Rising Cost of Living in 1909
Increase in the Cost of Living.— Bradstreet's Review for December 11, 1909, “shows that the average wholesale price of 106 general commodities was 60 per cent more on December 1, 1909, than on July 1, 1896. It shows that the average price on October 1 for the three years 1907-8-9 was 35 per cent greater than that for the same day in the three years 1896-7-8. In 8½ years from July 1, 1901, to December 1, 1909, the increase has been 23 per cent.” In general provisions the increase for 13 years has been 70 per cent. This is based on the estimate of Mrs. Louise Bolard Moore, in her book on wage-earners’ budgets, that 45 per cent of the wage-earner’s income goes for food. Of the 14 commodities listed by Bradstreet, only three have diminished in price—coffee, tea, and molasses—during the last 13 years. Bakers’ bread remains at nominally the same price—the loaf smaller. No estimate is made of rent, but it is conceded that it is higher than it was 13 years ago. The disproportionate price of food and labor is causing country-wide discussion. It has attracted the attention of Congress. Even Cardinal Gibbons declares, “I myself have felt the weight of the high prices in the necessities of life,” and he “feels that something ought to be done to correct this evil;” and thousands upon thousands feel just the same.