584 The Agricultural Index Number. [Oct., 



on the month, but as a decline is not unusual at the commence- 

 ment of the cereal year, the actual comparison with pre-war 

 years shows no change for w^heat and a rise for oats. It should 

 be noted that new corn did not reach the markets until late in 

 August this year and the fall in prices is not fully reflected 

 in the index figures. 



Live stock generally are also practically unchanged, the 

 downward movement of sheep prices having almost ceased 

 during August. Milk shows a rise, but cheese and butter are 

 little altered. Eggs show a fall, the rise in price from July 

 to August being relatively less this year than in pre-war years, 

 while a general reduction is recorded in poultry. Hay is 

 decidedly dearer, and, following the steady advance which has 

 been maintained since IMarch, prices in August were over 50 

 per cent, above those ruling in August 1911 to 1913. 



The chief cause of the decline in the general index number 

 is the fall in value of fruit and vegetables, especially potatoes. 

 Throughout the month potatoes declined and at the close were 

 barely at their pre-war figure. Green vegetables also became 

 much cheaper, while fruit, owing to the heavy crops of apples 

 and plums, averaged only 10 per cent, above pre-war prices, 

 as compared with a July figure of 155 per cent, for soft fruit. 



The following table shows the average increases in value 

 of the principal commodities since January : — 



Percentage Increase as compared with the Average Prices ru[>ing in 

 the corresponding months of 1911-l3. 





Jan. 



April. 



May. 



June. 



July. 



Augu 



Wheat 



44 



57 



62 



60 



53 



53 



Barley 



51 



41) 



49 



58 



49 



48 



Oats ... 



49 



49 



53 



57 



55 



59 



Fat cattle 



62 



65 



70 



71 



70 



70 



Fat sheep 



GO 



128 



140 



121 



107 



103 



Fat piirs 



71 



90 



91 



82 



91 



92 



Eggs 



114 



89 



50 



69 



80 



64 



Poultry 



76 



83 



110 



116 



.103 



85 



Mi]k ] 



125 



42 



27 



28 



53 



70 



Butter 



46 



49 



54 



.59 



..79 



77 



Cheese 



27 



46 



48. 



55 



, . 50 



51 



Potatoes 



113 



95 



140 



80 



75 



14 



Hay 



35 



28 



33 



35 



37 



54 



* * 





* 



* 



* 





■* 



