To the Editor of the "Nonra-Ciawa Darcy News"
Sot—With the steady rise of exchange during the pest 12 months, ranging from 1/34 to 1/84, T teol sure that there are. many Shanghai residents receiving a salary Sterling basis who must be feeling the steady decrease In their incom One would expect, of course, that the cost of living would decline ae-cordingly, but this has proved to be a fallacy. Apart from the high level of rental charges, the Item for food the family budget ts indeed a formidable one. Bearing In mind the fact that the difference in exchange from April, 1984, averaging 1/34, to Test month averaging 1/8d, should. make a reduction in Imported commodities of about 25 per cent, I was completely astonished to find in comparing a certain compradore's price lst of April, 1034, with th Teeently" issued price list for May, 1085, that no such reduction has taken place. This particular compradore Invariably declares "Smashing" "Staggering" and "Stupendous" re-auctions each month, but the follow-Ing lst wilt T think prove an eye-opener to many of your readers:—
Price List Price List "way 1908 Apr. 1804 Butter Per th... $120 S115 Biking Power V4 ib. 045 "048 Bacon Sileed Per
Coffee idea! Ber th. 3 150150 eicreng cerees 180 180 cheese' Ber' ib! om. O78 Infant Food 'Pin.':. 100 190 Flour Amer om 070
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.