A point to be noted is that in comparing prices at different dates it is essential that articles of different quality should not be compared; milk, for instance, is a simple commodity and is always comparable with milk, but beef is a variable commodity inasmuch as sirloin beef is not strictly comparable with shin beef; consequently special figures showing the relative consumption and average prices of the different parts of beef, mutton and bacon were obtained on Form B3 (see Appendix), and in these cases the prices as returned for each description of meat are separately weighted by the average quantities purchased in order to arrive at the ultimate average prices for "beef," "mutton," etc. As regards all other articles, it will be seen from the instructions on the forms that pains were taken to explain that prices must only be returned for strictly comparable articles. (_c_) _Accuracy of Rent Figures._ A point likely to give rise to criticism is the low percentage increase shown for rent. This figure is, however, the result of comparing the actual returns sent us by the Town Clerks and Rate Collectors, who gave the actual name of the street and the actual number of each house, and on the closest investigation we have no reason to doubt the accuracy of their figures. The average weekly rents (including rates) appearing from those returns are:-- Average Weekly Rent (including Rates). July, 1914 4s. 0d. March, 1922 5s. 2d. June, 1922 5s. 2d. (_d_) _Comparison of Figures received from Post Office and other Sources._ It will have been noted from the Table of Retail Prices given above that on the whole there is comparatively little difference between the sets of figures compiled by the Post Office officials and those compiled by the Ministry of Labour and Local Government Board officials, though the Post Office figures tend to give a somewhat higher average increase of prices. This is brought out by the following table of the ratios of retail prices for the main groups of commodities for the three dates:-- ---------------+-----------------+------------------+----------------- | Mid-July, 1914. | Mid-March, 1922. | Mid-June, 1922. ---------------+--------+--------+---------+--------+--------+-------- | A | B | A | B | A | B Food | 52·4 | 54·6 | 104·8 | 102·8 | 100 | 100 Clothing | 52·7 | 52·9 | 103·9 | 101·7 | 100 | 100 Rent (C) | 78·9 | 78·9 | 100·4 | 100·4 | 100 | 100 Fuel and Light | 46·6 | 48·1 | 104·8 | 104·4 | 100 | 100 Sundries | 50·5 | 51·9 | 103·2 | 103·1 | 100 | 100 ---------------+--------+--------+---------+--------+--------+-------- The figures A result from the returns from the Post Office. The figures B result from the returns from other Departments.