10 BULLETIN 1214, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
cent for tenants. In other words, a little over one-third of the family 
expenses are met without direct purchase; and of this third all but 
a small fraction comes from the farm as food materials, fuel, and the 
use of the dwelling house. 
DISTRIBUTION OF EXPENDITURES AMONG VARIOUS ITEMS. 
ee 
The proportion of the total expenditures attributed to the more 
important groups of needs is shown in Table 2. The results of the 
present study are compared with those from a cost-of-living study 
made by the United States Department of Labor in 1918 among 
12,096 white families in 92 industrial centers. 
The similarity between the figures for owner and tenant families — 
in Livingston County is one of the most striking things shown in 
Table 2. Another striking feature is the general similarity between 
the figures for farm and industrial families. Rent cost the farm 
families of Livingston County a little less than it did the industrial 
families, and they in turn apparently spent a little less for clothing; — 
otherwise the differences do not seem noteworthy. Unfortunately, — 
in the Department of Labor studies, separate figures were not given — 
for health, advancement, and the other less essential needs, and no ~ 
comparisons can be made on these points. Such information as was 
obtained from the present study is included in the discussions of the | 
individual groups of goods consumed. , | 
Roughly speaking, in all the families represented in Table 2, food 
materials make about two-fifths of the total cost of living, clothing — 
about one-seventh, rent a little more than one-tenth, and light ate 
heat less than one-twelfth. The expenditures for all other purposes ~ 
come to more than one-quarter of the total. 
TasLe 2.—Distribution of average expenditures for one year among different groups of 
items as shown in the present study of farm families and in a previous study of families 
of industrial workers. 
402 farm families, Livingston 12,096 
County, N. Y., 1920-21. white 
families 
Item. Item. in 92 in- 
Owner | Tenant | All dustrial 
families | families | families. centers, 
(295). (107). (402). 1918.1 
| Per cent. | Per cent. | Per cent. Per cent. 
vp ak Sr Ga ee ae eee Ce 39. 2 40.0 0. al BEOOG: Saxe? aed ote 38.2 
ASLO) TO Geen ee eneipaleaile Sie beg 4 5 13.8 14.0 Ned Poke) A ed Ce 0) pe Sh ai a lad — gt 16.6 
(ia a ae ie ee tas ARs 11.9 10.8 LIZGl?) Mendes ote sore eee 213.4 
LLG Le eae oe 7.4 6.7 7.4) Fuelandent..2c.esessccsece 15.8 
All other purposes: 
Other operating expenses. .| 5.9 6.6 6.2] Miscellantous< xe. eeeee 21.3 
Maintenance of health. .... 3.8 4.9 4. de iieiet fs ope: 34 5 cA EE bet (eee 
Advancement .....<..-.--- 16.0 Lost Ee Lh eee ee: et eee eee oe Pees eS 
Poranal eA i A de2 1-8 ESIRt LA YOr te 28 eee | SS Re 
Wnelassified:s: £: 2552: 3. a 234 HLF] GSE SR) ieee oe RE FE 2 (i 
Totalall other purposes . .| 27.6 28. 6 28.0 | Furniture and furnishings..... 5.1 
~ 1 Cost of living in the United States. U. S. Dept. Labor, Bur. Labor Statistics. Monthly Labor Rey., 
Vol. 9, No. 2, p. 117-119. 1919. 
2 Not including 295 families in which rent was combined with fuel and light. 
