Initial success in the compilation of Foreign Cost of Living Index figures was announced by Miss Eleanor Hinder, over Station X-M.H.A. published early in April. These figures will be provisional in the sense that they are based on information provided by ce-operating families over the first three months of the study, October-December, 1939. Final figures will be available if records for one year are provided.
Miss Hinder pointed out that "we are able to say that we planned more wisely than we knew." No one could have foreseen the phenomenal rise in prices which has taken place, when the preparation of the index was decided upon early last summer. No one could have foreseen that the question of control of prices would have to be considered. Thanks, however, to the figures already supplied by collaborators, it will be possible to trace accurately the result on foreign cost of living of any control methods that can be put into effect. Indeed, more can be said: without the index figures there would be no means of assessing exactly the results of lowering prices. Miss Hinder went on to so that the most important place to assess the results will be, of course, in the family purse: but the existence of an accurate measure will be important.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.