(4) Compilation of Rent Returns.
The rent returns were treated in precisely the same manner, except that there was no division, since the returns were received through the Local Government Board only.
On pages 7 and 8 is the list of average retail prices so compiled:—
(5) List of Prices.
The following Table shews Retail Prices in Irish Towns of 500 inhabitants and upwards; as averaged from Returns collected by officers of the Post Office, Ministry of Labour and Local Government Board.
| | | Mid
July, 1914. | Mid March, 1922. | Mid
June, 1922. |
| | | P.O. | M.L. and L.G. | P.O. | M.L. and L.G. | P.O. | M.L. and L.G. |
| FOOD. | per | d. | d. | d. | d. | d. | d. |
| Beef | lb. | 8.0 | 7.8 | 13.5 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 13.2 |
| Mutton | lb. | 8.6 | 8.3 | 16.0 | 15.5 | 16.0 | 15.5 |
| Pork Chops | lb. | 8.9 | 9.2 | 17.5 | 17.7 | 20.1 | 20.0 |
| Pork Sausages | lb. | 8.7 | 8.6 | 16.8 | 16.4 | 16.3 | 16.1 |
| Bacon | lb. | 9.2 | 9.5 | 19.7 | 17.9 | 20.7 | 19.0 |
| Butter, Irish Creamery | lb. | 13.9 | 12.8 | 23.9 | 22.3 | 23.2 | 22.6 |
| Butter, Irish Farmers | lb. | 12.6 | 10.6 | 24.4 | 20.0 | 19.9 | 18.9 |
| Cheese | lb. | 9.8 | 9.8 | 17.8 | 17.0 | 17.4 | 16.8 |
| Margarine | lb. | 7.6 | 7.7 | 11.7 | 12.1 | 11.8 | 11.2 |
| Margarine, 2nd grade | lb. | 6.2 | 6.1 | 9.1 | 9.6 | 8.8 | 8.4 |
| Lard | lb. | 7.1 | 7.3 | 13.6 | 11.5 | 12.0 | 11.6 |
| Milk, Fresh | quart | 2.5 | 2.6 | 6.8 | 6.4 | 5.4 | 4.9 |
| Condensed Milk, Irish | lb. | 6.8 | 5.6 | 13.1 | 12.8 | 11.9 | 11.6 |
| Condensed Milk, Imported | lb. tin | 7.2 | 6.2 | 13.8 | 13.4 | 12.8 | 11.8 |
| Eggs, 1st grade | dozen | 9.6 | 11.2 | 19.5 | 19.2 | 19.0 | 17.3 |
| Bread | 2 lb. loaf | 3.2 | 3.0 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 |
| Flour, household | 14 lb. | 19.8 | 22.1 | 36.6 | 33.3 | 35.7 | 35.8 |
| Oatmeal | 14 lb. | 21.1 | 23.7 | 38.1 | 41.6 | 41.1 | 41.3 |
| Rice | lb. | 2.8 | 2.7 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.4 |
| Potatoes, old | 14 lb. | 5.5 | 7.3 | 12.8 | 13.7 | 16.6 | 16.5 |
| Tea, Best | lb. | 30.3 | 30.5 | 44.2 | 45.4 | 42.6 | 42.7 |
| Tea, Cheapest | lb. | 18.1 | 18.3 | 31.4 | 29.1 | 27.1 | 26.4 |
| Sugar, white granulated | lb. | 2.2 | 2.1 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 6.0 |
| Jam | lb. | 6.6 | 6.7 | 16.2 | 16.3 | 15.4 | 15.5 |
| CLOTHING. | | | | | | | |
| Women's. | | s. d. | s. d. | s. d. | s. d. | s. d. | s. d. |
| Light Coats | | 8 10 | 25 7 | 53 0 | 47 0 | 51 8 | 46 0 |
| Heavy Coats | | 30 10 | 31 7 | 58 2 | 57 11 | 56 5 | 56 4 |
| Costumes | | 44 2 | 41 7 | 79 9 | 77 11 | 77 7 | 76 4 |
| Blouses | | 5 3 | 4 8 | 10 3 | 9 5 | 9 9 | 9 1 |
| Skirts | | 8 1 | 5 10 | 14 7 | 11 2 | 13 7 | 10 10 |
| Stockings | | 1 4 | 1 5 | 3 0 | 2 9 | 2 9 | 2 8 |
| Combinations | | 5 8 | 5 0 | 11 1 | 10 0 | 10 8 | 9 9 |
| Corsets | | 4 2 | 3 8 | 8 2 | 6 10 | 7 10 | 6 8 |
| Underskirts | | 4 1 | 3 2 | 7 8 | 5 10 | 7 4 | 5 9 |
| Chemises | | 2 5 | 2 5 | 4 10 | 4 6 | 4 9 | 4 4 |
| Boots | | 11 2 | 8 7 | 22 9 | 16 0 | 21 11 | 15 9 |
| Girls (over 6). | | | | | | | |
| Coats | | 14 1 | 11 8 | 25 9 | 21 0 | 25 1 | 20 9 |
| Dresses | | 13 11 | 9 7 | 27 3 | 17 7 | 26 3 | 17 3 |
| Stockings | | 1 4 | 1 2 | 2 8 | 2 2 | 2 5 | 2 1 |
| Combinations | | 4 5 | 3 10 | 8 0 | 6 9 | 7 9 | 6 8 |
| Stays | | 2 9 | 2 5 | 5 10 | 4 9 | 5 6 | 4 8 |
| Petticoats | | 2 7 | 2 2 | 4 11 | 4 1 | 4 8 | 4 0 |
| Chemises | | 2 1 | 1 11 | 3 9 | 3 3 | 3 7 | 3 2 |
| Boots | | 8 4 | 7 9 | 16 6 | 14 2 | 15 10 | 14 0 |
| Men's. | | | | | | | |
| Overcoats (Readymade) | | 34 3 | 33 7 | 69 1 | 64 3 | 66 5 | 63 4 |
| Overcoats (Tailormade) | | 53 6 | 48 10 | 100 11 | 93 3 | 98 7 | 91 8 |
| Suits (Readymade) | | 31 5 | 35 0 | 67 9 | 70 0 | 66 2 | 68 6 |
| Suits (Tailormade) | | 58 10 | 54 5 | 119 6 | 113 10 | 116 4 | 112 7 |
| Trousers (Readymade) | | 8 6 | 8 1 | 17 0 | 15 5 | 16 6 | 15 0 |
| Trousers (Tailormade) | | 15 7 | 13 9 | 32 2 | 29 8 | 31 7 | 29 0 |
| Singlets | | 3 6 | 2 8 | 7 5 | 5 2 | 7 0 | 5 0 |
| Drawers | | 3 9 | 2 10 | 7 7 | 5 3 | 7 2 | 5 2 |
| Shirts | | 3 8 | 3 1 | 7 2 | 6 5 | 6 11 | 6 4 |
| Socks | | 1 2 | 1 2 | 2 5 | 2 3 | 2 3 | 2 2 |
| Boots | | 12 5 | 11 11 | 24 6 | 23 3 | 23 9 | 22 9 |
| Boys (over 6). | | | | | | | |
| Overcoats | | 16 8 | 14 11 | 33 1 | 29 0 | 32 1 | 27 9 |
| Suits | | 15 9 | 15 7 | 31 7 | 31 1 | 30 5 | 30 0 |
| Shirts | | 2 1 | 2 0 | 4 2 | 3 9 | 3 11 | 3 8 |
| Stockings | | 1 3 | 1 4 | 2 6 | 2 7 | 2 3 | 2 6 |
| Boots | | 8 9 | 7 8 | 16 9 | 13 11 | 16 0 | 13 6 |
| OTHER COMMODITIES. | | | | | | |
| Coal | 112 lb. | 17.4 | 17.1 | 38.9 | 37.0 | 37.2 | 35.0 |
| Turf | 112 lb. | 13.7 | 11.1 | 29.9 | 26.2 | 30.1 | 25.1 |
| Gas for Lighting | 1,000 c. ft | 50.6 | 51.5 | 101.9 | 98.9 | 101.0 | 98.2 |
| Gas for Cooking | 1,000 c. ft | 49.1 | 48.7 | 101.7 | 97.1 | 101.1 | 96.6 |
| Electricity for Lighting | unit | 5.3 | 5.3 | 10.4 | 9.7 | 10.3 | 9.4 |
| Electricity for Cooking | unit | 3.0 | 2.4 | 5.7 | 5.0 | 5.7 | 5.0 |
| Candles | lb. | 3.5 | 3.8 | 7.1 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 6.3 |
| Paraffin Oil | gallon | 8.3 | 8.9 | 20.4 | 19.9 | 19.8 | 19.9 |
| Soap (Household) | lb. | 3.6 | 3.6 | 7.8 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 6.9 |
| Pipe Tobacco | 2 ozs. | 7.0 | 7.0 | 17.0 | 17.0 | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Cigarettes | pkt. of 10 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
The following table shows Retail Prices in March and June, 1922, in respect of certain Commodities for which corresponding prices in 1914 were not collected.
| | | Mid
March, 1922. | Mid June, 1922. |
| | | P.O. | M.L. and L.G. | P.O. | M.L. and L.G. |
| | | d. | d. | d. | d. |
| Butter (Irish Factory) | per lb. | 21.9 | 21.1 | 22.0 | 20.6 |
| Rice (Rangoon) | per lb. | 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.8 |
| Rice (Java) | per lb. | 6.1 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.6 |
| Jam (Strawberry) | per lb. | 15.7 | 15.9 | 15.2 | 15.2 |
| Fresh Pork (Shoulders) | per lb. | 16.8 | 17.2 | 17.4 | 17.4 |
| Fresh Herrings | per lb. | 26.1 | 25.3 | 25.6 | 23.7 |
| Cod Steak | per lb. | 14.4 | 14.7 | 13.8 | 13.8 |
| Tea (Quality most used by working classes) | per lb. | 36.1 | 35.0 | 33.4 | 32.1 |
| Cabbage | per head | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 3.1 |
The above prices, which were used as far as possible in conjunction with other figures to arrive at the correct increases between July, 1914, and March and June, 1922, in respect of commodities, less specifically described in the returns for 1914 (e.g., Butter, Rice, Jam), will also be of value in the future as an additional basis from which to calculate the change in the cost of living.
Notes on Retail Prices.