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There was a slight and fairly steady fall in the prices of commodities included in the cost of living index throughout the year. In the early part of the year the prices of fish, meat and vegetables were between 10% and 30% above the corresponding figures for last year and at the end of the year they were 10% or less below those figures. The October figures for vegetables showed an increase of 80% over the previous month. This was entirely due to the temporary dislocation of supplies caused by the Japanese invasion of South China at the end of the year, however, prices of vegetables later fell to the minimum for the year, which was about 8% lower than the corresponding figure for 1937. The price of oil, at the beginning of year, was about the same as the average level for 1937 and in the course of the year fell gradually to a point 30% below that figure.
The price of rice fell steadily throughout the year. For the first seven months it was not more than 9% above the corresponding figures for 1937, and for the last five months was consistently less than the 1937 figures, the greatest falling off being 15% in August. The absolute variation during the year (14%) was considerably less than in 1936 or 1937 (23% and 25% respectively) and the interval between the two extremes was eleven months as compared with two months in 1937. The figures for rice are :-
1938.. Per 100 catties.
December Average of four grades. January
1937.. $7.33 June $7.31 $8.38 August $9.16
Variatic 14% Variatic 25%
Average Retail Prices of the Staple Foodstuffs, etc., of Wage Earning Classes. 1936 1937 1938 Rice (3rd Grade) per catty 6.3 cents 7.9 cents 7.3 cents Fresh fish, per catty 20.9 26.9 24.4 Salt fish, per catty 21.2 24.1 25.2 Beef, per catty 32.8 36.8 37.6 Pork, per catty 41.7 51.9 49.7 Oil, per catty 23.7 28.3 22.2 Firewood, 10 cents for 12.2 catties 9.8 catties 7.0 catties35
Average Rates of Wages for Labour. Building Trade :- Locomotive Driver $1.30 to $1.80 per day. Carpenters 0.80 to 1.30 Bricklayers 0.80 to 1.30 Painters 0.80 to 1.30 Plasterers (including Shanghai Plasterers) 1.00 to 1.50 Scaffolders 1.00 to 1.50 Labourers (male) 0.60 to 0.80 (female) 0.40 to 0.50Working hours 9 per day. Time and a half paid for overtime. Free temporary sleeping quarters provided on the building site and communal messing at cheap rates.
Shipbuilding & Engineering :- Electricians $1.00 to $1.40 per day. Coppersmiths Fitters 1.00 to 1.60 0.80 to 1.5533
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There was a slight and fairly steady fall in the prices of commodities included in the cost of living index throughout the year. In the early part of the year the prices of fish, meat and vegetables were between 10% and 30% above the corres- ponding figures for last year and at the end of the year they were 10% or less below those figures. The October figures for vegetables showed an increase of 80% over the previous month. This was entirely due to the temporary dislocation of supplies caused by the Japanese invasion of South China at the end of the year, however, prices of vegetables later fell to the minimum for the year, which was about 8% lower than the corresponding figure for 1937. The price of oil, at the beginning of year, was about the same as the average level for 1937 and in the course of the year fell gradually to a point 30% below that figure.
The price of rice fell steadily throughout the year. For the first seven months it was not more than 9% above the corresponding figures for 1937, and for the last five months was consistently less than the 1937 figures, the greatest falling off being 15% in August. The absolute variation during the year (14%) was consi- derably less than in 1936 or 1937 (23% and 25% respectively) and the interval between the two extremes was eleven months as compared with two months in 1937. The figures for rice are :-
1938..
Per 100 catties.
December
Average of four grades. January
1937..
$7.33
June
$7.31
$8.38
August
$9.16
Variatic
14%
Variatic
25%
Average Retail Prices of the Staple Foodstuffs, etc., of Wage Earning Classes.
Rice (3rd Grade) per catty
Fresh fish, per catty
1936
6.3 cents 20.9
1937
7.9 cents
1938\
26.9
7.3 cents 24.4
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Salt fish, per catty
21.2
24.1
25.2
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Beef, per catty
32.8
36.8
37.6
Pork, per catty
41.7
51.9
49.7
23
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dil, per catty
23.7
28.3
22.2
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Virewood,
.10 cents for 12.2 catties
9.8 catties 7.0 catties
Average Rates of Wages for Labour.
Building Trade :-
Locomotive Driver
$1.30 to $1.80 per day.
Carpenters
0.80 to 1.30
Bricklayers
0.80 to 1.30
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Painters
0.80 to 1.30
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Plasterers (including Shanghai Plasterers)
1.00 to
1.50
>>
>>
Scaffolders
1.00 to
1.50
33
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Labourers (male)
0.60 to
0.80
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>>
(female)
0.40 to
0.50
22
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Working hours 9 per day. Time and a half paid for overtime. Free temporary sleeping quarters provided on the building site and communal messing at cheap rates..
Shipbuilding & Engineering :-
Electricians
Coppersmiths Fitters
$1.00 to $1.40 per day.
1.00 to 1.60 ""
0.80 to
1.55
JJ
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