1922.] The Agrictjltur^vl Index Number. 777 



The index numbers relating to cereals all show slight increases, 

 but prices during October were still only 24 to 33 per cent, 

 higher than in October, 1911-13. 



Prices of fat cattle, although showing a slightly hardening 

 tendency throughout October, were less than 50 per cent, above 

 pre-war figures. Sheep and pigs also advanced slightly in value 

 during the months but the average prices over the whole month 

 show very httle difference from those of the previous month. 



Eggs rose sharply, and as the rise was greater than normally 

 occurs between September and October, the index number also 

 shows a rise, being now more than 100 per cent, above the pre- 

 war figure. It seems fairly certain that egg production is at 

 present one of the most remunerative forms of farming, although 

 it does not balk largely in the farmers' total receipts. With the 

 exception of geese, which showed a slight advance, poultry was 

 cheaper in October than in September. Both butter and cheese 

 maintained their value, but with the average price in October, 

 1911-13, showing a substantial advance, the index number for 

 last month shows a decline in each case. 



The following table shows the average increase during recent 

 months in the value of the principal commodities sold by the 

 farmer : — 



Percentage Increase as compared with the Average Prices ruling in 



THE corresponding MoNTHS OF 1911-13. 





May. 



June. 



July. 



Aug. 



Sept. 



Oct. 



Wheat 



62 



60 



53 



53 



23 



24 



Barley 



49 



58 



49 



48 



26 



29 



Oats 



53 



57 



55 



59 



31 



33 



Fat cattle 



70 



71 



70 



70 



58 



49 



Fat sheep 



140 



121 



107 



103 



90 



90 



Fat pifi^s 



91 



82 



91 



92 



84 



85 



Dairy cows ... 



66 



64 



64 



67 



63 



69 



Store cattle ... 



38 



40 



39 



42 



33 



30 



Store sheep ... 



100 



88 



108 



114 



109 



106 



Store pigs 



97 



97 



115 



128 



125 



135 



Eggs 



50 



69 



80 



64 



96 



104 



Poultry 



110 



116 



103 



85 



85 



77 



Milk ! 



27 



28 



53 



70 



70 



90 



Butter 



54 



59 



79 



77 



76 



71 



Cheese 



48 



55 



50 



51 



41 



36 



Potatoes 



140 



80 



75 



14 



1 



3 



Hay 



33 



35 



37 



54 



52 



45 



The principal cause of the rise in the general index number in 

 October was the increase in the price of milk, which in September 

 was about 70 per cent, above the price in the corresponding 

 month before the War, and in October rose to 90 per cent, above. 

 As dairy cows are purchasable at about 70 per cent., feeding 

 stuffs at less than 50 per cent., and labour at between 80 and 



