Monthly Summary of U.S. Commerce.
Then follows a long list of articles in daily use which have advanced
from 25 to 467 per cent. showing that the advance in the cost of paper
is not an isolated case. The cost of living index accordingly to the
New York Annalist increased from September 1915 to September 1916 from
135 to 185, an increase of over 37 per cent., and the market value of
securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange increased from July
30th, 1914 to September 1916, deducting value of new editions, by over
$3,000,000,000.00, a net increase of 33 per cent.
According to Bradstreet’s, out of 106 commodities which their index
table embraces, all but 17 advanced in price between September 1st,
1915 and September 1st, 1916, representing for the entire groups an
average increase of over 16½%. According to Dun’s last review, out of
328 commodities quoted, 42 showed advances in price over the previous
week, while but 25 showed decreases.
There is another matter to be considered. During 1915 there was a
decided increase in the price of practically every commodity, except
paper. The Journal of Commerce quotes from the United States figures as
follows:
“Wholesale prices of commodities in the United States averaged
considerably higher in 1915 than in the preceding year, according to
Bulletin 200 of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States
Department of Labor. ***The Bureau’s weighted index number for December
(1915) stood at 105, the highest point reached in any year since the
collection of data for the present series of reports on Wholesale
Prices, dating back to 1890, was begun.
“Violent fluctuations were recorded during 1915 in the prices of all
commodities, particularly drugs and chemicals and metal products. ***In
the fuel and lighting group*** in August the prices again advanced
(after a Spring slump) the increase continuing for the rest of the
year. ***Articles belonging to the food group were in the aggregate
highest in price in December and lowest in September. The increase
between January and December in this group was nearly 4%.” The paper
market, however, remained unchanged.
In other words, the price of other commodities advanced rapidly during
the year 1915, while the price of news-print paper was stationary, and
at the present time the advanced selling price of news-print paper does
not compare unfavorably with the high cost of living as evidenced by
practically all other staple commodities.