Further downward movements in prices are shown in the monthly report prepared for publication in the October Labour Gazette by the Cost of Living Branch of the Labour Department. The report shows that the retail prices of foods averaged lower during October than during the previous month, the decreases being most marked, as might have been expected, in sugar and__ potatoes. maller decreases were reported in the prices of beef, bread, flour, and rolled oats; there were advances in those of hog products, eggs, milk, and coal. All this however does not amount to very much relief to the consumer as the weekly food budget averaged $15.83 in 60 Canadian cities at the middle of October as compared with $15.95 in the middle of September, $14.21 in October 1919, and $7.93 in October 1914.
Although there is a certain amount of unemployment it cannot be said that the slump in trade which some people were predicting has come, but want of work may increase during the winter, though the. lumber and mining camps will provide employment for a large number of men during these months—if they choose to accept it. There is a tendency for the men to prefer work in the cities, but necessity is a stern master. A disposition is being shown by some of the Labour leaders to object to any reduction of wages; they urge that the employers made so much money of late years that they can afford to keep wages up at the present extravagant height. In some places they and the men have agreed to a reduced number of days' work at the present wages, which seems to be a distinction without a difference.
There_ is a hopeful sign of greater employment coming owing to the large number of American firms which are either establishing new industries in Canada, or branches of their concerns in the States. There are already over 550 American-owned plants in Canada, manufacturing a great variety of products ranging from locomotives phonographs. What these plants represent in dollars and cents it would be hard to say, but various estimates agree that about 300.000.00) would not be an excessive figure. They are now being established at the rate of one a week, and it is confidently expected that the number will go on increasing.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.