The Westminster Gazette has compiled some figures showing the rise
in the cost of living. A comparison is given between the figures published by the Ministry of Labour last January and the prices which the Westminster Gazette itself ascertained by inquiries from the leading London stores during the- past few days. The comparison shows that in nine months the cost of at least nine impor- tant foodstuffs has risen, while the price of clothing has gone up 10 per cent. The reduction in the price of tea obtained by the Budget has disappeared, though this misfortune must be attributed not to-the Labour Govern- ment or anybody else, but to the insufficient supply of • tea to meet the world's consumption. The Ministry of Labour in preparing its index figure of the cost of living - admits that- the -figure (which includes food, rent, clothing, light and fuel) is now 76 per cent. above the level of July, 1914, as compared with 75 per cent. a year age. Although it would not be fair to lay all the blame for this on the Labour Government it is fair to blame them for having had the temerity definitely to promise that they would bring the cost of living down.
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