The general index of the cost of ving for Shanghai workers passed the 700 mark in April reaching 732.70 aguinst, 670.09 in March." Rises. group Indices were extremely rapid. Tnereases in prices of rice and coal Driqueties were the" most marked. 'The food Index rose from 77436 in March to 815.00 in April; fuel from 630.38 to 750.54; clothing from $02.56 °634.74 nel' miscellaneous from 59040 to 7126.70 registering rises of 4078, 1286, 82.18 and 127.40 points respectively. The purchasing power of the dollar from the Chinese workes" angle was reduced to 13.65 cents against M71 cents of the previous month.
Retail quotations for second grade Saigon rice averaged $113.90 for shih April, ayainst $100.45 in March and $073 in 1996. Alain (0. the: ser lots situation caused by high rice prices way the soaring in the prices coal briquettes which retailed at average price of $1.08 per chin In 1936. sold at $4.78 in February, $1028 in March and $14.93 in Apr The price of rice is over eleven a half times while that of coal brique tes ig fourteen times that of 1996. Retail prices of other commodities
under review. oro equally sharp during the month
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.