1922.] The Agricultural Index Number. 



has taken place since April. Fat pigs recovered the fall regis- 

 tered in June. 



Cereals were also slightly cheaper in July than in June, as 

 compared with the corresponding months in pre-war years, al- 

 though in the case of oats the actual average price of 3Bs. Id. 

 per quarter in July shows an advance of 2d. on the month. 

 Decreases were also recorded for poultiy and for cheese, the 

 latter being due as much to the marketing of new cheese as to 

 any weakening in market values. 



All other commodities showed a rise, this being especially 

 marked in the case of milk and butter. Milk showed an advance 

 of almost 2d. per gallon on the month, the average producers' 

 price in July being Hid. per gallon, while butter advanced by 

 about 3Jd. per lb. The index number for eggs shows a rise of 

 11 points, in spite of the increase in the average pre-war price 

 with which current prices are compared, and it seems that one 

 of the effects remaining from the high prices of the past few years 

 is the relatively gi'eater violence of seasonal fluctuations in prices. 



Although early potatoes were naturally dearer during July 

 than old main crop potatoes had been during June, the July 

 prices of early varieties were relatively cheaper as compared with 

 the pre-war years, than old potatoes had been at the end of their 

 season. 



The following table shows the average increases in value of 

 the principal commodities in the past seven months : — 



Percentage Increase as compared with the Average Prices ruling in 

 THE corresponding MONTHS OF 1911-13. 





Jan. 



Feb. 



Mar. 



April. 



May. 



June. 



July 



Wheat 



44 



50 



66 



57 



62 



60 



53 



Barley 



51 



49 



46 



49 



49 



58 



49 



Oats 



49 



48 



53 



49 



53 



57 



55 



Fat cattle .. 



62 



67 



66 



65 



70 



71 



70 



Fat sheep .. 



60 



72 



100 



128 



140 



121 



107 



Fat pigs 



71 



82 



85 



90 



91 



82 



91 



Eggs 



114 



166 



95 



89 



50 



69 



80 



Potiltrv 



76 



80 



77 



83 



110 



116 



103 



Milk..'. 



125 



117 



92 



42 



27 



28 



53 



Butter 



46 



41 



37 



49 



54 



59 



79 



Cheese 



27 



33 



42 



46 



48 



55 



50 



Potatoes 



113 



122 



112 



95 



140 



80 



75 



Hay 



35 



32 



32 



28 



33 



35 



37 



Feeding stuffs showed a general advance in value in July 

 compared with the preceding month, but in fertihsers there was 

 a slight reduction. It is estimated that the average prices of 

 both gi'oups, feeding stuffs and fertilisers, are now between 40 

 and 50 per cent, above pre-war level. 



