In addition to the statistics as to retail prices of food and fuel, and as to rates for rent, the Department during 1920 and 1921 secured figures as to retail prices of staple lines of clothing, including footwear, from retail dealers throughout Canada, for each year back to 1913. The figures relate to prices prevailing at the end of the year in each case but since 1919 prices have been secured more frequently. From these quotations the percentages of changes in the cost of clothing have been calculated. Information was also secured as to the prices of household supplies, furniture, furnishings, etc., and an estimate has been made as to the percentage changes in the cost of miscellaneous items, the effect of the information gathered showing that such changes are approximately equal to the average changes in other items. The percentage changes in food, fuel, and rent have been calculated from the weekly budgets published in the LABOUR GAZETTE from month to month, and the accompanying table summarizes the changes from year to year by groups, the figures for each

Retail Prices

Meat continued to decline, sirloin steak averaging 26.7c. per pound as compared with 28.1c. per pound in November and 35.1c. in July. The de

crease was fairly uniform throughout

the Dominion. Round steak, rib roast, shoulder roast and stewing beef showed similar decreases. Veal averaged almost the same as in November. Mutton declined to about the same extent as beef, shoulder roast averaging 34.2c. per pound in December as compared with 24.6c. in November, and 32c. in March. Lamb showed a similar decline. Fresh roast pork averaged 26.5c. per pound in December as compared with 28.1c. in November, and 33c. in September. Pork chops and salt pork were slightly lower. Breakfast bacon averaged 3c. per pound lower for the month and 18c. per pound lower than in January. Boiled ham was 5c. lower at 61.3c. per pound. Fish, salt cod, boneless, averaged slightly higher. Finnan haddie and canned salmon were steady.

Eggs averaged 67.7c. per dozen for fresh as compared with 59.4c. in November, 33.5c. in June, and 85.2c. in January. Cooking eggs averaged 56.2c. per dozen as compared with 52c. in November, 30c. in June, and 75.7c. in January. Milk was higher in Quebec, St. Hyacinthe, St. John's, Montreal, Brockville, Cobalt, Prince Albert, but was lower in Hamilton and Saskatoon. Most of the changes were slight. The average price was 13.4c. per quart, the same as in November, the lowest price during the year being 13.1c. in July and the highest 15.5c. in January. In butter, creamery prints averaged 48c. per pound as compared with 46.8c. in November,

37.2c. in July, and 63.6c. in January. Old cheese averaged 32.7c. per pound as compared with 34.2c. in November, having fallen almost continuously since April, when the price was 39.8c. per being 2c. to 3c. lower throughout. pound. New cheese declined similarly,

Bread averaged 7.1c. per pound as compared with 7.3c. in November, 8.1c. in June, July and August, and 8.5c. in the early part of the year. Flour averaged 5.1c. per pound in December as compared with 5.4c. in November and 6.9c. in the early part of the year. Rolled oats, corn meal, pearl barley, and rice were also slightly lower. Canned tomatoes, peas, and corn were practically unchanged. Dried beans were slightly lower. Onions advanced, averaging 5.7c. per pound as compared with 6.7c. in November and 5c. in January. Potatoes averaged $1.59 per bag as compared with $1.65 in November, $2.50 in September, and $2.23 in January. Fresh apples and evaporated apples were slightly higher. Prunes were steady. but raisins and currants were slightly lower. Jam and canned fruits declined slightly. Marmalade, corn syrup, and honey were lower. Granulated sugar averaged 9.5c. per pound as compared with 9.8c. in November, 10c. in August, and 12.3c. in January. Tea, coffee, and cocoa were practically unchanged.

Anthracite coal averaged $17.62 per ton as compared with $17.55 in November, $17.62 in October, and $20.00 in January. Bituminous coal averaged $11.61 in December as compared with $11.62 in November, having fallen gradually during the year from $14.74 in January. Hard wood averaged $12.97 per cord as compared with $13.08 in No