30 STATISTICS OF EXPENDITURE AND 
From this table it appears that though the price of coffee has 
not declined the consumption has increased 80 per cent., shewing 
at once an increased desire for coffee and a larger spending power 
in the community. This is probably a real inerease in the con- 
sumption of the nation and nota transfer of taste ; for cocoa and 
tea, the substitutes for coffee, have also been consumed in 
increased amounts, and there has been no such diminution of 
consumption of alcoholie drinks, for which coffee may be regarded 
as a substitute, as would set free such an amount of consuming 
power as would purchase the additional quantity of coffee. On 
the contrary, although the consumption of spirits has declined 
somewhat (13 per cent. since 1880), more is being spent on spirits 
to-day per head than in 1880. The price has increased 78 per 
cent., and had the consumption moved downwards at the same 
rate as the price moved upwards, the quantity used in 1896 
should have been 44 per cent. less than in 1880. The decrease, 
instead of shewing a diminution of consumption power, indicates 
either an increase of money to spend or a growing desire on the 
part of the people for spirits such as would lead them to transfer 
their taste to alcohol from some other article. In face of the 
temperance sentiment of the country, it is improbable that the 
desire has increased, and we may safely conclude that the relation 
between consumption and prices of spirits indicates increased 
consumption power. The slight increase in the consumption of 
tobacco (11 per cent.), in spite of a rise in price, points to the 
same conclusion, viz, that the nation is growing more prosperous 
and has a larger income to expend, On the other hand, the 
increased consumption of tea and sugar justify no such con- 
clusion. They, of course, indicate a higher level of general well- 
being, but not an increased consumption power on the part of the 
community. They afford no evidence against such an increase 
of income ; they simply do not afford any evidence in its favor, 
The consumption of sugar has increased almost in the same rates 
as the price has declined. The consumption of 1895 has risen 168 
per cent.; the price has declined (1495 price) 62 per cent. The 
consumption has risen just 5 per cent. more than the decline of 
