It having been represented to the Provisional Government that it wasdesirable to calculate an official figure indicating in respect ofIreland the change in the cost of living at the present time as comparedwith the cost of living in 1914, the Provisional Government appointedfor the purpose on 10th June, 1922, a Committee comprisingrepresentatives of the Ministries of Agriculture, Finance, EconomicAffairs and Labour. The Committee reported on the 4th August, 1922, andthe result of its enquiries, together with the Committee's detailedexplanation of the procedure adopted, are appended hereto.
The conclusions set out in the report represent the closestapproximation which is practicable to the average increases in the costof maintaining, in particular months of the current year as comparedwith July, 1914, the same standard of living for a family dependent onwage earnings in places with 500 or more inhabitants. The inquiryapplied to the whole of Ireland, and its basis is therefore broad enoughto be reasonably dependable for any practical purpose to which acalculation as to changes in the cost of living can usefully be applied.
It is proposed to arrange for the calculation at intervals of threemonths of a cost of living figure on the same basis as that adopted bythe Committee for the purpose of this report. September will be the nextmonth for which a figure will be determined.
It is to be observed that the information collected in the course ofthis inquiry has incidentally revealed relations between the wholesaleand the retail prices of several important commodities and between theprices of the same commodity in similar localities which requireexplanation. This matter is being further examined with a view todetermining whether any undue advantage is being taken of the generalbody of consumers, and, if that be the case, to the adoption ofappropriate remedies.
Ministry of Economic Affairs,
23rd August, 1922.
To the Chairman, Provisional Government, Ireland.
By minute dated the 10th June last we were appointed by the Governmentto determine the cost of living in Ireland for the months of March andJune, 1922, as compared with the cost of living in July, 1914, on such abasis as would show the average increase in the cost of maintaining thesame standard of living for a family dependent on wage earnings. We wereasked to complete our calculations not later than July 15th, ifpossible, but owing to the fact that a considerable proportion of ourstaff were unable to reach our offices during the recent troubles inDublin we were given until the 25th to complete our work. The followingletter was sent to the Head of the Government on the 26th July:—