Relative Relative Year and Month Wholesale Price of Retail Farm Food, Price of 1913 Products Etc. Food Average for year 100 100 100 January 97 99 98 April 97 96 98 July 101 101 100 October 103 102 104 1914 Average for year 103 103 102 January 101 102 104 April 103 95 97 July 104 103 102 October 103 107 105 1915 Average for year 105 104 101 January 102 106 103 April 107 105 99 July 108 104 100 October 105 104 103 1916 Average for year 122 126 114 January 108 114 107 April 114 117 109 July 118 121 111 October 136 140 121 1917 Average for year 188 177 146 January 147 150 128 April 180 182 145 July 198 180 146 October 207 183 157 1918 January 208 188 160 April 217 179 154 CIVIL WAR COST OF LIVING The Civil War years of the United States were always remembered as the era of high prices. Yet it is interesting to know that the increase in living cost after the United States had been in war one year was greater than the increases in the fourth year of the Civil War. During the Civil War prices rose from 100 to 117 per cent., but necessities were relatively cheaper than at present because the currency was depreciated. In January, 1864, gold was at a premium of 52 per cent. Emerson David Fite, assistant professor of history in Yale University, describes "Social and Industrial Conditions During the Civil War" as follows: