing prices for uniform grades for the various cities from month to month.

Oleomargarine was dropped in March, 1924, the provision for its manufacture and sale since 1917,

notwithstanding the Dairy Act, expired at the end of February, 1924.

The quotations for rent are the prevailing rates for six-roomed houses of two classes in districts extensively occupied by workingmen. The first class is of houses in good condition, favourably located in such districts with good modern conveniences. The second class is of houses in fair condition less desirably located, but still fairly central, without modern conveniences.

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The weekly budget of a family of five, calculated in terms of the average prices in the cities for which reports are received, includes twenty-nine staple foods; laundry starch, coal, wood, coal oil, and rent, these being the items for which statistics have been obtained each month and published in the LABOUR GAZETTE since January, 1910. The quantities of each commodity included are modifications of those employed in similar calculations by various authorities. For some articles comparatively large quantities are included owing to the absence of other important items of the same class. For instance, the only fruits are evaporated apples and prunes, and the only fresh vegetable is But potatoes. market conditions affecting these usually affect the prices of other fruits and vegetables somewhat similarly, the relative proportion of expenditure on the various classes of foods tends to be maintained. At times when the price of an article heavily weighted for this purpose rises (or falls) abnormally the increase (or decrease) in food prices so indicated is exaggerated, and this should be taken into account in using the budget as an indicator of changes in the cost of living. In fuel and lighting the quantities are estimated on a similar principle, anthracite coal being used chiefly east of Manitoba, and soft coal and wood in the western provinces. while no allowance is made for the quantities required in the various localities owing to climatic conditions, nor for the differences in the heating value of the various fuels. It was estimated, when the budget was first published in 1912 in the report on wholesale prices in Canada for 1911, that these calculations represented from sixty to eighty per cent of the expenditures of an ordinary family, according to the total income. For the average family of five the expenditure on these items of food, fuel, light and rent would be perhaps two-thirds or about sixty-five per cent of the total income.

While the budget serves to show the increase or decrease from time to time in the cost of the items included, it does not purport to show the minimum cost of food and fuel supplies for an average family in the Dominion ог in any one province. The quantities of meats, dairy products, cereals, etc., included were adopted as affording a liberal supply for the healthy family of a man at hard physical work. On the other hand an average family with an income sufficient to do so would buy less meat, etc., but more fruit, fresh and canned vegetables, etc., so that comparative expenditure would be little changed. Cost of Electric Current for Householders

With rates in 1913 at 100, index numbers of electric light rates were: 1900, 141.4; 1905, 135.6; 1910, 118.1; 1911, 113.4; 1912, 109.1; 1913, 100.0; 1914, 96.5; 1915, 90.8; 1919, 87.6; 1917, 87.2; 1918, 85.8; 1919, 85.8; 1920, 84.2; 1921, 84.9; 1922, 82.7; 1923, 79.5.

Retail Prices

Beef prices continued to decline, sirloin steak averaging 27.4 cents per pound in December, as compared with 27.7 cents in November, rib roast 20.4 cents per pound in

December and 20.6 in November, and stewing beef 11.3 cents per pound in December and 11.6 cents in November. Declines occurred in most localities. Veal also showed a general decline, averaging 18.2 cents per pound, as compared with 18.6 cents in November. Mutton was unchanged in the average. Both fresh and salt pork declined, the former averaging 28 cents per pound in December, as compared with 28.7 cents in November, and the latter 26.7 cents per pound in December, as compared with 26.9 cents in November. Bacon and boiled ham also averaged slightly lower. In fresh fish, cod steak and halibut were higher, while white fish declined slightly. Finnan haddie declined from 20.8 cents per pound in November to 20.4 cents in December. Lard showed little change, increases in some localities being offset by declines in others. Eggs showed a substantial general advance, fresh averaging 64.7 cents per dozen in December, as compared with 57.2 cents in November and 48.2 cents in October; and cooking averaging 51.3 cents per dozen in December, 48.7 cents in November and 43 cents in October.

Higher prices for milk were reported from Three Rivers, St. John's, Montreal, Toronto and Medicine Hat. Dairy butter advanced in many localities, averaging 46.1 cents per pound, as compared with 44.7 cents in November, while creamery was slightly higher, averaging 50.6 cents per pound. Cheese advanced slightly, averaging 33.5 cents per pound.

Lower prices on bread were reported from Truro, Quebec and Montreal. Flour advanced slightly, averaging 5.2 cents per pound. Rolled oats were somewhat lower. Rice and tapioca were steady. Canned vegetables showed a slight decline, tomatoes averaging 17.2 cents per two and one-half pound tin, peas 17.9 cents per two-pound tin and corn 16.9 cents per two-pound tin. Potatoes showed a general advance, averaging $2.62 per ninety pounds, as compared with $1.96 in November and $1.48 in October. Evaporated apples were down from 20.1 cents per pound in November to 19.8 cents in December. Raisins were slightly higher at an average of 17.3 cents per pound. Granulated sugar advanced in most localities and averaged 7.9 cents per pound. Coffee and tea showed little change.

Anthracite coal was up from an average of $17.41 per ton in November to $18.02 in December. Higher prices were reported from Halifax, Charlottetown, Fredericton, Montreal, Hull, Ottawa, Belleville, Peterboro, Oshawa, Brantford, Kitchener, Stratford, Owen Sound, Sudbury, Cobalt, Port Arthur

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and Fort William. Bituminous coal was up from an average of $10.31 to $10.42. Hardwood was little changed in the average at $12.16 per cord. No changes were recorded in rent.

Wholesale Prices

The following is a summary of a statement on prices changes during the month issued by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics.

Wheat prices advanced to higher levels during December. No. 1 Manitoba Northern cash wheat, Fort William and Port Arthur basis, averaged $1.57 per bushel, as compared with $1.42 in November. The low price for the month was $1.44 reached on the 21st, and the high $1.70 on the 7th. Short stocks existing abroad and the suspension of Russian exports, together with reports of a short crop from the Argentine were considered to to be the causes of the upward movement. Coarse grains showed considerable fluctuation but were generally somewhat weaker, yellow corn at Toronto being 92 cents per bushel as compared with 96 cents in November; Western barley 63 cents per bushel, as compared with 63 cents in November; Western oats 48 cents per bushel, as compared with 51 cents in November; and flax seed $2.26 per bushel, as compared with $2.29 in November. Flour prices moved in sympathy with wheat being up at Toronto from $8.11 per barrel to $9.20. Oranges at Toronto fell from $6-$9.50 per case to $5.50-$6, and lemons from $6 per case to $4-$5. Apples were slightly lower at $6.50 per barrel. Ceylon rubber was down from $1.05 per pound to 99 cents. Raw sugar fell from $3.74 per hundred to $3.714. Coffee at Toronto declined one to two cents per pound. Ontario tobacco rose from 18 cents per pound to 22 cents. Potatoes at Montreal declined from $2.80 per bag to $2.66, and at Toronto from $2.50-$3 per bag to $2.50-$2.75. Turnips and carrots were slightly lower. Turpentine fell 7 cents per gallon to $1.58. Hay at Toronto advanced from $15.29 per ton to $15.60 and straw from $8.84 per ton to $9.60. Western cattle at Winnipeg rose from $6.57 per hundred pounds to $7.03, and choice steers at Toronto from $7 per hundred pounds to $7.17. Hogs at Toronto were up from $12.35 per hundred pounds to $13.25, while sheep continued to decline, being $5.06 per hundred pounds, as compared with $6.75 in November. Whitefish advanced from 17 cents per pound to 21 cents, and salt mackerel from $7 per barrel to $7.50. Mink skins advanced $1 each to $13 and muskrat skins from $1.10 each to $1.35. Dressed beef at Toronto advanced two cents per pound to 18 cents. Milk at

RETAIL PRICES OF STAPLE FOODS, GROCERIES, FUEL AND LIGHTING,