The relative well-being of the working class is to be viewed from two angles—earnings and living costs. High earnings ana low cost of living represent easier living, while the inverse would mean harder living to the workers. The year 1989 was a year of soaring prices, consequently the cost of living index was greatly above its pre-war level With 1936 as base, the cost of living index for 1939 was 20325. The living cost figures for the first five months of the year, however, remained steady between 150 and 165. The average index for the year, therefore, does not bring out clearly the acute situation ruling, considering the high prices obtaining in the latter part of the year with the indices ranging as high as 283.23 for September and 204.06 for December, Rising costs mean depreciation in the value of the dollar. The purchasing power of a 1939 dollar is worth $04920 of ils 1936 value and that of a December, 1939 dollar is only $0.3289. Wages have likewise been increased during the year. cly CiU
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.