CONSUMPTION IN CANADA DAVIDSON. 



27 



spending power, but almost entirely to a fall in price. The per 

 capita consumption of 1896, 47 Ibs. of sugar and 4.4 Ibs. of tea> 

 cost no more than the 26 Ibs. of sugar and the 2.7 Ibs. of tea in 

 the year 1880. The increased use of tobacco, of coffee, and the 

 but slightly decreased consumption of spirits, in spite of a large 

 rise in price, indicate a larger spending power. An attempt has 

 been made in the third of the following tables to indicate how 

 far the increased consumption is due to a fall in prices, the prices 

 being taken from a table of Montreal prices given in the Statisti- 

 cal Year Book of 1896. 



CONSUMPTION PER CAPITA OF CERTAIN ARTICLES IN CANADA. 



These tables are sufficiently clear to explain themselves ; but 

 it should be observed that for some reason the year 1880, which 

 has been chosen as starting point, is an exceptional year of low 

 consumption, as we shall see more clearly when we come to- 

 present an Index No. of consumption ; and it has the additional 

 disadvantage of being the year of high prices in sugar, which 

 was then 20 per cent, higher than in 1875, and higher than it has- 

 been since. 



