THE FARMER'S STANDARD OF LIVING 
19 
products, meats, vegetables, fruits, and groceries. From these data 
the adequacy of the diet of farm families is being calculated by the 
Bureau of Home Economics, United States Department of Agricul- 
ture. 
CLOTHING 
The average expenditure for clothing per family for all families 
of the study was $234.90, or 14.7 per cent of the average value of all 
goods used. The expenditure for clothing and the percentage that 
this expenditure is of the value of all family living varies from $221, 
or 13.1 per cent in New England, to $241.70, or 15.6 per cent, in the 
Southern States. 
AVERAGE COST OF CLOTHING PURCHASED DURING ONE YEAR FOR PERSONS 
OF DIFFERENT SEX AND AGE 
2,886 FARM HOMES OF SELECTED LOCALITIES IN II STATES 
1922 - 1924- 
10 
20 30 
DOLLARS 
40 50 60 70 
80 
90 100 
HUSBANDS- 
WIVES 
58.80 
■ 59.30 
SONS AND DAUGHTERS 
OVERYEARS ajSHH 
19-24 YEARS 
15-18 YEARS 
72.80 
12 - If YEARS JJ£J 
6-11 YEARS UjJ 
I - 5 YEARS 
UNDER I YEAR 
~ 
■'///////////,. 
I I l_l 
Fig. 4. — Average annual costs of clothing for husbands and wives are about equal. Sons 
of the higher age groups are clothed at lower costs than are daughters 
The cost of clothing for each member of the family at home was 
listed separately when the data were obtained, so that the expendi- 
tures for persons of different sex and age could be determined. 
These average expenditures b}^ sex and age groups, practically the 
same as those designated on page 9, are given in Table 2 and shown 
graphically in Figure 4. With regard to clothing costs, these age 
groups are based upon the ages at which the demands for clothing 
tend to change most markedly, as indicated by analysis so far made 
of expenditures reported per person as influenced probably by such 
factors as entrance to grammar school, high school or college, choice 
of occupation, extent of social life, and preparation for marriage. 
The further analyses of clothing needs and costs now being made 
by the Bureau of Home Economics may lead to a revision of these 
age groups, which as yet are somewhat arbitrary and only tentative. 
