The Cost of Living in the United States

Archive Report

Reemergence of the Cost of Living Issue

Rise in Living Costs Since March, 1933

The Steady Rise during recent months of food prices, rents, and other necessaries has attracted more attention to the cost of living than at any time since 1920, when prices reached an all-time high. According to the best available monthly index, that of the National Industrial Conference Board, which takes 1923 as 100, living costs during March stood at 82.4, an increase of 5.0 per cent over March, 1934, and of 14.8 per cent over March, 1933.

Monthly Indexes of the Cost of Living, 1933–1935 (1923=100)

DateFoodHousingClothingFuel and lightSundriesAll itemsPurchasing value of dollar
January, 193364.966.462.686.090.773.7135.7
February62.265.61.885.989.472.1138.7
March61.964.661.285.889.471.8139.3
April61.964.060.784.689.371.5139.9
May64.163.560.782.889.472.1138.7
June66.263.461.682.289.372.8137.4
July71.763.263.982.690.375.2133.0
August73.063.270.084.391.876.9130.0
September73.263.675.685.992.377.9128.4
October73.463.277.787.091.478.0128.2
November73.062.877.887.491.577.8128.5
December71.762.877.487.591.577.3129.4
Average, 193368.163.867.685.290.574.8133.7
January, 193472.062.777.387.191.977.5129.0
February74.162.877.587.192.178.3127.7
March74.363.177.787.192.278.5127.4
April73.563.777.986.592.478.4127.5
May74.164.277.885.792.478.6127.2
June74.564.677.385.892.578.8126.9
July75.264.777.086.492.579.1126.4
August76.565.477.286.992.379.6125.6
September79.966.077.687.492.481.0123.5
October79.166.477.587.592.880.9123.6
November78.866.677.487.692.880.8123.7
December78.466.877.387.593.080.8123.7
Average, 193475.964.877.586.992.479.4125.9
January, 193581.166.976.987.193.081.6122.5
February83.567.476.387.193.082.4121.4
March83.367.976.087.193.082.4121.4

Source: National Industrial Conference Board.

Living costs touched their lowest level of the depression in April, 1933. Except ...

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