Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 309, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1919 — WHOLE WORLD HARD HIT [ARTICLE]

WHOLE WORLD HARD HIT

High *ebsi of Living Is Felt Around Globe. England Has Experienced Increase in Prices as High as 135 Per Cent. Washington.—That the whole world Is struggling with the increased cost of living ii indicated in reports to the state department. The increases, id Europe are particularly high; although in Latin-America the governments are anxious over the situation and are tryto find means of combating the difficulties presented by the high prices of commodities deemed essential. In Portugal the government, in an attempt to ibiver the cost of living, has placed, through the minister of finance a part of its gold reserves in the batiks of Lisbon.

Tn England the cost of living aboveliving;

pre-war level is figured at 115 per cent for September and 120 per cent for October, as to actual necessities of life and based upon average' Hying conditions of wage-earners. A/more distinct rise has occurred in/the cost of commodities so fat as/the other •elements oit population in England are (Concerned, being unofficially estimated ■by some at approximately 135 per cent with a upwardjrend. In Sweden figures furnished by the Swedish government indicate that the cost of living has increased 157 per cent over the cost in June, 1914. In the cities the increase has been very much greater than the average for the country. / , ' Th Argentine government has suggested to other £outh American countries and discussed with them an international arrangement with a view to doing away 4'ith Import duties on unmanufactured food products as one means of cutting down the high cost of