It having been represented to the Provisional Government that it was
desirable to calculate an official figure indicating in respect of
Ireland the change in the cost of living at the present time as compared
with the cost of living in 1914, the Provisional Government appointed
for the purpose on 10th June, 1922, a Committee comprising
representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture, Finance, Economic
Affairs and Labour. The Committee reported on the 4th August, 1922, and
the result of its enquiries, together with the Committee's detailed
explanation of the procedure adopted, are appended hereto.
The conclusions set out in the report represent the closest
approximation which is practicable to the average increases in the cost
of maintaining, in particular months of the current year as compared
with July, 1914, the same standard of living for a family dependent on
wage earnings in places with 500 or more inhabitants. The inquiry
applied to the whole of Ireland, and its basis is therefore broad enough
to be reasonably dependable for any practical purpose to which a
calculation as to changes in the cost of living can usefully be applied.
It is proposed to arrange for the calculation at intervals of three
months of a cost of living figure on the same basis as that adopted by
the Committee for the purpose of this report. September will be the next
month for which a figure will be determined.
It is to be observed that the information collected in the course of
this inquiry has incidentally revealed relations between the wholesale
and the retail prices of several important commodities and between the
prices of the same commodity in similar localities which require
explanation. This matter is being further examined with a view to
determining whether any undue advantage is being taken of the general
body of consumers, and, if that be the case, to the adoption of
appropriate remedies.
MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS,
_23rd August, 1922_.