Combining the cost of fuel, heat and light in 1914 and 1919, it is found that the average increase for the five-year period was 46%. _Sundries._ Six tickets for car rides could be purchased for 25 cents in 1914, whereas the present price is 10 cents a single ride, an increase of 140%. If, however, commutation tickets are purchased, the increase is 44%. The three large down-town moving picture houses have not increased their prices since 1914, except by the amount of the war tax, but there has been an increase of 10 cents to 15 cents (17 cents with the war tax) in some, at least, of the neighborhood theaters. Doctors' fees have increased 100%. Although insurance premiums in themselves have not advanced, people have taken out more and larger policies to cover the increased cost of burial and relief. The daily papers have not increased in price, but the Boston Sunday paper, which is now seven cents, was six cents in 1914. If the increases for the separate sundries items are combined on the basis of the distribution of items within the sundries group, as noted above, the total advance in the cost of sundries between October, 1914, and October, 1919, was 75% for the minimum budget and 74% for the more liberal budget. TABLE 6: AVERAGE INCREASE BETWEEN OCTOBER, 1914, AND OCTOBER, 1919, IN THE COST OF LIVING FOR A MAN, WIFE, AND THREE CHILDREN UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE IN FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS (National Industrial Conference Board) ================================================= |Increase between October, | 1914, and October, 1919 Budget items +----------+--------------- | Minimum | More liberal | standard | standard ----------------------+----------+--------------- Food | 77% | 82% Shelter | 15% | 20% Clothing | 125% | 102% Fuel, heat and light | 46% | 46% Sundries | 75% | 74% ----------------------+----------+--------------- All items | 73% | 74% ----------------------+----------+--------------- _The complete budget._ In Table 6 are summarized the percentages of increase between October, 1914, and October, 1919, for the separate budget items and for all items combined, for a family of man, wife and three children under fourteen years of age.[6] From this it appears that the cost of living at a minimum standard increased 73% between 1914 and 1919. The more liberal budget was 74% higher in 1919 than in 1914.[7]