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C E R T IF IC A T E
T h is p u b lica tio n is issu e d p u rsu a n t t o th e
p rovision s o f th e su n d ry c iv il a c t (4 1 S ta ts.
14 3 0 ) ap p roved M arch 4, 1921.
C o n ten ts
Special a rtic le s :
E ffects of technological changes upon em ploym ent in th e am usem ent
in d u s try ________________________________________________________
C o m parative costs of dw elling u n its in 13 cities____________________
U nem ploym ent and its re lie f:
U nem ploym ent in foreign co u n trie s________________________________
G erm any— P relim inary re p o rt of F ed eral com m ission to s tu d y u n em
p lo y m e n t_______________________________________________________
G reat B ritain —
F irs t re p o rt of C om m ission on U n em ploym ent In su ra n c e _______
E xtension of d e b t lim it of u n em p lo y m en t insurance fu n d _______
F inances of unem p lo y m en t in su ran ce schem e, b y in d u strie s____
Sw itzerland— P lan for unem ployed clerical w o rk ers_________________
In d u s tria l a n d la b o r c o n d itio n s:
In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Conference, 1931______________________________
D iscrim ination of large em ployers ag ain st h an d ica p p ed w o rk ers------C om parative conditions in G o v ern m en t a n d in p riv a te e m p lo y m e n t-In d ia— An experim ent in m an ag e m en t of In d ia n la b o r______________
In d u s tria l accid en ts an d h y g ie n e :
Physical im p airm en t am ong N egro facto ry w orkers in C in c in n a ti___
C anada— M o rta lity ra te s am ong w age e a rn e rs--------------------------------U ru g u ay —In d u s tria l accidents, 1919 to 1928_______________________
L abor law s a n d co u rt d e c is io n s:
E a stern in te rs ta te conference on lab o r leg islatio n ___________________
E x e c u to r’s rig h ts u n d er em p lo y ers’ liab ility a c t d ep en d u p o n rig h ts
of em ployee a t d e a th ___________________________________
K ansas— R ailw ay em ployee aw are of d an g er held to h av e assum ed
risk of in ju r y ___________________________________________________
M assachusetts— C o u rt holds “ ti p s ” a re w ages u n d e r com pensation
a c t_____________________________________________________________
W isconsin—L aw relatin g to issuance of in ju n ctio n s in lab o r d isp u tes- _
W orkm en’s co m p en satio n :
C om pensation for in fectio n s_______________________________________
R ecent w o rk m en ’s com pensation re p o rts—
C o n n ecticu t__________________________________________________
M o n ta n a .____________________________________________________ _
In s u ra n c e and p e n s io n s :
C ivil service retire m e n t a n d d isability fund, 1930__________________
C anada— M o th e rs’ allow ances in O n ta rio ___________________________
L uxem burg— Old-age a n d in v a lid ity pensions for salaried em ployeesC o o p eratio n :
B usiness of cooperative oil associations in N o rth C e n tra l S tates in
1930____________________________________________________________
U nusual form s of cooperative societies_____________________________
G erm any— D evelopm ent of co n su m ers’ cooperative m o vem ent, 1930.
Spain— F ish erm en ’s co operative associations----------------------------------R e c re a tio n :
C om m unity recreation in th e U n ited S tates in 1930-------------------------L abor ag reem en ts, aw ards, a n d d ecisio n s:
A greem ents—
M ine w orkers— P itts b u rg h ____________________________________
Jo in t agreem ent of b rick lay ers’, carp e n te rs’, a n d electrical w orkers’
u n io n s---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Decisions—
M otion-picture-m achine op erato rs— D e n v e r------------------------------
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W orkers’ education and train in g :
V ocational a d ju s tm e n t of th e deafened in several S ta te s____________
G reat B ritain — G o v ern m en tal tra in in g a n d placem ent of u n em p lo y ed .
In d u strial d is p u te s :
Strikes a n d lockouts in th e U n ited S tates in June, 1931____________
C onciliation w ork of th e D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r in Ju n e, 1931_______
R ep o rt of em ergency b o ard for d isp u te on L ouisiana & A rkansas R ail
ro a d ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Labor tu rn o v e r:
L abor tu rn o v e r in A m erican factories, June, 1931__________________
H ousing:
B uilding p erm its in prin cip al cities, Ju n e, 1931_____________________
B uilding p erm its in th e cities of th e U n ite d S ta te s h av in g a p o p u la
tio n of 100,000 o r over, first h alf of 1931________________________
Wages and hours of la b o r:
R ecent changes in w ages a n d hours of la b o r________________________
C om pensation fo r out-of-tow n w ork as p rovided fo r in collective agree
m e n ts__________________________________________________________
M odification of railro a d ag reem en ts to p e rm it re d u ctio n in hours of
la b o r___________________________________________________________
Problem of w age assig n m en ts______________________________________
E arnings a n d age of a group of full-fashioned hosiery w o rk ers______
C alifornia— Salaries in various o ccupations in Los A ngeles__________
W ages an d re ta il prices in v ario u s foreign countries a n d in th e U nited
S ta te s__________________________________________________________
A ustralia— Basic w age in v arious S ta te s ____________________________
F rance— W ages of c o n stru ctio n w orkers in N an tes, 1931____________
F rench Indo-C h in a— W ages in 1930_______________________________
G erm any— W ages in in d u stry , 1931______________________ :_________
Greece— W ages in th e m ining in d u stry in 1929_____________________
Ita ly — R ecent w age scales estab lish ed b y collective a g re e m e n t______
Ja p a n — E ffect of econom ic depression on w ages a n d la b o r c o n d itio n s.
M ozambique-—H o u rs of la b o r_____________________________________
Sweden— H ou rs a n d earnings in th e iron a n d steel in d u stry , 1929___
Sw itzerland—•
W ages a n d hours of a g ricu ltu ral labor, 1930___________________
W ages in certain industries, 1930______________________________
T rend of em ploym ent:
S um m ary for Ju n e, 1931__________________________
E m p lo y m en t in selected m an u fa c tu rin g in d u stries in June, 1931____
E m p lo y m en t in n o n m an u factu rin g in d u stries in Ju n e, 1931_________
E m p lo y m en t in building c o n stru ctio n in June, 1931________________
E m p lo y m en t on C lass I steam railro a d s in th e U n ited S ta te s _______
C hanges in em plo y m en t a n d p ay rolls in various S ta te s ____________
W holesale and re ta il p ric e s :
R etail prices of food in Ju n e, 1931________________________________
R etail prices of coal in Ju n e , 1931_________________________________
R etail prices of gas in th e U n ited S ta te s ____________________
R etail prices of electricity in th e U n ited S ta te s ____________________
Index n um bers of wholesale prices in June, 1931___________________
Cost of liv in g :
C hanges in cost of living in th e U n ited S ta te s ______________________
C ost of living in th e U n ited S ta te s a n d in foreign co u n tries_________
Im m igration and e m ig ra tio n :
S ta tistic s of im m ig ratio n for M ay, 1931____________________________
P ublications relatin g to la b o r:
Official— U nited S ta te s ____________________________________________
Official— Foreign co u n trie s________________________________________
U nofficial________
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T h is Issu e in B rief
The increasing use of “sound” moving pictures has resulted in a de
crease of approximately 50 per cent in the number of employed
musicians. On the other hand, the sound pictures have been respon
sible for a marked increase in the number of motion-picture-machine
operators. Another interesting development in the motion-picture
field is the so-called “ translux” theater, in which the picture is pro
jected from behind the screen, thus removing the need for darkness.
As a result ushers are dispensed with, and a turnstile system, operated
from the cashier’s booth, eliminates the services of the ticket collector
at the door. Page 1.
There are marked differences in the estimated building costs of dwelling
houses in different cities, according to data from building-permit
reports as compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For example,
in Los Angeles 51.6 per cent of the 1-family dwellings for which per
mits were issued during the first half of 1929 cost less than $3,000,
while in Brooklyn only 0.2 per cent of the 1-family dwelling units cost
less than that amount. Comparative costs per family of 1-family
dwellings, 2-family dwellings, and apartment houses are shown for
each of the 13 cities. Page 8.
The eastern interstate labor-legislation conference, with approximately
50 representatives from 10 East Central industrial States, rnet in
Harrisburg, Pa., June 18 and 19 at the invitation of Governor Gifford
Pinchot, to discuss the differences in the labor laws of these States,
with the object of placing them on a uniform basis. The conference
considered the following subjects: Workmen’s compensation, employ
ment offices, employment of women and children, industrial health,
and labor statistics. Recommendations on each of these subjects
were submitted to the full conference at the closing session. Page 42.
Since the passage of the railroad labor act in 1926, only four emergency
boards have been appointed to act in labor disputes. Such boards are
appointed only when, in the judgment of the United States Board of
Mediation, the dispute threatens to deprive any section of the
country of transportation service. The fourth emergency board was
appointed by the President on April 16, 1931, to act in the dispute
between the Louisiana & Arkansas Railway Co. and its shop-craft
employees. The dispute involved a reduction in wage rates and
changes in working conditions, put into force by the carrier. The
board, in its decision, urged the employer either to restore the standard
rate of wages on its lines or to submit the matter to arbitration.
Under the law the parties are forbidden to make any change in
existing conditions or wage rates, except by mutual consent, for a
period of 30 days following the board’s decision. Page 86.
Wisconsin, by an act of 1931, became the first State to adopt a com
prehensive labor code governing the public policy of the State on the
subject of collective bargaining and the issuance of injunctions in
labor disputes. Page 53.
Splinter injuries may prove costly, and even result in death. A
bulletin of the New York Department of Labor shows that there
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were seven deaths in that State in 1928-29 from this cause, and the
total compensation cost of splinter injuries amounted to over
$350,000. Page 58.
There are about 8,000,000 physically and mentally handicapped
young persons in the United States, according to the findings of the
White House Conference on Child Health and Protection. The
problem of converting these disabled into social assets is a pressing
one. In spite of the large percentage of important establishments
barring from employment all handicapped persons, there is an in
creasing recognition of the need for affording those who have certain
impairments the opportunity to become useful members of society.
Page 32.
Physical examination of a group of Negro industrial workers in
Cincinnati showed such a high rate of serious physical impairment
among them that it was a matter of wonder to the examining physi
cians that many of these men could continue at work in tasks requiring
from moderate to great physical exertion. Of the entire group of
1,032 individuals, 911 had significant physical defects and more than
half of the men examined presented cardiovascular lesions. The
study was made by the Heart Council of Greater Cincinnati.
Page 38.
Steady growth in the public recreation movement in this country took
place during 1930, according to the annual report of the National
Recreation Association. A total of 980 cities reported the maintenance
of recreation facilities and programs and a considerable increase in the
number of workers employed as recreation leaders was also reported.
The salaries and wages of leaders reported by 736 cities amounted to
more than $8,000,000. Page 69.
Government salaries have a narrow range, as compared with those of
private industry,for work of a given type, according to the final report of
the Personnel Classification Board. For workers in grades cus
tomarily receiving up to $2,000 a year, Government salaries are usually
higher, and for those in the better-paid grades, usually lower than those
outside. Labor turnover is less in the Government service than out
side, but the difference is decreasing. Page. 33.
The British Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance has pre
sented an interim report recommending that contributions should be
increased, benefits lowered, and the benefit period shortened as im
mediate measures for reducing the rate at which the debt of the
system is increasing. The continuance of transitional benefit, with
certain modifications, is recommended, and measures are advocated
for preventing some of the so-called abuses, or “ anomalies,” as the
commission prefers to call them, of the system. Page 20.
“ The miracle of speeding up Indian labor has been achieved,” says
the director of the Institute of Plant Industry at Indore, describing
the means by which the institute secured steady and conscientious
effort from its Indian employees. Short hours of intensive work, fair
dealing, good working conditions, a system of promotion as efficiency
is gained, and a respect for Indian customs and preferences are the
means which proved successful at Indore. Page 35.
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MONTHLY
LABOR R E V I E W
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
W A S H IN G T O N
V O L. 32, N O . 2
A U G U S T , 1931
E ffects of T ech n o lo gical C h an ges u p o n E m p lo y m en t in th e
A m u se m e n t In d u stry
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics is now making a study of the
effects of technological changes upon employment in the amuse
ment industry. The present article gives certain general facts of the
situation as developed in the course of a preliminary inquiry.
The amusement industry is made up of several independent but
closely related units, such as the legitimate stage, musical comedy,
vaudeville, motion pictures, etc.
No mechanical appliances have been introduced on the legitimate
stage or in vaudeville theaters to take the place of the man power used
either on the stage proper or back stage. Certain improvements
have been made in the more modern theaters, intended to facilitate
the operation of the curtains and the lights used on the stage, but
these are not automatic, and instead of reducing the number of men
used back stage, have actually resulted in an increase. On the whole,
however, the legitimate theater, the musical comedy, and the vaude
ville theaters now employ the same kind of labor which was needed
in those theaters 10 or 20 years ago—stage carpenters, scenic builders,
property men, flymen, door men, electricians, and helpers—but the
amount of such labor demanded has been seriously affected by the
changing demand in the type of entertainment resulting from the
rapid development of the motion picture.
T
Technological Changes in Moving-Picture Theaters
T he introduction of sound in the motion-picture theater was the
most revolutionary development in the recent history of the industry.
From the point of view of displacement of human labor, the greatest
change was caused not by the “ talkie” reproducing the speech of the
actors, but by the synchronization of the musical score with the
picture. The new sound-picture projecting machine, whether of a
“ movie-tone” or “ disc” type, supplies not only the picture but also
the music formerly supplied by living musicians. Thus the introduc
tion of sound in the moving-picture theaters enabled the theater man
agements to dispense altogether with the services of the musicians
used to accompany the silent pictures.
However, in analyzing the effects of the introduction of sound upon
the occupation of theater musician, it is necessary to distinguish three
groups of theaters: (1) The theater “ de luxe,” (2) the combination
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moving-picture and vaudeville theater, and (3) the theater running
motion pictures only.
In the first group, of which the Roxy or the Capitol in New York
may be taken as representative, the program is divided into three
parts: The concert feature, played by a large orchestra of from 50 to
75 musicians, the vaudeville show in which the whole or part of the
orchestra plays an important part, and the feature film accompanied
by mechanical music. It is evident that the introduction of sound
pictures in the de luxe theaters caused no change in the number of
musicians employed in the theater.
The conditions in the combined picture and vaudeville theaters are
somewhat similar. In these theaters, also, the orchestra plays an
important part in the vaudeville portion of the program, but there is
no special concert feature and the size of the orchestra is therefore
considerably smaller than in the de luxe theaters. The number of
musicians employed in a combined picture and vaudeville theater
varies from 7 to 35 or 40 men, depending on the size and the location
of the theater. The introduction of sound in these theaters, also,
produced no effect on the number of musicians employed there.
In the straight motion-picture houses, however, which formerly
employed one to seven musicians to accompany the silent pictures,
the introduction of the sound equipment resulted in the elimination
of the musicians. These theaters constitute by far the greatest
number of moving-picture houses in the country, and this fact
accounts for the considerable number of musicians who have lost their
jobs since the introduction of sound pictures in 1927.
Growth in Number of Theaters Equipped with Sound Apparatus
T h e first sound picture, “ Don Ju an /’ was produced in Hollywood
in August, 1926. In August, 1927, there were only 140 sound-pro
ducing machines in operation in the United States. On January 1,
1929, 1,300 theaters were equipped for sound, and on January 1,
1931, 13,128 of a total of 21,993 theaters in the country were so
equipped.
Growth of Unemployment Among Musicians
U n q u e s t i o n a b l y , the rapid growth in the number of theaters
equipped for sound pictures was directly responsible for the growth
of the number of unemployed in the ranks of theatrical musicians.
The following figures were taken from the report of the treasurer of
the American Federation of Musicians submitted to the thirty-sixth
annual convention of the federation, held in Chattanooga in June,
1931. All employed musicians are required to pay 2 per cent of their
income to the national defense fund of the federation, and during the
fiscal year 1928-29, the tax was paid by 19,780 musicians employed
in theaters. _ During 1929-30, only 13,860 theatrical musicians paid
the tax, indicating that during that year, 5,920 theatrical musicians
had lost their jobs. In 1930-31 only 9,795 theatrical musicians paid
the tax. On the basis of these figures, it is evident that during the
two years which marked the rapid growth of the sound picture, 9,885
musicians^ or about 50 per cent of the total number of musicians
employed in the theaters, were displaced.
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These figures, for the country as a whole, seem to be corroborated
by the figures taken from Local No. 802, the organization of musicians
in New York City. In 1928 there were 3,200 musicians employed in
theaters in that city. In 1931 only 1,500 musicians were thus em
ployed, showing a loss of 1,700 or nearly 53 per cent of the total
number.
Increase in Employment of Motion-Picture-Machine Operators
T he introduction of sound pictures, which was thus responsible
for the elimination of the musicians from the straight motion-picture
theater, resulted on the other hand in an increase of employment
among the moving-picture-machine operators. In the majority of
theaters operating under an agreement with the motion-picturemachine operators’ union, the place of every man, assisted by a boy
helper, formerly employed to operate one silent-picture machine is
now taken by two licensed men operating a sound-picture machine.
The introduction of sound in the moving-picture theaters has thus
theoretically doubled the chances for employment among the pro
jectionists. There are no data available to determine the actual
increase in the numbers of machine operators employed since the
introduction of the sound picture, but the membership of the Inter
national Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture
Machine Operators shows an increase from 24,342 in 1926^0 approxi
mately 32,000 in 1931. Its membership is made up of motion-picturemachine operators, theatrical stage employees, and motion-picturestudio mechanics. It is stated by the president of the international
that the increase in the total membership between 1926 and 1931 is
due entirely to the increase in the number of projectionists, caused
by the introduction of sound pictures in the theaters.
At present the motion-picture-machine operators are unquestion
ably in the most favorable position of all the trades employed in the
amusement industry. Even during the_ present depressed situation
in the moving-picture theaters, the Machine Operators’ Local No. 306,
New York, claims to have no permanently unemployed members.
The earnings of the motion-picture-machine operators are also very
high, particularly in the city of New York, where they range from
$85 for a straight-time 6-hour day, 6-day week, to $150 or more per
week in the de luxe theaters with several extra midnight shows.
The musicians and the machine operators are the only two crafts
in the theater which have been directly affected by the introduction
of sound motion pictures. I t is impossible to tell from the figures
available whether musicians displaced outnumber the extra motionpicture-machine operators employed, but representatives of the five
large moving-picture theater circuits claim that the 13,000 theaters
which installed sound equipment in the last few years have added
more operators than the approximately 10,000 musicians who lost
their j obs through the introduction of the sound picture.
Unfortunately, however, the additional men employed as machine
operators did not come from the ranks of the displaced musicians, and
the situation among the musicians is not improved by the greater
demand for motion-picture-machine operators. Although the unions
of musicians and operators have an agreement to cooperate m the
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case of strikes or other emergencies, there exists no understanding
by which the increased demand for labor in the booth of the theater
could be filled from the ranks of labor released from the pit.
Motion Pictures in Relation to Other Branches of Amusement Industry
T h e rapid advance of the motion-picture industry, particularly
since the introduction of sound pictures, has exerted a tremendous
influence on the entire amusement field. Although the changes
brought about by this advance can not be described as strictly
technological, the results are sufficiently pertinent to be considered
in connection with the technological development in the movingpicture industry.
Legitimate Theater— Drama and Musical Comedy
That the legitimate theater has been in difficulties for a number of
years is no longer a secret in the amusement industry. Even before
the beginning of the present depression and prior to the introduction
of sound motion pictures the legitimate stage was known to be on the
down grade. Its field has been more and more concentrated in the
larger cities or rather in the one city of New York, where it still
plays an important role. To be sure, even there it has retreated
from the “ Gay White W ay” to the side streets, leaving the motionpicture theaters in undisputed possession of Broadway.
In 1917 there were 1,500 theater buildings throughout the country
in which a touring legitimate company could play. In 1927, before
the arrival of sound pictures, there were less than 500 such buildings,
and these included even those theaters which ran motion pictures for
five nights of the week and were willing to house a legitimate play on
the sixth night. On December 1, 1930, Film Daily, published in
New York, reported that only 80 dramatic stock companies were
operating throughout the country, in contrast with 140 companies in
1929.
It is entirely beyond the scope of the present article to attempt to
analyze the causes of the present state of affairs in the legitimate
theater. It is important, however, to estimate the extent to which
the rapid growth of the motion pictures has contributed to the present
plight of the legitimate stage. In his book, “ The Theater Through
the Stage Doors,” the late David Belasco wrote in 1919: “ Motion
pictures have not crossed nor do they threaten to cross the path of
real drama,_although as a certain kind of public entertainment, they
have come into commercial competition with the theater.”
In 1931, after having completed a 13 weeks’ tour over the country
with Ethel Barrymore, Ray Henderson wrote in the New York
Times:
T h e full e x te n t of th e v icto ry of th e m o tio n p ic tu re over th e leg itim ate stage
is n o t sensed so clearly a s w hen one in v a d e s th e te rrito ry below th e M asonD ixon line. W hile a few a c to rs lik e E th e l B arry m o re a n d a few p la y s m ay still
find a n occasional stro n g h o ld in th e d ra m a , th e S o u th h as a ll b u t been a b an d o n ed
lay th e leg itim ate th e a te r. In its place, th e p ic tu re s h a v e e n tren ch ed them selves
in custom a n d p atro n ag e. W ith in 12 m o n th s n o t m ore th a n six com panies of
living acto rs h av e tra v e rse d th e te rrito ry in th e S outh. * * * I n 1910
th ere w as scarcely a city in th e S o u th w ith a p o p u latio n of 25,000 b u t h a d its
opera or academ y of m usic, a n d each saw one, tw o, o r m ore leg itim ate trav elin g
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com panies a week during a season. Now these th e a te rs have eith er com pletely
disappeared or have been converted in to second o r th ird ra te talkies. * * *
In th e 13 weeks of th e B arrym ore to u r of 66 cities she ap p eared in only 28
buildings originally erected as a d ram a th e a te r. O nly 13 of th ese w ere not
p ictu re houses an d th ese a re struggling fo r th e ir existence by housing such ra re
tro u p es as m ay come th e ir w ay. Elsew here, M iss B arrym ore played in p ictu re
palaces, civic lodges, school au d ito riu m s. T h is proves, u n m istak ab ly , t h a t th e
legitim ate p lay has now becom e th e in tru d e r in stead of leading in th e am u sem en t
field. T h e p ictures h av e th e field a n d th e y supply it w ith an e n te rta in m e n t
liked b y th e m a jo rity of th e public.
A review of the shows offered and the methods used by the legiti
mate theater and by the movies may help partly, at least, to answer
the question of how this apparent victory of the motion picture over
the legitimate ^ theater has been accomplished. The legitimate
theater makes its appeal to the more intellectual group of the com
munity; these people are drawn to the theater by the play or the
reputation of the players only, and it makes no difference to them
whether the play is housed in one theater or another. As a rule, the
admission price to the legitimate theater is comparatively high and
tickets to theso-called “ successful” plays are not always available
either at the time or at the price wanted.
The motion picture enters the field by building a spacious theater
within the neighborhood from which it expects to draw its patronage.
11 appeals to all groups of the community irrespective of age or mental
development. Once established in a given community or neighbor
hood, the motion-picture theater uses all the means in its power to
become an integral part of the community; this is the exact opposite
to the cosmopolitan appeal of the legitimate theater. The price of
admission to a motion-picture theater is very much lower than to
even the cheapest legitimate show in town. This, in itself, is a strong
appeal to the average person, and the consideration of being able to
see from three to five movies for the price of one legitimate show is
probably the strongest economic argument in favor of the motion
picture. Besides, the picture house, with its luxurious lobbies, uni
formed pages and ushers, its courteous managers, ticket takers,
cashiers, etc., tends to put the audience in a frame of mind to enjoy
the performance. This is in contrast with the drab and impersonally
austere atmosphere which prevails in the legitimate theater before
the beginning of the show.
Vaudeville Theater
The vaudeville theater as an independent entity has fared even
worse than the legitimate stage. In 1919 Mr. Casey, of the Vaude
ville Managers’ Association, stated before the Federal Trade Com
mission that there were then 907 theaters in the country playing
“ big time” and “ small time” vaudeville. In 1922 the Billboard
reported nearly 1,000 vaudeville theaters. At present the Palace
Theater in New York is the only “ big time” vaudeville theater left
in the country. There are a few “ small time” or burlesque theaters
left and these lead a precarious existence. The answer to the ques
tion of what has happened to the vaudeville theaters is comparatively
simple: They have all been converted into moving-picture houses,
some retaining certain vaudeville acts as a part of their program and
others presenting pictures only. The business depression of the past
year has greatly accelerated the elimination of vaudeville, even from
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[265 J
6
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
those theaters where it had been presented as only a part of the show.
It seems to be the opinion of managers and owners of moving-picture
theaters that the picture is the thing which draws the crowd. Hence,
if expenses are to be cut—which is now warranted by the decreased
attendance and by the need for lower admission prices—vaudeville
is the first thing to be eliminated from the theater, and with the
vaudeville artist also go the musicians and the entire back-stage crew.
For the present at least it looks as if vaudeville were doomed.
Whether the present situation merely signifies a retrenchment policy
due to the prolonged depression, which has only recently begun
seriously to affect the moving-picture industry, or whether it will
become a permanent policy in the future, only time can tell. In the
meantime the vaudeville artists, the musicians, and the stage hands
continue to swell the ranks of the unemployed.
“Translux” Theaters
The essential difference between the average moving-picture theater
and the “ translux” theater system lies in the method of projecting
the picture onto the screen. In the translux system the picture is pro
jected from behind the screen, thus doing away with the necessity
of having the theater.darkened during the show. A turnstile system,
operated from the cashier’s booth, eliminates the need for the services
of the ticket chopper, and the light in the theater dispenses with the
need of ushers and pages. The three translux theaters in operation
now in New York City are comparatively very small, each with a
capacity of about 250. The patrons are requested to find their own
seats in these theaters. It is doubtful, however, if the same policy
could be pursued in a larger theater. The translux system of theaters
may be classified as the “ 5-and-10” or “ cafeteria” version of the
moving-picture industry, which will undoubtedly have an appeal to
a certain element of the theater-going public. To that extent it will
also become a competitive factor in the amusement industry and
because of its refusal to make use of ticket takers, ushers, pages, and
other help regularly employed in a motion-picture theater, it will
undoubtedly cause a further increase in the ranks of the unemployed
among the theater workers.
Radio and Television
Radio, which brings its entertainment to the home of the consumer,
can not be seriously considered as a competitive entity in the amuse
ment field. There may be some truth in the argument that since the
introduction of radio a certain element of the population prefers to
stay at home and listen to the radio rather than to go to a legitimate
show or to a movie. There are no figures, of course, to prove or to
disprove these contentions. On the other hand, it may be pointed
out that the period between 1926 and 1930, which saw the largest
development of the radio, also represented the period of the highest
development in the motion-picture industry. But whether in com
petition with the theater or not, from the point of view of displace
ment of human labor, the radio may be considered as a compensating
factor in the amusement industry. Radio broadcasting provides work
foi a considerable number of actors and musicians. One broadcasting
station in New York has on its pay roll some 110 more or less regularly
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 266 ]
EMPLOYMENT IN THE AMUSEMENT INDUSTRY
7
employed musicians. Only a few of these are permanently employed
by the company; the others are called upon to perform once or twice
a week in connection with the special programs for wddch they were
engaged. The hiring of the actors as well as of the musicians is
usually done by the company sponsoring the broadcasting program,
and the musicians and actors are changed each time a program is
changed. It was estimated by the president of the American Federa
tion of Musicians that from 500 to 600 musicians throughout the
country earn a living through radio broadcasting. These figures
do not include the star artists and musicians used as features in a
broadcasting program.
Television as a commercial entertainment is still in a state of
embryonic development. In fact, the majority of its sponsors still
consider it in the laboratory stage and even the most optimistic of its
supporters do not predict its appearance in the commercial field
before 1932. With the exception of a very small group of individuals
directly engaged in the field of television in either a managerial or
scientific capacity, very few people have even the slightest conception
of wdiat television means, how it will work, and what its commercial
possibilities are, whether it will be delivered to the home over the
radio or whether it will be presented in a theater especially constructed
for television. With so much doubt about the nature of television
and the method of its application, it is impossible even to guess the
effects its introduction will have on the amusement industry.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C o m p a rative C osts o f D w ellin g U n its in 13 C ities
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics presents below the results of an
inquiry showing the comparative cost of dwelling units in 13 repre
sentative cities by cost groups, as shown by permits issued during
the first half of 1929. The data for St. Louis and Washington were
published in the December, 1930, Monthly Labor Review, but are
included in the following tables. The first six months of 1929 were
selected because it was thought that the building of dwellings was
on a more normal basis in that period than during any of the suc
ceeding 6-month periods. The data were obtained from the records
of permits issued in these 13 cities. The costs as shown include
building costs only, no land costs being included.
While the information shows that the cost of different classes of
dwellings was much cheaper in some cities than in others, this must
not be construed to mean that an identical building can be built
more cheaply in one city than in another. I t may be that in some
cities more smaller dwellings are erected than in other cities.
T
One-Family Dwellings
T able 1 shows the number and per cent of the one-family dwellings
provided for in the 13 selected cities by cost groups.
1 .— E S T IM A T E D
CO ST OF O N E -F A M IL Y D W E L L IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S
W E R E IS S U E D IN S P E C IF IE D C IT IE S D U R IN G F IR S T H A L F O F 1929, B Y CO ST
G R O U PS
T able
Nufnber of fam ilies provided, for
Brook- Camly n
bridge
U nder $2,000
..........................
$2,000 and under $3,000. _ _____ _ ._
$3,000 and u n d er $4,000____
________ ____
$4,000 a n d u nder $5,000____________________
$5,000 a n d u nder $6,000.........
............ _ _ .
$6,000 and under $7,000.. . . . .
$7,000 and under $8,000___ _______ _ _ .
$8,000 and under $9,000___________________
$9,000 and u nder $10,000
.
....
$ 10,000 and under $11,000___ _______________
$ 11,000 and under $ 12,000 .
....
$12,000 and un d er $13,000___________________
$13,000 and under $14,000..
$14,000 and un d er $15,000___ . . . _ _ . . .
$15,000 and un d er $16,000_______
$16,000 an d un d er $17,000___________________
$17,000 an d un d er $18,000 .
_ .
$18,000 an d un d er $19,000 _
$19,000 and un d er $20,000____
. .
$20,000 and over__________________________
T o tal_______________________________
Cincinn a ti
1
1
2
23
154
133
74
43
3
3
27
95
1
102
136
78
45
32
31
4
6
12
3
16
4
12
7
1
3
4
5
1
1
2
1
4
1
i9
481
14
M ilKansas Los
C ity Angeles waukee
13
44
44
92
94
58
17
12
6
8
1
3
86
182
93
25
16
17
15
5
6
4
4
3
4
3
1
1
2
1
2
1
1
517
957
618
260
127
96
59
30
19
32
9
23
7
8
22
1
1
19
146
149
76
21
18
8
i
3
1
1
5
2
11
2
2 16
38
*
1
« 50
e4
601
410
463
2,854
449
1 2 a t $20,000, 3 a t $25,000, 1 a t $35,000, 1 a t $45,000, 1 a t $50,000, and 1 a t $55,000.
2 5 a t $20,000, 1 a t $24,000, 3 a t $27,000, 1 a t $29,000, 1 a t $32,000, 1 a t $35,000, 2 a t $40,000, 1 a t $60,000, and
1 a t $67,000.
a 2 a t $20,000, 3 a t $22,000, 1 a t $26,000, 1 a t $42,000, and 1 a t $45,000.
« Cost $25,000.
s 10 a t $20,000,1 a t $20,750, 3 a t $21,000, 2 a t $22,000, 1 a t $23,000, 1 a t $24,000, 9 a t $25,000, 2 a t $28,000,1 a t
$30,000, 1 a t $32,000, 2 a t $33,000, 1 a t $34,000, 2 a t $35,000, 1 a t $37,000, 1 a t $38,000, 3 a t $40,000, 1 a t $45,000,
1 a t $47,000, 1 a t $50,000, 2 a t $75,000, 1 a t $82,000, 2 a t $100,000, and 1 a t $175,000.
« 2 a t $20,000, 1 a t $21,000, and 1 a t $35,000.
8
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[268 ]
9
COSTS OF DWELLING UNITS IN 13 CITIES
T able 1.—E S T IM A T E D
CO ST OF O N E -F A M IL Y D W E L L IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S
W E R E IS SU E D IN S P E C IF IE D C IT IE S D U R IN G F IR S T H A L F OF 1929, B Y C O ST
G R O U P S—Continued
Number of fam ilies provided for— C ontinued
New
P h ila R ich
H aven delphia mond
Cost
U nder $2,000, _ _______ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
$2,000 and un d er $3,000 ___ ____
______
$3,000 and un d er $4,000___ _____ _ ___ _ __
$4,000 and un d er $5,000___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
_
$5,000 and un d er $6,000___ _
$6,000 and under $7,000___ __________ __ _
$7,000 and under $8 ,000__ _ _
___ _
$8,000 and under $9,000___
______ ____ _
_
_ ____
$9,000 and under $10,000___
$10,000 and un d er $11,000____ _ _ _ ____
$11,000 and un d er $12,000
_ __
$12,000 and un d er $13^000 __ _____
$13,000 and under $14,000
______________
$14,000 and under $15,000
_ _
$15,000 and un d er $16,000 __ _ _
$16,000 and u n d er $17,000 __________________
$17,000 and under $18,000___ _
$18,000 and un d er $19^000___
$19,000 and under $20,000___
$20,000 and over____ _______ ____________ __
T otal___________ ___ ______________
2
4
16
12
20
6
5
3
5
1
2
53
59
1,009
1, 326
281
94
53
15
5
14
24
28
51
62
45
24
26
4
3
5
1
5
3
3
2
6
2
8
2
1
1
1
1
St.
Louis
31
53
348
163
78
14
St.
Paul
6
38
52
22
16
10
8
16
3
7
4
5
2
1
2
1
1
W ash Total,
ington 13 cities
14
17
31
42
294
134
81
69
34
80
202
8
28
25
100
21
2
4
1
659
1, 258
2, 386
2,369
1, 392
803
449
274
131
12
24
59
5
20
2
M
8 11
»3
io 3
>i 1
12 27
9
34
7
137
81
2,953
281
732
158
885
10,362
1
3
2
2
4
Per cent of fam ilies provided for
M il
Brook C am C incin D enver Kansas Los
lyn
n ati
bridge
C ity Angeles w au
kee
Cost
U nder $2,000 _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _
$2,000 and un d er $3,000______
____ _____
$3,000 and un d er $4,000_ ___ _________ __
____
$4,000 and under $5,000 _
$5,000 a nd un d er $6,000__ __ __ _ _
$6,000 and under $7,000 _
$7,000 and under $8,000 _ _ _ _
$8,000 and under $9,000 __ _
_ _ ___
$9,000 and under $10,000 _ __ _______ _____
$10,000 and un d er $ 11,000 __ _ _ _
$11,000 and under $12,000 __
_ __ __ __
$12,000 and under $13,000 ___
__________
$13,000 and under $14,000___ ___ _________
$14,000 an d un d er $15,000
_
_____
$15,000 and under $16^000
______
$16,000 and under $17,000
_ _ ___ _
$17,000 and u nder $18,000 __ _ _
_ _
$18,000 and un d er $19,000 __
$19,000 and under $20,000
$20,000 and over........ ..............___ _ _ _ _ _
T otal.
________ _
_ _ ___
0.2
.2
4.8
32.0
27. 7
15. 4
8.9
1. 2
2.5
3.3
.2
1. 5
14. 3
21. 4
7.1
21.4
28.6
2.0
.5
.7
7.1
.8
3. 2
10. 7
10. 7
22. 4
22. 9
14.1
4. 1
2. 9
1. 5
2.0
.2
1. 0
.2
.5
1.9
100.0
0.6
18. 6
39.3
20.1
5. 4
3. 5
3.7
3. 2
1.1
1.3
.9
.6
.2
1.0
.6
.2
.2
.7
.2
2.7
.2
2.0
.2
.4
100.0
100.0
.3
.2
100.0
0. 5
4. 5
15. 8
17.0
22. 6
13. 0
7. 5
5.3
5.2
.7
18.1
33. 5
21. 7
9.1
4. 4
3. 4
2.1
1.1
.7
1.1
.3
0 2
.2
4. 2
32. 5
33. 2
16.9
4.7
4.0
1. 8
.2
.8
.2
.7
.3
.2
.2
.8
.2
.1
.4
.1
.2
1.8
.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
? 1 a t $30,000, 1 a t $33,000, and 2 a t $35,000.
8 2 a t $20,000, 1 a t $28,000, 1 a t $33,000, 1 a t $34,000, 1 a t $35,000, 1 a t $43,000, 2 a t $45,000, 1 a t $48,000, and I
a t $75,000.
» 1 a t $20,000, 1 a t $23,000, and 1 a t $33,000.
» 1 a t $25,000, 1 a t $30,000, and 1 a t $45,000.
11 Cost $23,900.
12 4 a t $20,000, 1 a t $20,300, 1 a t $22,388, 1 a t $22,500, 1 a t $23,900, 2 a t $24,000, 3 a t $25,000,1 a t $26,000,1 a t
$29,000, 2 a t $30,000, 1 a t $32,500, 2 a t $35,000, 2 a t $40,000,1 a t $43,000,1 a t $48,000, 1 a t $50,000, 1 a t $60,000,
and 1 a t $75,600.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[269]
10
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 1 .— E S T IM A T E D
CO ST OF O N E -F A M IL Y D W E L L IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S
W E R E IS SU E D IN S P E C IF IE D C IT IE S D U R IN G F IR S T H A L F O F 1920, BY COST
G R O U P S—C ontinued
.
Per cent of fam ilies 'provided for— C ontinued
P h ila R ich
New
H aven delphia m ond
Cost
TTnrlpr $9 000
_ _. _
$9 000 and under $3,000 __
_
____
$3 000 and under $4,000
$4 000 end under $5,000 __
$5 000 and u n d er $6,000
000 and un d er $7,000
0QO and under $8,000
_
_
000 and under $9,000
_
$Q 0OO and un d er $10,000
000 and under $11,000
000 and un d er $19 000
000 -and under $13,000
$ 13 000 an d u n d er 814 000
$14 000 an d under $15 000
$15 000 and un d er $16 000
$16 000 a n d un d er $17 000
$17 000 a n d under $18 000
$18’000 an d un d er $19,000------ ----------------------
$6
$7
$8
$10
$11
$12
2.5
4. 9
19. 8
14. 8
24.7
7. 4
.2
3. 7
0
6.2
1. 2
2. 5
12
8. 5
10.0
22
8
1.8
2.0
18. 1
.1
16. 0
.5
9.3
1. 4
.1
34. 2
44. 9
9.5
3.2
1.8
.5
.2
.5
1
1.8
( ! 3)
.7
.4
.4
.4
.4
.2
.1
.1
.1
.1
.3
St.
Louis
4.2
7.2
47.5
22.3
10.7
1.9
1.4
2.2
.4
1.0
.3
.1
St.
Paul
3.8
24. 1
32.9
13.9
10.1
5. 1
2.5
3.2
1.3
.6
.6
W ash Total,
ington 13 cities
1.6
1.9
3.5
4.7
33. 2
15. 1
9. 2
7.8
3.8
9.0
.9
2.8
.2
.5
1.4
.Ï
.6
.2
T otal
-
-
___- ___ __
4.9
1. 1
.4
100.0 100.0 100.0
2.6
1.3
1.9
.3
1.0
.2
.2
.2
.6
.3
1.3
.4
.6
3.1
.1
.3
.1
1.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
.5
. i
$20,000 and over___________________________
6.4
12.1
23.0
22.9
13.4
7.7
4.3
100. 0
Cumulative per cent
Cost
U nder $2,000
____________________
$9 000 and under $3,000
_____
____
_____________
827000 and un d er $4,000
84 000 and under $5,000 _ _
- - __$6 000 and under $6 .000 __
______ _______
$6 000 and under $7,000
_ ______ _____
$7 000 and under $8,000
$8 000 and under $9,000
$9 000 and under $10,000
_____ ___
$10,000 and under $ 11,000
$11 000 and under $ 12,000
. _ ____ _ _
$19 000 and under $13,000
______ _____
$13 000 and under $14,000
_
_
$14,000 and under $15,000
__ ______ -- -$15,000 and under $16,000
_ _ _ __
$16,000 and under $17,000
_
$17,000 and under $18,000
_
$18,000 and u nder $19,000
$19,000 and u nder $20,000
$20,000 and over
__
Cost
U nder $2,000
- ___
$2,000 and un d er $3,000
_ _ __
$3,000 a n d u n d er $4,000
_
$4,000 a n d un d er $5,000
_ __
$5,000 a n d un d er $6,000
_
_
$6,000 an d under $7,000
_ $7,000 and under $8,000 _ _ _ _ _
$8,000 and un d er $9,000
_
_ _
$9,000 and under $10,000
__ _ _
$10,000 and un d er $ 11,000
_ __
__
$11,000 and under $ 12,000
$12,000 and under $13,000
_ _
$13,000 and u nder $14,000
$14,000 and under $15,000
_ __ ______
$15,000 and un d er $16,000
.
- $16,000 a n d un d er $17,000
$17,000 and u n d er $18,000
$18 000 and under $19,000
$19 000 and under $20,000
$20,000 and over__ .. .
_ -
B rook Cambricge
ly n
100.0
3. 2
13.9
24. 6
47. 0
69. 9
84.0
88. 1
91. 0
92.5
94.5
94. 7
95. 7
95.9
96. 4
97.4
97.4
97. 6
97. 6
97.8
100. 0
100.0
New
P h ila R ich
H aven delphia mond
St.
Louis
St.
Paul
0. 2
.2
.4
5.2
37. 2
64. 9
80.3
89. 2
90.4
92.9
92.9
96. 2
96.4
96. 4
97. 9
98. 1
98. 1
98. 1
98. 1
100.0
0.0
0.0
0. 0
14. 3
35. 7
42. 8
42. 8
42.8
42.8
42. 8
64. 2
64. 2
92. 8
92.8
92.8
.5
5.0
20. 8
37.8
60. 4
73. 4
80. 9
86. 2
91.4
92. 1
94. 1
94. 6
95.3
96. 1
96.4
96. 6
97.3
97. 5
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
2.5
7.4
27. 2
42.0
66. 7
74. 1
80. 3
84. 0
90. 2
91.4
93. 9
93.9
93.9
93.9
93.9
93.9
93. 9
95. 1
95. 1
3.8
38.0
82.9
92.4
95. 6
97. 4
97.9
98. 1
98.6
98. 6
98.8
98.9
99.0
99.1
99. 1
99. 2
99.5
99. 6
100.0
100.0
n Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M il
C incin D enver Kansas Los
au
C ity Angeles wkee
n ati
[270]
1.8
8. 5
18.5
36.6
58.7
74.7
83. 2
92.5
93.9
95.0
96.8
97. 5
97.9
98.3
98.7
99.1
100. 0
0.6
19. 2
58. 5
78. 6
84. 0
87. 5
91. 2
94.4
95. 5
96.8
96. 8
97. 7
98. 3
98. 5
99. 1
99. 1
99.3
99. 7
99.7
18.1
51. 6
73. 3
82.4
0.2
90. 2
92. 3
93. 4
94. 1
95. 2
95. 5
96.3
96. 5
96.8
97. 6
97.8
97. 9
98. 3
98.4
.4
4.6
37. 1
70.3
87.2
91.9
95.9
97.7
97.9
97.9
98.6
98.6
98. 8
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
99. 0
100.0
100.0
86.8
W ash Total,
ington 13 cities
4.2
11.4
58.9
81. 2
91.9
93.8
95. 2
97.4
97.8
98.8
99.1
99. 2
99. 2
99.2
99.3
99.3
99.3
99.6
99.6
3.8
27.9
60.8
74.7
84.8
89.9
92.4
95. 6
96.9
97.5
98. 1
98. 1
98. 1
98. 1
98. 1
98. 1
99.4
99.4
3.5
7.0
11.7
44.9
60.0
69. 2
77. 0
80.8
89.8
90.7
93. 5
93. 7
94. 2
95. 6
96. 2
96. 4
96.9
96.9
6.4
18.5
41.5
64.4
77.8
85.5
89.8
92.4
93.7
95.6
95.9
96.9
97.1
97.3
97.9
98. 1
98.2
98. 5
99.9
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
0.0
1.6
11
COSTS OF DWELLING UNITS IN 13 CITIES
Table 1 discloses a marked difference in the cost of the 1-family
dwellings erected in these cities. For example: In Los Angeles 51.6
per cent of the 1-family dwellings for which permits were issued
during the first half of 1929 cost less than $3,000, while in Brooklyn
only 0.2 per cent of the 1-family dwellings cost less than that amount.
In Brooklyn only 25 one-family dwellings, or 5.2 per cent of the
buildings erected, cost less than $5,000; in contrast, in Los Angeles
82.4 per cent and in Philadelphia 82.9 per cent cost less than that
amount.
It must be borne in mind that the cost figures shown in this table
include only the cost of erecting a building. As before stated, no
land costs are included, nor is the profit to the builder included.
Therefore, these figures can not be taken as the price for which a
man is able to purchase a home.
In Brooklyn, Denver, Milwaukee, New Haven, and Washington,
the largest group of 1-family dwellings for which permits were issued
cost between $5,000 and $6,000; in Cincinnati the largest group cost
between $6,000 and $7,000; in Kansas City and St. Louis, between
$3,000 and $4,000; in Los Angeles, between $2,000 and $3,000; and
in Philadelphia, Richmond, and St. Paul, between $4,000 and $5,000.
Two-family Dwellings
T able 2 shows the number and per cent of families provided for
in 2-family dwellings in the 13 representative cities, by cost groups.
T a ble 2 .— E S T IM A T E D
C O ST P E R F A M IL Y OF T W O -F A M IL Y D W E L L IN G S i FO R
W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D IN S P E C IF IE D C IT IE S D U R IN G F IR S T H A L F OF
1929, BY CO ST G R O U PS
Number of fam ilies provided, for
Cost per fam ily u n it
U nder $2,000
$2,000 and under
$3,000 and under
$4,000 and under
$5,000 and un d er
$6,000 and un d er
$7,000 and under
$8,000 and un d er
$9,000 and under
$10,000 and over
T otal
M il
Brook C am C incin D enver K ansas Los
C ity Angeles waukee
n ati
lyn
bridge
1
$3,000___
$4,000 ........................ __
$5,000
$6,000 .
$7,000
$8,000
$9,000
$10,000
....
.
. . . . .
. ____________ ________
Cost per fam ily u n it
20
82
93
230
. 74
59
16
2
10
14
22
2
48
64
10
6
6
20
3
4
16
14
2
1
2
2
2 33
40
New
Phila R ich
H aven delphia m ond
St.
Louis
T otal. __ _______ _ ____ ____________
11
4
6
50
6
10
20
12
14
5
3
23
St.
Paul
10
4
8
6
14
2
1
1
38
214
180
28
9
4
1
46
1,159
492
140
144
72
12
2
6
2
5
W ash Total,
ington 13 cities
4
4
8
2
2
2
4
292
560
811
637
427
155
116
28
21
2
41
72
34
1 Includes 1-family and 2-family dwellings w ith stores.
2 20 a t $10,000, 6 a t $12,000, 1 a t $13,000, 4 at $15,000, and 2 a t $20,000.
» Cost, $14,000.
* 4 a t $10,000, 1 a t $11,000, and 1 a t $13,000.
« Cost, $10,000.
[271]
269
314
241
178
72
45
29
5
5
3
184
615
51
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
24
8
U nder $2,000
$2,000 and u nder $3,000 . _________
$3,000 and u nder $4,000. ______
_
$4,000 and u nder $5,000
$5,000 and u nder $6,000
$6,000 and u nder $7,000
$7,000 and u nder $8,000 .
$8,000 and u nder $9^000 . . .
$9,000 and u nder $10,000.
$10,000 and ov er___________________________
67999°—31----- 2
4
20
386
16
6
3, 088
12
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a ble 2 .— E S T IM A T E D
C O ST P E R F A M IL Y O F T W O -F A M IL Y D W E L L IN G S F O R
W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D IN S P E C IF IE D C IT IE S D U R IN G F IR S T H A L F O F
1929, B Y C O ST G R O U P S—C ontinued
Per cent of fam ilies provided for
Brook C am C incin
K ansas Los
M il
lyn
bridge
n ati D enver C ity Angeles w aukee
Cost per family u n it
U nder $2,000 ___ ___
_ _ _ ______
$2,000 and un d er $3,000
________
$3,000 and un d er $4,000 __
_____ _
$4,000 an d u n d e r $5,000 _
_ _ _ ____
$5,000 and u n d e r $6,000
________
$6,000 and u n d e r $7,000
. .
$7,000 and u n d e r $8,000
_ ___________
$8,000 an d u n d er $9,000
_ ________
$9,000 and u n d er $10,000
_ _
________
$10,000 and over__________ _______________
T otal
.
_
_ _______
Cost per fam ily u n it
U nder $2,000-_ _
...
.
____ . _ _
_______________
$2,000 and u n d er $3,000 .
______________
$3,000 an d u n d er $4,000 $4,000 and u n d er $5,000- . _ _ ___ ___ _
$5,000 and u n d er $6,000
..
______
$6,000 and u n d er $7,000 . . . . . . . . ________
$7,000 and u n d er $8,000 - ____
. . . _____
$8,000 and u n d er $9,000 . . .
_ ___
$9,000 and u n d er $10,000 .
.........
$10,000 and ov er. _____ _______________ . . . .
T otal _.
__
. _ ______ .
3. 3
13. 3
15.1
37.4
12.0
9. 6
2. 6
1.3
25.4
4.0
20.0
28.0
44.0
4.0
100.0
100.0
2.5
10. 9
26.1
34.8
10. 9
8. 7
7. 6
1.1
60.0
25.0
7. 5
5.0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
New
P h ila R ich
H aven delphia m ond
St.
Louis
St.
P aul
36.4
54.5
8.3
13.9
27.8
16. 7
19.4
6.9
4.2
1.4
1.4
11.8
23. 5
17. 6
41. 2
5.9
4. 3
8. 7
2.6
36.3
37. 3
18. 7
3. 1
.5
1.0
23.2
27.1
20.8
15.4
6. 2
3.9
2.5
.4
.4
8.1
1.2
7. 7
43. 5
36. 6
5. 7
1.8
.8
.4
1.0
4 1.2
100.0
100.0
W ash Total,
ington 13 cities
25. 0
50. 0
12. 5
12. 5
66. 7
33.3
100.0
100.0
.5
9.1
100.0
17.4
26.1
26. 1
17.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
9.5
18.1
26.3
20.6
13.8
5.0
3.8
.9
.7
1.3
100.0
Cumulative per cent
Cost per fam ily u n it
U nder $2,000 _____
$2,000 and u nder $3,000
_ ___
______
$3,000 and u nder $4,000
. _
$4,000 and u n d er $5,000 _ _
$5,000 and u n d er $6’000 _
$6,000 and u n d er $7,000
$7,000 and u n d er $8,000- ________ _______
$8,000 and u n d er $9,000 _
$9,000 and un d er $10,000_______________ _._
$10,000 and ov er.......... ......................................
Cost per fam ily u n it
U nder $2,000
_ _
______
___
$2,000 and un d er $3,000__
_ _ _
$3,000 and u n d e r $4^000 ___
$4,000 and un d er $5,000 ____ - _ _
$5,000 and un d er $6^000______ ____
$6,000 and un d er $7,000 __________
$7,000 and un d er $8,000 ___________
$8,000 and un d er $9,000_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
$9,000 and u n d er $10,000- __
$10,000 and over__________ . ____ _ _ _
Brook C am C incin
K ansas Los
M il
bridge
ly n
n a ti D enver C ity Angeles waukee
0. 0
3. 3
16. 6
31. 7
69. 1
81. 1
90. 7
93. 3
94. 6
100.0
0. 0
4. 0
24. 0
52. 0
96. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
0. 0
10. 9
37. 0
71. 8
82. 7
91. 4
99. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
2. 5
2. 5
62 5
87 5
95 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
17. 4
43 5
69 6
87. 0
87 0
91. 3
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
New
P h ila
H aven delphia
R ich
mond
St.
Louis
St.
Paul
2. 6
38. 9
76. 2
94. 9
98. 0
98. 5
99. 5
99. 5
100. 0
100.0
0. 0
25. 0
75. 0
87. 5
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
0. 0
.0
36.4
36. 4
90. 9
90. 9
90. 9
90. 9
90. 9
100.0
8. 3
22. 2
50. 0
66. 7
86. 1
93. 0
97. 2
98. 6
100. 0
100. 0
11. 8
35. 3
52. 9
94. 1
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
2 20 a t $10,000, 6 a t $12,000, 1 a t $13,000, 4 a t $15,000, and 2 a t $20,000.
3 Cost, $14,000.
4 4 a t $10,000, 1 a t $11,000, an d 1 a t $13,000.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[272]
23. 2
50. 3
71. 1
86 5
92 7
96 6
99. 1
99. 5
99. 9
100. 0
1.2
8 9
52.4
89.0
94. 7
96.5
97 3
97. 7
98 7
100.0
W ash Total,
ington 13 cities
0. 0
66. 7
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
9 5
27. 6
53. 9
74. 5
88. 3
93. 3
97.1
98. 0
98. 7
100.0
13
COSTS OF DWELLING UNITS IN 13 CITIES
A 2-family dwelling is one in which one family lives over the other
or two families live on the same floor and have a common entrance.
The costs as shown in Table 2 are per-family costs, not costs per
building.
There was a marked difference in the part that 2-family dwellings
played in the housing situations in these cities. In Washington, for
instance, only 6 families were provided for in 2-family dwellings
during the first half of 1929, while in Los Angeles, 1,159 families were
provided for in 2-family dwellings.
In St. Louis 38.9 per cent of the family dwelling units provided
for in 2-family dwellings cost less than $3,000; in Los Angeles 50.3
per cent cost less than that amount; but in Milwaukee only 8.9 per
cent, and in Brooklyn only 3.3 per cent cost less than that sum.
For the group as a whole, 27.6 per cent of 2-family dwellings cost
less than $3,000 per family.
Apartment Houses
T able 3 shows the number and per cent of family housing units
provided for in apartment houses in 13 representative cities, by cost
groups.
OF 1929, BY CO ST G R O U P S
Number of fam ilies provided for
Brook C am C incin D en
n ati
ver
bridge
lyn
Cost per family u n it
Tinder $2,000
$2 000 and un d er
$3 000 and un d er
$4 000 and u n d er
$5 000 and tinder
$0
and u n d er
$7 000 and u n d er
$8 0OO and u n d er
$Q 0OO and under
$10 000 and oyer
ooo
__
$3,000
$4,000
_
$5,000
_
$0,000
$7 000
$8 000
$0 000
$10 000
T o t a l ____________
_
__________
__
___
__
_ __
___
_ __
_____ ___ _
--
Cost per family u n it
U nder $^ ooo
$2 000 and under
$3 000 and un d er
$4 OOOand un d er
$5 000 and u n d er
$0 000 and un d er
$7 ooo and un d er
$8 000 and under
$Q
and under
$10 000 and over
ooo
Total
$3,000
$4,000
$5 000
$6 000
$7 000
$8 000
$9 000
$10 000
_
___
__
71
76
136
97
41
9
163
212
80
13
9
369
429
4
37
104
519
1,405
1,319
531
48
105
41
54
i 78
2 114
2 41
4,100
407
471
477
New
P h ila R ich
H aven delphia m ond
St.
Louis
56
540
466
75
23
143
76
48
36
18
24
24
723
954
122
53
42
47
10
12
1,427
102
1,894
69
88
6
94
i Cost, $12,000 and under $13,000.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
33
25
150
85
Kansas
Los
M il
C ity Angeles w aukee
943
St.
Paul
2,044
1,480
711
129
113
31
59
206
284
289
58
56
4,567
901
W ash T otal,
ington 13 cities
2 197
3,748
4,845
3, 773
1,982
919
340
339
94
54
430
1,072
16, 524
210
368
92
109
96
2 Cost, $10,000 and under $11,000.
[273]
3
5
14
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a ble 3 .—E S T IM A T E D CO ST P E R F A M IL Y H O U S IN G U N IT OF A P A R T M E N T H O U SES
FO R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D IN S P E C IF IE D C IT IE S D U R IN G F IR S T H A L F
OF 1929, BY COST G R O U P S—Continued
Per cent of fam ilies provided for
Brook C am
lyn
bridge
Cost per family u n it
C incin D en
nati
ver
Kansas
Los
M il
C ity Angeles w aukee
U nder $2,000__________
$2,000 and u nder $3,000$3,000 a n d u nder $4,000_
$4,000 a n d u nder $5,000_
$5,000 a n d un d er $6,000_
$6,000 a n d un d er $7,000_
$7,000 a n d un d er $8,000$8,000 and un d er $9,000_
$9,000 and under $10,000
$10,000 and over_______
12. 7
34.3
32.2
13.0
1. 2
2. 6
1. 0
1. 3
1.9
28. 0
8. 7
T o tal___________
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
New
Phila- R ich
H aven delphia m ond
St.
Louis
St.
Paul
Cost per fam ily u n it
U nder $2,000 ___
$2,000 and u nder $3,000____
$3,000 and un d er $4,000____
$4,000 an d u n d er $5,000____
$5,000 and u n d er $6,000.___
$6,000 an d un d er $7,000____
$7,000 an d un d er $8,000____
$8,000 an d u n d er $9,000____
$9,000 and un d er $10,000___
$10,000 and ov er___________
93.6
6.4
8.1
6.1
36.9
20.9
15.1
16.1
28.9
20.6
8.7
1. 9
3.9
37.8
32. 7
5.3
35.3
17.6
23. 5
23.5
1.6
Total.
34. 2
44.4
16.8
2.7
1.9
38.2
50.4
6.4
2.8
39.1
45. 5
.4
3.9
11.0
45. 0
32.4
15.6
2.8
2. 5
.7
1. 3
22.9
31. 5
32. 1
6.4
6.2
100. 0
100.0
Wash- Total,
ington 13 cities
68 . 1
14.5
17.4
2.2
.3
.6
19. 6
34.3
8.6
22. 7
29. 3
22.8
12.0
5.6
10.0
10.2
5.3
3.4
9.0
2.1
2. 1
18.4
2.6
100.0
100.0
.5
.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
Cumulative per cent
Brook C am
lyn
bridge
Cost per family u n it
U nder $2,000
_
........
$2,000 and un d er $3,000
$3,000 an d u n d er $4,000
$4,000 and un d er $5,000
- ___ - ____
$5,000 a n d un d er $6,000
$6,000 a n d u n d er $7,000 _______________ _ .
$7,000 a n d u n d er $8,000 ----__ - $8,000 and u n d er $9,000- ____
_ .
$9,000 and un d er $10,000 _$10,000 and over _ - _ _
Cost per family un it
U nder $2,000_- __
$2,000 and u nder $3,000
$3,000 a n d u nder $4,000 _________
$4,000 a n d un d er $5,000- _____
.
$5,000 an d un d er $6,000 ______
$6,000 a n d u n d er $7,000
$7,000 a n d u n d er $8,000
$8,000 and u n d er $9,000
$9,000 and un d er $10,000
$10,000 and over_____
.. .
_
0.0
12. 7
47.0
79.2
92.2
93.4
96.0
97.0
98.3
100.0
Kansas
Los
M il
C ity Angeles waukee
15.1
31.2
60.1
80. 7
89.4
91.3
91.3
91.3
91.3
100. 0
34.2
78.6
95.4
98. 1
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
New
Phila R ich
H aven delphia m ond
St.
Louis
St.
Paul
38.2
88. 6
95.0
97.8
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
68.1
82. 6
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
0.0
93. 6
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
8.1
14.2
51. 1
72. 0
72.0
72.0
72.0
72. 0
72.0
100.0
C incin D en
n a ti
ver
3.9
41. 7
74.4
79.7
81.3
91.3
96.6
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
35.3
52.9
76.4
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
39.1
84.6
85.0
88.9
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
45.0
77.4
93.0
95.8
98.3
99.0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
22.9
54.4
86.5
92.9
99.1
99.1
99.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
W ash Total,
ington 13 cities
0.0
19. 6
53.9
62. 5
62. 5
72. 7
81.7
81. 7
81. 7
100.0
22.7
52.0
74.8
86.8
92.4
94.5
96.6
97.1
97.4
100.0
The costs as shown in Table 3 are per-family unit costs, not costs
per building.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[274]
COSTS OF DWELLING UNITS IN 13 CITIES
15
Los Angeles, Brooklyn, St. Louis, Philadelphia, and Washington
each provided for over a thousand dwelling units in apartment
houses during the first half of 1929. In Los Angeles the largest
number fell in the cost group below $2,000 a unit, in Brooklyn and
Washington the largest number fell between $3,000 and $4,000, and
in St. Louis between $2,000 and $3,000. Nearly 87 per cent of the
family dwelling units in apartment houses for which permits were
issued during the first half of 1929 in these 13 cities cost less than
$5,000 per family provided for; in Washington only 62.5 per cent cost
less than that amount.
In Washington 197 families were to be housed in apartment houses
where the unit cost per family was between $10,000 and $11,000; in
Brooklyn 78 families were housed in apartment buildings where the
per-family cost was over $12,000. In contrast, no apartment in
Kansas City or St. Louis cost more than $6,000 per family dwelling
unit
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[275]
UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS RELIEF
U n e m p lo y m e n t in Foreign C ou n tries
T
HE following table gives detailed monthly statistics of unem
ployment in foreign countries, as shown in official reports, from
January, 1930, to the latest available date.
S T A T E M E N T O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S i
A ustralia
Trade-unionists
unem ployed
B ate (end of
m onth)
1930
Jan u a ry ___
F ebruary__
M arch_____
A pril___ _
M ay _______
June_______
Ju ly _______
A ugust____
Septem ber...
O ctober____
N ovem ber...
D ecem ber. .
1931
J a n u a ry ___
F e b ru a ry ...
M arch____
A pril_____
M ay ______
N um ber
P er
cent
63,144
(2)
(2)
80, 595
(2)
(2)
90, 379
(2)
(2)
104,951
14.6
113,614
(2)
18. 5
20.5
____
23.4
25.8
A ustria
Belgium
C anada
Com
Trade-unionists
U nem ploym ent insurance societies
unemployed
pulsory
insurance,
num ber
W holly unemP artially unem unemployed
ployed
ployed
N um ber P er cent
in receipt of
N
um
ber
P
er
cent
N
um
ber
Per
cent
benefit
273,197
284, 543
239,094
192,477
162, 678
150. 075
153,188
156,145
163, 894
192, 778
237,745
294,845
22, 542
16,085
14, 030
13, 715
12,119
12, 226
15, 302
17, 747
23, 693
27, 322
38,973
63,585
3.5
2.6
2.2
2.2
1.9
1.9
2.4
2.8
3.8
4.3
6.1
9.3
25, 782
31, 222
28,469
36, 605
38, 761
41, 336
48, 580
51, 649
61, 623
54, 804
76,043
117,167
4.0
4.9
4.5
5.8
6.1
6.5
7.7
8.2
9.9
8.5
12.0
17.0
22, 795
24,175
22, 912
18, 581
20, 424
21, 380
18, 473
3 18, 232
319, 356
3 22, 403
3 28, 408
3 37, 339
10.8
11. 5
10.8
9.0
10.3
10.6
9.2
9.3
9.4
10.8
13.8
17.0
331,239
334,041
304,084
246, 845
208, 852
77,181
81, 750
81, 305
70,377
11.1
11. 7
11.3
10.0
112, 734
121, 906
125,972
110,139
16.2 3 33, 664
19.4 3 31, 617
17.7 3 32,300
15.6 3 30, 778
3 32, 086
16.0
15.6
15. 5
14.9
16.2
—
—
—
—
1 Sources: League of N ations—M o n th ly B ulletin of Statistics; In ternational Labor Office—International
Labor Review; C anada—Labor Gazette; G reat B ritain —M in istry of L abor G azette, A ustria—Statistiscbe N achrichten; A ustralia—Q uarterly Sum m ary of A ustralian Statistics; G erm any—Reichsarbeitsbla tt, Reichs A rbeitsm arkt Anzeiger; Switzerland—W irt. u . Social. M itteilungen, L a Vie Econom iquePoland—Wiedomosci Statystyczne; N orw ay—Statistiske M eddelelser; N etherlands—M aandschrift;
Sweden—Sociala M eddelanden; D enm ark—Statistiske Efterretninger; F inland—B ank of F inland M onthly
B ulletin; France—B ulletin d u M arche d u Travail; H ungary—M agyar S tatisztikai Szemle; Belgium—
Revue d u Travail; N ew Zealand—M o n th ly A bstract of Statistics; U . S. D epartm ent of C o m m e rc eCommerce Reports; and U . S. Consular Reports.
2 N ot reported.
3 C om puted b y B ureau of Labor Statistics from official report covering m em bership of unions reporting
and per cent of unem ploym ent.
16
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[276]
17
UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS RELIEF
S T A T E M E N T OF U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —Continued
Czechoslovakia
D ate (end oi
month)
Trade-union in
surance funds—
unemployed
in receipt of
benefit
N um ber
Per
cent
Danzig
(Free
C ity of)
N um
ber of
unem
ployed
regis
tered
Estonia
Finland
France
Trade-union unem N um ber
unem
ploym ent funds—
unemployed
ployed
rem ain
ing on
live
register
N um
Per cent
ber
N um
ber of
unem
ployed
regis
tered
N um
ber of N um ber
unem of unem
ployed
ployed
in re
regis
tered
ceipt of
benefit
D enm ark
Germany
1930
J a n u a ry -. _____
F e b ru a ry ______
M arch_________
A pril____ ____ _
M ay___________
June_______ --Ju ly ___________
A u g u st..- -----Septem ber____
O ctober___ ____
N ovem ber_____
D ecem ber-..........
39,199
40, 550
45, 567
42, 664
41,098
37, 853
46, 800
52, 694
57, 542
61,213
65,904
93,476
3. 6
3. 6
4.0
3. 7
3.8
3.4
4. 1
4. 7
5. 3
5. 5
5.9
8.3
19, 282
21,153
20, 376
18, 371
16, 232
14, 975
15, 330
15, 687
16, 073
17, 307
20, 272
24,429
55, 876
59, 363
47,109
33, 471
27, 966
24, 807
26, 200
26, 232
27, 700
32, 880
44, 200
71,100
20.3
21.0
15.6
11.8
9.4
8.7
9.3
9.0
9.0
11.4
15.3
24.6
5,608
4, 580
3,575
2, 227
2,065
910
762
1,039
1,414
3,282
5,675
6,163
12,696
11, 545
10, 062
7, 274
4, 666
3, 553
4,026
5, 288
7, 157
10, 279
10,740
9, 336
1,484
1,683
1,630
1,203
859
1,019
856
964
988
1,663
4,893
11,952
3, 217, 608
3, 365, 811
3, 040, 797
2, 786,912
2, 634, 718
2, 640, 681
2, 765,258
2, 883, 000
3, 004, 000
3, 252, 000
3, 683, 000
4,384, 000
1931
J a n u a ry .. ------F eb ru ary . ____
M arch_________
A pril. ________
M ay ______ ____
Ju n e __________
104, 580
117,450
119,350
107, 238
9.5
10. 0
10. 0
8. 9
27,081
28,192
27, 070
24, 186
20, 686
70,961
73, 427
67, 725
45, 698
37, 856
24.4
25.6
23.6
15.9
13. 1
5, 364
4,070
2, 765
2,424
1,368
11,706
11, 557
11,491
11, 584
7, 342
28, 536
40, 766
50, 815
49,958
41, 339
36; 237
4, 887,000
4, 972,000
4, 756, 000
4,358, 000
4, 053,000
3; 954,000
D ate (end of
month)
G erm any
G reat B ritain and N orthern Ireland
Trade-unionists
Compulsory insurance
W holly unem
ployed
N um ber
Per
cent
1930
J a n u a r y . . . ____ 1,004, 787 22.0
F e b r u a r y - - - ---- 1,076, 441 23. 5
M arch_________
995,972 21.7
926 831 20 3
M ay............... .......
895, 542 19. 5
June____ ______
896, 465 19. 6
Ju ly ___________
930, 777 20. 5
984, 384 21. 7
A ugust________
Septem ber___ - 1,011,820 22. 5
October __
1,061, 570 23. 6
N o v e m b e r___
1,167, 930 26.0
D ecem ber______
31.7
0
1931
J a n u a ry .---------F ebruary ______
M arch_________
A pril.- ______
M ay
__ _
Ju n e..
-.
0
0
0
0
34. 2
34. 5
33.6
31.2
Partially un em
ployed
N um
ber
N um ber
unem
ployed
in receipt
Per cent of benefit
T em porary stop
pages
N um ber Per cent N um ber P er cent
501, 950
593, 380
576,153
553, 098
552, 318
578,116
631, 903
670, 466
677, 627
693, 379
721, 658
0
11.0
13.0
12.6
12. 1
2,482, 648
2, 655, 723
2,347, 102
2, 081, 068
12.0 l', 889’, 240
12.6 1,834, 662
13.9 1,900, 961
14.8 1,947, 811
15.1 1,965, 348
15.4 2,071, 730
16. 1 2, 353, 980
16.9 2,822, 598
1,183, 974
1,211,262
1, 284, 231
1, 309, 014
1,339, 595
1, 341, 818
1,405, 981
1, 500, 990
1, 579, 708
1, 725, 731
1, 836, 280
1,853, 575
9.8
10.0
10.6
10. 8
ii. I
11.1
11.6
12.4
13. 1
13.9
14.8
14.9
336,474
371, 840
409, 785
451, 506
516, 303
569, 931
664, 107
618, 658
608, 692
593, 223
532, 518
646, 205
2.8
3.1
3.4
8 8
0
0
0
0
19. 2
19.5
18.9
18.0
2, 044, 209
2,073, 578
2, 052, 826
2, 027, 896
2,019, 533
2 , 037,480
16.5
16.7
16. 5
16.3
16. 3
16.4
618, 633
623, 844
612, 821
564, 884
558, 383
669,315
5.0
5.0
5.0
4.6
4.5
5.4
3, 364, 770
3,496, 979
3, 240, 523
2,789 627
2, 507, 732
2 N ot reported.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Wholly unem
ployed
[277]
4 .2
4.7
5.5
5.1
5.0
4.8
4.3
5.3
18
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW
S T A T E M E N T OF U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —Continued
Great
Britain
D ate (end of
month)
N um ber
of persons
registered
w ith em
ploym ent
exchanges
Irish Free State
Italy
Trade-unionists u n
employed
Compulsory insuran ce—unem
ployed
N um ber of u n
employed regis
tered
Social-Demo
cratic
Chris
tian
(B uda
Per
pest) N u m
cent
ber
1930
Jan u a ry . . .
F e b ru a ry ._
M arch____
A pril_____
M a y _____
June_____
Ju ly ______
A ugust___
Septem ber.
O ctober__
N ovem ber.
D ecem ber.
1,491, 519
1, 539, 265
1,677,473
1,698, 386
1, 770, 051
1,890, 575
2.011, 467
2, 039, 702
2,114, 955
2, 200, 413
2, 274, 338
2, 392, 738
1,161
1931
J a n u a r y ...
F ebruary. _
M arch___
A pril_____
M ay_____
Jun e...........
2, 613, 749
2,627, 559
2, 581, 030
2, 531, 674
2, 596,431
2,629, 215
953
965
1,120
983
906
875
829
920
847
874
999
975
935
1,042
21, 533
21,309
21, 016
20, 139
19, 875
18, 960
19, 081
21, 013
22, 252
22, 914
23, 333
24, 648
26, 191
27,089
27, 092
27, 129
N etherlands
N um ber Per cent
14.5
14.8
14.6
13.7
13.6
13.0
13. 2
14. 5
16.0
16.7
17.0
17.9
31, 592
19.1
19.8
26,167
28,681
25,413
23, 970
0
0
26, 027
0
0
1930
January
F ebruary ____ ____
M arch
April
__________
M ay _______________
June
July
A ugust. ______. . .
September
October
N ovem ber ________
December
1931
Jan u ary ________ ___
T
V
Tarch
April
Per
cent
56, 535
50', 957
34, 996
28,421
26, 211
23,678
29, 075
32, 755
35, 532
41,088
46,807
72,191
13. 9
12.5
8.6
6. 9
6.3
5. 5
6.7
7.6
8. 2
9. 6
11.8
16. 5
103, 728
99, 753
80, 525
i 62, 573
4 52, 830
23.4
22. 2
17. 7
13. 6
12.4
8.2
23, 393
0
0
20, 775
22, 990
25,622
0
N um ber
0
4,348
0
0
5,884
0
0
7,197
0
0
8,119
Per
cent-
8.5
10.9
13.5
15.5
0
0
0
5 29, 941
37, 598
36' 921
P ar
tially
unem
ployed
W holly
unem
ployed
466, 231
456, 628
385, 432
372, 236
367, 183
322, 291
342, 061
375, 548
394, 630
448, 496
534, 356
642,169
23,185
26, 674
28,026
24, 305
22, 825
21,887
24, 209
24, 056
22, 734
19, 081
22,125
21, 788
10,022
722,612
765, 325
707, 486
670, 353
635,183
27,924
27,110
27, 545
28, 780
26, 059
9,207
8, 303
8,450
6,390
1, 871
Trade-unionists (10
unions) unem ployed
N um ber
Per cent
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
9,263
8,825
6,494
3,683
1, 421
779
607
573
1,470
6, 058
8, 608
Poland
N um ber
unem
ployed re
m aining
on live
register
N um ber
unem
ployed
registered
w ith em
ploym ent
offices
7, 786
7,851
7, 503
6, 701
5,239
4,700
4,723
5,897
7, 010
8,031
9, 396
11, 265
19.0
18.9
17.8
15.8
12. 2
10.8
10.8
13.4
15.7
18.0
21.4
25.5
22, 549
22, 974
22, 533
19,829
16, 376
13, 939
11.997
12,923
17, 053
20, 363
24, 544
27,157
241,974
274, 708
289, 469
271, 225
224, 914
204,982
193, 687
173, 627
170,467
165,154
209, 912
299, 797
11,692
26.3
28, 596
29,107
29,095
28. 477
25, 206
340, 718
358,925
372, 536
351, 679
320,109
0
0
0
2 N ot reported.
i Provisional figure.
6 New series of statistics showing unem ployed registered b y the em ploym ent exchanges.
only workers wholly unem ployed, b u t also those in term itten tly employed.
[278]
N um ber
unem
ployed
rem ain
ing on
live
register
N orw ay
N ew Zealand
U nem ploym ent
Trade-unionists
insurance socie
unem ployed
D ate (end of m onth) ties—unem
ployed
N um ber
L atvia
H ungary
Includes not
19
UN EM PLO YM ENT AND ITS R ELIEF
S T A T E M E N T OF U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —C ontinued
R um ania
Poland
Saar T er
ritory
Sweden
In d u strial workers
D ate (end of m onth)
E xtractive and
m anufacturing
industries—
wholly unem
ployed
N um ber
1930
January ___________
F e b ru a ry . ______ . .
M arch. ___. ________
April . . .
....
M ay .
_____ . . .
June
July
. ______
August
___ _______
Septem ber. . . .
October . .
. . . .
Novem ber
December
Per
cent
219, 333
251,627
265,135
246, 670
201,116
182, 600
170, 665
150, 650
146, 642
141, 422
(2)
(2)
1931
January
February
(2)
24.3
27. 5
28. 7
27.0
23. 0
21.6
20.5
18.3
17.8
17.5
N um ber
M anufacturing
N um ber
unem
industries—p a r
unem
ployed
tially unem
ployed
remaining
ployed
registered
on live
register
N um ber
Per
cent
Trade-unionists
unem ployed
Per
cent
N um ber
108,812
120. 058
120,844
113, 594
104,4f 9
94, 375
70, 597
74, 289
74, 285
91,854
106,835
95,637
24.8
28. 4
28.9
26.9
24. 2
22. 2
17.0
17. 1
16. 5
14.8
23. 6
23. 1
12,622
15, 588
13, 045
13,412
25, 096
22, 900
23, 236
24, 209
39,110
36,147
42, 689
36, 212
11,307
11, 949
8,882
7, 522
7,362
6, 330
7, 095
7,099
7, 527
9,013
12,110
15, 245 '
45, 636
45, 4C0
42, 278
38, 347
28, 112
28, 956
27,170
28, 539
34, 9C3
43, 927
57, 070
86,042
14.2
13. 2
12. 5
11. 1
8. 3
8. 1
7.8
8. 1
9. 8
12. 2
15. 3
22. 9
82,717
92, 838
23.8
27. 1
38,804
43, 270
(2)
18, 921
20,139
18, 292
18. 102
14, 886
69, 437
66, 923
72, 944
64 534
19.8
18.4
19. 3
17.5
A/Tcnr
Switzerland
Yugo
slavia
U nem ploym ent funds
Date (end of month)
W holly unem
ployed
N um ber
Jan u a ry ___
F ebruary.
M arch____
A pril_____
M ay______
June______
J u ly --------A ugust___
September^
O ctober___
N ovem ber,
D ecem ber,
J a n u a ry ..
F ebruary.
M arch___
A pril____
M ay ____
2Not reported.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[279]
Per
cent
P artially unem
ployed
N um ber
10, 523
9, 971
7,882
5,203
5, 356
5, 368
4, 751
5, 703
7, 792
7, 399
4.4
4.1
11, 666
21, 400
6.6
10, 710
11,445
12, 642
12, 755
13,129
17, 688
15,112
19,441
26, 111
23, 309
25, 793
33, 483
20, 551
20, 081
18, 991
10, 389
8.3
7. 9
5. 4
4.0
30, 977
30,879
41, 880
27, 726
2. 6
2. 1
2.2
1.7
1.9
2.3
2. 5
3.0
4.7
Per
cent
N um ber
of unem
ployed
registered
4. 4
4. 7
4.2
5.3
5.4
5.7
8, 508
9, 437
9, 739
12, 052
8, 704
6, 991
7, 236
7.9
8.3
9.4
10.5
10.4
6, 111
12.5
11, 903
14, 424
12, 029
11,391
12,169
6.2
12. 2
12.4
10.6
5, 973
6, 609
7, 219
9, 989
20
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
P relim in a ry R eport of Federal C o m m issio n to S tu d y U n em p lo y
m e n t in G erm any
A
T THE beginning of 1931 the German Government appointed a
l.
commission to study numerous proposals for the prevention of
unemployment.1 This commission has made its preliminary report
on two proposed measures for easing unemployment, i. e., through
shortening of hours of labor and through prohibition of double earn
ings in one family.2
In regard to the first measure, the German Federation of Labor
Unions has for some time been proposing a 40-hour work week,
without dismissal of workers already employed, and the Prussian
Government has proposed the same measure.3
The commission points out various difficulties in the application of
this measure, on the part of employers as well as workers, not to speak
of certain difficulties of a technical nature; for instance, the proposed
measure involves overtime, piecework, existing trade agreements, etc.
In view of these difficulties the commission recommends that the
Government be empowered to introduce the 40-hour week, first, in
certain separate branches of industries and occupations in order to
find out by experience whether such a measure is technically and
economically advisable and how it influences employment.
In regard to the second measure, the commission finds again that a
sweeping or flat prohibition of double earnings is beset with certain
pitfalls. If a family having two persons working for wages has a
large number of dependents, prohibition of double earning may mean
privation for such a family, while a single wage earner may enjoy,
outside of wages, some other source of income which may be alone
sufficient for his sustenance.
Therefore, the commission recommends that each individual case of
double earning should be investigated before a decision is made
whether to suppress it or not. Such a policy is recommended espe
cially for the State, local governments, and other public bodies in
regard to the establishments under their authority. The commission
concludes that double earning, with the exception of cases when it is
actually needed, should be done away with through a policy of em
ployment and dismissals rather than through legislative enactments.
F irst R eport of B ritish C o m m issio n on U n e m p lo y m e n t
In su ran ce
N December, 1930, a British royal commission was appointed with
the following terms of reference :
I
To in q u ire in to th e provisions a n d w orking of th e unem p lo y m en t insurance
schem e an d to m ak e reco m m en d atio n s w ith reg ard to :
1.
I t s fu tu re scope, th e provisions w hich i t should contain, a n d th e m eans
b y w hich i t m a y be m a d e so lv en t a n d self-supporting, an d
2.
T he arrangements w hich should be m ade outside the scheme for the unem
ployed who are capable of and available for work.
1 See L abor Review for April, 1931, p. 52.
2 G erm any, G utachterkom m ission zur Arbeitslosenfrage.
Teil. Berlin, 1931.
3 See Labor Review for D ecember, 1930, p. 73.
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E rster
UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS RELIEF
21
In view of the urgency of the situation it was hoped that the com
mission might finish the work by the end of May. This proved
impossible, but early in June the commission presented a majority
report and a minority report, dealing with measures which might be
taken at once while the commission devotes further attention to the
fundamental changes necessary if the scheme is to be made “ solvent
and self-supporting.” 1 Two members signed the majority report
with the reservation that, in their view, the recommendations “designed
to relieve the present burden on the national finances might reason
ably, in the present circumstances of industry, have been carried
further.” The report is confined, it is explained, to matters which
have been represented to the commission as urgent. These are the
increasing debt of the fund from which unemployment benefit is paid,
the increasing cost to the government of transitional benefit, and
“ the suggestion that unemployment benefit is being paid to certain
classes of persons in circumstances which the unemployment insurance
scheme was never intended to cover.”
Present Extent of Unemployment
T h e r e p o r t first deals briefly with the extent of unemployment
since the war, and reviews the history of the insurance scheme.
The average percentage of the insured population recorded as unem
ployed at the end of each month since December, 1920, is 12.2,
representing nearly 1,500,000 persons. There have been fluctuations
on each side of this average, and since England has felt the effect
of the worldwide depression the percentage has been much higher.
These fluctuations, however, are not so significant as the average.
T h e m o st serious elem ent in th e situ a tio n is th e av erag e level of unem ploy
m e n t of 12.2 p er cent. T h is rep resen ts a p e rsiste n t a n d o b d u ra te problem , an d ,
in our view, i t w ould b e unw ise to tr e a t th is experience of th e la s t 10 y ears as
tra n sito ry or to assum e t h a t i t overvalues th e risk t h a t h as to be p ro v id ed for in
th e n ex t few years. M oreover, fo r th e pu rpose of im m ed iate m easures, i t m u st be
n o ted t h a t th e p ercentage of u n em p lo y m en t to -d a y is, in fa c t, fa r h ig h er th a n
12.2 p e r c en t; since D ecem ber, 1930, i t h as been 20 p e r c e n t o r over. * * *
T h e indications are t h a t u n em p lo y m en t will n o t fall ap p reciab ly in th e n ex t few
m o n th s below th e p resen t level. W h a t is necessary now is to a d ju s t th e finances
of th e fu n d to p resen t circum stances, a n d for th e purposes of th is re p o rt we do
n o t feel justified in an ticip a tin g a n average live reg ister of less th a n 2,500,000.
Recommendations Concerning Regular Insurance
T r a c in g the history of the plan, the report points out that the
scheme was originally on an actuarial basis, but that successive exten
sions and relaxations have destroyed this character. At present the
debt of the fund is over £80,000,000 ($389,320,000)2 and increasing
by almost £1,000,000 every week. ^ To bring the fund more nearly
to a balancing point with a live register of 2,500,000, the commission
recommends three changes—a limit upon the period for which regular
insurance may be paid, an increase in the rate of contributions, and a
decrease in the amount of benefits. At present, the only limit upon
the period during which regular benefit may be drawn is found in the
rule that an applicant must have paid 30 contributions within the last
1 G reat B ritain. R oyal Commission on U nem ploym ent Insurance.
(C m d. 3872.)
2Pound a t par=$4.8665.
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F irst report.
London, 1931.
22
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
two years. The commission proposes to change this, limiting the
period for which regular benefits may be paid to 26 weeks within the
12 months following the date of application.
The second recommendation deals with contributions. At present
the employer, the worker, and the Government each pay a specified
contribution for each worker employed for any part of a week. The
commission recommends that for workers aged 18 and over the con
tribution from the employer should be increased by Id. (2.03 cents),
from the worker by 2d. (4.1 cents), and from the Government by l^d.
(3.04 cents). For those under 18 the increases would be just half the
increases for those over that age. This change, it is estimated, would
increase the income from contributions by approximately £9,000,000
($43,798,500) a year.
As to benefits, the commission recommends the following rates:
R E C O M M E N D E D O R D IN A R Y R A T E OF B E N E F IT S
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of shilling=24.33 cents]
Recommended weekly benefits 1for—
Males
Age of beneficiary
English
currency
Females
U nited English
Unitffd
States
States
currency currency currency
s.
s.
21 years and over_______
18 and under 21 years
_____
17 and under 18 years
16 and un d er 17 y ears. _ ______
15
12
7
5
$3. 65
2. 92
1.70
1.22
13
10
6
5
$3.16
2.43
1.46
1.22
1 A dditional benefits w ould be paid for dependents, am ounting to 8s. ($1.95) per week for an a d u lt and
2s. (48.7 cents) per week for a child dependent.
As noted in the table, the commission recommends an additional
benefit for an adult dependent amounting to 8s. a week, and for a
dependent child amounting to 2s. a week. This would mean a
reduction of 2s. (48.7 cents) a week for an adult beneficiary and of Is.
(24.3 cents) per week for an adult dependent, with no change in the
rate for a dependent child. It is estimated that this would mean a
saving to the fund of £7,600,000 ($36,985,400) a year.
Recommendations Concerning Transitional Benefit
S t r ic t l y speaking, there is no room in an insurance scheme for
those who have exhausted their regular benefit, but to refuse entirely
the so-called transitional benefit would mean forcing a considerable
number of claimants to apply to the poor-law authorities for relief.
The difficulty with this is that such relief is paid largely from “ rates ”
or local taxes, and the localities with the greatest number of those
unemployed for long periods are precisely those in which business has
been hardest hit, so that the results of throwing the present recipients
of transitional benefit upon local relief might be to “ place an insup
portable burden upon the rate payers and to make it even more
difficult for industry in those areas to regain lost markets and so
reemploy some of the workers who are now idle.” The com mi s-
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UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS RELIEF
23
sioners do not think that all of those now receiving transitional
benefit would apply, if it were shut off, for poor relief, but they
believe that so many would do so that the results would be disastrous.
They recommend, therefore, that the existing transitional provisions
be continued, subject to certain modifications which will provide
more stringent conditions as to qualifications, means, and acceptance
of work.
At present, a person is qualified for transitional benefit if he can
prove that he has paid 8 contributions within 2 years, or 30 contribu
tions at any time. It is recommended that the latter condition be
changed to require proof that 30 contributions have been paid within
the 6 years immediately preceding the application.
A so-called “ means test” is recommended in the case of single
persons living with relatives to whom, having regard to all circum
stances, they could reasonably look for support during unemploy
ment, in the case of married men or women living with consorts who
are employed, and in the case of those in receipt of certain pensions
or other fixed income. These, it is proposed, should be required to
prove that it is expedient, considering the whole situation, that transi
tional benefit should be paid to them, and the determining body
should have power to award either the full benefit or such part of it
as seems best under the circumstances.
Further, it is suggested that transitional claimants may reasonably
be required to take work, even though it is not their customary
occupation, if conditions are fair and the occupation is suited to their
capacities, and that in the event of their refusing to accept such work,
transitional benefit should not be paid.
Recommendations Concerning Anomalies in the Present System
A c o n s i d e r a b l e portion of the report is devoted to a consideration
of what are often called abuses of the system, but which should more
properly, the commission holds, be called anomalies. These occur in
connection with (1) intermittent, short-time, and casual workers,
(2) married women, and (3) seasonal workers.
Intermittent, short-time and casual workers.—The first group in
cludes such intermittent workers as extras regularly employed for
one or two days a week in shops, restaurants, and similar places to
meet a special rush at the week-end or at some other time. It in
cludes also casual workers like dockers, who may make high but
irregular earnings, and short-time workers whose employers so arrange
their working-days that under the continuity rule they_may claim
benefits. The question of refusing benefits in these cases is a difficult
one, for it is not desirable to encourage a man to refuse work,_ even of
an intermittent or casual character. Nevertheless, the commissioners
feel that some changes may advantageously be made.
It is recommended that intermittent workers shall not be regarded
as unemployed in the sense of the insurance scheme during the days
when they are not engaged upon their intermittent work, unless they
can show that they are normally employed in some other occupation
for these days and that they are at the time of the claim unemployed
in this second occupation. As a corollary to this, it is recommended
that workers in intermittent occupations should have a right to
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
secure certificates exempting them from paying the unemployment
insurance contributions.
The short-time and casual workers present a more complex
problem, and concerning them the commissioners make the following
recommendations:
We suggest th a t, su b ject as now to th e w aiting period, benefit should be p aid
in respect of an y th re e or m ore day s of u n em p lo y m en t w ith in a period of six
consecutive days, b u t t h a t th e a m o u n t of benefit to be p aid should be th e usual
am o u n t due, su b ject to th e follow ing proviso:
T h a t in respect of a n y p eriod com prising b o th days of em plo y m en t a n d day s
of unem ploym ent, th e a m o u n t of benefit p a y a b le for th e d ay s of un em p lo y m en t
shall be n o t m ore th a n th e full a m o u n t of benefit w hich w ould be p ay ab le fo r th e
whole period less th e earnings received for th e period.
M a r r i e d w o m e n .—In the case of married women, the root of the
difficulty lies in the impossibility of determining the claimant’s
real attitude toward employment. It is common for women to with
draw from insurable employment upon marriage; on the other hand,
many, “ especially in those districts and industries where they are
customarily employed in large numbers,” continue their work. The
only way of deciding definitely to which group a given married woman
belongs would be to offer her employment, and this, in view of the
general situation, is often impossible. The commissioners feel
assured, however, that many of the married women now claiming
benefit have no real intention of remaining in industry. They recom
mend, therefore, that a married woman shall not be entitled to benefit
unless she can satisfy the authorities that she has not really left
insurable employment, and can also convince them that, in view of
her past experience and the circumstances of her district, there is a
reasonable prospect that she may obtain insurable employment in
the district in which she lives.
S e a s o n a l w o r k e r s .—The commissioners feel that it is unreasonable
to consider a seasonal worker unemployed, in the sense of the insur
ance scheme, during that part of the year when no work is done in his
trade or occupation. They therefore recommend that such a worker
shall be entitled to benefit for unemployment occurring during his
busy season, but not for unemployment during the off season unless
he can prove to the satisfaction of the authorities that he has in the
past worked during the off season in some insurable occupation for a
reasonable time, and that, having regard to the industrial circum
stances of the district in which he lives, he may reasonably expect to
obtain such work during the off season.
Effect of Proposed Changes Upon Finances of Scheme
A p a r t from transitional benefit, the present expenditure under the
scheme for regular benefit, interest charges, and cost of administra
tion is at the rate of £84,000,000 ($408,786,000) a year, while the
income from^ contributions is £44,550,000 ($216,802,575), leaving an
annual deficit of £39,450,000 ($191,983,425). The savings which
would arise from the adoption of the recommendations of this report
are estimated as follows:
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UNEM PLO YM ENT A N D ITS RELIEF
L im iting period of insurance benefit to 26 w eek s-Increase in co n trib u tio n s_______________________
R eduction in o rd in ary ra te of b en efit-----------------R eductio n in allowance for d e p e n d e n ts--------------Special provisions for in te rm itte n t, casual, an d
sh o rt-tim e w orkers, m arrie d wom en, a n d sea
sonal w orkers________________________________
£9,
£9,
£7,
£1,
100,
000,
600,
100,
000
000
000
000
£5, 000, 000
T o ta l savings____________________________£31, 800, 000
[$44,
[$43,
[$36,
[$5,
285,
798,
985,
353,
150]
500]
400]
150]
[$24, 332, 500]
[$154, 754, 700]
Of these savings, £22,800,000 ($110,956,200) represents a decrease
in outlay and £9,000,000 ($43,798,500) an increase in income, so that
the annual deficit would be reduced to £7,650,000 ($37,228,725).
The Government now bears the full cost of transitional benefit,
which at present is being paid at the rate of £35,000,000 ($170,327,500)
a year. If the recommendations are accepted it will be necessary to
add to this £9,100,000 ($44,285,150), due to the transfer from ordinary
to transitional benefit of claimants who had exhausted their regular
benefits under the 26-weeks rule. Against this, however, would be
set the amount, estimated at £10,100,000 ($49,151,650), to be saved
by the proposed changes, so that the total cost of transitional benefit
under the new plan would be £34,000,000 ($165,461,000).
Combining these figures, it is apparent that under the present plan
the total expenditure for regular and transitional benefit, interest, and
administration is at the rate of £119,000,000 ($579,113,500), and
that under the proposed plan it would be £95,200,000 ($463,290,800),
a saving of £23,800,000 ($115,822,700). The Government would
continue to bear the whole cost of transitional benefits, and the
scheme would still be operated with a deficit, though the amount of
the latter would be greatly reduced. More stringent economies,
putting the scheme on a really “ solvent and self-sustaining” basis,
the commissioners are not willing to recommend until they have had
time for a more complete study of the situation. Also, they wish
time for study of other than economic aspects of the plan. They
close with the following statement:
W e desire to say th a t in sp ite of difficulties a n d in spite of th e criticism th a t
m ay fairly be m ade ag ain st th e p resen t position a n d ag ain st som e of th e featu res
of th e unem ploym ent insurance schem e, it h as p rev en ted serious distress in a
period of unprecedented u n em ploym ent. T o p u t th e schem e on rig h t lines for
th e fu tu re is w o rth some effort a n d sacrifice. W e a re convinced th a t th e p rin
ciple of insurance ag ain st in d u stria l u n em p lo y m en t h as a n im p o rta n t p a rt to
play in th e a d a p ta tio n of our in d u stria l stru c tu re to changing needs.
Minority Report
T h e s i g n e r s of the minority report disagree with the recommenda
tions of the majority except in regard to some of the anomalies, and
object to the purpose around which the majority report has been
prepared.
W e do n o t accept th e position th a t th e m ain o bject a t th e p resen t tim e is a
schem e u n d er w hich incom e a n d ex p en d itu re can be m ade to balance. In our
opinion th e chief purpose to be k e p t in view is to m a in ta in th e unem ployed on a
level of subsistence a t least no low er th a n th a t a t w hich th e y a re to-d ay . I t is
th ey who have already felt th e force of econom ic depression w ith m uch g reater
severity th a n a n y o th er section of th e com m unity, a n d th e y should be th e last
to be called upon to b ear an y fu rth e r burden.
They disapprove of borrowing and recommend that the additional
amounts needed to maintain the system should be secured by taxa
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
tion. They recommend that no important changes in the working
of the scheme—such as change in contributions, limitation of benefit
period, and decrease in rate of benefits—should be made until the
commission has studied the whole subject and prepared its final
report. They favor the extension of the transitional benefit period,
but disapprove of the new conditions proposed for the receipt of
such benefit. With regard to intermittent and seasonal workers,
they agree to the recommendations of the majority. Casual and
short-time workers, however, present a more complex problem and
recommendations concerning the treatment of these, they think,
should be left for further study. As to the treatment of marriedwoman claimants, one signer of this report agrees with the recom
mendations of the majority, while another thinks it undesirable to
make such a departure from the principles of the general scheme.
Under it, the latter points out, there has never been any discrimina
tion on the; grounds of sex or marriage, but each claimant has been
treated individually and a decision has been based upon the circum
stances of that particular case. This member sees no reason for
departure from this practice and believes such a change would be
unfortunate.
M arried w om en differ com pletely one from an o th er, n o t only in th e ir dom estic
circum stances, b u t also in th e ir value in th e lab o r m ark et, a n d "in th e ir whole o u t
look upon in d u stry ; a n y a tte m p t to tr e a t th e m as a class, to be governed by
uniform rules applicable to no o th er section of insured persons, could only resu lt
in friction an d in hardship.
Action of the Government Upon the Report
On J une 19 the Government published the text of a new bill, based
upon the part of the report dealing with the so-called “ anomalies.”
As summarized by the Manchester Guardian for June 20, it provides
a new method of handling the cases concerning which the most com
plaint has been heard—namely, part-time workers who receive un
employment benefit as a sort of subsidy to wages, seasonal workers,
persons who normally work not more than two days a week, and
married women who have really left insurable employment upon
marriage.
In regard to these cases, the Minister of Labor is to have power to
establish administrative regulations, regardless of existing legislation,
subject to the approval of a consultative committee consisting of a
chairman and eight other members appointed by the minister.
Of th e 8 m em bers, 3 are to be a p p o in ted by th e m in ister a fte r consultation
w ith th e general council of th e T ra d e U nions Congress, 3 a fte r consultation
w ith th e N atio n al C o nfederation of E m p lo y ers’ O rganizations and 1 afte r
consultation w ith th e treasu ry .
Before the House of Commons on June 22, the Minister of Labor
explained the Government’s reasons for not having adopted more of
the commission’s recommendations;
Proceeding to sta te th e G o v ern m en t’s a ttitu d e to th e interim re p o rt of th e
ro y al comm ission, she said in reg ard to recom m endations for th e increase ot
contributions an d th e decrease of benefits th a t th e re su lt w ould be to low er th e
sta n d a rd of life of th e m o st u n fo rtu n a te p a rt of th e com m u n ity an d to drive th em
back on th e poor law, from w hich th e y h ad been rescued so recently. T h e recom
m endations were m ade expressly as in terim an d em ergency proposals pending
fu rth er consideration by th e com m ission of th e whole problem . T h e comm ission,
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UNEM PLOYM ENT AND ITS R ELIEF
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it
w as clear, had u n d er consideration fu n d am en tal changes in th e insurance
schem e.
T he m a jo rity re p o rt referred to a “ reco n stru cted sch em e” an d th e question of
w h eth er full m ain ten an ce w as desirable. I t w ould be highly undesirable, she
urged, before th e y received th e final re p o rt to em b ark u p o n far-reaching changes
w hich m ig h t be alto g e th e r u p set. M oreover, th e p re se n t tim e of unexam pled
econom ic depression, w hen a large p a rt of th e p o p u latio n h a d ex h au sted th e ir
resources, w as in o pportun e. In th ese circum stances th e G o v ern m en t felt th a t
th e y could n o t proceed w ith th e m ain recom m endations of th e m a jo rity re p o rt
u n til th e y h ad received th e final conclusions of th e comm ission.
E x ten sio n of D eb t L im it of E nglish U n em p lo y m e n t In su ran ce
F und
JUNE 22 Miss Bondfield, Minister of Labor, introduced in
of the House of Commons a resolution authorizing
ONthecommittee
treasury to increase the limit of advances to the unemployment
insurance fund by £25,000,000 ($121,662,500)—from £90,000,000 to
£115,000,000 ($437,985,000 to $559,647,500)—and to extend the
period for the continuance of transitional benefit by six months from
October 18.
T h e existing borrow ing pow ers of th e fund, she said, w ould be exhausted by
J u ly 8 or 9. On th e basis of th e live reg ister of unem ployed being 2,500,000,
th e ad d itio n al borrow ing pow er w ould la s t u n til Ja n u a ry , 1932; on a basis of
2,750,000, u n til n ext N ovem ber; an d on a basis of 3,000,000, u n til n ex t O ctober.
The resolution was discussed at length, but was finally agreed to
without a division.
F in a n ces of B ritish U n em p lo y m e n t in su r a n c e S ch em e, by
In d u stries
THE course of the hearings held by the British Royal Commis
sion on Unemployment Insurance, a number of papers dealing
INwith
the financial aspects of the scheme were submitted by the Ministry
of Labor, among them a table showing in which industries the
benefits drawn by the workers have been greater and in which they
have been less than the contributions received in behalf of those
industries.1 The figures are given with a caution that the classifica
tion by industry of unemployed persons presents numerous chances
for error. Generally speaking, the registered unemployed are classi
fied by their unemployment books in which they are shown as belong
ing to the industry in which they were employed at the beginning of
the insurance year, or if at that time they were not working iii an
insurable industry, they were classed as belonging to the latest
industry of that kind in which they were employed. It follows there
fore that a person who has found temporary work at the beginning
of the insurance year outside of his own occupation may be classed
under a misleading heading. Also, a number of persons can not be
said to belong to any particular group, and others who have worked
for years in one industry may lose work there and get employment
in other industries, but irregularly. Because of these and similar
1
Great B ritain. R oyal Commission on U nem ploym ent Insurance.
Jan u ary 9, 1931. London, 1931.
67999°— 31
-3
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28
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
difficulties, the division of workers between industries is somewhat
arbitrary, and the results must be taken with some reservations.
The following explanatory paragraphs are also given :
T h e co n trib u tio n s p a id b y em ployers a n d em ployed persons a re n o t show n
sep arately , b u t generally speaking i t w ould be ap p ro x im ately correct to assum e
th a t th e co n trib u tio n s p a id b y th e em ployers a re 53 p e r c en t a n d th e w ork people
47 p er c e n t of th e com bined co n trib u tio n s as show n in th e tab le.
T h e y e a r of th e coal d isp u te, 1926-27, h as been o m itted . T h e ta b le shows tw o
years before th e a c t of 1927 cam e in to force a n d tw o y ears a fter. T h e average
live register of all in d u stries ta k e n to g e th e r in those y ears w as—
1925-26______________________________________________ 1 ,2 1 4 ,0 2 6
1927- 28____________________________________________ 1, 083, 964
1928- 29____________________________________________ 1, 283, 786
1929- 30____________________________________________ 1, 283, 020
T h e ta b le includes all benefit paid, w h eth er o rd in ary or tra n sitio n a l or ex ten d
ed. T h e special co n trib u tio n of £3,985,000 [$19,393,000] p aid by th e exchequer
for tra n sitio n a l benefit in 1929-30 is n o t included, fo r th e re a re no m eans of ascer
tain in g how m uch tra n sitio n a l benefit w as p aid in resp ect of each in d u stry .
The last section of the table gives the average annual amount
received in contributions and paid out in benefits over the four years,
by industrial groups, as follows:
A V E R A G E A N N U A L R E C E IP T S A N D P A Y M E N T S O F B R IT IS H U N E M P L O Y M E N T
IN S U R A N C E S C H E M E ,i B Y G R O U P S O P IN D U S T R IE S
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of £=$4.8665]
C ontributions from—
In d u stry
Em ployers
and w ork
ers
T reasury
A m ount
paid in
T o tal con
benefits
tributions and
adm in
istration
B uilding__________________________________ ________ $10, 998,290
P ublic works contracting, e tc ............................... ................ 1, 995, 265
Shipbuilding and ship repairing_______________
2, 262, 923
General engineering and engineers’ iro n and steel found. 190, 320
in g ----------------------------------- ---------------------- -----------M otor vehicles, cycles, a n d aircraft—- .........................
3, 236, 223
F u rn itu re m aking, upholstering_____________________
1,537,814
Chemicals_______ _______ _______ _ ___
1, 382, 086
Steel m elting a n d iron p u d d lin g furnaces, iron and steel
rolling m ills and forges______________ _____
2, 311,588
M etal in d u stries n o t separately classified_____________ 2, 389, 452
H otel, boarding house, a n d c lu b services____ _________ 3, 936, 999
Laundries, dyeing, a n d d ry cleaning________________
1,567,013
Commerce, banking, insurance, a n d finance. _ 3,129, 160
R ailw ay service_________ __________________________ 2, 141, 260
T ram w ay an d om nibus service________________ _____ 2, 053, 663
2, 472,182
R oad tra n sp o rt n o t separately classified____
1, 771, 406
Shipping service_____________________ .
1, 980, 666
Dock, harbor, riv e r, an d canal service_____________
Coal m i n i n g . _ ________________ ______ _______ _ 15, 008, 286
Prin tin g , publishing, a n d bookbinding---------- ------------ 3,406, 550
7, 027, 226
C o t t o n ,. - _______ ______ _____ _______________
2, 973, 432
W oolen a n d w orsted____________________________
H o siery ., _ _____
___ _
_ ---------------- - 1, 245, 824
Textile bleaching, dyeing, prin tin g , etc
------- 1, 391, 819
2, 433, 250
_______________ T ailoring— ______
D ressm aking a n d m illin ery ...........................
. . . ___ 1, 250, 691
Boots, shoes, slippers, e tc ______________ ------ __ 1, 781,139
Bread, biscuits, cake, etc_____________ _
------------- 1, 839, 537
1, 528, 081
D rin k in d u strie s-------------- ----------— --Gas, w ater, an d electricity su p p ly ----------------------------- 2, 477, 049
D istrib u tiv e trad es________________ __ ------- — ------ 20, 536, 630
1, 868, 736
_____
N ational G overnm ent________ ______
Local g o v e rn m e n t____________________
______ - 3, 683, 941
Professional services________ . _ - —
-------------- 1, 601, 079
All other industries and services-------------------------------- 31,831, 777
$4, 516,112 $15, 51-k 402
2, 812,837
817, 572
3,192,424
929, 502
---------------------- 155, 241, 350
8
T o ta l------------- ------------------
i Average of 4 years, 1925-26, 1927-28, 1928-29, and 1929-30.
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$18, 706, 826
, 321, 584
11,441,142
6
3, 348,152
1, 333, 421
632, 645
564,514
11, 538,472
4, 569, 644
2, 170, 459
1, 946, 600
12, 536,104
3, 211,890
1,172, 827
1, 343,154
944,101
983, 033
1. 620, 545
647, 245
1,284, 756
871,104
851, 638
1, 017, 099
725, 109
807, 839
6,131, 790
1, 401, 552
2, 866, 369
1, 211, 759
510, 983
569, 381
992, 766
506,116
734, 842
739, 708
622, 912
1, 007, 366
, 453, 111
754, 308
1, 503, 749
652, 111
13, 066, 553
3, 255, 689
3, 372,485
5, 557, 543
2, 214, 258
4, 413, 916
3, 012, 364
2, 905, 301
3, 489, 281
2, 496, 515
2, 788, 505
21,140, 076
4, 808,102
9, 893, 595
4,185,190
1, 756, 807
1, 961, 200
3,426, 016
1, 756, 807
2, 515, 981
2, 579, 245
2,150, 993
3, 484, 414
28, 989, 741
2, 623, 044
5,187, 689
2, 253,190
44, 898, 329
8,214, 652
2, 890, 701
4,477,180
788, 373
1,114, 429
1, 751, 940
875, 970
4,165, 724
4, 739, 971
10, 579, 771
42,100, 092
1, 946, 600
10, 394, 844
5,134,158
978,167
2, 992, 898
2,511,114
739, 708
2. 861, 502
1,810, 338
1,211,759
1,927,134
15, 806, 392
1, 703, 275
4, 506, 379
632, 645
43, 715, 770
63, 619, 755 218, 861,105
235, 305, 008
8
UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS RELIEF
29
The table makes it apparent that the industries fall into two
groups—13 so-called debtor groups, in which the amount paid in
benefits exceeds the total contributions, and 21 creditor groups, in
which the contributions exceed the amount paid in benefits. So far
as the latter are concerned, it is evident that, during the four years
shown, the scheme was carrying itself and would have been accumu
lating reserves had it not been for the amounts needed by the debtor
industries.
The industries in which the scheme was not self-sustaining were
building; public works contracting; general engineering with its allied
trades; the heavy steel-and-iron trades; shipbuilding and repairing;
road transport not separately classified; the shipping service; the
dock, river, harbor, and canal service; coal mining; cotton; woolen;
the textile bleaching, dyeing, and printing trades; and the boot and
shoe industry. Eight of these groups showed a deficit for each of
the four years covered. Of the others, building showed a credit bal
ance in 1927-28, cotton in 1925-26 and 1927-28, road transport in
1927-28, woolen in 1927-28, and boots and shoes in 1925-26 and
1927-28. Of the 21 creditor groups, 19 showed credit balances for
each of the four years, the local government group showed an exact
balance in 1928-29 and a deficit of £2 in 1929-30, while the “ all
other industries” group showed a debtor balance in 1928-29.
S w iss P lan for U n em p loyed C lerical W orkers
A
N ACCOUNT of an institution organized in Basel in October,
L 1930, as a cooperative society to provide temporary clerical
work for unemployed persons is given in a report from Albert W.
Scott, American vice consul at Basel, Switzerland, dated December
22, 1930.
The new organization is a development of a writing room for the
unemployed, established in Basel in 1895, which had been successful
in providing clerical work for persons temporarily out of employment,
the kind of work furnished being principally writing addresses for
circulars and other advertising matter. The headquarters of the new
organization, which is called the Schweizerische Adressen- und WerbeZentrale, will be in Basel, but there will be branches in all parts of
Switzerland. Since the establishment of the original office in 1895,
the cantonal government of Basel has furnished a building free of
rent, and in 1929 a sum of about $48,000 was appropriated for the
purchase of larger quarters. The cantonal authorities have willingly
assisted the organization both financially and in other ways because
of the value of its activities in furnishing employment, and conse
quently in reducing the cost of unemployment relief. As the society
is a nonprofit enterprise, dividends will not be declared but 4 per
cent will be paid annually on the shares subscribed by business
firms, and the subscribers will also receive a reduction in the usual
rates charged for the work done by the office.
In addition to the writing of addresses, which is done either on
typewriters or by hand, the work done by the office includes the
preparation of circulars and other material by duplicating or print
ing machines. The services of the organization are available to all
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
persons who are out of work, but preference is given to those who are
incapacitated for ordinary employment, through either age or disa
bility, and to those who have dependents. The institution also is
frequently able to place in permanent positions those temporarily as
sisted and keeps business firms supplied with lists of applicants who
are able and willing to do temporary clerical work outside the insti
tution. The institution furnishes noon meals at cost to unemployed
persons, provides library and reading rooms, and maintains special
evening courses in business subjects. The society has established a
reputation for the high quality of its work. A feature of the service
performed for business firms is the furnishing, for the use of adver
tisers, of selected lists of addresses which are constantly revised and
kept up to date. During 1929, 650 persons were assisted by the soci
ety, the wages paid for the year amounting to 302,906 francs
($58,460). The average number employed daily was 116.
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[290]
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
In ter n a tio n a l Labor C on feren ce, 1931
fifteenth session of the International Labor Conference 1was
held in Geneva, May 28 to June 18, with delegates present from 46
T HE
of the 55 countries which are members of the International Labor
Organization.
The agenda of the conference contained three items: The ages of
admission of children to employment in nonindustrial occupations;
hours of work in coal mines; and the partial revision of the convention
concerning employment of women on night work. The first item on
the agenda was the subject of preliminary discussion, with a view to
the possibility of adopting a draft convention or recommendations
at the 1932 session of the conference. It was decided as a result of
the discussions in the conference to place this question on the agenda
of the 1932 conference and to consult the various Governments as
to whether the minimum age should be fixed at 14. Other points to
be considered in connection with the question are light employment
outside school hours, domestic work, work in theaters and film studios,
and street trading.
The conference adopted a draft convention which would limit the
hours of work in coal mines, whether lignite or hard coal, to 7% per
day “ from bank to bank.” It is provided by the convention that
overtime may be authorized within certain limits. The convention
will become effective after ratification by any two of seven specified
European coal-producing countries. Revision of this convention with
a view to a further reduction of the maximum working-day and of
the overtime allowed will be undertaken within three years of the
time that it becomes operative. A resolution was adopted, unani
mously, advocating consideration at an early session of the question
of the employment of workers under 16 and of women in underground
work in coal mines.
Two amendments to the Washington (1919) convention regarding
the night work of women were adopted by small majorities. These
amendments, which related to the exemption of women holdingmanagerial positions from the general prohibition and to the exact
period which should be considered as night hours were incorporated
in a new draft convention which failed, however, to receive the twothirds majority vote required by the peace treaty.
Various resolutions were adopted, providing for the most part for
the investigation of specific problems. The resolutions related to
incomplete delegations, the application of recommendations in the
different countries, labor conditions in the Orient, representation of
native and colored workers in the conference, accidents to electrical
workers, conditions of labor in unorganized industries and nonin
dustrial occupations, freedom of association, economic agreements in
1 International Labor Office. In d u strial and Labor Inform ation, Geneva, issues of Apr. 20, and June 15
and 22, 1931.
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[291]
31
32
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
the coal industry, silicosis, conditions in the iron and steel industry,
action to remedy unemployment, and several others relating to
official procedure.
The director’s report^ dealt largely with the question of unemploy
ment, and the discussion of the report centered in the means of
combating the crisis and its social conséquences. It was agreed by
all the speakers “ that the present crisis is not a mere cyclical phenom
enon, due to the more or less regular alternation of prosperity and the
reverse with which economists have for many years been familiar,
but is rather the product of the addition to such a periodical depres
sion of an exceptional dislocation of the economic life of the world.”
No attempt was made to formulate a policy to deal with the situation,
as it was considered that the political, financial, and economic ques
tions involved removed _it outside the scope of the International
Labor Organization, which is concerned primarily with social con
ditions. It was agreed, however, that until remedies going to the root
of the trouble were adopted the members of the International Labor
Organization should_ continue to press its program for the establish
ment and coordination of labor exchanges, the promotion of public
works, and the institution or extension of unemployment insurance.
D isc r im in a tio n of Large E m ployers A gain st H and icap p ed
W orkers
of the largest employers in the United States do not
hire handicapped persons for any kind of work, according to a
ONE-HALF
statement made on June 12, 1931, at the White House Conference
on Child Health and Protection.1 This statement was based on
replies to questionnaires sent to 600 of the largest employers in the
country. The character of the jobs in the plants can not always be
adjusted to the handicapped, these employers declare, and unfavor
able provisions in the workmen’s compensation acts make the employ
ment of persons with disabilities a financial risk. On the other hand,
one-fourth of the employers stated that they did not discriminate at
all against such workers.
The White House Conference investigations have shown that “ there
are approximately 8,000,000 physically and mentally handicapped
young persons m the United States.” These findings have led
directly to the consideration of the problem of converting those hand
icapped into social assets. In spite of the large percentage of the
great establishments barring from employment all handicapped per
sons, there is an increasing recognition of the need of affording persons
who have certain impairments opportunities to utilize their abilities.
The following reports of some employers, taken at random, indicate
their objections to hiring abnormal persons:
Steel producers state frankly that when sound workers are available,
those with disabilities are not taken. It is pointed out that, in gen
eral, the handicapped are likely to be less satisfactory as a result of
accompanying nervousness and mental depression. Attention is also
called to the strict liability provisions which, it is declared, make the
employment of the handicapped impracticable.
1 U nited States D aily, W ashington, D . C., June 13, 1931, pp. 1 and 3.
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INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
33
It was found in the shoe industry that the handicapped group were
temperamental and apparently expected particular consideration.
Manufacturers of vacuum cleaners called attention to the use of
hazardous machinery in their business, which calls for the making of
heavy articles. This fact, together with the restrictions of the com
pensation acts, led them to the policy of not hiring the handicapped.
On the other hand, railroads from time to time employ disabled
persons in case they have been crippled during the course of their
work. When practicable they are placed on jobs not interfered with
by their respective disabilities. It is reported that such workers, as
a rule, have met the requirements of their jobs and are more devoted
to their duties than normal persons.
One employer in the rubber industry is of the opinion that no doors
should be closed against handicapped persons of working age. He
contends, however, that employers should not be held liable for acci
dents resulting directly from workers’ disabilities.
Replies from other employers indicate that persons^ with_ impair
ments are either placed in sheltered positions or on jobs in which their
physical handicaps do not interfere in any way with their efficiency,
otherwise they are entirely debarred from employment.
The White House Conference believes that the “ public must come
to appreciate the fact that the handicapped child not only has the
same inalienable right to an opportunity to develop to the maximum
of his capacity, but that it is a special duty of society to provide him
with that opportunity.”
C om p arative C o n d itio n s in G overn m en t and in Private
E m p lo y m en t
MAY, 1928, Congress passed an act directing the Personnel Clas
Board to survey the field services of the Government and
INtosification
make a report on classification plans and compensation schedules,
with recommendations as to methods of adnfinistration. In February,
1929, the board presented a preliminary report dealing mainly with
conditions in the departmental service. (See Labor Review, August,
1929, p. 133.) Its second report,1dealing with conditions in the field
service of the Federal Government, was presented in February, 1931,
together with recommendations as to classification, compensation,
and methods of administration. Seventeen findings are presented,
of which the first five deal with field conditions.
General Conditions in the Field Service
As A w h o l e , the field service still suffers, the board, finds, from the
chaotic conditions which existed in the service at Washington before
the reclassification movement of the past decade. There is, the
report points out, no consistent and equitable system of allocations
and pay for positions involving the same work. Persons doing the
same work may be receiving widely different salaries, and persons
receiving the same salaries may be doing work of varying grades.
Titles of positions in the field are in the main unstandardized, and
are “ inadequate and sometimes misleading for purposes of budgeting,
i
U nited States.
Personnel Classification Board.
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Closing report of wage and personnel survey.
Wash-
34
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
appropriating, and paying for personal services, recruiting qualified
employees, keeping meaningful records, and preparing correct and
adequate communications and reports.” There is no uniform plan
as to promotions and increases of pay for employees who have gained,
in experience and usefulness. In fact, the situation as presented in
these findings seems to be thoroughly confused and unstandardized.
Conditions in Government and in Private Employment
T h e remaining findings deal with wages and working conditions in
the Government service as compared with those in private employ
ment, the different service groups being considered separately. Tak
ing up, first, positions in the clerical, administrative, and fiscal service
and in the subprofessional service, the board finds that the Federal
pay scale for positions paying less than $2,000 annually is, on the
whole, more liberal than the average scale in private employment,
but that for those paying more than $2,000 it is less liberal. How
ever, a considerable number of employers pay rates higher than the
Federal scale, even for the lower positions.
Salaries in th e F ed eral d e p a rtm e n ta l service, w hen com pared w ith th o se in th e
coinm ercial w orld, a re co n cen trated w ith in n arrow lim its. T h e u p p e r a n d lower
lim its for each grad e a re estab lish ed by congressional m a n d a te , a n d consequently
salaries h ave a fixed a n d n arrow range. On th e o th e r h an d , th e ran g es of p ay
in th e com m ercial w orld a re as w ide as th o u sa n d s of executives, reasoning from
th e ir in d iv id u al view points, choose to m ak e th em . A n in finite n u m b e r of em
ploym ent conditions exist w hich u n d o u b te d ly influence th e salaries p a id in th e
respective concerns. A good exam ple of th e w ide ranges of p a y existing am ong
p riv ate concerns for positions of th e sam e grade a n d value m ay be found in th e
salary d istrib u tio n of em ployees perform ing d u tie s sim ilar to th o se of G overn
m e n t grade CAF-1. T his group com prises a to ta l of 92,648 w orkers receiving
salaries ranging from $480 to $2,600 p e r an n u m , w hereas th e G overn m en t range
for th is grade w as $1,260 to $1,560 p e r an n u m . (W elch Act.)
T he evidence su b m itte d in th e prelim in ary re p o rt shows th a t th e p a y for
ro u tin e clerical w ork in th e F ed eral service is som ew hat higher th a n th a t in p riv a te
in d u stry . As th e elem ents of ju d g m e n t a n d discretion, a n d finally executive
ability, are in tro d u ced in to th p h igher classes of em ploym ent, th e rem u n eratio n
in th e com m ercial w orld ta k e s a decided u p w ard tre n d , a n d th e ra te of accelera
tio n is g reater th a n t h a t in th e G o v ern m en t salary schem e. In th e higher ty p es
of em ploym ent th e salary schedules are so reg u larly accelerated above G overn
m en t p a y th a t i t is reasonable to conclude th a t, in general, g re a te r recognition is
given to a d m in istra tiv e a b ility in in d u stry th a n in th e F ed eral service.
In the custodial service the board finds that the Government pay
scale is generally somewhat lower than the average pay for similar
non-Government positions, whether these are above or below the
$2,000 level.
In the professional and scientific services, as in the clerical group,
salaries for positions below a certain level are apt to be better, and
those above it worse, in Government than in private employment.
T he G overnm en t p a y scale for positions in th e professional a n d scientific
service com pares fa v o rab ly w ith th e av erag e p a y fo r sim ilar non -G o v ern m en t
positions below th e $3,800 level, b u t above th e $3,800 level th e G o v ern m en t p ay
scale is low er a n d th e discrepancy becom es g re a te r as th e im p o rtan ce of th e w ork
increases.
When, however, the comparison is made between the Government
and the larger colleges and universities as employers, it is found that
Government scale is apt to be more liberal than the average paid by
such institutions, whether the position falls within the lower or upper
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[294]
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
35
pay levels. However, in some of the institutions mentioned, positions
of this kind command a considerably higher rate than the Government
pays.
The greatest discrepancy, however, appears in positions requiring
a high order of executive ability, for which, it was found, the salaries
paid by private concerns exceed, by anywhere from 100 per cent to
500 per cent, those paid by the Federal Government for positions of
equal responsibility.
P resid en ts a n d vice p resid e n ts of large b an k s receive a n n u a l salaries ranging
from $25,000 to $150,000 as com pared w ith $15,000 received by th e S ecretary of
th e T reasu ry a n d $10,000 b y th e U n d ersecretary . T h e p rin cip al executives of th e
leading in su ran ce com panies receive salaries five tim es g re a te r th a n those received
b y th e D irecto r of th e V eteran s’ B ureau a n d h is assistan ts.
Federal employees compare favorably, the report finds, with those
of private concerns in the matter of stability, “ but the Federal per
sonnel is now much less stable than it was during the first decade of
this century and the stability is greater in the departmental than in the
field service.”
The experience of private firms with rating systems as a means of
selecting employees for salary increases has not been encouraging, it
is stated, and several firms reported that they had discontinued the
use of such systems because of the difficulty of educating the super
visory force to use them properly.
In general, hours of work in the Government compare favorably
with those in private employment, and leave privileges are apt to be
more liberal. Non-Government employers do not generally provide
retirement systems, but in some cases systems more liberal than the
Federal retirement plan are provided, such as group insurance and
cooperative stock-purchasing plans. Civil service requirements for
employment in the Federal service are more exacting and thorough
than entrance requirements generally for non-Government employ
ment.
An E x p erim en t in th e M a n a g em en t of In d ian Labor
International Labor Review for May, 1931, contains an
article on the management of Indian laborers which is of special
THE
interest in view of the general complaints about this type of labor in
connection with textile and other factory industries. The writer,
Albert Howard, is director of the Institute of Plant Industry at
Indore, an enterprise which is supported, by an annual grant from the
Indian Central Cotton Committee and by subscriptions from a number
of the States of Central India and Rajputana. As part of its work it
carries on an agricultural experiment station, and the matter of secur
ing and keeping laborers presented difficulties.
T h e in s titu te lies alongside th e c ity of In d o re, a n im p o rta n t m an u fa c tu rin g
a n d d istrib u tin g cen te r w ith a p o p u la tio n of o v er 100,000. N ine larg e c o tto n
m ills find w ork fo r 12,000 w orkers. In a d d itio n , th e re a re a n u m b er of ginning
factories a n d c o tto n presses. T h e in s titu te th erefo re h a d to m e e t a good d eal of
local com petition in buildin g u p its la b o r force. I t w as clearly useless a tte m p tin g
to re c ru it w orkers a t ra te s below th o se read ily o b ta in e d a t th e m ills o r in th e c ity .
F u rth e r, i t soon becam e a p p a re n t t h a t if th e in s titu te w as to succeed th e d irecto r
w ould h av e to p a y a tte n tio n to th e lab o r p roblem a n d devise m ean s b y w hich an
efficient a n d c o n ten ted bod y of m en, w om en, a n d children could be a ttra c te d a n d
re ta in e d fo r reasonable periods.
[295]
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Wages and Methods of Payment
As a f i r s t step, what was considered a fair rate of wages was
established. Thereafter two points were carefully observed: Wages
were paid regularly at stated dates and precautions were taken to
make sure that the worker got the whole wage, without deduction or
commission of any kind. Regularity of payment is held highly
important by the Indian worker. As for the second point, in many
of the industrial establishments of India the worker secures his place
by a payment to a foreman or recruiting agent, the amount to be de
ducted from his wages; in some there is a system of fines, these also
being deducted, and. there are said to be various unrecognized and
unauthorized practices by which the amount of the wage which reaches
the worker is diminished. The institute has no shops for the sale of
food, makes no payments in kind, sees that the worker receives the
full amount of his wages, and makes no attempt to influence the manner
in which he spends it.
Hours of Labor
A t f i r s t the institute observed the 10-hour day, which is common
in India, but it was found that both men and animals suffered during
the middle of the day in the hot season—April, May, and June—and
the experiment of reducing working hours during these months to 6 a
day was tried. Two shifts were worked, one of four hours in the
morning and a second of two hours in the afternoon, with a rest inter
val of 6 hours from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. To make this possible the work
was speeded up, and both laborers and supervising staff were brought
to realize that the 6-hour day could be enjoyed only if everybody
worked continuously and conscientiously.
T he first re su lt observed w as a m a rk e d im p ro v em en t in th e h e a lth a n d w ell
being of th e m en a n d anim als, p ro b a b ly d u e to th e o p eratio n of tw o facto rs:
T he h ealth -g iv in g p ro p e rtie s of th e e arly m o rn in g a ir a n d th e av o id an ce of exces
sive su n lig h t. _ W ith th e im p ro v e m e n t in g eneral h e a lth th e re w as a co rrespond
ing red u ctio n in cases re q u irin g m ed ical assistan ce. T o ev ery o n e’s su rp rise it w as
found possible to speed u p th e w ork v e ry considerably. T h e ex p erim en t of
sh o rten in g th e h o u rs of la b o r w as th e n ex ten d e d to th e re s t of th e y e a r; w orking
ho u rs w ere reduced from 10 to 7 /h * * *
In no case does th e w orking p eriod exceed 7% h o u rs ex cept fo r a b o u t a w eek a t
th e sow ing tim e of th e m onsoon crops. D u rin g th is p eriod b o th m a n a n d b e a st do
n o t o b ta in m u ch m o re th a n tw o h o u rs off d u ty fo r food d u rin g th e h o u rs of d a y
light. A full 10-hour d a y a t h ig h p ressu re is th e n th e ru le, as a ll realize t h a t th e
sow ing of c o tto n a n d o th e r crops is a race a g a in s t tim e . As soon, how ever, as
sow ing is over, th e w orkers en jo y a n e x tra d a y ’s re s t on fu ll p ay .
This system of short hours has been in operation for three years,
and has,^ Mr. Howard holds, been successful beyond all expectation.
“ The miracle of speeding up Indian labor has been achieved and
shorter working hours have led not only to contentment but also to an
increased output of work. ” Its success involves, of course, careful
planning of the work on the part of the supervising force to avoid any
waste of time, and it also means attention to the workers' preferences
and customs, where possible.
W hile i t is im p o rta n t to s t a r t w ork w ith th e sun, it is eq u ally im p o rta n t to allow
th e laborers to reach th e ir hom es b y sundow n, p a rtic u la rly d u rin g th e rain s, w hen
snakes ab o u n d . In d ia n w orkers like to re ach h om e in d a y lig h t— a p o in t of g re a t
im p o rtan ce in o b ta in in g th e ir w illing co o p eratio n . F in ally , i t is v e ry in terestin g
to n ote t h a t th e policy of th e sq u a re d eal on th e p a r t of th e in s titu te to w a rd s its
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laborers as reg ard s h ours is now being answ ered b y a n a tu ra l desire on th e p a r t oi
th e w orkers to give th e in s titu te a sq u are deal. Less supervision is_ becom ing
necessary; everybody realizes t h a t a re d u ctio n in h o u rs is only possible if re a l
w ork is done.
Other Conditions
Simple 1-room cottages are provided, which are fumigated and
whitewashed once a year, and a supply of pure drinking water is
furnished. Medical attendance is free and so, for those earning
under Rs. 30 ($10.95) a month, is medicine. The workers are exam
ined weekly, so that any precautionary treatment or advice may be
given in good time. In this matter the personality oi the doctor is
important. “ The workers deal with an unpopular man in a very
effective fashion—they never make use of his services.’' A provident
fund has been established for the benefit of the educated members of
the staff, but will not be extended to the ordinary workers unless and
until they themselves ask for it, in order to prevent the suspicion
which might rise if the management on its own initiative held back
part of the workers’ pay for such a purpose.
A system of promotions and transfers has been arranged. I he
different operations have been grouped under four heads, such as cul
tivation, compost making, improved irrigation methods, and the
manufacture of sugar. A worker who learns to perform efficiently
all the operations of one group is given a certificate of proficiency,
which carries with it an increase of Rs. 1 (36.5 cents) per month m
basic pay. When he has gained all four certificates he is eligible ioi
transfer to other centers at higher pay.
In th is w ay th e in s titu te ho ld s o u t hope a n d places it w ith in th e pow er of a n \
m an to increase his sta rtin g p a y in fo u r years by a b o u t 30 p e r c e n t. I t also
enables a n am b itio u s lab o rer to save enough m oney in a few y e a rs to p u re ase a
holding a n d to becom e a c u ltiv a to r. T his is now_ ta k in g place. E v e ry y e a r a
few of th e laborers re tu rn to th e ir villages w ith th e ir savings to ta k e u p a holding
on th e ir ow n acco u n t. O th ers a re d e p u te d fo r w ork m th e c o n trib u tin g b ta te s
on increased p ay . T h e vacancies are a u to m a tic a lly ta k e n e ith e r by younger
m em bers of th e sam e fam ily or by v o lu n teers on th e w aitin g list of tem p o ra ry
w orkers.
Conclusion
T he author admits that the system he describes is perhaps fully
realizable only on a farm working under model conditions. JNeveitheless, he feels that there are a certain number of the elements ot
this experiment which are universally valid in dealing with primitive
labor.
F rom th e p o in t of view of th e w orker it is p e rh ap s m o st essen tial t h a t he should
feel t h a t he is receiving a sq u are deal. F ro m th e p o in t of view of th e m a n ag e
m e n t th e b e st re su lts are o b ta in e d b y scru p u lo u s a tte n tio n to p a y , sh o rt h o u rs
of in ten siv e w ork, p ro p e r housing a n d m ed ical care, a n d b y in te re stin g tn e
w orker in th e u n d e rta k in g th ro u g h giving h is w ork a n e d u c a tio n a l value.
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INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND HYGIENE
P h y sica l Im p a irm e n t A m on g Negro F actory W orkers in
C in cin n a ti
HE Heart Council of Greater Cincinnati has made several studies
of physical impairment among different groups of workers, the
most recent being a report based on data derived from physical
examinations of 1,032 Negro industrial workers in that city.1 The
men included in the study volunteered for the examination and repre
sented the rank and file of these workers, there being no requirement
except that they should be 20 years of age or over. The majority
were employed at work requiring little mental effort but requiring
from moderately hard to hard physical labor, nearly half of the men
working as ordinary laborers. The men were employed in 13 fac
tories, considerably more than half working in foundries and in the
manufacture of roofing materials.
The mortality rates of Negroes are, in general, much higher than
among whites and, while all the conditions causing these higher death
rates are not definitely established, it is indicated by recent studies
that environment and ignorance of personal hygiene are the most
important causes. The writer states that from available records it
appears that the Negroes thrive best in the South and that health
conditions were best in the days of slavery, when the majority lived
under rural conditions to which they could most readily adapt them
selves. After the Civil War the Negro race was left to its own
resources and during this period of readjustment suffered an appalling
loss of life from disease. During the past two decades the situation
among them has improved, although it is still unsatisfactory. Since
the World War large numbers have migrated to the North where the
colder climate, poor housing, and low incomes, with the resulting
limitation of food^ and clothing, have been factors in the high mom
tality rate. In Cincinnati in the past 10 years the Negro population
has increased from 7 per cent to 11 per cent of the total population, the
total number of Negroes in the city now being in excess of 48,000.
The high mortality rate among this group has been a matter of con
cern to the various official and voluntary welfare organizations of the
city and as a result of the work of these agencies there has been a
downward trend in the mortality rates during the past few years.
While there is much information available, therefore, as to sickness
rates and causes of illness among these people, until the present com
paratively little has been known of the physical condition of those
who are apparently well. In addition to the present study by the
Heart Council, the Anti-Tuberculosis League is now having X-ray
examinations made of the chests of a large number of the same group
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MoJc ^ riIal ° f Industrial Hygiene (Baltimore), M ay, 1931: “ Physical Im pairm ent Among One ThouW o rk ra f” b y Floyd F . Alton,’m ” ' ^ Cardlovascular Im pairm ent Among One Thousand Negro Factory
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of workers.. On account of the interest of the council in diseases of
the circulatory system it was desired to include a sufficiently large
representation of the older workers but, as in a similar study among
white machine and hand tool operators, it was found that a majority
were under 45 years of age, both studies reflecting in a small way the
tendency in industry to eliminate the older men.
The medical history of each worker was taken as a preliminary to
the physical examination and it was found, as was to be expected,
that the acute infectious diseases led as causes of previous illnesses.
Only 139 of the number had been vaccinated within the past five
years and 421 were found never to have been successfully vaccinated.
More than one-quarter of the group had never visited a dentist and
627 secured dental care only in emergencies. Six men stated that
they visited a dentist twice a year. The dental examinations showed
that more than three-fourths of the men were in need of dental care,
many having infected gums. In numerous cases it was found that
crowns were placed over good teeth for the purpose of adornment.
Uncorrected visual defects were also numerous; complete correction
was observed in only seven cases, and in some instances glasses were
worn only for the sake of appearance. Sinus disease was found in
about one-fourth of the group and cases of enlarged tonsils were
numerous.
The rate for diseases of the heart and blood vessels was very high
in this group, 55.6 per cent of the men presenting cardiovascular
lesions. The presence of these lesions was definitely associated with
overweight, particularly among those under 40 years of age. The
rate for the entire group was one and six-tenths times the rate for
2,000 white workers in the same locality. This difference was found
to approximate closely the ratio of colored to white deaths in Cin
cinnati in the 10-year period ending in 1929. A high percentage of*
these workers did not know that they had any significant heart defect
and were also ignorant of the other major physical defects which
were found among them.
To sum up, of the total group only one was found who could be
considered practically free from defect, 88 had minor defects only,
911 had significant defects, and 996 possessed defects, either minor or
significant, which were unknown to them. I t was considered by the
examiners that all but a few of these workers would benefit by early
medical care. I t was a matter of wonder to the physicians making
the examination that many of these men could continue at work
daily at tasks requiring from moderate to great physical exertion.
In fact, however, the writer states, it is a matter of knowledge ‘That
many of them break down relatively early in life as a result of serious
physical defects. Tuberculosis, syphilis, and the degenerative
diseases are still exacting a large toll of life among these people, so
great in fact that comparatively few survive to reach old age.”
M o rta lity R ates A m on g C an ad ian W age E arners
HE June issue of the Statistical Bulletin, published by the
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., contains an analysis of the
mortality statistics of approximately 1,250,000 Canadian industrial
policyholders of the company for the years 1925 to 1930.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
During this period the death rate among the Canadian wageearners and their dependents has been about 9 per cent higher than
that of the industrial policyholders of the company in the United
States. The higher death rates are found entirely in the three
Provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, but are
especially high in Quebec.
The trend of the Canadian death rate has been downward for most
of the preventable diseases in the six years and in 1930 a new low
record was set for typhoid fever, scarlet fever, diphtheria, influenza,
tuberculosis of the respiratory system, and puerperal conditions.
However, the improvement in the rates for diphtheria and tuber
culosis has not equaled that which has taken place in the United
States, and there is still much to be accomplished in connection with
these diseases, particularly in Quebec.
Among the other important diseases the trend has not differed
greatly from that observed for wage earners in the United States.
In Canada the mortality from cancer has risen steadily and diabetes
mortality increased rather sharply in the first half of the 6-year
period but was fairly stationary in the last half, while a slightly
lower mortality from chronic nephritis was shown in the rates for
both countries. The death rate for organic heart disease had not
increased in Canada but in the United States the rate has risen
appreciably.
The mortality statistics for the Canadian wage earners compare
most favorably with those for the United States for deaths from
violent causes. The death rates for suicide are much lower in Canada,
although the mortality from this cause rose in both countries in 1930.
Accidents are also the cause of fewer deaths in Canada, the rate for
certain types of accidents such as burns, drownings, falls, and ma
chinery, railroad, and automobile accidents being much below the
figures for this country. But the greatest contrast between the two
countries is found in the figures for homicides. During the six years,
only 39 homicidal deaths occurred among the Canadian wage earners,
the death rate ranging from 0.2 to 0.8 per 100,000 insured lives. In
the same period there were 7,368 homicides in the United States,
with death rates which ranged in the different years from 7.0 to 7.7
per 100,000. Some of this difference is accounted for by the large
number of insured Negroes in this country among whom the rate
for homicides is high, but making the comparison between white
persons only the homicide death rate for Canada is still only approxi
mately one-sixth of that in the United States.
In d u stria l A ccid en ts in U rugu ay, 1919 to 1928
HE General Statistical Office of Uruguay has published statis
tics 1 of industrial accidents occurring in the Republic during
the 14-year period from 1915 to 1928, which are the latest official
figures published on this subject. The total number of industrial
accidents reported in 1928 was 8,501, which is a decrease of 819 from
the number reported for the previous year.
T
1
U ruguay. Dirección General de E stadística.
M ontevideo, 1931.
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A nuario Estadístico, 1928.
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Tom o X X X V II, parte 6,
41
IN D U STR IA L ACCIDENTS AND H YG IENE
The following table gives the number of industrial accidents for
each year, from 1919 to 1928, by industry:
N U M B E R OF IN D U S T R IA L A C C ID E N T S IN U R U G U A Y , 1915 TO 1928, B Y IN D U S T R Y
In d u stry
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
B uilding_____________ _ ___
263
Food .
__ ___ ________
Hides and leath er_______ ___
Paper and pasteboards _ ___
Alcohol and liq u o r s ___ _____
70
M etallurgy___
_____ _ ,
347
F urnitures __ ______________
Book________
________
26
C lothing______ ___
Refrigerating and s a lt in g ____
945
Electrical . _
_
__ ___
29
A g ric u ltu ra l_____________ _s
T ransport and freight_____
632
M anufacturing____ _
__ __
3
Textiles____________________
C hem ical-- ___ _______
16
G overnm ent service____ _
615
N ot specified_______ ______
1,864
839
84
27
34
165
597
116
42
41
779
38
7
813
5
9
63
778
1,697
871
161
41
15
104
494
316
38
39
702
32
9
882
593
143
48
3
92
339
219
443
500
83
17
563
94
36
778
90
33
27
372
282
19
42
434
299
16
134
31
7
488
28
255
28
55
585
49
54
299
1,186
504
204
30
4
92
360
238
35
13
721
31
18
687
23
37
25
129
1,864
163
2,448
18
3, 805
36
4,069
6,134
5, 269
5,015
5,698
5, 764
6, 500 8,112
121
22
20
212
21
2
6
T o ta l_______________
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5,214
6
20
20
13
704
37
22
793
25
15
21
66
19
2
10
121
10
22
20
462
375
34
13
321
31
41
616
23
14
3
20
5,446
39
696
510
13
9
272
37
23
788
46
213
1928
1,005
119
27
15
27
664
406
6
9
166
37
105
701
11
4
5,958
29
15
19
5,140
9,320
8,501
LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
E astern In te r sta te C on feren ce on Labor L eg isla tio n
N June 18 and 19, 1931, a conference of representatives of the
labor departments of 10 East Central States was called by Gov.
Gifford Pinchot at Harrisburg, Pa., to discuss the differences in the
labor laws of the several States and to consider the possibility of put
ting them on a similar basis. Approximately 50 delegates were
present, representing Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachu
setts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
West Virginia, and the United States Department of Labor.
At the opening session on June 18,' Dr. A. M. Northrup, secretary
of labor and industry of Pennsylvania, presided, and explained the
purpose of the conference. Addresses were made by the Honorable
Gifford Pinchot, Governor of Pennsylvania, and Ethelbert Stewart,
United States Commissioner of Labor Statistics.
The following subjects were briefly discussed at the general session:
“ Compensation,” by Frances Perkins, industrial commissioner, New
York; “ Employment Offices,” by Edwin S. Smith, of Massachusetts;
“ Employment of Minors,” by Clara Beyer, Children’s Bureau, United
States Department of Labor; “ Employment of Women,” by Beatrice
McConnell, director, bureau of women and children, Pennsylvania;
“ Industrial Health,” by A. S. Gray, M. D., director, bureau of occu
pational diseases, Connecticut.
At the conclusion of the morning session, sectional meetings were
formed and group discussions were held on the following subjects:
Compensation, employment offices, women and children, industrial
health, and statistics.
The general conference reconvened on Friday afternoon, at which
time the reports and recommendations of the various sections or
committees were received.
The recommendations of the committee on workmen’s compensa
tion, while representing the consensus of the committee, were in
several cases adopted only by a divided vote. The committee rejected
a motion recommending “ full coverage of all employments, including
farm labor and domestic service.” Complete reports of the five com
mittees, however, were adopted as read by the respective chairmen,
with the exception of the report on industrial health, from which report
the conference voted to strike out a provision for compulsory exam
inations for workmen prior to their employment. The meeting also
voted to recommend to the governors of the respective States that a
continuing committee be appointed, and that a date be determined
upon, approximately six months hence, to consider further the topics
discussed at this conference and also to consider other topics which
were originally proposed for discussion by the conference of governors
held in Albany, N. Y., on January 23 and 24, 1931. These topics
included wages, living conditions, cost of medical service and hos-
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pitalization in the areas represented, arbitration and conciliation, reha
bilitation, wage-claim collection, and administration and inspection.
Governor Pinchot, in a letter of July 9, 1931, transmitting to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics a copy of the conference recommendations,
states that he is heartily in sympathy with the resolution for the
appointment of a continuing committee and that while he “ would
be exceedingly glad to call a second meeting, if that were desired, I
hope, nevertheless, that one of the other States will be willing to
sponsor the next conference.”
The following recommendations were made by the various commit
tees and adopted by the general conference:
Recommendations of Committees
Workmen’s Compensation
h e c o m m i t t e e on workmen’s compensation recommended that—
1. Provision be made for coverage of all occupational diseases
under the workmen’s compensation acts of the several States.
2. The workmen’s compensation statutes of the several States
confer the fullest possible extraterritorial jurisdiction.
3. The workmen’s compensation acts of the several States bring
within coverage all hazardous occupations in which one or more
persons are employed.
4. The workmen’s compensation acts of the several States bring
within coverage all occupations in which one or more persons are
employed, except farm labor and domestic service.
5. The workmen’s compensation acts of the several States provide
full medical service, either by statute provision or procedural per
mission.
6. The workmen’s compensation boards or commissions of the
several States be equipped with salaried staff physicians for assistance
and counsel in the adjudication of compensation claims.
7. The industrial boards or commissions of the several States be
empowered to fix, regulate, and control attorneys’ or representatives’
fees in workmen’s compensation proceedings in all cases.
8. Compensation provisions be adopted requiring insurance car
riers or self-insurers to pay a substantial amount in all compensable
nondependent death cases and that the fund so accumulated be
devoted to rehabilitation work, or second-injury payments, or the
administrative expenses of the several departments.
9. The schedule loss tables of the Federal longshoremen’s and
harbor workers’ compensation act be construed as the standard
measurement for permanent partial disabilities, and that deductions
from such schedule awards for temporary total disability be limited
to the healing periods provided in the same act.
10. Installments on permanent partial disability awards accruing
after death shall not be considered as vested rights of the dependent
in addition to death benefits.
11. The general principle that the compensation rights of widows
and dependents shall be independent of the rights of the injured
workman.
12. The several States adopt the uniform compensation rate at a
maximum of not less than $20, and a minimum of not less than $10.
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MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
13. The general principle be adopted of charging against industry
the full and necessary administrative expenses of the boards and com
missions charged with the responsibility of enforcing the provisions of
the compensation statutes.
14. The industrial boards or compensation commissions of the
several States be given sole jurisdiction as to questions of fact and
that appeals be permitted only to appellate courts on question of law.
Public Employment Services
On the subject of public employment offices the section recom
mended—
That State legislation governing public employment offices be
confined to a general provision making the establishment and oper
ation of a State system of public employment offices a mandatory
function of the department of labor, the corresponding, or other
appropriate executive department of the State government.
That the function of a public employment service be defined by
the administrative authority as follows:
1. To assist employers to secure suitable employees, and persons
seeking work to secure suitable employment.
2. To assist in establishing and maintaining a balance between the
demand for and the supply of labor in the State.
3. To serve as an authoritative source of information on employ
ment in the State and to this end that each local office study and
report periodically as to the causes and extent of unemployment in its
area.
4. To assist and cooperate, as a means of improving the service of
its own offices, with such organizations as exist or may be created for
the purpose of developing vocational guidance, job specifications, or
other related functions.
That annual State appropriations for public employment offices be
based on the population of the State and that the minimum appropri
ation be 5 cents per capita of population.
That it be the function of the United States Employment Service to
coordinate and promote the various State services but that it refrain
from the independent operation of any direct placement offices in the
States which maintain employment services, except offices established
for ex-service men and agricultural districts.
That the governor of each State represented in this conference ap
point at least two representatives to serve on a regional committee on
public employment offices to make further study and recommenda
tions in respect to the following:
(а) Requirements for the various positions in the State employment
services, together with salary schedules.
(б) Interstate clearance.
(c) Other problems of administration and employment office pro
cedure, omitting statistical terms and procedure, to await the report
on public employment office statistics to be issued by the committee
on governmental labor statistics of the American Statistical
Association.
That the States represented in this conference approve the estab
lishment in their respective States of a demonstration public employ
ment office, financed in part or as a whole out of private funds, as a
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means of improving the present functioning of the public employment
offices of the State.
Private Employment Agencies
In respect to legislation governing private fee-charging employment
agencies the section recommended—
1. That the licensing, bonding, and regulation of private fee
charging employment agencies be a function of the State rather than
of local governments and that the department of labor or other
corresponding or appropriate executive department of the State be
responsible for the administration of this function.
2. That legislation be enacted in each State providing that the
operation of fee-charging private employment agencies involves such
a definite public interest as to justify public regulation of all thenacts.
3. That the license fee and bond be adequate to prevent exploitation
of applicants for employment.
4. That the governor of each State represented in this conference
appoint a special committee to draft a law providing for the State
licensing and other regulation of private fee-charging employment
agencies.
Labor Laws for Women
As to labor laws for women, the following measures were recom
mended :
Hours of work.—Daily, 8; weekly, 48; 6-day week; lunch period,
30 minutes; not more than six continuous hours’ work without a rest
or lunch period of 30 minutes.
Night work.-—The elimination of work between 10 p. m. and 6 a. m.
in manufacturing and mechanical industries, mercantile establish
ments, hotels, and restaurants.
Prohibited occupations.— No prohibition of occupation on the basis
of sex, except where scientific research has proved an occupation to be
more hazardous to women than to men.
Seats.—Provision of suitable and adequate seats for employed
women.
Wages.—The committee favored the principle of minimum-wage
legislation and expressed the belief that much can be accomplished by
experimentation with the recommendatory type of law until such
time as mandatory wage legislation may be declared constitutional.
Home work.—Application of factory standards to industrial work
done in the homes.
Labor Laws for Minors
The following protective measures were recommended for em
ployed minors :
Minimum age of employment at any occupation, 16 years during
school hours, 14 years outside of school hours. Compulsory schoolattendance standards to be amended to meet these requirements.
Employment certificates for all minors under 18 years of age, includ
ing proof of age, promise of employment, designation of occupation
and hours of work, and physical examination by an authorized phy
sician. Proof-of-age cards for minors 18 to 21.
Hours of work.—Minors, 14 to 16 years—daily 8, weekly 48 (con
tinuation-school hours to be included in total hours); 6-day week;
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lunch period of 30 minutes; night work to be prohibited between 6
p. m. and 7 a. m. Minors, 16 to 18 years—daily 8, weekly 48; 6-day
week; lunch period of 30 minutes; night work to be prohibited for
girls between 7 p. m. and 6 a. m., and for boys between 10 p. m. and
6 a. m.
Prohibited occupations.—The committee recognized the field of
hazardous occupations for minors as one requiring special study and
consideration, and in view of the study of hazardous occupations now
planned by a national committee of the United States Children’s
Bureau, urged that a continuing committee of this group meet for the
purpose of considering the findings of their study.
Wages.—Mandatory minimum-wage legislation for minors under 18
years of age.
Street trades.—The minimum age of employment and the regidation
of hours applying to other occupations to apply equally to street
trades. Employment certificates to be required as a means of en
forcement and provisions for identification to be made by means of a
badge. The distributor to be held responsible for distributing news
papers only to children having the required badges.
Industrialized agriculture.—The minimum age of employment and
the regulations as to hours of work applying to other occupations
should apply equally to children employed in industrialized agri
culture.
Compensation.—Additional compensation for children injured while
illegally employed, the additional amount to be a liability of the
employer.
Home work.—The standards applying to other occupations to apply
equally to industrial work done in the home.
Continuation schools.—Further consideration should be given to the
development of a program for obtaining a closer integration between
the early industrial experience of young employed minors and their
available background and training, using the continuation schools as
the means of securing such coordination.
Legislation for Women and Minors
The following recommendations were made as regards legislation
for women and minors :
Education.—The carrying on, as a fundamental responsibility of the
departments of labor and industry, of a continuous and consistent
educational campaign to secure the enactment of needed legislation,
and to make possible the most effective enforcement of existing
legislation.
The establishment of bureaus of women and children within the
State departments of labor to carry on scientific investigations of
the changing problems arising in industry.
Enforcement^—Recognizing that the value of the recommended
standards is directly dependent upon the adequacy of the enforce
ment machinery and technique developed in each of the enforcing
departments, the committee recommended the following:
1. That each State set up and enforce minimum standards of ex
perience and training for its inspectorial force in order that this
important function may be effectively carried on.
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2. That the work of enforcing the woman and child labor laws be,
wherever possible, the task of a specialized group of inspectors within
the department.
.
3. That there be a group of technical inspectors especially equipped
to handle the various special problems relating to the well-being of
woman and child workers.
4. That the number of inspectors in each department should be
sufficient so that at least two adequate inspections per year may be
made of each establishment coming under the jurisdiction of the
department.
.
Cost.—“ The committee is fully aware that the realization ol its
recommendations concerning the administration of labor laws for
women and children will require the expenditure of greater funds
than have heretofore been available; it believes that the educational
program already recommended must be so carried on as to convince
the public of the benefits to our communities which will flow from such
expenditure.”
Several other questions were raised in the committee, concerning
which it felt that it was not ready to recommend any action. Two
of these questions, however, were regarded as especially meriting
further consideration, i. e., the matter of a recommended study by
the Federal Women’s Bureau concerning the employment of women
before and after childbirth, and a proposed study of the question of
special provisions regulating the employment of retarded children.
Industrial Health
The recommendations of this section were as follows :
Ventilation, temperature, humidity, lighting, air space:—Adequate
standards for ventilation, temperature, humidity, lighting, and air
space, the specific minimums not to be adopted in the law but power
to establish specific standards to be lodged in the administrative
authorities of each State.1
Drinking water.—Legal requirement that drinking water not inferior
to the community water supply be furnished; that the water be pro
vided through adequately protected angle-jet drinking fountains or
through individual drinking cups, and that reasonable access to
drinking water be permitted employees at all times.
Toilet facilities.—Provision of convenient and adequate toilet facil
ities for each sex, the power to establish specific standards to be given,
in States that have no definite requirements, to the administrative
authorities of the State.1
Wash and dressing rooms.—Requirement of adequate wash and
dressing rooms for each sex, power to establish specific standards to
be lodged in the administrative authorities of each State. 1
Lunch rooms.—Requirement that eating places other than work
rooms be furnished and that these be used for that purpose; lunch
rooms to be required where employees are engaged in processes or
exposed to materials harmf ul to health.
Seating facilities.—Provision of suitable seats proportionate to the
number of employees.
i
Com m ittee also recommended th a t for th e determ ination of these specific standards, th e highest stan d
ards now found in existing labor law s should be considered, and suggested consultation w ith the U nited
States Public H ealth Service, th e A merican Public H ealth Association, th e Am erican Standards Associa
tion, th e N ational Safety Council, a n d other sim ilar organizations.
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Cleaning and 'physical upkeep of place of employment.—Maintenance
of workrooms in a safe and sanitary condition, with due consideration
for the health and safety of the employees.
Placing of equipment so as to permit freedom of action on the part
of the worker, aisle spaces to be adequate and unobstructed, material
to be piled in an orderly manner, waste material to be properly
stored, and exits to be adequate and unobstructed.
First aid .—Provision of competent personnel and adequate equip
ment for administering first aid in all work places.
General health considerations.—Requirement that all rooms, build
ings, and places where labor is employed shall be so constructed,
equipped, and arranged, operated and conducted, in all respects, as to
provide reasonable and adequate protection for the life, health, and
safety of all persons employed therein.
_Occupational diseases.—Requirement of reports of all occupational
diseases from all physicians diagnosing and/or treating such casesf and
by all employers having knowledge of cases of such diseases among
their employees.
Provision of protective devices and measures necessary for the
prevention of any or all occupational diseases.
Statistics
The section of statistics reported as follows:
“ The section urges that in any State the functions of the bureau of
labor statistics, as such, be recognized as of equal importance with
those of any other bureau of the department. The need for adequate
appropriation for a bureau of labor statistics is fundamental.
“ The section recognizes the desirability of having the collection of
labor statistics in the various States on a uniform basis and urges
the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics to draft a model form
of law for the direction and guidance of the State bureaus.
“ The section asks the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics to
make a survey in detail of the work now being done and studies being
made by each of the State bureaus of labor statistics, ascertaining
the scope of such studies and the total personnel and appropriation
of each bureau.
£Due to time limitations, the section did not attempt to formulate
an outline of minimum requirements for a State bureau of labor
statistics. However, it wishes to call attention to the following
resolution passed by the Association of Governmental Officials in
Industry of the United States and Canada at its annual meeting held
recently in Boston, which resolution this section indorses:
“ W hereas com prehensive a n d reliable in fo rm atio n w ith reference to th e tren d s
of em ploym ent a n d th e earnings of w age earn ers is essen tial in o rd er t h a t an y
m easures a d o p te d fo r th e relief of th e unem ployed, o r a n y p lan fo r th e issuance
of u n em ploym ent insurance, o r th e se ttin g up of u n em p lo y m en t reserve funds
m ay be based on a full know ledge of conditions a n d sound ju d g m e n t: T herefore
be it
Resolved, T h a t th e A ssociation of G o v ern m en tal Officials in In d u s try of th e
U nited fetates a n d C an a d a urge a ll S ta te b u reau s of la b o r a n d like agencies
which are n o t alread y engaged in th e collection of p ay -ro ll d a ta from re p resen ta
tiv e m an u factu rin g estab lish m en ts to u n d e rta k e such collection periodically an d
system atically follow ing th e so-called sta n d a rd p la n a d o p te d b y th e U n ited
fetates B ureau of L ab o r S ta tistic s a n d b y a n u m b er of lead in g in d u s tria l S tates,
t h a t th e scope of su ch collection of p ay -ro ll d a ta be ex ten d e d to include th e
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building industrjr, wholesale a n d re ta il tra d e , public u tilities, ag ricu ltu re, office
em ploym ent, em ploym en t in ho tels a n d re s ta u ra n ts, a n d all o th e r im p o rta n t
fields of em ploym ent. T h a t w herever possible or ex p ed ien t th e re su lts be
presented classified by sex a n d earnings of em ployees. T h a t efforts be m ade
also to secure a n d pu b lish periodically d a ta w ith reference to em p lo y m en t by
g o v ernm ental agencies— S tate, co u n ty , a n d m u nicipal— a n d em p lo y m en t on
public w orks, w h eth er co n stru c te d d irectly b y g o v ern m en tal agencies or u n d er
co n tract, in ord er to determ ine th e e x te n t to w hich such public w orks co n trib u te
to an increase in th e a m o u n t of av ailab le em ploym ent.
“ Supplementary to this resolution, the section makes the following
recommendations :
“ That accident and compensation statistics be compiled on the
basis of man-hour exposure and that separate presentations of acci
dent statistics by sex and minor classifications be made wherever
practicable.
“ That statistics of entrance wage rates of common labor by indus
tries be compiled.
“ That statistics of piece rates for standard units by industries be
compiled.
“ That sample surveys of unemployment in important industrial
areas be made in accordance with a plan to be recommended by the
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“ These in addition to the obvious duties of the State bureaus to
compile statistics of wages and hours of labor by industry and occu
pations, classified by sex and range of wage rates. Special subjects
of investigation must remain within the discretion of the various
State bureaus and be guided and controlled by the industrial condi
tions in each State.”
E xecu tor’s R ig h ts U nder E m p loyers’ L iab ility A ct D epend U pon
R ig h ts of E m p loyee at D eath
right of a representative under the Federal employers’
liability act is derivative and depends upon the continuance of a
T HE
right in the injured employee at the time of his death. (Flynn,
Executor, v. New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Co., 283
U. S. 53.)
From the facts in the case it appears that suit was filed under the
Federal employers’ liability act, by the executor for the benefit of
Flynn’s widow and children, against the New York, New Haven &
Hartford Railroad Co., for negligently causing the death of Edward
L. Flynn. It was alleged that the injury was suffered on December 4,
1923, and that it caused Flynn’s death on September 1, 1928. Suit
was filed on May 15, 1929, and it was the contention of the railroad
company that “ no right of action for wrongful death, occurring more
than two years after the accident causing the death, where the dece
dent had never brought suit on such accident, accrues to the personal
representative of his estate.” The Supreme Court of Errors of Con
necticut rendered a judgment in favor of the railroad company and
the executor carried the case to the United States Supreme Court.
He argued that the statute of limitations begins to run at the time of
death and that it was at that time and not until then that the cause
of action accrued to the representative.
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In referring to the employers’ liability act (act of April 22, 1908,
ch. 149, 35 Stat. L. 65, 66; act of April 5, 1910, ch. 143, 36 Stat. L.
291), the counsel for the executor alleged that—
T he a c t does n o t, in express term s, m ake th e personal re p re se n ta tiv e ’s rig h t to
m ain ta in a n action d e p en d en t upo n th e existence of a rig h t of a ctio n in th e
decedent im m ediately before he dies. I t in te n d s t h a t in all cases th e re shall be
b u t one recovery for th e w rongful act, a n d th a t th e d e p e n d e n t’s rig h t shall n o t be
b arred unless th e deceased h ad received satisfactio n in his lifetim e eith er b y settle
m e n t an d a d ju stm e n t or b y a d ju d ic a tio n in th e courts.
T ru e, a t th e tim e of his d e a th , th e decedent h ad no rig h t of actio n ; b u t th is was
n o t d u e to a n affirm ative ex tin g u ish m en t of his rig h t, b u t to lapse of tim e, affect
ing his rig h t of action alone.
T he a c t declares tw o d istin c t an d in d ep en d e n t liabilities restin g upo n th e
com m on fo u n d atio n of a w rongful in ju ry , a n d based upo n alto g e th e r different
principles. T h e cause of a ctio n created fo r th e benefit of th e d ep en d en ts of an
em ployee w ho dies as a re su lt of his in ju ries is n o t a re p re se n ta tiv e rig h t, b u t a
sep arate a n d d istin c t rig h t w hich is v ested in c e rta in d esig n ated d ep en d en ts.
I t includes no dam ages w hich th e em ployee m ig h t h av e recovered in a n ac tio n
b ro u g h t by him durin g his lifetim e. I t is for th e loss a n d d am age su stain ed by
th e relatives d ep en d en t u p o n th e decedent.
Mr. Justice Holmes delivered the opinion of the Supreme Court
which affirmed the lower courts, saying in part as follows:
T he a c t of 1908 gives a rig h t of a ctio n to th e em ployee or, in case of his d ea th , to
his personal rep resen ta tiv e fo r th e benefit of th e w idow a n d children, a n d p rovides
th a t no actio n shall be m ain ta in e d “ unless com m enced w ith in tw o years fro m th e
day th e cause of actio n accru ed .” Section 6. O bviously F ly n n ’s rig h t of a c tio n
was b arred , b u t it is argued t h a t th e rig h t on b ehalf of th e w idow a n d children
is d istin ct; t h a t th e ir cause of actio n could n o t arise u n til F ly n n ’s d e a th , a n d t h a t
therefore th e tw o years d id n o t begin to ru n u n til S eptem ber 1, 1928. B u t th e
arg u m en t comes too late. I t is established th a t th e p resen t rig h t, a lth o u g h n o t
strictly rep resen tativ e, is d e riv ativ e a n d d ep en d en t u p o n th e continuance of a
rig h t in th e in ju red em ployee a t th e tim e of his d eath . (M ichigan C e n tra l R ail
road Co. v. V reeland, 227 U. S. 59, 70.) On th is gro u n d a n effective release by
th e em ployee m akes i t im possible for his a d m in istra to r to recover. (M ellon v.
G oodyear, 277 U. S. 335, 344.) T h e ru n n in g of th e tw o y ears from th e tim e w hen
his cause of actio n accrued extinguishes it as effectively as a release (E ngel v.
D av en p o rt, 271 U. S. 33, 38), a n d th e sam e consequence follows. O ur conclusion
th a t th is actio n could n o t be b ro u g h t is req u ired by th e form er decisions of th is
court.
R ailw ay E m p loyee Aware o f D anger H eld to have A ssu m ed Risk
o f In ju ry
FIREMAN putting his head oat of the cab, window, with full
knowledge of the negligence and the consequent danger arising
when the engineer opened wide the throttle, causing a large quantity
of cinders to come out of the smokestack, and thereafter suffering an
injury when a cinder lodged in his eye, was held by the Supreme Court
of Kansas to have assumed the risk under the Federal employers’
liability act. (Blevins v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., 299 Pac. 593.)
The facts of the case show that Blevins was engaged in interstate
commerce as a fireman in the Union Pacific Railroad Co.’s yards in
Kansas City. The engineer, after effecting a coupling to several
cattle cars, opened the throttle to its full capacity, causing a severe
exhaust, which threw out of the smokestack a large volume of hot
cinders. Immediately prior to this Blevins had coaled the engine
with fine coal and had taken his position in the cab when he saw the
engineer open the throttle to its full capacity. It was Blevins’ duty
A
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to look ahead to see if there were any other engines coming. To
accomplish this he put his head outside the cab window and the
injury to his eye resulted. Suit was filed by the employee under the
Federal employers’ liability act and the railroad company claimed as
a defense that Blevins had assumed the risk. Evidence was presented
to show that Blevins knew that an engine threw sparks or cinders out
of the smokestack, that these were increased when fine coal was used,
that an exhaust would force a large volume into the air, and that they
were likely to fall in his eyes while his head was outside the cab
window.
The District Court of Wyandotte County, Kans., rendered a
judgment in favor of the employee and the company appealed to the
Supreme Court of Kansas. In applying the doctrine of assumption
of risk under the Federal employers’ liability act the court said:
T h e courts ap p e a r to h av e m ad e a g eneral division of negligent acts creating a
dan g er n o t assum ed by th e em ployee, a n d negligent a c ts assum ed by an em ployee
in th e course of his em ploym ent.
T he negligent ac ts of em ployer or coem ployee th a t are sudden a n d of which
th e em ployee has no notice or know ledge, creating a d anger w hich can n o t be
foreseen, are n o t assum ed.
W here th e em ployee h as full know ledge of th e negligence a n d ap p reciates th e
danger arising therefrom , he assum es th e risk, if he continues in th e em ploym ent.
The court cited several cases supporting this view and continued
the opinion reversing the judgment of the district court, by saying in
part as follows:
T he sole question in th e case, as now p resented, is w h eth er th e negligence
established b y th e evidence is of such ch a ra c te r th a t know ledge th ereo f charges
th e em ployee w ith a n ap p reciatio n of th e d an g er arising th erefro m . K now ledge
of th e negligence is ad m itte d . In fact, th e plaintiff is th e only person who
observed it. H e also ad m itte d th a t he knew th e consequences th a t w ould follow
from th e pulling of th e th ro ttle to its full capacity.
T he plaintiff was an experienced fireman, an d had been w orking on th is p a rtic u la r
job for a b o u t four m onths. We m u st assum e th a t he was a m an of o rd in ary in telli
gence and would therefore be expected to know an d ap p reciate th e th in g s th a t are
obvious to th e ordinary apprehension. H is own sta te m e n ts clearly in d ic a te th a t
he com prehended th e n a tu re and degree of th e d an g er arising from th e opening of
th e th ro ttle , and th a t he v o lu n tarily p u t his head o u t of th e cab w indow know ing
th a t he w as likely to get a cinder in his eye. H e assum ed th e risk, an d m u st abide
th e consequence.
M a ssa c h u setts C ourt H olds “ T ip s” are W ages U nder C om p en sa
tio n Act
Massachusetts Supreme Court on June 1, 1931, affirmed a
decree of the industrial accident board holding that “ tips”
T HE
received by a waitress constituted part of her “ earnings” within the
meaning of the “ average weekly wages” provision of the compensation
law (Ethel Power’s case, 176 N. E. 621).
Ethel Power was employed as a waitress in a restaurant and received
injuries while in the course of her employment. Before a single
member of the industrial board the findings were made that according
to the contract of employment the employee was to receive $8 per
week and whatever tips should be given her by the patrons of the
restaurant. The tips averaged $12 a week.
The full board affirmed and adopted the findings of the single
member, but also ruled that the tips received were part of the average
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weekly wages, which therefore amounted to $20. Upon appeal by
the employer to the superior court it was held that $8 constituted the
average weekly wage. The decree of this court caused the employee
to seek a ruling by the State supreme court as to whether the tips so
received might be considered part of her average weekly wages.
By definition under the Massachusetts workmen’s compensation
law (Gen. Laws, 1921, ch. 152, sec. 1(1)), “ average weekly wages”
are “ the earnings of the injured employee during the 12 calendar
months immediately preceding the date of injury.” As to whether
tips constituted part of the “ average weekly wages” the supreme
court said that the question was a new one before that court, and
further that there were only a few American decisions “ pertinent to
this point.” Several cases under the English act were cited in which
it was held that the “ earnings ” included “ tips.” This interpretation
of the English statute had been given long before the passage of the
Massachusetts act. The American decisions referred to by the court
arose in New York, and involved tips received by a taxicab driver
and b y a Pullman porter, and it was held in those cases that the tips
received with the knowledge of the employer were to be included in
ascertaining the average weekly wages, as the basis of compensation.
The court also referred to a ruling of the Massachusetts Industrial
Accident Board in 1914, in Hatchman’s case, in which the board so
interpreted the act “ that tips were to be included in ascertaining the
average weekly wages or earnings.” In the absence of an adjudication
by the State supreme court, this interpretation has been followed since
1914.
Mr. Chief Justice Rugg, in delivering the opinion of the court, said:
I t seem s p lain t h a t from th e s ta n d p o in t of th e em ployee th e tip s in th e case
a t b a r were in th e n a tu re of w ages or earnings. T he stip e n d p aid to h er b y th e
em ployer w as th e sm aller p a rt of th e a c tu a l incom e received by h er as a conse
quence of h e r lab o r fo r him .
T h e situ a tio n w as fully u n d ersto o d a n d freely assen ted to by th e em ployer.
T here w as no deception. N o divided d u ty was th e re b y c reated on th e p a r t of
th e em ployee. H e r lo y a lty to th e em ployer w as n o t alloyed b y th e co u rtesy
an d efficiency ren d ered to p a tro n s, w hich were th e basis of th e ir g ra tu itie s to
her. As to each cu sto m er of th e em ployer th e tip to th e em ployee w as a gift
a n d n o t fou n d ed on a n obligation, b u t th e aggregate th u s received w as d ep en d
able alth o u g h flu ctu atin g according to th e a m o u n t of p atro n a g e com ing to th e
em ployer.
feer\ ice m ay be rendered upon a reasonable expectation of reward w ithout
forming the basis of a debt. The tips were in the nature of part paym ent for
the service received by the patrons at the place of business of the employer.
Paym ents made to his em ployee by his patrons w ith the approval of the
employer under the protection of his place of business and for his benefit bear
a close analogy to wages paid by him.
. T here was nothin g illegal in th e re te n tio n of tip s by th e em ployee in these
circum stances. If th e em ployer h a d established a rule of his re s ta u ra n t fo rbidding
tips, th e direct wage expense to him p ro b ab ly w ould h av e been increased to m ak e
up m su b stan ce for th e loss in revenue to th e em ployees a n d t h a t d oubtless
w ould have been reflected in a n increase in th e prices charged to p atro n s. T h e
em ployer, in effect, sav ed in d irect outgo for wages th e a m o u n t received bv th e
em ployee m tips.
-
During the course of the opinion the court referred to several
jurisdictions in which statutes have been enacted relative to tips
and observed that—
T he idea of tip p in g is d istastefu l to some people who w ould p refer to p a y in
increased charges enough to enable th e a p p ro p ria te w age to be p a id d irectly to
th e em ployee by th e em ployer. There is a feeling th a t tip s are n o t in h arm o n y
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w ith th e sp irit of A m erican in stitu tio n s an d th a t th e y te n d to p u t th e recip ien t
in a d ependent or servile position an d to underm ine independence of ch aracter.
The court, continuing, said that there is in certain employments
in the State a tipping custom existing which must be recognized
since—
I t has in those em ploym ents a v ita l effect upon th e term s a n d conditions of
lab o r an d th e relations of em ployer a n d em ployee. I t is a custom by w hich th e
em ployer in th e case a t b a r reap ed a financial benefit in th e low er p ay m e n ts
m ade by him each w eek to secure th e services of th e em ployee.
Although some difficulty may arise, the court said, in fixing the
insurance rate in a case in which the pay roll of the employer dis
closes all of the earnings of the employee, and in one in which it
does not, still the principle can not be affected. The employee in
the latter case is bound “ to make full disclosure for the purpose of
enabling just insurance rates to be fixed.”
In concluding the opinion reversing the decree of the lower court,
the supreme court said:
We are of opinion th a t th e finding of th e b o ard to th e effect th a t th e tip s con
s titu te d a p a r t of th e av erage w eekly wage can n o t be p ronounced u n w a rra n te d
in law . I t h ard ly needs to be ad d ed th a t th is decision is confined stric tly to th e
facts here disclosed.
T h e resu lt is t h a t th e decree is reversed a n d a decree is to be e n tered in fav o r
of th e em ployee on th e basis of average weekly earnings of $20.
W isco n sin Law R ela tin g to Issu a n ce of In ju n c tio n s in Labor
D isp u tes
1931 session of the Wisconsin Legislature enacted into law
(Acts of 1931, ch. 376) a comprehensive statute relating to litiga
T HE
tion arising out of labor disputes and limiting the jurisdiction of courts
in such cases.
Wisconsin by virtue of this act becomes the first State to enact a
complete and comprehensive code governing the public policy of the
State toward collective bargaining and the use of the injunction in
labor disputes.
Among the matters provided for in the act are: The right of labor
to collective bargaining, the prohibition of discriminatory labor con
tracts, legalizing certain conduct in labor disputes, immunity of
members of associations or organizations for responsibility of the acts
of individuals, the use of injunctions and the right of appeal from
same, the enumeration of the rights of individuals in contempt cases,
and, finally, penalties for the violation of any provision contained in
the act. The provisions of the act are as follows:
S e c t io n 2 6 8 .1 8 . Public policy as to collective bargaining.— T he public policy of
th is S ta te is declared as follows:
N egotiation of te rm s a n d conditions of lab o r should re su lt from v o lu n tary
ag reem en t betw een em ployer a n d em ployees. G o v ern m en tal a u th o rity has
p e rm itte d an d encouraged em ployers to organize in th e co rp o rate a n d o th e r form s
of c a p ita l control. In dealing w ith such em ployers, th e in d iv id u al unorganized
w orker is helpless to exercise a c tu a l lib e rty of c o n tra c t a n d to p ro te c t his freedom
of lab o r, a n d th ereb y to o b tain accep tab le te rm s a n d conditions of em ploym ent.
T herefore i t is necessary t h a t th e in d iv id u a l w orkm an h av e fu ll freedom of
association, self-organization, an d designation of rep resen tativ es of his own choos
ing, to n eg o tiate th e term s a n d conditions of his em ploym ent, a n d th a t he shall
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be free from th e interference, re s tra in t or coercion of em ployers of labor, or th e ir
agents, in th e designation of such rep resen tativ es or in self-organization or in
o th er concerted activ ities for th e purpose of collective bargaining or o th e r m u tu a l
aid or protection.
S e c . 268.19. Contracts.— E v ery u n d ertak in g or prom ise m ade a fte r th e tak in g
effect of th is section, w h eth er w ritte n or oral, express or im plied, betw een a n y
em ployee or prosp ectiv e em ployee a n d his em ployer, p rospective em ployer or
any o th e r individual, firm , com pany, association, or corporation, w hereby
(1) E ith e r p a rty th e re to u n d e rta k e s or prom ises to join or to rem ain a m em ber
of some specific lab o r org an izatio n or organizations o r to join or rem ain a m em ber
of some specific em ployer o rganization or a n y em ployer organization or organiza
tions; or
(2) E ith e r p a rty th e re to u n d ertak es or prom ises n o t to join or n o t to rem ain a
m em ber of som e specific lab o r o rganization or a n y lab o r organization or organiza
tions, or of some specific em ployer o rganization or a n y em ployer organization or
organizations; or
(3) E ith e r p a rty th e re to u n d e rta k e s or prom ises th a t he will w ith d raw from
an em ploym ent relatio n in th e e v e n t t h a t he joins or rem ains a m em ber of som e
specific labor organization o r a n y lab o r o rganization o r organizations, or of some
specific em ployer o rganization o r a n y em ployer o rganization or organizations;
Is hereby declared to be c o n tra ry to public policy a n d shall n o t afford a n y basis
for th e granting of legal or eq u itab le relief by a n y c o u rt ag ain st a p a rty to such
u n d ertak in g or prom ise, or a g a in st a n y o th e r persons w ho m ay advise", urge or
induce, w ith o u t frau d , violence, o r th r e a t thereof, e ith e r p a rty th e re to to a c t in
disregard of such u n d e rta k in g o r prom ise. T h is section in its e n tire ty is supple
m e n ta l to a n d of subsection (1) of section 103.46 of th e sta tu te s.
S e c . 268.20. Lawful conduct in labor disputes.— (1) T he following a c ts w hether
perform ed singly or in concert, sh all be legal:
(a) C easing or refusing to p erform a n y w ork or to rem ain in a n y relatio n of
em ploym ent regardless of a n y prom ise, u n d ertak in g , c o n tra c t or ag reem ent in
violation of th e public policy declared in section 268.19;
(b) Becom ing or rem aining a m em ber of a n y lab o r o rganization or of an y em
ployer organization, regardless of a n y such u n d erta k in g o r prom ise as is described
in section 268.19;
(c) P ay in g o r giving to , a n y person a n y strik e or u n em ploym ent benefits or
insurance or o th er m oneys or th in g s of value;
(d) B y all law ful m eans aiding a n y person who is being proceeded ag ain st in,
or is prosecuting a n y actio n or su it in a n y co u rt of th e U n ited S ta te s or of a n v
S tate;
(e) G iving pu b licity to a n d o b tain in g or com m unicating in form ation regarding
th e existence of, or th e facts involved in, a n y d ispute, w h eth er by advertising,
speaking, p atro llin g a n y p ublic stre e t or a n y place w here a n y person or persons
m ay law fully be, w ith o u t in tim id a tio n o r coercion, o r by a n y o th e r m eth o d n o t
involving fraud, violence, breach of th e peace, or th r e a t th ereof;
(/) C easing to patro n ize or to em ploy a n y person or persons, b u t n o th in g herein
shall be construed to legalize a secondary b o y co tt;
(:g) A ssem bling peaceably to do o r to organize to do a n y of th e ac ts heretofore
specified or to prom o te law ful in terests;
(h) A dvising or notifying a n y person or persons of a n in te n tio n to do a n y of
th e acts heretofore specified;
(i) A greeing w ith o th er persons to do or n o t to do a n y of th e ac ts heretofore
specified;
(?) A dvising, urging, or inducing w ith o u t fraud, violence, or th re a t thereof,
others to do th e ac ts heretofore specified, regardless of a n y such u n d e rta k in g or
prom ise as is described in section 268.19; an d
(k) D oing in concert an y or all of th e acts heretofore specified shall n o t con
s titu te a n unlaw ful co m bination or conspiracy.
(l) Peaceful pick etin g or p atrolling, w h eth er engaged in singly or in num bers,
shall be legal.
(2)
N o court, nor a n y ju d g e or judges thereof, shall h av e ju risd ictio n to issue
a n y restrain in g ord er or tem p o ra ry or p erm a n e n t in ju n ctio n which, in specific or
general term s, p ro h ib its a n y person or persons from doing w h eth er singly or in
concert, a n y of th e foregoing acts.
S e c . 268.21. Responsibility for unlawful acts.— N o officer or m em ber of an y
association or organization, a n d no association or organization p a rtic ip a tin g or
in terested in a lab o r d isp u te (as these term s are defined in section 268.29) shall be
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LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
55
held responsible or liable in an y civil action a t law or su it in eq u ity , or in an y
crim inal prosecution, fo r th e unlaw ful a c ts of in d iv id u al officers, m em bers, or
agents, except upon proof by a p reponderance of th e evidence a n d w ith o u t th e
aid of a n y presum ptions of law o r fa c t, b o th of (a) th e doing of such a c ts b y p e r
sons w ho are officers, m em bers or ag en ts of a n y such association or organization,
a n d (b) a c tu a l p articip atio n in, or a c tu a l au th o riz a tio n of, such acts, or ratificatio n
of such ac ts a fte r a c tu a l know ledge th ereo f by such association or organization.
S e c . 268.22. Public 'policy as to labor litigation.— In th e in te rp re ta tio n a n d
application of sections 268.23 to 268.26, th e public policy of th is S ta te is declared
to be:
E q u ity procedure th a t p erm its a com plaining p a rty to o b tain sw eeping in ju n c
tiv e relief t h a t is n o t preceded by or conditioned upon notice to a n d hearin g of th e
responding p a rty or parties, or th a t issues a fte r hearing based u pon w ritte n
affidavits alone a n d n o t wholly or in p a r t upo n exam ination, co n fro n tatio n an d
cross-exam ination of w itnesses in open court, is peculiarly su b ject to abuse in
lab o r litig atio n for th e reasons th a t
(1) T he sta tu s quo can n o t be m ain tain ed b u t is necessarily altered by th e
injunction;
(2) D eterm in atio n of issues of v eracity a n d of p ro b ab ility of fa c t from affidavits
of th e opposing p arties t h a t are c o n trad icto ry and, u n d er th e circum stances,
u n tru stw o rth y ra th e r th a n from oral exam ination in open co u rt is su b ject to
grave error;
(3) E rro r in issuing th e in ju n ctiv e relief is usually irrep arab le to th e opposing
p a rty ; and
(4) D elay in cident to th e n orm al course of ap p ellate p ractice freq u en tly m akes
u ltim a te correction of erro r in law or in fa c t u n availing in th e p a rtic u la r case.
S e c . 268.23. Injunctions: Conditions of issuance; restraining orders.— (1) No
co u rt n o r a n y judge or judges th ereo f shall h av e ju risd ictio n to issue a tem p o rary
or p erm an en t in junction in a n y case involving o r grow ing o u t of a lab o r d ispute,
as defined in section 268.29, except a fte r hearing th e testim o n y of w itnesses in
open co u rt (w ith o p p o rtu n ity for cross-exam ination) in su p p o rt of th e allegations
of a com plaint m ad e u n d er o ath , a n d testim o n y in opposition th e re to , if offered,
a n d except afte r findings of all th e following facts by th e co u rt or jud g e o r judges
th ereo f;
(a) T h a t unlaw ful acts h av e been th re a te n e d o r co m m itted a n d will be executed
or continued unless restra in e d ;
(£>) T h a t su b s ta n tia l a n d irre p a ra b le in ju ry to c o m p la in a n t’s p ro p e rty will
follow unless th e relief req u ested is g ra n te d ;
(c) T h a t as to each ite m of relief g ra n te d g re a te r in ju ry w ill be inflicted upo n
co m p lain an t b y th e den ial th e re o f th a n w ill be inflicted u p o n d e fen d an ts b y th e
g ra n tin g th ereo f;
(d) T h a t th e relief to be g ra n te d does n o t v io late th e provisions of section
268.20;
(e) T h a t co m p lain an t h a s no a d e q u a te rem ed y a t law ; a n d
(/) T h a t th e public officers charged w ith th e d u ty to p ro te c t c o m p la in a n t’s
p ro p e rty h av e failed o r a re u n ab le to fu rn ish a d e q u a te p ro tectio n .
(2) Such hearing sh all be held a fte r due a n d perso n al n otice th e re o f h as been
given, in such m an n er as th e c o u rt shall d irect, to all know n persons a g a in st whom
relief is sought, and also to those public officers charged w ith th e d u ty to p ro te c t
c o m p lain an t’s p ro p e rty : Provided, however, T h a t if a co m p lain an t shall also allege
th a t unless a tem p o rary restra in in g o rd er shall be issued before such h earin g m ay
be had, a s u b s ta n tia l a n d irrep arab le in ju ry to c o m p la in a n t’s p ro p e rty w ill be
unavoidable, such a te m p o ra ry re strain in g ord er m ay be g ra n te d u p o n th e ex p ira
tio n of such reasonable no tice of a p p licatio n th erefo r as th e c o u rt m a y d ire c t by
ord er to show cause, b u t in no case less th a n 48 hours.
(3) Such order to show cause sh all be served u pon such p a rty o r p a rtie s as are
so u g h t to be restrain ed a n d as sh all be specified in said order, a n d th e n only
upon testim o n y u n d er o a th , o r in th e d iscretion of th e co u rt, u p o n affidavits,
sufficient, if sustained, to ju stify th e c o u rt in issuing a te m p o ra ry in ju n c tio n upon
a hearing as herein provid ed for.
(4) Such a te m p o rary restra in in g o rd er shall be effective for no longer th a n five
days, an d a t th e ex p iratio n of said five d a y s sh all becom e void a n d n o t su b ject
to renew al or extension: Provided, however, T h a t if th e h earin g fo r a te m p o ra ry
in ju n ctio n sh all h av e been begun before th e ex p iratio n of th e said five d ay s th e
restrain in g o rd er m a y in th e c o u rt’s d iscretio n be co n tin u ed u n til a decision is
reached u pon th e issuance of th e te m p o ra ry in ju n ctio n .
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
(5) N o te m p o ra ry re stra in in g o rd er o r te m p o ra ry in ju n c tio n sh all be issued
except on condition t h a t c o m p lain an t sh a ll first file a n u n d e rta k in g w ith a d e q u a te
security sufficient to recom pense th o se en jo in ed fo r a n y loss, expense, o r d am age
caused b y th e im p ro v id e n t o r erroneous issuance of su ch o rd e r o r in ju n c tio n ,
including all reaso n ab le costs (to g eth er w ith a reaso n ab le a tto rn e y ’s fee) a n d
expense ag ain st th e order or ag ain st th e g ra n tin g of a n y in ju n c tiv e relief so u g h t
in th e sam e proceeding a n d su b seq u en tly denied b y th e court.
(6) T he u n d erta k in g h erein m en tio n ed shall be u n d ersto o d to signify a n ag ree
m e n t en tered in to by th e co m p lain an t an d th e su re ty upo n w hich a decree m ay be
rendered in th e sam e su it or proceeding ag ain st said c o m p la in a n t a n d su re ty , th e
said co m p lain an t a n d su re ty su b m ittin g them selves to th e ju risd ic tio n of th e co u rt
fo r t h a t purpose. B u t n o th in g h erein co n tain ed sh a ll d ep riv e a n y p a rty h av in g
a claim or cause of a ctio n u n d er or upo n such u n d e rta k in g from electing to p u rsu e
his ord in ary rem ed y b y su it a t law or in eq u ity .
S e c . 268.24. Clean hands doctrine.— N o re s tra in in g o rd er o r in ju n c tiv e relief
shall be g ra n te d to a n y co m p lain an t w ho h a s failed to com ply w ith a n y legal
obligation w hich is inv o lv ed in th e lab o r d isp u te in q u estio n , o r w ho h a s failed to
m ak e ev ery reason ab le effort to se ttle such d isp u te e ith e r b y n e g o tia tio n o r w ith
th e a id of an y availab le m ach in ery of g o v ern m e n ta l m e d ia tio n o r v o lu n ta ry a rb i
tra tio n , b u t n o th in g h erein co n tain ed shall be deem ed to re q u ire th e c o u rt to
a w a it th e actio n of a n y such trib u n a l if irre p a ra b le in ju ry is th re a te n e d .
S e c . 268.25. Injunctions: Contents.— E x c e p t a s p ro v id ed in sectio n 268.23,
no re stra in in g o rd e r o r te m p o ra ry o r p e rm a n e n t in ju n c tio n sh a ll be g ra n te d
in a casein v o lv in g o r grow ing o u t of a la b o r d isp u te , e x cep t o n th e basis of findings
of fa c t m ad e and filed b y th e c o u rt in th e reco rd of th e case p rio r to th e issuance
of such restrain in g o rd e r o r in ju n c tio n ; a n d ev ery re s tra in in g o rd er o r in ju n c tio n
g ra n te d in a case in v olving o r grow ing o u t of a la b o r d isp u te sh a ll in clu d e only a
p ro h ib itio n of such specific a c t o r a c ts a s m a y b e expressly co m p lain ed of in th e
bill of co m p lain t or p e titio n filed in su ch case a n d expressly inclu d ed in said find
ings of fa c t m ade a n d filed b y th e c o u rt as p ro v id ed h erein ; a n d sh a ll be b in d in g
only u p o n th e p a rtie s to th e su it, th e ir agents, serv an ts, em ployees, a n d atto rn e y s,
o r th o se in activ e concert a n d p a rtic ip a tio n w ith th e m , a n d w ho sh a ll by p ersonal
service o r otherw ise h av e received a c tu a l notice of th e sam e.
S e c . 268.26. Injunctions: A ppeals.— W h enever a n y c o u rt o r ju d g e o r judges
th ereo f sh allissu e or deny a n y te m p o ra ry in ju n c tio n in a case inv o lv in g or grow ing
o u t of a lab o r d isp u te , th e c o u rt shall, upo n th e re q u e s t of a n y p a rty to th e
proceedings, an d on his filing th e u su al b o n d fo r costs, fo rth w ith ce rtify th e e n tire
record of th e case, in clu d in g a tra n s c rip t of th e ev idence ta k e n , to th e a p p ro p ria te
a p p ellate c o u rt for its review . U pon th e filing of su ch reco rd in th e a p p ro p ria te
ap p e lla te c o u rt th e a p p e a l sh a ll be h e a rd w ith th e g re a te st possible expedition,
giving th e proceeding precedence o v er a ll o th e r m a tte rs ex cep t old er m a tte rs of
th e sam e c h a racter.
. S e c . 268.27 Contempt cases.— In all cases w here a person shall be charged w ith
civil o r crim inal c o n te m p t fo r v iolation of a restrain in g o rd er o r in ju n c tio n issued
b y a c o u rt or judge or judges thereof, th e accused sh all enjoy:
(1) T h e rig h ts as to adm ission to b ail th a t are accorded to persons accused of
crim e.
(2) T h e rig h t to be notified of th e accu satio n a n d a reasonable tim e to m ake
a defense, p rovided th e alleged c o n te m p t is n o t c o m m itted in th e im m ed iate
view or presence of th e co u rt.
(3) U pon dem an d , th e rig h t to a speedy a n d p ublic tria l b y a n im p a rtia l ju ry
of th e co u n ty w herein th e c o n te m p t sh a ll h a v e been co m m itted , pro v id ed th a t
th is req u irem en t shall n o t be co n stru ed to a p p ly to co n te m p ts c o m m itted in th e
presence of th e c o u rt o r so n ear th e re to as to in terfe re d irectly w ith th e ad m in is
tra tio n of ju stice o r to a p p ly to th e m isbehavior, m isconduct, o r disobedience
of a n y officer of th e c o u rt in resp ect to th e w rits, orders, o r process of th e court.
All c o n te m p t proceedings, w h eth er civil o r crim inal, b ro u g h t fo r th e alleged
violation of an y su c h restra in in g o rd er or in ju n ctio n , are, a n d h ereb y are declared
to be in d ep en d en t, original, special proceedings, a n d sh all req u ire a unanim ous
finding of th e ju ry .
(4) T h e rig h t to file w ith th e c o u rt a d em an d for th e re tire m e n t of th e ju d g e
sittin g in th e proceeding, u p o n a n affidavit of preju d ice being filed as is now pro
vided b y law in o th e r cases. U pon th e filing of a n y su ch affidavit, th e jud g e
shall th ereu p o n proceed no fu rth e r, b u t a n o th e r ju d g e sh all be d esig n ated as is
now pro v id ed fo r in o th e r cases. T h e affidavit sh all be filed p rio r to th e hearing
in th e c o n tem p t proceeding.
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LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
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S e c . 268.28. Punishment for contempt.— P u n ish m en t fo r a co n tem p t, specified
in section 268.27, m ay be by fine, n o t exceeding $25, or b y im p riso n m en t n o t
exceeding 10 days, in th e ja il of th e c o u n ty w here th e c o u rt is sittin g , or b o th ,
in th e discretion of th e co u rt. W here a person is co m m itted to ja il fo r th e non
p a y m e n t of such a fine he m u st be discharged a t th e ex p iratio n of 15 d ay s; b u t
w here he is also com m itted for a definite tim e, th e 15 day s m u st be com puted
from th e expiration of th e definite tim e.
S ec . 268.29. Definitions.— (1) A case shall be held to involve or to grow o u t of a
labor disp u te w hen th e case involves persons who are engaged in a single in d u stry ,
trad e, craft, or occupation; or who are em ployees of one em ployer; or who are
m em bers of th e sam e or a n affiliated o rganization of em ployers or em ployees;
w hether such disp u te is (1) betw een one or m ore em ployers or associations of
em ployers a n d one or m ore em ployees or associations of em ployees; (2) betw een
one or m ore em ployers o r associations of em ployers a n d one or m ore em ployers
or associations of em ployers; or (3) betw een one or m ore em ployees or associations
of em ployees a n d one or m ore em ployees or associations of em ployees; or when
th e case involves an y conflicting or com peting in te re sts in a “ lab o r d is p u te ”
(as defined in subsec. (3) of “ persons p a rtic ip a tin g or in te re ste d ” th erein as
defined in subsec. (2)).
(2) A person or association shall be held to be a person p a rtic ip a tin g or in te r
ested in a lab o r disp u te if relief is so u g h t ag ain st him or i t a n d if he or i t is en
gaged in th e in d u stry , tra d e , c raft, or occupation in w hich such d isp u te occurs,
or is a m em ber, officer, or a g e n t of a n y association of em ployers or em ployees
engaged in such in d u stry , tra d e , c raft, or occupation.
(3) T he te rm “ lab o r d is p u te ” includes a n y co ntroversy concerning term s or
conditions of em ploym ent, o r concerning th e association or re p resen tatio n of
persons in negotiating, fixing, m ain tain in g , changing, o r seeking to arrange
term s or conditions of em ploym ent, or concerning em p lo y m en t relations, or an y
o th er controversy arising o u t of th e respective in te re sts of em ployer a n d em ployee,
regardless of w hether or n o t th e d isp u ta n ts s ta n d in th e p ro x im ate rela tio n of
em ployer a n d em ployee.
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
C o m p en sa tio n for In fe c tio n s
New York
potential dangers of seemingly insignificant wounds are
plainly pointed out in a recent bulletin prepared by the bureau
THE
of industrial hygiene of the New York State Department of Labor,
entitled “ Splinters, a cause of injuries.”
The average person considers a splinter injury as of very minor
importance. While this is true in many cases, there is no certainty
that it may not result in the loss of a hand or an arm, or even cause
death. The puncture or wound produced by a splinter can not be
properly treated with antiseptics by the layman, and consequently
there is great tendency to infection. This is shown by the fact that
82 per cent of compensated injuries from splinters in the State of
New York are infected, while only 13 per cent of injuries from all
causes become infected.
The problem is serious because such injuries are very common.
In the New York City district alone about 35 splinter injuries are
reported daily, making a total, of 10,500 for a working year. A full
44 per cent of these involve infection, and 36 per cent show loss of
time. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1929, seven deaths
occurred from splinter injuries in New York State, and the com
pensation cost amounted to more than $350,000.
Records of compensated splinter injuries for the two years ending
June 30, 1929, are shown in the following table:
T able 1 . — C O M P E N S A T E D S P L IN T E R IN J U R IE S IN S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K , JU L Y 1, 1927,
TO J U N E 30, 1929
1928-29
1927-28
Splinters
W ood__________________
M etal- ------- ------
Infected
N um
ber of
cases
Per
closed cent
of
total
1,140
426
80
86
cases
Cost
per
case
Noninfected
cases
Per
cent of
total
$231
251
1, 566
20
14
Cost
per
case
$47
4
N um
N um
ount
ber of F atali ber of Aofmcom
ties
cases
weeks pensation
closed
lost
1,207
527
6
1
17, 669
5, 539
$263,144
89, 786
1,734
7
23, 208
352, 930
The columns for 1927-28 show that 95 per cent of the cost in
wood-splinter injuries and 99.7 per cent of the cost in metal-splinter
injuries was for infected cases.
Part of the bulletin is devoted to an analysis of outstanding cases,
and to prevention of splinter accidents.
58
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
Wisconsin
B u l l e t i n N o. 32 of Wisconsin Labor Statistics, published by the
Industrial Commission of Wisconsin February^ 10, 1931, also deals
with infections, but from all causes, and contains detailed statistics
on the subj ect.
That infections increase the medical cost is plainly shown by a
comparison of infected and noninfected cases with similar disability
periods, reproduced from the bulletin.
T able 2 — CO ST P E R
CA SE IN
IN F E C T E D A N D N O N IN F E C T E D
W IS C O N S IN
IN J U R IE S IN
Average cost per case
Length of disability
1
to
2 to
3 to
4 to
5 to
N oninfect
ed cases
$18.28
24.92
33. 97
43. 93
56. 98
2 w eek s-.. _ ______
_____
3 weeks
_ .
4 weeks_______ - _____ ___ 5 w eek s,.
. . . ___
6 weeks
__________
Infected
cases
$19. 86
29. 29
45. 38
60. 60
90. 28
It is shown that 8 per cent of all compensated injuries in the State
in 1929 involved infection. Splinters are not mentioned specifically,
but the figures prove that 32.9 per cent of the 22,630 compensation
cases settled in 1929 were injuries to hands and fingers, and that 17.4
per cent of these were infected cases. The hand and finger injuries,
of course, also include amputations, bruises, cuts, fractures, etc.
The existence of infection in compensated-inj ury cases in Wisconsin
during 1928 and 1929, by degree of disability, is shown in the follow
ing table:
T a b l e 3 .— P R O P O R T IO N O F IN F E C T IO N IN C O M P E N S A T E D IN J U R IE S IN W ISC O N SIN ,
1928 A N D 1929
1929
1928
Degree of disability
N um ber N um ber
of cases
of cases
infected
closed
Per cent N um ber N um ber
of cases of cases of cases
infected
infected
closed
1
0
F a ta l----------- ------- ------ ----------------------Perm anent to tal disability____________ Perm anent partial d isab ility __ _________
T em porary d isab ility . _________________
229
3
1,947
19, 639
26
1, 712
0
0
1.3
8.7
241
3
2,237
20,143
74
1, 732
T o tal---------------- ------------------------
21,818
1, 738
8.0
22, 630
1,807
0
0
Per cent
of cases
infected
0.4
0.0
3. 3
8.6
8.0
R ecen t W ork m en ’s C o m p en sa tio n R eports
C o n n e c tic u t
HE tenth report of the Board of Compensation Commissioners of
Connecticut, covering the 2-year period from November 1, 1928,
to November 1, 1930, summarizes briefly the experience under the
workmen’s compensation act of the State. Detailed statistics are not
T
67999°— 31-
-5
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[319]
60
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
available, as the commissioners have no facilities for collecting and
publishing them.
Reports were received of 56,123 accidents during the two years,
while the number reported during the previous biennium was 64,343,
a reduction of 8,220 accidents. This decrease, it is stated, probably
means that fewer workers were employed during 1929 and 1930, so
that there was less exposure to hazards, and also that in many cases
reports were made only of accidents causing disability for more than
the waiting period of seven days or involving specific payments, al
though the law provides that reports shall be made of all accidents
resulting in disability of one day or more. While accidents as a whole
show a decrease, an increase appears in fatal accidents, which totaled
238 during the two years, as compared with 225 for the previous 2-year
period.
Direct-compensation payments to injured workers or their dependents
during the period covered by the report amounted to $3,902,962.60
for insurance companies and $666,741.82 for self-insurers, while pay
ments for surgical, medical, and hospital services amounted to $2,783,512.53 for insurance companies and $699,437.83 for self-insurers,
making a total of $8,052,654.78, as compared with $7,306,732.90 for
the previous 2-year period.
M o n ta n a
T h e fifteenth annual report of the Industrial Accident Board of
Montana covers the administration of the workmen’s compensation
act and the activities of the bureau of safety and the bureau of civilian
rehabilitation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1930.
Information relating to the number of accidents, classified by
degree of disability, with amount of compensation and medical
benefits paid under each of the three insurance plans permitted in
the State, is summarized in the following table:
E X P E R IE N C E U N D E R W O R K M E N ’S C O M P E N S A T IO N A C T O F M O N T A N A JU L Y 1
1929, TO JU N E 30, 1930
'
’
’
Self-in
surers
Item
N um ber of employers __
N u m b er of employees_____
S3
23, 291
N u m b er of accidents resulting in—
D e ath __ _ ___ _
Perm anent to tal d isab ility ________
Perm anent p artial disability^
Tem porary disability over i4 days.
Tem porary disability less th a n 14 d ay s„_
T o tal__________________
[320]
All plans
1,691
16, 268
1,847
19, 648
3, 591
59,207
56
13
25
19
609
2,061
36
1,093
2,199
94
3
113
3,114
5, 571
2, 839
2,702
3, 354
8, 895
, 786. 00
9, 004. 60
147, 465. 92
2, 932. 00
39, 911. 73
344, 260. 24
$1, 050. 00
59, 514. 26
28, 971. 80
816. 00
10,634. 74
81, 592.14
$6, 200. 00
94, 687.48
87, 797.15
31, 083. 37
85,435.14
135, 708. 84
$14, 036. 00
163,206. 34
264, 234.87
34,831.37
135, 981. 61
561, 561.22
550, 360. 49
182, 578. 94
51, 712. 26
82, 730. 46
4, 829. 41
28, 532. 97
T o tal______ ______________
A m ount of lum p-sum paym ents:
F atal c a s e s _____
N onfatal cases...............
--------- .— .----------- -------- ----------------------------
State
fund
58
1,412
1,311
2
A m ount disbursed for—
Funeral expense....... .........
M edical expense.............
F a ta l acciderits____ _____
P erm an en t to ta l disability accidents.................
Perm anent p artial disability a cc id e n ts.. .
T em porary disability accidents....... ...........
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Insurance
companies
86
0
1
440, 911. 98 1,173,851. 41
9,454. 92
35,566.83
65, 996. 59
146,830.26
INSURANCE AND PENSIONS
Civil Service R e tirem en t and D isa b ility F u n d , 1930
HE annual report of the United States Bureau of Pensions for
the year ending June 30, 1930, contains some data relating to the
annuitants under the Federal retirement act and to the condition of
the fund set up under its terms. At the end of the fiscal year 1929-30
there were 17,768 annuitants on the retirement roll, of whom 16,314
were male and 1,454 were female retirants. Grouped according to
cause of retirement, 12,504 had left the service under the age provi
sions, 3,994 on account of disability, and 1,270 were cases of involun
tary separation. The following statement shows the annuitants
grouped according to the amount of annuity received, and also the
amount of the average annuity.
T
N um ber of
annuitants
U nder $100_________________________________________
$100 a n d u n d er $200___________________________________
$200 a n d u nder $300___________________________________
$300 a n d u n d er $400-----------------------$400 a n d u n d er $500___________________________________
$500 a n d u n d er $600___________________________________
$600 a n d u n d e r $700___________________________________
$700 a n d u n d er $800___________________________________
$800 a n d u n d er $900_______________
$900 a n d u n d er $999.96________________________________
$999.96 (m axim um a n n u ity )____________________________
1,
1,
1,
2,
2,
1,
4,
12
127
437
842
643
678
735
074
672
919
629
T o ta l___________________________________________
17, 768
A verage an n u a l a n n u ity ________________________________ $759. 40
The annual value of the retirement roll at that date, found by multi
plying the number of annuitants by the average annual rate, was
$13,492,984.
A statement of the receipts and expenditures of the fund for each of
the 10 years since its formation shows the increase in the operations
of the system. For the fiscal year 1920-21, the receipts from employees7
contributions amounted to $12,513,637, and the income from interest,
profits, and miscellaneous items to $72,753; in 1929-30, employees7
contributions amounted to $29,027,662, income from interest, profits,
and miscellaneous items to $5,899,257, and the amount paid in by the
Federal Government, which had made its first contribution in 1928-29,
was $20,500,000. In 1920-21, disbursements on account of annuities
were $2,590,569, while in 1929-30 they were $13,107,732. The
balance in the fund at the close of the fiscal year 1920-21 was
$9,672,842, and on June 30, 1930, it was $156,795,476.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
61
[3211
62
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
M o th ers’ A llow an ces in O ntario, Canada
HE tenth annual report of the Ontario Mothers’ Allowance
Commission, which has recently been issued, states that during
the year 1929-30 there was a steady increase in its work. On October
31, 1930, the commission had under its care 5,626 families in which
were 16,908 children, an increase of 924 over the number of children
listed at the same date of the preceding year. The amount paid
during the year to beneficiaries was $2,394,088, against $2,306,083
during 1928-29, an increase of $88,005. The cost of administration
was $84,117, or 3.54 per cent of the amount expended.
The report calls attention to one of the problems which confront
the commission in the case of thrifty families who have made some
provision for the situation caused by the father’s death. Under the
law a mother ’s allowance can not be paid to an applicant who has
oyer $500 in liquid assets, but if a man has carried life insurance his
widow is apt to have something over this limit. To meet this situa
tion a plan has been worked out by which such insurance may be
changed into a fixed asset, to be gradually retired by monthly pay
ments to the family. These payments are then supplemented by an
allowance under the act, so that the family has the assurance of a
steady income over a term of years, its duration varying in accord
ance with the ages of the children.
T
T his schem e is w orking o u t very well indeed, n o t only assuring a stead y incom e
while^ th e children a re young, b u t also in assuring m en who see th e value of
carrying a fa ir am o u n t of in su ran ce t h a t b y so doing th e ir fam ilies in th e ev en t
of th e d e a th of th e fa th e r are n o t d eb arred from p a rtic ip a tin g in th e benefits of
a n a c t p rovided fo r such a contingency, b u t on th e o th e r h a n d are assured th a t
th e fam ily incom e is larg er w hile th e children a re young, as a resu lt of th e ir
m aking provision by carry in g insurance.
O ld-A ge and In v a lid ity P en sio n s for Salaried E m p loyees in
L uxem burg
LAW was enacted in Luxemburg, dated January 29, 1931, which
provides for the extension of the State system of old-age and
invalidity insurance to salaried workers who were not provided for
in the general law of 1925.1
Employees, in all types of private enterprise, who are under 55
years of age, are subject to compulsory insurance. The annual
remuneration on which the pension is based includes beside the
salary any additional payment or bonuses which the employee
receives by reason of his principal occupation. If the annual remun
eration, including such supplementary payments, is below 7,200
francs ($200.16),2however, this amount will be considered the annual
remuneration for the purpose of fixing the contributions.
The total contribution to the pension fund amopnts to 10 per cent
of the total annual remuneration of the insured person, 5 per cent
being paid by the employer and 5 per cent by the employee. If the
total annual earnings are less than 7,200 francs, however, the em
ployee pays 5 per cent of his real earnings while the employer is
A
1G rand-D uchy of Luxemburg. M emorial, M ar. 21, 1931, containing pension law of Jan. 29, 1931
2Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of franc=2.78 cents.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1322]
INSURANCE AND PENSIONS
63
required to pay 5 per cent of 7,200 francs plus the difference between
the employee’s contribution and 5 per cent of 7,200 francs. In other
words, the total contribution must be at least 10 per cent of 7,200
francs.
The law provides for a pension beginning at age 66, a disability
allowance in case of permanent invalidity or of temporary invalidity
lasting more than three months, widows’ and. orphans’ pensions,
special death allowances, special payments to insured women, and
preventive or curative medical treatment. No insured person is
entitled to any of these benefits unless the contributions have been
paid for 60 months.
The old-age and invalidity pensions consist of a uniform basic
pension of 3,600 francs ($100.08) increased by 14 per cent of the total
contribution paid into the account of the insured and an additional
payment for family charges, an allowance being paid for each child
under 18 years of age who is in the legal charge of the pensioner.
These allowances amount to 1,200 francs ($33.36) per year for each
child. An additional payment is made by the State to pensioners
whose annual income, including the pension, does not exceed 15,000
francs ($417). This supplementary payment amounts to 500 francs
($13.90) for pensions not exceeding 5,000 francs ($139) and 250 francs
($6.95) for pensions between 5,000 and 8,000 francs. In no case may
the total pension exceed the average of the five highest annual salary
payments nor five-sixths of the highest annual earnings (including
supplementary payments). The pension of the surviving husband
or wife amounts to six-tenths of the pension which the insured person
was receiving at the time of death, and the orphans’ pension amounts
to two-tenths of this sum, but if both parents are dead, to twice this
amount. The total pensions of the survivors may not exceed the
amount of the original pension.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[323]
COOPERATION
B u sin ess of C ooperative Oil A sso cia tio n s in N orth C entral S ta te s
in 1930
HE year 1930, according to the Cooperative Oil News (Minne
apolis) for April, 1931, was “ the most successful year in the
amount of patronage dividends returned that the cooperative oil
movement has ever experienced. ” The same publication is authority
for the statement that “ The cooperatives of Minnesota last year
handled 6 per cent of the gasoline and 13 per cent of the kerosene sold
in the State. In the localities where the cooperatives are located they
enjoy, on the average, 32 per cent of the gasoline and 51 per cent of
the kerosene business. The cooperatives handled 24,000,000 gallons
of gasoline and over 6,000,000 gallons of kerosene and distillate. ”
The following table, compiled from figures given in the report, shows
the sales and net gains on the 1930 business:
T
SALES A N D N E T G A IN S OF 43 C O O P E R A T IV E O IL A SSO C IA T IO N S IN 1930
State
N um ber of
share
associations Paid-in
capital
reporting
N et gain on
1930 sales
Sales
Iowa
______
___ _
M innesota____ _____ _______
N orth D akota__ - ________
South D akota-______
W isconsin......... .................. .
3
35
1
3
1
$37,486
302,166
8,460
36, 755
7,420
$365, 007
2, 762,148
68, 353
477, 938
77,821
$55, 647
451, 669
9, 636
68,130
13, 074
T o tal. ________
43
392, 287
3, 751, 267
598,156
The 43 associations shown above were distributed, according to
annual sales, as follows:
N um ber
Less th a n $25,000____________________________________________ 1
$25,000 a n d u n d er $50,000___________________________________ 12
$50,000 a n d u n d er $100,000__________________________________ 19
$ 100,000 a n d u n d er $ 200,000_________________________________ 8
$ 200,000 a n d o v e r___________________________________________
3
T o ta l_________________________________________________ 43
Figured on the basis of capital, the profits ranged from 43 to 319 per
cent, and averaged 152 per cent. Figured on the basis of sales, they
ranged from 8.1 to 24.3 per cent, averaging 15.9 per cent.
64
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[324]
COOPERATION
65
U n u su a l F orm s of C ooperative S o cieties
N INTERESTING account of some unusual types of consumers’
cooperative societies is given in the April, 1931, issue of Coopera
tion (New York). Although these societies deviate considerably
from the accepted cooperative principles, “ all are emphatic in thinking
that their own organizations are the soundest and most truly coop
erative and that others are something less than 100 per cent adherents
to the democratic ideal.”
A group of societies in the anthracite coal region of eastern Penn
sylvania is described as follows:
A
T hey open th e ir stores only a fte r 5 o ’clock in th e aftern o o n or p erh ap s noon on
S atu rd ay s or holidays. Signs p ro m in en tly displayed over th e d oor fo rb id an y
b u t m em bers to e n te r; tra d e is exclusively w ith in th e m em bership. N o wages
are p aid ; th e storekeepers w ork in th e m ines d u rin g th e d ay a n d sell m erchandise
in th e evening. T h ere is no m an ag e r; only a m an ag e m en t co m m ittee of th e
board. E v ery m em ber m u s t ta k e his tu r n a t keeping sto re, a n d each serves in
t h a t cap acity for one w eek only. N o cash is h an d led in th e sto re itself; all sales
are on th e m em ber’s "book, a n d ev ery tw o w eeks he m u st com e to th e tre a su re r
a n d settle u p for his purchases. M em bers o u t of w ork m ay g e t c re d it u p to_75
p er cen t of th e ir p aid -in c ap ital. E v ery m em ber m u st tra d e a t th e cooperative
exclusively a n d anyone c a u g h t tra d in g a t a n o th e r sto re m ay be expelled from th e
organization. M onth ly dues m u st be p aid by all m em bers; these dues are as
high as $3 in som e stores, $2 in others, still sm aller a m o u n ts in others.
In one society, applicants for membership are voted upon at the
general membership meeting by secret ballot with black and white
balls, and as many as three black balls will bar the applicant from
membership.
The initial payment for a share of stock varies in these societies
from $25 to as high as $55. However, instead of following the cooper
ative practice of keeping the shares always at par, in these organiza
tions the value of the share varies with the net worth of the business.
As a result, in one society the shares are reported to be valued at
$588, and in several others at about $200. The article points out that
this practice “ discourages the enlistment of new members and a few
of the leaders begin to realize it.” One society in New Jersey, which
followed this practice at first, discontinued the practice in order to
expand. It still sells only to members, but its membership has
increased to more than 600.
A few of these societies pay dividends on stock instead of on pur
chases, but this practice is frowned upon by most of the others,“ most
of which refuse to pay even a low interest on capital.”
The article concludes as follows:
D em ocratic these organizations certain ly are, for th e y are looked upo n by th e ir
m em bers even m ore as social clubs th a n as business firms, an d th e back room of each
store is crow ded to cap acity every evening a n d all d ay S u n d ay . M any of th e m are
extrem ely successful financially, as a co operative should be w hich h as no wages
to p ay , w hich has a reg u lar incom e of large m o n th ly dues from each m em ber,
a n d w hich can enforce tra d in g lo y alty . A ccording to th e sta n d a rd s of business
efficiency of m ost of th e larg er societies of o th e r n a tio n a lity groups in th is co u n try ,
these a re extrem ely p rim itiv e a n d unbusinesslike.
On Ja n u a ry 18 th e first g en eral conference of Ita lia n cooperatives took place
in U nion C ity , N. J., w ith re p resen tativ es in a tte n d a n c e froni M assachusetts,
C onnecticut, N ew Y ork, New Jersey, a n d P en n sy lv an ia. If th is is followed up
b y o th e r sim ilar conferences, as delegates prom ise, th ese sh arp differences in
form of organization will g rad u ally be elim in ated a n d all will come ro u n d to fol
low ing one sta n d a rd w hich will d oubtless closely ap p ro x im ate th a t of R ochdale.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[325]
66
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
D ev elo p m en t of C o n su m ers’ C ooperative M ovem en t in
G erm an y, 1930
HE 1931 yearbook of the Central Union of German Consumers’
Societies gives detailed, statistics regarding the development of
consumers’ cooperation in that country.1
The table following shows the number of societies of each type in
certain specified years. As it shows, the credit societies and the
housing societies have made consistent gains in numbers. The num
ber of consumers’ societies has decreased, but this has been due to
the amalgamations between societies.
T
T a b le 1— N U M B E R OF C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S R E G IS T E R E D ON JA N U A R Y 1 O F
S P E C IF IE D Y E A R S
N um ber of societies, Jan. 1—
T y p e of society
C redit societies______________________ ____
Societies dealing in raw materials:
In d u strial societies____________________
A gricultural societies__________________
Societies for purchase of m erchandise............
Establishm ent societies:
In d u strial____________________________
A gricultural__________________________
Societies for purchase of m achinery and tools.
W arehousing societies:
In d u strial____________________________
A gricultural______________ I __________
R aw m aterials and w arehousing societies:
In d u strial_________ __________________
A gricultural__________________________
W orkers’ productive societies:
In d u strial____________________
A gricultural__________________
Stock breeding and grazing societies.
Consumers’ societies______________
Housing societies_________________
O ther building societies___________
O ther types of societies................. .
T o tal______________________
1914
1919
1924
19,203
20,199
21,602
21, 947
436
2,429
317
1,353
2, 935
648
2,121
4,701
1, 344
1,701
4,144
1,061
348
1,909
17
339
2,404
13
341
7,134
19
242
7, 366
41
123
.512
128
637
135
974,
96
1,311
154
24
233
40
276
45
68
44
428
4,001
486
2,340
1,346
128
378
1,106
4, 094
588
2,313
1, 485
135
406
1,060
4,117
952
2,408
3,795
228
1,074
793
5,357
999
2,080
4, 358
336
909
34, 579
39,056
52, 326
52,853
1930
Table 2 shows the membership and sales of the consumers’ societies
affiliated to the Central Union of Consumers’ Societies and of the
Cooperative Wholesale Society (G. E. G.) in 1929 and 1930.
T a b l e 2 . — M E M B E R S H IP A N D
SALES OF G E R M A N C O N S U M E R S ’ S O C IE T IE S A N D
C O O P E R A T IV E W H O L E S A L E SO C IE T Y , 1930
[Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of m ark=23.8 cents]
Society and year
Consumers’ societies affiliated to C entral Union:
1929________
1930_________
Cooperative W holesale Society:
1929___________
1930__________
N um um ber
ber of N
m em
soci of bers
eties
A m ount of business
German
currency
M a rks
2,859, 516
974 2, 940,308
1 9 A 0 8 9 7 äfiö
“ 885
“909
AQP; 9 ^ 7 ÆC\Æ
° Affiliated societies.
1,176,294,809 $279, 958,165
295,198,033
501,378,122
119,327,993
117,871,262
^No data.
1Zentralverband D eutscher Konsum vereine. Jahrbuch, 1931. E rste r Teil.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
U nited
States
currency
[326]
N um
ber of
per
sons
em
ployed
H am burg, 1931.
57,463
O)
7,165
COOPERATION
67
F ish e rm e n ’s C ooperative A sso cia tio n s in Spain
HE “ pósitos” of the Spanish fishermen have attained a remark
able development. These are cooperative associations which,
organized primarily to prevent the exploitation of the fishermen by
the private dealers and to secure favorable prices for the catch, have
developed into organizations which touch the lives of the members
at almost every point.
An account of these societies is given in Cooperative Information.1
According to that account a great development has taken place in
this phase of cooperative effort since 1918. In that year there were
30 such societies. By 1922 the number had risen to 57 and these had
in membership some 12,000 fishermen. In 1929 there were 170 such
associations, with a membership of 37,750. As there are some
150,000 fishermen in Spain, it is seen that more than one-fourth of
the total belong to the pósitos.
The associations have a combined capital of 1,926,159 pesetas 2
($283,145) and own 116 buildings, worth 2,747,551 pesetas ($403,890)
and other property valued at 294,445 'pesetas ($43,283). This does
not include the value of the 53 vessels collectively owned, which is
placed at 377,261 pesetas (55,457).
The societies have recently organized a national body, the Confeder
ación Nacional de Pósitos Marítimos. A number of different sections
have been organized in this body to deal with the various activities
of the affiliated societies—the purchase of household and fishing sup
plies, the marketing of the catch, the credit and savings funds, mutual
aid, accident insurance, employment, unemployment insurance,
education, etc.
During the period 1924-1929 the marketing sections sold fish to
the value of 35,317,372 pesetas ($5,191,654) on which the net profit
amounted to 1,835,198 pesetas ($269,774).
Among the most interesting activities are the mutual aid and
insurance. The mutual aid section had 24,078 members in 1929.
These pay sick and death benefits and provide medical care and medi
cal attendance. During the 5-year period, 1924-1929, the benefits
paid amounted to 1,020,326 pesetas ($149,988). The insurance
sections pay benefits for the death of fishermen who die in shipwrecks.
Each member fisherman is assessed 0.05 peseta (0.7 cent) for each
death. During 1924-1929 the sum of 24,625 pesetas ($3,620) was
paid for 204 cases of shipwreck. The unemployment insurance
sections pay benefits for time lost from fishing because of weather or
unfavorable conditions.
Some of the societies have funds from which small loans are granted
to members, at 3 per cent interest, on the security of the borrower’s
vessels, nets, and gear. Other societies have employment agencies
which endeavor to find work for the members.
Several pósitos have constructed clubhouses where the fishermen
may spend their spare time while ashore, the object being “ to provide
the fishermen with facilities for educational improvement, while at
the same time offering means of rest and recreation.” These clubs,
or “ homes,” it is said, are springing up all along the coast.
T
1 International Labor Office. Cooperative Inform ation, Geneva, No. 2 (115), 1931.
2 Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of average exchange rate for 1929=14.7 cents.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[327]
68
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
Other activities of these societies include the joint purchase of house
hold supplies, fishing tackle and supplies; the holding of courses to
train the members in questions relating to the fishing trade; and the
children’s sections which give general and vocational courses, train
the children along artistic lines, and instill cooperative principles.
As an “ example of how and to what extent institutions of this kind
can transform the conditions of life and work,” the pósito of the fisher
men of the port of La Silva is described, as follows;
An extrem ely w ell-organized cooperative society h as m ade it possible to dis
trib u te articles of household co nsum ption to all th e in h a b ita n ts of th e locality.
A m u tu a l aid sy stem fo r g ra n tin g m edical a tte n d a n c e a n d drugs h as been e sta b
lished, a n d th ere is insurance ag a in st in v alid ity , old age, a n d d e a th . T h e “ p ó sito ”
has its ow n building, shops, school, etc., a n d it is proposing to buy th e local th e a te r
cafe, an d cen ter of recreation, so th a t before long th is association of m odest
fisherm en, who form erly lived in w retch ed circum stances, exploited by a whole
netw ork of m iddlem en, will h av e in its h an d s th e whole life of th e locality. T he
surpluses o b tain ed b y its various sections will be used fo r social in stitu tio n s an d
th e im provem ent of th e various form s of pension, as also fo r p rom oting th e ed u
cation of m em bers a n d th e public in general.
In 1919 a Government agency was set up, the Marine Social Insti
tute, charged with the duty of promoting the formation of the pósitos
and of assisting them in their various activities. It is empowered
also_ to make grants and loans to the societies and to the various
sections. To this institute is due much of the credit for the develop
ment of the pósitos.
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1328]
RECREATION
C o m m u n ity R ecreation in th e U n ited S ta te s in 1930
HERE was a steady growth in the public recreation movement
during 1930, according to the annual report1 of the National
Recreation Association for that year. The number of cities reporting
recreation facilities and programs increased from 945 in 1929 to 980
in 1930, and the number of workers employed as leaders of community
recreation activities reported by 828 cities was 24,949, or 2,029 more
than were reported for the previous year. Nearly half of the reported
recreation leaders were men, this being the first time that the number
of men had approximated the number of women employed for recre
ation service. Increasing emphasis is being placed upon the training
of employed recreation workers, 170 cities reporting training classes in
which a total of 11,534 workers were enrolled, while in 160 cities 6,495
volunteer workers received instruction. Full-time year-round work
ers, as reported by 282 cities, numbered 2,660. The salaries and
wages of leaders, as reported by 736 cities, amounted to $8,135,656.20
and the total expenditures for recreation purposes for all the cities and
communities was approximately $38,520,000.
A total of 13,354 separate play areas and centers under leadership
was reported, of which 791 were opened in 1930 for the first time.
The recreation facilities provided, for the cities furnishing information,
include 7,677 outdoor playgrounds, 2,066 indoor recreation centers,
and 642 recreation buildings, part of these facilities being provided
for colored residents. The total yearly or seasonal attendance of
participants and spectators at outdoor playgrounds as reported by
573 cities was 206,816,987, while the attendance at indoor recreation
centers in 146 cities was 14,018,147. These figures do not include the
millions of persons using the athletic fields, bathing beaches and swim
ming pools, golf courses, summer camps, and other recreation areas.
The present report brings out the increasing importance of organ
ized league activities. Thus, there were 9,488 leagues, including
73,917 teams engaged in playing baseball, basket ball, bowling, foot
ball, soccer, tennis, field hockey, and other games. These teams
included 1,603,427 players, who played altogether considerably more
than a million games. In addition to sports and games, the special
activities carried out by the recreation departments cover practically
all artistic and social fields and the report for this year indicates that
music and the drama are receiving increasing recognition as important
factors in the community recreation program.
The administration of the recreation program in the majority of
cities is carried out by various municipal commissions, boards, or
departments, and in a number of cities municipal and private authori
ties unite in the management of recreation activities and facilities,
T
i Recreation (New Y ork), June, 1931, pp. 114-127.
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
while _a comparatively small number are maintained by private
agencies alone. The source of support of the recreational activities,
in addition to receipts from the operation of these facilities, was the
municipal funds in the majority of cases. More than 85 per cent of'
the money spent for which the source was reported was derived from
municipal, county, or other public bodies, about 11 per cent came from
fees and charges, and only a little more than 4 per cent was secured
from private sources. In 52 cities land was donated by the city
during the year for recreation use, the estimated value of 48 of these
donated areas being equal to more than $1,550,000.
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[330]
LABOR AGREEMENTS, AWARDS, AND
DECISIONS
A greem en ts
M in e W o rk ers— P itts b u r g h
HE Pittsburgh Terminal Coal Corporation and District No. 5 of
the United Mine Workers of America entered into an agreement
effective from June 23, 1931, to June 30, 1932. _
.
The agreement, affecting 2,465 mine workers m six mines of the
Pittsburgh Terminal Coal Corporation, provides for full recognition
of the United Mine Workers of America, recognizes the right of the
employees to elect by ballot one of their number to act in the capacity
of checkweighman at each of the mines, and establishes the check-off
of union dues and assessments. I t reestablishes the basic 8-hour day
with recognition of the right of the coal company to work transporta
tion and tipple men nine hours, with pay for the extra hour, m case
of emergency.
J
,
The pick rate is increased from 55 cents to 60 cents per ton based
on a net ton of 2,000 pounds. A rate of $4.50 per day is established for
inside motormen, drivers, cagers and snappers, of $4.25 for trackmen
and masons, with a minimum of $4 per day for other insicie day labor,
and a uniform payment at the mines for yardage and dead work
The agreement provides also for periodic _discussions^at 90-day
intervals between representatives of the United Mine Workers ot
America and the Pittsburgh Terminal Coal Corporation, as follows:
T
As th is w age ag reem en t is m ad e b y a n d betw een th e U n ited M ine H orkers of
A m erica a n d th e P ittsb u rg h T erm in al C oal C o rp o ratio n m a sp irit of co n stru ctiv e
cooperation fo r th e purpose of stabilizing th e m ining in d u s try of P en n sy lv an ia,
i t isPagreed t h a t th e rep resen tativ es of th e P itts b u rg h T e rm in a i C oal C o rp o ratio n
a n d th e U n ited M ine W orkers of A m erica sh all m e e t 90 d ay s fro m th e d a te of th e
beginning of th is ag reem en t a n d each 90 d ay s th ere a fte r, fo r th e p u rpose of con
sidering possible changes in th e w age scale.
J o in t A g r e e m e n t o f B r ic k la y e r s ’ , C a r p e n te rs ’ , a n d E le c tr ic a l W o rk ers’ U n io n s
A t r i - p a r t y agreement bringing together three international
unions in the building industry was entered into on May 7, 1931, by
the Bricklayers, Masons, and Plasterers’ International union o
America, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of Amer
ica and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Ihe
agreement covers the conditions under which stoppage of woik may
occur and points to employment of members of the allied organi
zations as the prime object of this agreement.
The agreement in full is as follows:
F irst: W e agree to a general alliance w hereby th ro u g h co operation a condition
will be established calling for th e em p lo y m en t on a n y o p eratio n of those w orkm en
71
mu
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72
MONTHLY LABOE EEVIEW
who are in good stan d in g in th e B ricklayers, M asons, a n d P la ste re rs’ In te rn a
tional U nion of A m erica, th e U n ited B ro th erh o o d of C a rp en te rs a n d Jo in ers of
A m erica, a n d th e In te rn a tio n a l B ro th erh o o d of E le c tric a l W orkers. I t sh all be
understood t h a t a n y grievance a g a in st a n y o p eratio n t h a t m ay req u ire coopera
tiv e actio n sh all be referred to th e in te rn a tio n a l p resid en ts fo r a ctio n u n d e r th e
follow ing conditions:
Second: T h a t in all m ovem ents no su b o rd in a te union of e ith e r in te rn a tio n a l
union sh all be p e rm itte d to ta k e a n y local a ctio n w h atso ev er u n til th e q u estio n
requiring jo in t actio n sh all h av e first been su b m itte d to a n d d eterm in ed upo n bv
th e presidents of th e B ricklayers, M asons, a n d P la ste re rs’ In te rn a tio n a l U nion of
A m erica, th e U nited B ro th erh o o d of C arp en te rs a n d Joiners of A m erica, a n d th e
In te rn a tio n a l B roth erh o o d of E lectrical W orkers.
T h ird . N o m ovem en t of a n y c h a ra c te r shall be co u n ten an ced in cases w here
such w ould be in violatio n of existing ag reem en ts th a t h av e been su b m itte d to
a n d duly ap p ro v ed b y th e p resid en ts of th e in te rn a tio n a l unions as is req u ired by
th e co n stitu tio n al law s thereof.
Decisions
M o tio n -P ic tu r e -M a c h in e O p erato rs — D enver
J l NE 13, 1931, the manager of two motion-picture theaters
filed the following notice with the Industrial Commission of Col
ONorado,
and also posted copy of such notice for the information of his
employees:
N otice is hereby given th a t effective on or before 30 days from d a te we will
employ^ only one o p erato r on each sh ift in th e b o oth of th is th e a te r, in stead of
em plojung tw o o perato rs as in th e p a st. Please ta k e no tice an d govern yourselves
accordingly.
The union filed a protest against the change in working conditions
as proposed by the employer.
At the hearing on June 22, 1931, the employer contended that one
man was sufficient in the booth and. it was unnecessary to employ two
operators to do the kind of work required. He also said he had no
contract or arrangement of any kind to keep two men employed in the
booths. The union contended that two operators were necessary in
each booth if the kind of work required was to be done in an efficient
and satisfactory manner. The union stated that a contract had been
made between the managers’ association and the union which required
two operators in booths, such contract to remain in force until Sep
tember 1, 1931. The employees stated that they had a verbal agree
ment or understanding with the manager of the two theaters con
cerned, that he would operate these two theaters on the same terms
as the managers’ association was operating its theaters, and keep two
operators in each booth.
On June 23, 1931, the Industrial Commission of Colorado rendered
the following opinion and decision:
I t is th e opinion of th e com m ission t h a t th e p reponderance of th e evidence a t
th is hearing confirm s th e s ta te m e n t of th e union t h a t th e re w as a v erb al agree
m e n t o r u n d erstan d in g betw een th e above-nam ed m an ag e r a n d th e un io n t h a t
tw o m en should be em ployed in each b o o th u n til S eptem ber 1, 1931. I t seem s to
us i t w ould be a m ista k e a t th is tim e w hen th e re a re so m a n y m en o u t of em ploy
m e n t in th is city to reduce th e n u m b e r of m en now em ployed.
Now, therefore, i t is th e decision of th is com m ission t h a t said em ployer shall
n o t m ak e th e change suggested b y him b u t shall co n tin u e his o p eratio n s u n d e r th e
presen t conditions a n d keep tw o o p erato rs in each b o oth, in accordance w ith th e
verbal agreem ent or u n d erstan d in g t h a t ap p ears to h av e been m ad e betw een said
■em ployer and said union,
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[332]
WORKERS’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING
V o ca tio n a l A d ju stm e n t of th e D eafen ed in Several S ta te s
RIEF reports on the vocational rehabilitation of deafened
persons in California, Nebraska, New York, and Rhode Island
are published in the Rehabilitation Review of February, 1931.
The California State Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation has
trained the deafened and adjusted the deafened without training- to
the following occupations: Accountant, auto-body and fender worker,
beauty operator, bookkeeper, bookkeeping-machine operator, candy
maker, chocolate dipper, cleaner and dry spotter, comptometer opera
tor, embroidery-machine operator, engraver, laboratory technician,
linotype operator, machinist, mechanical dentist, photoretoucher,
plasterer, poultry raiser, power-machine operator, pressman, printer,
show-card writer, sign painter, typist, upholsterer, and watchmaker
and jeweler.
Training for these lines of work was given, for the most part, in
technical or commercial schools. A few persons, however, were
rehabilitated through training on the job. Among the occupations
for which they were so trained were printer, upholsterer, and autobodv and fender worker.
The ages of these handicapped people adjusted to employment
ranged from 16 to 52.
Mr. J. R. Jewell of Nebraska says, “ We consider lip reading to be
very helpful in the rehabilitation of most cases and absolutely essential
to persons who go into lines of work where they are required to meet
the public or otherwise enter into much conversation.” He also
emphasizes the need for a large number of competent teachers, and
urges that the universities in the United States introduce lip-reading
courses for adults as well as courses to train instructors in this art.
Of 34 deafened persons, 25 were given courses in lip reading. Of
the 34 cases, 23 were closed as rehabilitated, these persons having
definitely demonstrated their wage-earning ability. Of the 23 persons
rehabilitated, 20 were in the group which had taken lip-reading
instruction. The average earnings of the 23 persons was about
$1,184.35 per annum, or approximately $22.75 per week.
At a recent meeting held in New York the following occupations
were considered suitable, from a group viewpoint, to the deafened:
Auto air-brush painting, baking, cleaning, dyeing and pressing,
jewelry manufacture, multigraphing, nickel plating, paperhanging and
decorating, pastry cooking, power-machine operating, salad making,
show-card writing, tile setting, and upholstery.
According to a Rhode Island report, a group of persons who had
lost their hearing were instructed in lip reading with such success as
B
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
to warrant, usually, the return of these pupils to their former occu
pations.1
To illustrate how those engaged in the rehabilitation of the deafened
analyze possible jobs for their clients, the author presents some com
ments of a member of the New York League for the Hard of Hearing:
In baking a great deal woidd depend upon how deaf the worker is.
The majority of employers feel that it is hazardous to have deaf people
where there are fires.
Cleaning, dyeing, and pressing are not suitable lines of work for
those who have middle ear (catarrhal) deafness, as the fumes may
aggravate this affliction. Persons who have perceptive or nerve deaf
ness may adjust themselves to such work.
Jew elry m an u factu re, tile settin g , a n d show card w riting are v ery good w ork.
M ultigraphing is all rig h t except in som e cases of n erve deafness w hen th e w orker
m ay be affected b y th e noise of th e m achinery. N ickel p la tin g is good w ork.
U pholstery is good b u t p lace m en t is exceedingly difficult. A uto air-b ru sh p a in t
ing is good in nerve deafness cases an d in to ta l o b stru ctiv e deafness w here th ere
is no hearing to lose.
Paper hanging and decorating offer an opportunity for those who
have lost their hearing, provided they have no labyrinthian trouble
which would occasion a loss of equilibrium and increase the hazards
of ladders and scaffolds.
Persons with obstructive or catarrhal deafness can be utilized for
power-machine operating, but such an occupation is not good for
those with nerve deafness. While the deafened are capable of becom
ing pastry cooks and salad girls, their placement in such positions is
exceedingly difficult.
The writer also calls attention to the opposition of some persons,
who have worked many years with the deafened, to the compilation
of lists of occupations in which those so handicapped might hope to
compete satisfactorily with workers having normal hearing. “ The
possibility of satisfactory adjustment to occupation is one of individual
characteristics. ^In the light of such individual characteristics a group
of occupations might be developed and elimination take place as certain
occupations were found to contain conditions unsatisfactory or not best
adapted to the particular person with due consideration to his type and
extent of deafness. In setting forth then what the various States have
accomplished it must be emphasized that the choice of job was arrived
at only after careful deliberation and consideration of the individual for
whom the employment was being planned.”
. Despite the incompleteness of this survey it gives some important
indications>concerning this group of handicapped persons, namely:
That the diagnosis of a deafened case is only a preliminary to a plan
to lessen the disability; that those who would aid a deafened person
must approach the problem with understanding and sympathy in
order to get at his real personality; that lip reading opens up to a large
extent that world from which the person has been debarred by deaf
ness, that in almost any work he can make greater progress by mas
tering lip reading; and that the selection of the occupation for which
he is to be trained must be in harmony with his natural characteristics,
interest, and ambition if the handicap is to be reduced to a minimum!
tonfM ay fia3 1 O7 p ri77-80 ^
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plaeem ent of the deaf in M innesota, 1929-30, see Labor Review, W ashing-
1334]
75
W O R K ER S’ EDUCATION AND TR A INING
G o v ern m en ta l T rain in g and P la c e m e n t of U n em p loyed in
E nglan d
HE annual report of the British Ministry of Labor for 1930 1con
tains a survey of the work done during the year in training,
transferring, and placing such of the unemployed as could be taken
care of by the Government’s organized plans. The regular work of
the employment exchanges was pushed vigorously, and in spite of the
increase in unemployment the number placed through them rose to
the highest point it has yet reached. The following figures show the
number of vacancies reported to the exchanges and the number of
workers placed in employment since 1921.
T
V A C A N C IE S R E P O R T E D TO A N D F IL L E D BY B R IT IS H E M P L O Y M E N T E X C H A N G E S
Year
Vacancies
reported
1922___________________
1923___________________
1924___________________
1925___________________
1926______________
839, 633
1,056,970
1,345, 394
1,480, 820
1,246, 967
Vacancies
filled
697, 036
893,713
1,143, 742'
1, 279, 292
1,082, 917
Year
1927
1928.
1929. . .
19 3 0 ...
Vacancies
reported
Vacancies
filled
1,436,052
1,510, 511
1, 781, 272
1, 931,480
1, 252,707
1,327,306
1, 556, 271
1, 732, 144
T he figures of placing for 1930 show a to ta l increase of 175,873 over th o se for
1929, w hich w ere them selves higher th a n for a n y previous year. I t will be re
m em bered th a t, except in th e case of c e rta in classes of relief-w ork vacancies,
th e exchanges h av e no m eans, o th e r th a n satisfying th e ir clients, of inducing
em ployers to m ak e use of them . T h e ste a d y a n n u a l increase in th e n u m b e r of
vacancies filled since 1922 (excepting only 1926, w hen progress w as checked by
in d u s tria l disputes) goes to show t h a t em ployers a re each y ear realizing m ore
clearly t h a t i t is w o rth th e ir while to o b tain th e lab o r th e y req u ire th ro u g h th e
em ploym ent exchange service.
Training for Overseas Migration
T h i s line of work received a setback owing to the increasing un
willingness of the dominions to receive migrants, no matter how well
trained. In 1929 the Australian Government decided to suspend
assisted migration of young men, so in 1930 none were trained for
Australia. In the fall of 1929 the Canadian Government had made a
request for 3,000 trained men to sail during 1930. Industrial and ¿ther
difficulties developed in Canada, and its Government finally decided
it would have to cut down the number of immigrants permitted, so
that admission to training was stopped before the 3,000 had been
taken on, and 186 of those who had completed their training had to
be refused sailing papers.
The work of the overseas training centers is thus summarized:
A pplied for tra in in g ______________________________________ 6, 341
Interview ed by D om inion re p re se n ta tiv e s__________________ 4, 561
A ccepted b y dom inion re p re se n ta tiv e s____________________ 1, 820
R ejected b y dom inion re p re se n ta tiv e s______________________ 2, 741
E n tere d train in g c e n te rs__________________________________ 1, 592
S atisfactorily com pleted tra in in g __________________________ 1, 138
F ailed to e m b a rk _________________________________________
24
Sailed fo r C a n a d a ________________________________________
928
C om pleted train in g b u t n o t p e rm itte d to sa il______________
186
1 G reat B ritain. M in istry of Labor. R eport for year 1930. London, 1931. (C m d. 3859.)
67999°—31----- 6
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Training Centers for Employment in England
T hese centers are maintained for the purpose of training unem
ployed men in specific trades in which there seems a prospect of plac
ing them. Originally only unskilled men were eligible for admission,
but later, skilled miners were admitted since it seemed probable that
the contraction in the number employed in that trade would be per
manent and that even skilled men might have no chance of reabsorp
tion in it. During 1929 a similar exception was made, for the same
reason, in the case of skilled workers in the cotton-textile industry.
The benefits of the plan as a means of transferring labor from places
and trades where there is a surplus to others where there is a lack are
evident. Another advantage, not so immediately evident, is the
opportunity it presents for dealing with young men who, having
reached the end of blind-alley occupations, would be obliged to take
their chance as unskilled laborers were it not for the training offered
in these centers. The number admitted for training during 1930 was
8,608.
Transfer Instructional Centers
W hen the attempt was made to transfer from the depressed dis
tricts to other areas men who had been long unemployed it was
found that they were often both physically and mentally unfit for
normal employment, and instructional centers were instituted at
which they might be retrained for work and built up physically. At
present there are 10 of these, offering accommodations for 1,880 men
at a time. Since the training course averages about 10 weeks the
centers can deal with approximately 9,000 men in the course of a year.
About 25 per cent of those admitted, it has been found, give up their
training or prove unsuitable and have to be discharged.
Industrial Transference
T he schemes for this work suffered as a result of the increased de
pression, which cut down opportunities for employment in the more
prosperous regions as well as in the conspicuously depressed areas.
Nevertheless, it was found possible to transfer some 30,000 men from
the areas of greatest unemployment and place them either on Stateaided schemes or in private employment.
Home Training Centers for Women
T hese are m aintained by the central committee on women’s train
ing and employment, and form the m ajor p a rt of its activities.
D uring th e y ear 37 no n resid en tial cen ters were in o peration, in w hich accom
m o dation w as p rovid ed fo r th e tra in in g of a b o u t 4,000 w om en a n d girls in th e
course of a year. A t D ecem ber 2 7 th th e nu m b ers in tra in in g a t n o nresidential
hom e cen ters w ere as follows: U n d er 16 years, 113; 16 to 18, 500;,18 to 21, 242;
21 a n d over, 147; to ta l, 1,002.
The instruction given in these centers is mainly in cookery, house
work, laundry work, and needlework. Courses last for three months,
and reports from employers indicate that the workers who complete
the training are found satisfactory. Not all who are admitted carry
through the course, and of those who do a certain proportion fail to
become proficient in so short a time. Inquiries made within two
months of the termination of training showed that about 80 per cent of
those placed in employment were settling down satisfactorily.
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WORKERS’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING
77
During 1930 a residential training center was established with
accommodations for 40 trainees at a time. This form of training has
several advantages.
T he train ees can o b ta in m ore p ractice in th e ro u tin e w ork of a house th a n is
possible in a nonresidential in stitu tio n , an d , m oreover, th e y becom e accustom ed
to living aw ay from hom e an d learn to accom m odate them selves to new condi
tions. C onsequently, th e y suffer less from hom esickness w hen th e y en te r th e ir
first place.
T he percentage placed is very high, as, except in isolated cases w here illness
or som e o th er cause m akes th e ta k in g u p of em p lo y m en t im possible, all th e
train ees go s tra ig h t from th e cen te r to situ atio n s. T h e nu m b ers w ho rem ain in
th e ir p osts are also satisfactory. O u t of a to ta l of 226 who en tered tra in in g during
th e y ear only 19 re tu rn e d hom e of th e ir ow n accord before th e com pletion of
train in g , including 3 who re tu rn e d to w ork in th e ir previous occupations.
This work proved so successful that it was decided to extend it; a
new residential center with accommodations for 60 was opened during
the early part of 1931 and some of the overseas training centers were
taken over for this use.
Several new lines of work were tried out during the year. Courses
were instituted for training cooks and waitresses for hotel positions,
and the results were so encouraging that plans for enlarging the work
were under consideration. Other special courses were initiated for
women of from 35 to 45 whose industrial efficiency had been impaired
by long unemployment, and the results seemed to the committee to
justify further experimental courses along this line.
Including the courses of the residential and nonresidential centers
and the special training for cooks and waitresses, 5,548 women and
girls were admitted to training during 1930, 485 left or were dis
missed during their course, 3,942 either completed the course or
entered domestic service before its completion, 3,524 finished the
course and were placed in domestic service, 58 found other work, 212
were not placed because of illness or for other reasons, and 1,121 were
in training at the end of the year.
Individual Vocational Training Scheme
T h is scheme, intended to train individual women for selected oc
cupations, which had been in abeyance since 1926, was revived during
the year. Under it, grants are made to approved candidates to
enable them to take courses in recognized training institutions, the
occupations being limited to shorthand and typewriting, comptom
eter-operating, nursery nursing, cookery, institutional housekeep
ing, and midwifery.
C an d id ates for th is tra in in g m u st be registered unem ployed wom en, aged 18
years an d over, w ho hav e no p ro sp ect of reab so rp tio n in th e ir ow n occupation,
whose ind iv id u al needs are n o t m e t by th e hom e tra in in g classes a n d who can n o t
o b tain fresh em ploym en t w ith o u t train in g , w hich th e y are n o t in a position to
o b tain w ith o u t assistance. In th e depressed m ining areas w om en who h av e n o t
previously been em ployed b u t who a re otherw ise sim ilarly placed a n d who,
because of th e dim inution of th e fam ily incom e resu ltin g from th e un em p lo y m en t
of th e m ale m em bers, are forced to ta k e up w ork, are also eligible.
The numbers dealt with under this scheme are small, but the com
mittees feel that the plan has proved its usefulness, “ the comparative
elasticity of the conditions making it possible to adapt the grant to
the circumstances of each particular applicant.” During the year 216
grants were approved, and on December 31,94 women were in training.
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[337]
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
S trik es and L ock ou ts in th e U n ited S ta te s in J u n e , 1931
ATA regarding industrial disputes in the United States for June,
1931, with comparable data for preceding months are presented
below. Disputes involving fewer than six workers and lasting less
than one day have been omitted.
Table 1 shows the number of disputes beginning in 1927, 1928, 1929,
and 1930, number of workers involved and man-days lost for these
years and for each of the months, January, 1929, to June, 1931, in
clusive, as well as the number of disputes in effect at the end of each
month and the number of workers involved. The economic loss (in
man-days) involved is computed by multiplying the number of workers
affected in each dispute by the length of the dispute measured in work
ing-days as normally worked by the industry or trade in question.
D
1 .— IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A N D IN E F F E C T A T E N D O P E A C H
M O N T H , JA N U A R Y , 1929, TO JU N E , 1931, A N D T O T A L N U M B E R O F D IS P U T E S , W O R K
E R S, A N D M A N -D A Y S LO ST IN T H E Y E A R S 1927, 1928, 1929, A N D 1930
T able
N um ber of disputes
M o n th and year
1927: T o tal____________
1928: T o tal_____________________________
1929: T o tal_____________________________
1930: T o ta l____________________________
Beginning
in m onth
or year
In effect
a t end of
m onth
734
629
903
653
N um ber of workers
involved in disputes
Beginning
in m onth
or year
In effect
a t end of
m onth
349,434
357, 145
230, 463
158,114
N um ber of
m an-days
lost during
m onth or
year
37, 799, 394
31, 556, 947
9, 975, 213
2, 730, 368
1929
J a n u a r y _____
_______
F e b ru a ry ..
M arch________ _____ ______________ _
A p ril___ ____ ____________ _ ..... .......
M ay- ____________________________ _ _
June __________________________
Ju ly ----------------------------------------------------August _________________________ _
S e p te m b e r_______ ____ __
O ctober__ _
N ovem ber ___ _ _
D ecember _____
48
54
77
117
115
73
80
78
98
69
61
33
36
35
37
53
73
57
53
43
49
31
32
21
14, 783
22, 858
14,031
32, 989
13, 668
19,989
36, 152
25, 616
20, 233
16, 315
10, 443
3, 386
39, 569
40, 306
40, 516
52, 445
64, 853
58,152
15, 589
6, 714
8, 132
6, 135
6, 067
2,343
951, 914
926, 679
1, 074, 468
1,429, 437
1, 727, 694
1, 627, 565
1, 062,428
358, 148
244, 864
272,018
204, 457
95, 541
45
52
49
64
66
59
78
51
72
47
44
26
21
40
38
41
29
34
30
33
44
36
29
7
9, 240
37, 480
15,017
6, 379
9, 329
14,011
14, 308
15, 902
16, 337
10, 858
4, 390
4, 863
5,316
6,683
5, 957
5, 840
4, 386
8,311
4,815
7,131
13, 778
16, 007
7,759
5, 144
184, 730
438, 570
291, 127
189, 828
185,448
144, 117
141, 647
142, 738
208,184
335, 916
273, 608
194,455
56
52
45
60
104
98
20
34
27
39
59
105
10, 147
19, 984
26, 121
26, 442
29, 561
22, 687
2, 927
12, 512
28,139
22, 604
19, 294
28, 840
181, 031
228, 329
422, 545
769, 720
429, 752
691, 486
1930
Ja n u a ry . ___ __ _____
F eb ru ary — ______
_ _
M arch____ _ _______ ____ _ r
A p ril_________________ _ _
M ay ___________ ________________
June ______________________
J u ly ----------------------------------------------------August ___________________
Septem ber_____________
O ctober____ _
___ _ _ __
N ovem ber___ __
______
D ecember _________
1931
Ja n u a ry ____________________________ ___
F eb ru ary —
_
___
_ ___
M a r c h _____________________________
April
_____ _ ___
____
M a y 1 ______
J u n e 1- ___. . .
1 Prelim inary figures subject to change.
78
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[338]
79
INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES
Occurrence of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
T a b l e 2 gives, by industry, the number of strikes beginning in
April, May, and June, 1931, and the number of workers directly
involved.
T a b l e 2 .—IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A P R IL , M A Y , A N D J U N E , 1931
N um ber of workers involved
in disputes beginning in—
N um ber of disputes begin
ning in—
In d u stry
April
Apif.n carriage nrirl wagon workers
Bakers
B arbers______
__
__
B rew ery and soft-drink workers
B n ok and tile workers
Building tra d e s____ _ - ---------Chauffeurs an d team sters_____. - _____
C lothing-- ________ - - - - - - Food workers
F u rn itu re -.. _________ _ ------- -----------Glass workers
Iron and steel
__ ____ _______ __ ____
Bann d ry ‘w nrkers
Leather
Light, heat, power, and w ater
TiOncrshoremen and freight handlers
M etal trades
M iners.. . _______
______ ______
M otion-picture operators, actors, and
theatrical workers
1
100
4
1
1
4
16
2
11
2
1
31
1
10
1
1
1
2
1
1
4
1
2
6
Printing and publishing
Municipal workers
Textiles___________ . --------------- _
Tobacco
O ther occupations_____ _________ ______
1
2
1
T o tal. _________________________
2
104
60
122
1,200
20
5,576
150
367
125
13
85
1, 600
360
1,640
1,123
1,245
40
30
500
60
2,728
400
68
14, 700
304
6,508
17, 015
12
20
10
150
1
1
1
12
260
6
842
2
100
3, 300
6,156
735
560
26,442
29, 561
4
1
240
5,431
1,400
1,019
1, 275
35
1
52
1
8
8
1
5
26
1
2
S tationary engineers and firemen
Stone
1
13
4
12
June
M ay
A pril
June
M ay
98
8
16
954
76
22, 687
Size and Duration of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
T a b l e 3 gives the number of industrial disputes beginning in
June, 1931, classified by number of workers and by industries.
T a b le 3.—N U M B E R O P D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN J U N E , 1931, C L A S S IF IE D B Y
N U M B E R OF W O R K E R S A N D B Y IN D U S T R IE S
N um ber of disputes beginning in June, 1931,
involving—
500 and
100 and
6 and
20 and
under
under 20 under 100 under 500 1,000
workers workers workers workers
In d u stry
Barbers
Building trades
Ghantfenrs and team sters
- _____
__ _____
___
_ _________
_ ______ ______
_
Clothing
.
F ornipire
Trnn and steel
Light beat power and water
M iners
__________________ -M otion-picture operators, actors, and theatrical
workers
Printing and publishing
Stone
M unicipal workers
Textiles
_ _ _______ _
O ther occupations
T otal
__
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1
4
2
3
[339]
3
6
1
5
4
1
1
1
11
1
33
6
1
1
47
7
2
2
1
1
1
4
2
18
__ _ __ _________
1,000 and
under
5,000
workers
23
3
80
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
In Table 4 are shown the number of industrial disputes ending in
June, 1931, by industries and classified duration.
T a b l e 4 .—N U M B E R O F IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S E N D IN G IN JU N E , 1931, B Y IN D U S
T R IE S A N D C L A S S IF IE D D U R A T IO N
Classified duration of strikes ending in June, 1931
In d u stry
Bakers _ _____ ___ .
B arb ers.,
_ . ___
B rew ery and soft d rin k w orkers-,, ___
B uilding trad es. _ __ _ _ ________
Chauffeurs and team sters
C lo th in g ____
- -_
Leather.
_____
M etal tra d e s ,. . _____
M in ers..... .
M otion-picture operators, actors, and
theatrical workers _
Prin tin g and publishing. ___
Stone
Textiles
____
O ther occupations .
.
T o ta l..
________ _
One-half
m onth or
less
Over one- 1 m onth
half and and less
less th a n th a n 2
1 m onth m onths
2 m onths 3 m onths 5 m onths
and less and less and less
th a n 3
th a n 4
th a n 6
m onths m onths m onths
1
1
1
5
3
3
1
6
4
3
3
1
1
5
i
1
2
1
1
1
1
3
1
1
26
16
1
5
2
2
1
Principal Strikes and Lockouts Beginning in June, 1931
B it u m i n o u s - c o a l ■m i n e r s .—Numerous strikes or suspensions have
taken place in northern West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, and
eastern Ohio. The strikes in West Virginia and some of those in
Pennsylvania, began in May because of alleged wage reductions; these
were followed by other suspensions during June in Pennsylvania and
Ohio, with some additional strikes in West Virginia. The disturbance,
which has attracted a good deal of notice in the press, has developed
progressively and is largely the outgrowth of the depressed condition
of the industry, unsatisfactory wages and distressing conditions
resulting from the large number of unemployed miners which exists
not only in these but in other States as well. The demands include
higher wages and the right of the miners to have a checkweighman at
each mine, also union recognition and improved working conditions.
The agitation for organizing the miners has been carried on by the
United Mine Workers of America^ and by a rival organization, the
National Miners’ Union. The disturbance continues actively in
Pennsylvania and Ohio, and to a less degree in West Virginia where the
United Mine Workers are reported to have effected, during the last
week in May or early in June, a partial settlement through agree
ments in the Scotts’ Pun field near Morgantown whereby the men will
have their own checkweighman. The contract, it is said, includes
(1) A wage scale of 30 cents a ton for loading machine coal and 38
cents a ton for loading pick coal; (2) inside day wage of $3.60 for
8-hour day; (3) outside day wage of $3.20 basis for 8-hour day; (4)
checkweighman on every tipple, member of union; (5) pit committee
to present grievances of miners to operators, etc. Most of the men
then on strike in that field are said to have resumed work under this
agreement, and from union sources comes the report that by June
20 twenty-six companies in northern West Virginia had signed con
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81
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
tracts with the union and their mines had resumed operations on a
union basis, giving employment to several thousand union miners.
At Galloway, W. Va., some 750 miners employed by the Simpson
Creek Collieries Co., of Cleveland, Ohio, struck on June 18 because the
company refused to sign an agreement with the United Mine Workers
of America. It is understood that the two mines of the company have
been idle since that date.
_
Among the more important operations affected in Pennsylvania
have been those of the Pittsburgh Terminal Coal Corporation, where a
“ walkout” ordered by the National Miners Union began on June 1.
An agreement was reached with, the company by the United Mine
Workers, applicable to its nominal force of 2,400 miners, and on or
about June 24 operations were resumed with union miners for the
first time, it is said, since 1927. The agreement provides for an
8-hour day and wage increases. It is effective from June 23, 1931, to
June 30, 1932, and recognizes the right of the employees to elect by
ballot one of their number to act in the capacity of checkweighman
at each of the mines. The agreement for the most part, establishes
a rate of $4.50 per day for skilled inside day labor and increases the
rate for inside common labor from $3.50 to a minimum of $4 per day,
etc. This agreement with what is said to be the second largest coal
company in the Pittsburgh district was hailed with satisfaction by the
union, as it is the first important agreement effected between the union
and a company of this district since the 1927 strike.
Reports are widely diverse as to the total number of miners actually
on strike in the numerous small mines of the several States. Many
of the mines have either been closed down or operating on part time
because of slack demand. In addition it is said that many men are
out of the operating mines because of fear from the radical element
which has figured in rioting and bloodshed.
President^Hoover’s telegram of June 29 to the president of the
United Mine Workers of America is reproduced here in full:
W h it e H o u s e ,
Washington, June 29, 1981.
M r. J o h n L . L e w is ,
President, United M ine Workers of America,
Indianapolis, Ind.
Y our telegram conveying th e re q u e st of th e executive council of th e U n ited
M ine W orkers t h a t a conference of coal o p erato rs a n d m iners be convened b y th e
G overnm ent w as received du rin g m y absence fro m W ashington.
T he m an y in tric a te econom ic problem s a n d c o m p etitiv e conditions existing
in a m a jo rity of th e bitum inous-coal m ining d istric ts of o u r co u n try are of general
know ledge, a n d i t is realized t h a t th e difficulties of th e in d u stry h a v e been th e
su b ject of exhaustive in v estig atio n a n d stu d y by F ed eral a n d S ta te agencies an d
com m issions, u n d e rta k e n w ith th e o b ject of aiding those connected w ith, and
in terested in, th is basic in d u stry .
T he ad m in istratio n is desirous of lending every possible assistance to any
co n stru ctiv e program p u t forw ard b y o p erato rs a n d m iners.
A ccordingly, I h ave referred th e com m unications received from y o u r council
an d others to th e Secretaries of C om m erce a n d of L abor, a n d h av e asked th e m to
advise m e as to th e p rese n t a ttitu d e of th o se d irectly concerned m th e in d u stry
as to th e m an n er in w hich th e G overn m en t m ig h t c o n trib u te helpfully m any
m ovem ent designed to ad v an ce th e w ell-being of o p erato rs a n d m ine w orkers, as
well as all others in tereste d in th e b itu m in o u s coal situ atio n .
H e r b e r t H oover.
A conference of bituminous-coal operators called by the Secretary
of Commerce and held on July 9, was attended by 15 representatives
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[3 4 1 ]
82
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
of the operators, by the Secretaries of Commerce and Labor, and
by a representative of the United States Bureau of Mines. This
conference was without apparent result and ended on the date named
without any further meeting being called.
In a statement released by the Department of Commerce relative
to the conference it was stated that “ many of the operators attending
held the view that little could be accomplished of advantage to the
public, the industry or the workers engaged in it by the summoning
of a national coal conference at this time. No final decisions were
arrived at in regard to this matter.”
A few days after this conference with the operators a conference was
held by the Secretaries of Commerce and Labor with the respresentatives of the miners, and on July 22 they sent inquiries to 125 operators
to ascertain their attitude relative to a general conference with the
miners’ representatives.
T a x ic a b d r iv e r s , P itts b u r g h . —Some 1,000 taxicab drivers employed
by the Parmalee Transportation Co. are reported to have struck on
June 13 because of grievances involving wages, working conditions,
and the discharge of union men. This strike is still in progress.
B i tu m in o u s - c o a l m in e r s , I l l i n o i s . —A strike of some 2,270 miners is
reported to have begun on June 15 at Benton in the Orient mines Nos.
1 and 2 of the Chicago, Wilmington & Franklin Coal Co., as the result
of a dispute over the division of time for men operating loading
machines. No report of the ending of this strike has been received.
T e x tile w o r k e r s , R h o d e I s l a n d . — Because of a 10 per cent wage
reduction affecting 200 weavers, 600 employees of the Royal Weaving
Co., manufacturers of silk and cotton goods, at Pawtucket, struck
on June 25. The mill was closed, throwing 1,300 other employees out
of work.
Principal Strikes and Lockouts Continuing Into June, 1931
H o s ie r y w o r k e r s , P h i l a d e lp h ia . —The
ary 16, still continues in part.
strike which began on Febru
S i l k w o r k e r s , P e n n s y l v a n i a . —The strike of some 3,000 workers in
Allentown beginning as of May 1 is still in progress.
C o n cilia tio n W ork of th e D e p a r tm en t of Labor in J u n e , 1931
B y H u g h L. K e r w in , D ir e c t o r
of
C o n c il ia t io n
HE Secretary of Labor, through the Conciliation Service, exer
cised his good offices in connection with 56 labor disputes during
June, 1931. These disputes affected a known total of 30,548 em
ployees. The table following shows the name and location of the
establishment or industry in which the dispute occurred, the nature
of the dispute (whether strike or lockout or controversy not having
reached the strike or lockout stage), the craft or trade concerned, the
cause of the dispute, its present status, the terms of settlement, the
date of beginning and ending, and the number of workers directly and
indirectly involved.
On July 1, 1931, there were 49 strikes before the department for
settlement and in addition 30 controversies which had not reached
the strike stage. The total number of cases pending was 79.
T
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[342]
LA B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E D U R IN G T H E M O N T H O F J U N E , 1931
W orkers in
volved
D uration
C om pany or in d u stry and location
N ature of
controversy
Craftsm en con
cerned
Cause of dispute
Present statu s and term s of settle
m ent
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
E nding
1931
J une 4
1931
June
June
2
4
June
June
1
June 27
•Tune
3
M ay 15
8
D i In d i
rectly rectly
300
150
200
15, 000
June
4
200
2, 000
M ay 15
26
M ay 25
7
June 11
20
M ay 29
June 13
143
June
5
June 26
40
June
1
June
8
20
June
4
June
5
June
June
4
1
M ay
June
7
Jude
6
June
14
30
33
June 11
300
9
June 12
300
June 10
June 15
M ay 10
June
9
156
Jan .
June
1
1,000
1
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
[343]
Post-office building, Cham bers- C ontroversy C arpenters_______ Alleged failure to pay prevailing Pending_______________ _______
burg, P a.
rate.
do ____________ ________
R iverseam Coal Co., W est Virginia- S tr ik e _____ Coal m in e r s ______ W orking conditions
Chicago M acaroni Co., Chicago, 111. ____do--------- All em p lo y ees... . . 4 wage cuts in 12 m onths_________ A djusted. A m ount of last wage
c u t restored.
S tructural-iron workers, P itts __ __do____
Iron w orkers______ Renewal of agreem ent _________ _ A d ju sted . G ranted 5-day in place
burgh, P a.
5R -day week; $1.50 per hour.
Coal m iners, P ittsb u rg h , Pa., area. ___ do_____ Coal m iners. ___ No checkweighman on tipple, e tc . P ending. A few adjustm ents
granting union conditions.
C arpenters, E lm ira, N . Y ______
_ __do___
C a rp e n te rs ____ . Asked signed agreem ent w ith con- A djusted. A greem ent signed
tractors.
granting $9.50 per day.
Wage cuts; objection to m iners P ending________________ _______
Sunday Creek Coal D istrict of Ohio _ __do___ _ Coal m iners___
joining union.
__do_____________________ __
D onnolly & Sons, Boston, M ass__ ____do_____ Sign painters, e t c . . W orking conditions; other crafts in
sym pathy.
Bowen C onstruction Co., San Luis Controversy C arpenters_______ Alleged failure to pay prevailing A djusted. Agreed to p a y $8 per
rate.
day.
Obispo, Calif.
B etter conditions;
Pacific H ighw ay, E verett, W a s h ... ____do_.......... Road builders____ H ours, wages, working conditions. A djusted.
8-hour day granted.
B oat builders, Seattle, W ash______ ____do_____ Various crafts_____ P aym ent of union scales_________ A d ju sted . Wage schedules agreed
upon.
Post-office building, Frederick, S tr ik e _____ Carpenters, laborers Alleged failure to pay prevailing A d justed. W age rates increased . .
Okla.
rate.
A djusted. No wage cuts; 8-hour
A shcraft A u tom atic Arc Co., Holly- Controversy M achinists_______ Wage cuts; hours increased from 8
wood, Calif.
d ay continued.
to 9.
___ Pending_____ ___ ___ ___ _____
D . & I. D ress Co., N ew Y ork C ity . Strike_____ D ressm akers. . . . Wage cuts on piecework __
Berg & Aronofi, New York C ity . ____ do_____ M illinery w orkers.. R ate -cut of 1Ô to 20 per cent on ___ do__________________ __ __ _
piecew ork.
Eloyd B en n ett Field, Brooklyn, __ _.do_......... B uilding tra d e s___ Refusal of ironworkers to w ork A djusted. Term s not reported___
N . Y.
w ith nonunion men.
Silverm an & Turner, New York
_ _ d o ____ P an ts m ak ers__ _ Proposed wage cuts of 20 to 25 Pending_______ . ________ ____
C ity.
per cent.
S tew art Silk Co., Easton, P a _____ ___ do_____ W eavers, warpers, Speed-up system which reduced A djusted. Speed-up system abolwages.
ished.
etc.
T ypographical w orkers, Charles- Controversy T y p o g r a p h i c a l Proposed wage cut of $8 per w eek. A djusted. Wages c u t to $5 for
ton, W . Va.
workers.
d ay w ork; $7 for nig h t w ork.
High-school building, Spokane, __ _.do....... . C arpenters, labor- Wage cut; refusal to pay overtim e U nable to a d ju st________________
W ash.
ers.
for Saturday.
A C en tu ry of Progress Exposition, __ __do_____ B uilding tra d e s. . . . Jurisdictional disputes among A djusted. C om m ittee appointed
to fix jurisdiction.
Chicago, 111.
building crafts.
Begin
ning
350
7
400
15
50
GO
CO
oo
4^
LA B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E D U R IN G T H E M O N T H O F JU N E , 1931—C ontinued
W orkers in
volved
D uration
C om pany or in d u stry and location
N ature of
controversy
[344]
N ational M attress & F u rn itu re Strike_____
Co., P ittsb u rg h , Pa.
E m p ire G ran ite Co. and M ercer Lockout___
G ranite Co., E lberton, Ga.
C onsolidated G ranite Co., Colum- ____do_____
bia, S. C.
Paint,p,rs, W ilm ington, Del
C ontroversy
S unday Creek Coal Co., Glouster, Strike
Ohio.
P ittsb u rg h C u t Stone C ontractors’ Lockout___
Association, Pittsburgh.
Post-office building, T renton, N . J . Controversy
44 clothing stores, N ew Y ork C ity .. Strike
Cause of dispute
Present status and term s of settle
m ent
E nding
1931
June 13
1931
B uilding tra d e s___ E m ploym ent of nonunion m en__
Ju n e 15
June 19
D riv e rs.
A pr. 24
4
3
___ do__________
Ju n e 10
150
150
___ do__________
June
Taxicab d riv e rs___ Wage scale; w orking conditions,-.
______
M echanics, laborers.
U p h o lsterers.-. __
Pending_______________________
A djusted. All union m en em
ployed except ironw orkers.
Wage cut from $50 per week to $36. P ending_______________________
Alleged failure to p ay prevailing
rate.
Wage reductions_______________
June 15
____ Wage cut in violation of agreement. Pending________
June 12
ment.
_ _ _ d o ____
P a in te rs__________ Wage c u t of 10 per cent______
Coal m in e r s ______ Discharge of m ine com m ittee.
Stonecutters. ___
(
0- ............. - .............. .................... .......................... .
B uilding trad es___ Asked th a t union mechanics be
employed.
Wage cut from $48 to $38 for 44hour week.
Wage cut of 10 per cent--------------Shoe w orkers___
___ B ushelm en_______
1,000
15
June 30
9
13
A d justed. Painters agreed to re June 16
bate 5 per cent u n til Septem ber 1
A djusted. R eturned on com June 4
p a n y ’s term s; no concessions.
Pending................................. .............. June 12
7
150
June 12
140
June 17
June 23
A djusted. Settled previous to
commissioner’s arrival.
Pending_______ _____ ______ ____
Ju ly
June
1
June 13
June
1
June
5
June 15
12
60
200
54
June 22
June 20
10
150
June 18
June 17
6
150
June 18
M ay 17
25
40
9
G ranite cu tte rs------ Wage cut of $1 in violation of agree U nable to a d ju st.
A djusted. Wage cut accepted.
A ntonoff N ovelty Slipper Co., Lockout___
N ew Y ork C ity.
Clothing w orkers... Sending work out of tow n; viola P e n d in g ...__________________
Wolf, K lein & Sons, New York Strike___tion of agreement.
C ity.
____do____ _ C arp en ters.. _____ For union wage scale and condi A djusted. U nion m en em ployed.
Baseball park, Indianapolis, In d
tions.
Proposed reduction of force in Pending_____________________
Picture T h eater Owners’ Associa- Controversy Projectionists___
violation of agreement.
tion, P ittsb u rg h , Pa.
W orking conditions and em ploy ___ do_______________________
B ricklayers_____
_do___
Bricklayers, M adison, Ind
m ent of local labor.
Wage cut of 10 per cent__________ ___ do.____ __________________
L ithographers___
Bankers L ithographing Co., P itts Strike.
burgh, Pa.
George W ashington M emorial ____do_____ Iro n workers, car- Asked prevailing wage and m- A djusted. M en employed at
union rates.
ploym ent of local men.
penters.
Bridge, F o rt Lee, N . J.
Protest wage cuts on piecew ork.. Adjusted. Wage cuts w ithdraw n.
Princely Products Co., Brooklyn, ------ do_____ Shoe w orkers____
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N . Y.
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
D i In d i
rectly rectly
Begin
ning
_____
15
50
10
100
June 23
250
200
J u ly 24
60
14
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Parm alee
T ransportation
Co., S trike_____
P ittsb u rg h , P a.
Edison School and Fire D epart- _ ___do___ _
m en t headquarters, Erie, Pa.
___do___ __
M arx Bros. D airy Co., W est C hi
cago, 111.
Post-office building, Cam den, N. J_ C ontroversy
C raftsm en con
cerned
B arracks buildings, Fort Benning,
Ga.
Pilgrim State Hospital, Brentwood,
Long Island, N . Y.
S tate office building, Columbus,
Ohio.
T ilto n Co., N ew Y ork C ity ______
Transfer m en a n d expressmen,
P ittsb u rg h , Pa.
Painters, E lm ira, N . Y___________
Controversy Building trad es___ Alleged failure to pay prevailing Pending........................................ ....... M ay 15
wage.
__ do_____ C arpenters, labor Jurisdictional dispute__________ A djusted. Laborers to bu ild scaf June 8 June 16
_do_
.do.
-----do-------
June 1
.do.
Ask $9.50 per day; contractors
offer $9.
Wages and working conditions___ A djusted. Agreed to pay laborers June 25 June 27
30 cents per hour.
Wages cut from $1.50 to $1.25 per Pending_______________________ ... .d o . .. .
Bricklayers__
hour.
Alleged failure to pay prevailing A djusted. S tarted new m en at June 23 June 25
.do.
$1.50 per hour.
wage.
___ do_________________________ Pending_______________________ June 18
Building trades.
E m ploym ent of local labor at ----- do_________________________ June 15
Laborers______
union rates.
Operators increased June 22 June 29
F u r workers______ D em and for wage increase______ •. A djusted.
from $38 to $45 per week.
Coal miners______ Asked checkweighman at tipple Pending_______________________ June 26
1 N ot reported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
and union recognition.
Wages and hours..____________ A djusted. Operators allowed in June 25 June 26
Discharge of shop forem an.
Controversy Street-car em ploy W orking conditions______
ees.
increase from $40 to $42 per week.
A djusted. Subm itted to a rbitra
tion.
A djusted. Compromise agree
m ent reached.
M ay 21
June 10
June
Ju lv
1
1
125
60
2.300
12
2.300
100
10
100
15
6
750
19
15
500
24,290
6,258
INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES
[345]
T o ta l.
330
1
R oad laborers.
H elfenstein F u r Shop, N ew York ___ do_____ F u r workers______
C ity.
Sanet tD ress Co., N ew York C ity.. -----do_____ G arm ent w orkers..
C om m unity Traction Co., Toledo,
Ohio.
Ju ly
----do_____ Painters_____
P u tn a m C onstruction Co., Ash- -----do_____
ville to Gallitzin, Pa.
St. M a ry ’s A cadem y, Monroe, -----do_____
M ich.
G eorge Levernz Co., A rm y post, Controversy
F o rt W ayne, (D etro it), M ich.
Post-office building, D etroit, Mich.
.d o _____
_do_____
Sailors & Soldiers’ O rphan Home,
K nightstow n, Ind.
M organ & M iller, N ew Y ork C ity. Strike_____
B. & S. Coal Co., Sagamore, P a __
folds; carpenters, th e forms.
iron Jurisdictional dispute on window A djusted. Placem ent of frames June 25
frames.
held in abeyance for a tim e.
workers.
Clothing w orkers.-- W orking conditions_____________ Pending_______________________ June 24
Wage
cut
of
10
per
cent__________
----do__________________________ June 25
D riv ers__________
ers.
Strike......... C arpenters,
O
O
Ox
86
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
R eport of E m ergen cy Board for D isp u te on L ou isian a &
A rkan sas R ailroad
emergency board appointed by the President of the United
States on April 16, 1931, to investigate a dispute between the
T HE
Louisiana
Arkansas Railway Co. and certain of its employees
&
represented by Railway Employees’ Department of the American
Federation of Labor, Federated Shop Crafts, reported its findings to
the President on May 5, 1931. The board consisted of Charles Kerr
(chairman), Homer B. Dibell, and Chester H. Rowell.
A summary of the report, recently made public, is as follows:
1.
T here w as n o th in g in th e financial situ a tio n of th e carrier, n o r o th e r con
ditions affecting it, w hich justified its a ctio n of F e b ru a ry 9, 1931, in red u cin g th e
ra te of wages of its shop c ra fts below th e sta n d a rd p revailing over th e c o u n try ;
a n d th e evidence te n d s to show t h a t w hen conditions becom e fairly prosperous
th e carrier w hich acq u ired th e tw o roads will find th a t its acqu isitio n of th em will
be exceedingly profitable.
2.
T he actio n of th e c a rrier of F e b ru a ry 9, 1931, in p u ttin g in to force new rules
a n d changes in w orking conditions, w holly w ith o u t notice such as is req u ired by
th e act, w as p ositiv ely illegal u n d er section 6.
3.
T h e refu sal of th e carrier to su b m it to a rb itra tio n u n d e r th e railw ay lab o r
a c t upon th e ann o u n ced a n d only asserted g round t h a t th e re w as n o th in g to
a rb itra te w as n o t justified. If th e re w as a n occasion for a change in th e rules,
an d th e re m ay h av e been, th e re w as clearly a n a rb itra b le controversy, a n d th e ir
p ro m u lg atio n w ith o u t no tice to th e m en or th e ir re p resen tativ es w as in direct
violation of th e a ct.
4.
T h a t th e policy an n o u n ced in th e s ta te m e n t of th e P resid en t of N ovem ber
21, 1929, a fte r conferences w ith em ployers a n d em ployees, to th e effect th a t
th ere should be no wage red u ctio n s m ad e b y em ployers a n d no efforts by th e
m en to increase th e sta n d a rd wages, w as observed fa ith fu lly b y o th e r carriers,
w ith a few negligible exceptions, to w hich we a tta c h no im portance. T h e m en
observed th e sp irit of th e sta te m e n t a n d w ent beyond it in n o t pressing th e reserved
rig h t to continue n egotiations th e n pending.
5.
T he carrier should restore th e sta n d a rd ra te of wages a n d rules governing
w orking conditions p revailing on its line in S eptem ber, 1930, w hen i t first p ro
posed changing them . T his w ould leave th e carrier a n d th e m en as th e y were
w hen th e carrier an n o u n ced its purpose to reduce wages an d change th e w ork
ing rules. T he conclusion we reach is based u p o n th e p roposition th a t th ere
w as never a n occasion for reducing wages, th o u g h th e rig h t to do so in th e m an n er
provided b y law is conceded by all, a n d th e fu rth e r pro p o sitio n th a t th e change
in rules a n d w orking conditions w ith o u t notice was positively illegal under
section 6. Rules a rb itra rily im posed by th e carrier w ith o u t n eg o tiatio n w ith th e
m en o r th e ir rep resen tativ es h av e no elem ent of c o n tra c t a n d are n o t in h arm o n y
w ith th e th o u g h t of C ongress expressed in section 2 im posing th e d u ty “ to m ake
a n d m a in tain agreem ents concerning ra te s of pay , rules, a n d w orking conditions.”
6.
T h a t if th e carrier refuses to resto re form er conditions i t should su b m it to
a rb itra tio n . T he m en h av e expressed th e ir willingness to a rb itra te n o tw ith
stan d in g th e illegal change of rules.
7.
T h a t if th e carrier refuses to do one or th e o ther, th a t is, to resto re conditions
as th e y w ere in S eptem ber, 1930, or to a rb itra te , we can n o t u rge u p o n th e
craftsm en th e d u ty of agreeing to th e conditions, p a rtly illegal, im posed b y th e
actio n of F eb ru ary 9, 1931. T his w ould be eq u iv alen t to saying th a t one who
obeys a p a rtic u la r law is a t a d isad v an tag e w ith respect to one who disregards it.
8.
W e feel t h a t th e carrier should n o t d istu rb th e wage stru c tu re w hich o th er
carriers, no b e tte r situ ated , are m ain tain in g ; a n d th a t it should seriously con
sider w h eth er i t can ju stify itself to itself in m ain ta in in g rules a n d w orking con
ditions fixed in a w ay declared b y C ongress to be illegal.
9.
If th e o p p o rtu n ity is offered th e carrier to m ed iate o r a rb itra te th e con
tro v ersy i t should a c cep t it; a n d if n o t p resen ted i t should seek it.
The controversy which led to the appointment of the emergency
board began with a communication submitted by the carrier in this
case to the shop-craft organizations, on September 15, 1930, giving
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[346]
INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES
87
notice of its desire “ to abrogate and revise the present schedule
covering rates of pay and working conditions of the shop-craft
employees.” The shopmen were willing to discuss changes in rules
but not a reduction of pay schedules. The employees, on October
4, requested the services of the United States Board of Mediation.
The board assigned members O. B. Colquitt and Edwin P. Morrow
to straighten out the matter, but the railroad officials refused to
consider any settlement except on their own terms.
On February 9, 1931, the carrier put into effect, by posting in the
shops and by notifying the men, the proposed changes in wages, a
new schedule of rules embodying the changes proposed at the meeting
of October 1, and also a number of additional changes, some of them
very important, of which there had been no previous notice. All
these changes were effective immediately. Thereupon strike ballots
were distributed and the men voted, by 179 to 29, for a strike to take
place April 15.
The Board of Mediation requested the employees to defer the effec
tive date of the strike from April 15 to April 18, 1931, and recom
mended to the President the creation of an emergency board, which
was done by Executive proclamation of April 16, 1931. Following
the report of the board both parties are forbidden to change existing
conditions, except by mutual agreement, for a period of 30 days.
This is the fourth emergency board appointed under the railroad
labor act of 1926.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[347]
LABOR TURNOVER
Labor T urnover in A m erican F actories, J u n e , 1931
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics presents herewith labor turnover
indexes for manufacturing as a whole and for 10 separate manu
facturing industries. In working turnover rates the bureau uses the
weighted arithmetic mean. The indexes for manufacturing as a
whole are compiled from reports made by representative establish
ments in 75 industries employing approximately 1,250,000 people.
In the 10 industries for which separate indexes are presented reports
were received from representative plants employing approximately 25
per cent of the employees as shown for such industries by the Census
of Manufactures of 1927. In the automobile industry schedules
were received from plants employing over 225,000 people; firms report
ing for boots and shoes employed 100,000 people; those reporting for
cotton manufacturing employed approximately 125,000 people; those
reporting for brick employed about 15,000 people; those reporting for
foundry and machine shops employed nearly 175,000 people; those
reporting for furniture employed about 40,000 people; iron and steel,
over 225,000 people; sawmills, approximately 65,000 people; slaugh
tering and meat packing, nearly 85,000 people; and men’s clothing,
nearly 35,000.
In addition to the quit, discharge, lay-off, total separation, and
accession rates, the bureau presents the net turnover rate. The net
turnover rate means the rate of replacement. It is the number of
jobs that are vacated and filled per 100 employees. In a plant that
is increasing its force the net turnover rate is the same as the separa
tion rate, because, while more people are hired than are separated
from their jobs, the number hired above those leaving is due to ex
pansion and can not be justly charged to turnover. On the other
hand, in a plant that is reducing its number of employees the net
turnover rate is the same as the accession rate, for, while more people
are separated from the pay-roll than are hired, the excess of separa
tions over accessions is due to a reduction of force and therefore can
not be logically charged as a turnover expense.
Table 1 shows for all industries the total separation rate subdi
vided into the quit, discharge, and lay-off rates together with the
accession and net turnover rates presented both on a monthly and an
equivalent annual basis.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[348]
89
LABOR TURNOVER
T a ble 1.—A V E R A G E L A B O R T U R N O V E R
R A T E S IN S E L E C T E D F A C T O R IE S IN 75
IN D U S T R IE S
A.—M o n th ly R ates
Separation rates
M on th
Lay-off
Quit
Accession
rate
Discharge
N et turnover rate
Total
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
J a n u a r y ______
F ebruary ____
M arch ______
A pril____ _ _
M a y __________
Ju n e _________
July
August
September
October
N ovem berDecember
1.85
1.60
1.94
2.11
2. 01
1.85
1. 35
1. 40
1. 50
1. 29
.90
.84
0.74
.74
.94
1.14
1.12
1.02
2.70
2. 50
2.83
2. 57
2. 68
3.00
4.17
3.99
3.14
2. 88
2. 77
2.74
1.95
1. 75
1. 75
1.96
2. 43
3.84
0.54
.62
.60
.53
.48
.46
.32
.36
.36
.32
. 24
.21
0.19
.20
.26
.31
.28
.23
5. 09
4. 72
5. 37
5. 21
5.17
5. 31
5. 84
5. 75
5. 00
4.49
3.91
3.79
2. 88
2.69
2.95
3.41
3. 83
5.09
3. 95
3. 94
4.15
3. 55
3. 28
2.92
2.51
2. 71
3. 27
2.56
2. 05
2.13
2. 97
2.82
3. 67
3.06
2.79
2.41
3.95
3. 94
4.15
3. 55
3.28
2.92
2. 51
2. 71
3.27
2.56
2.05
2.13
Average___
1. 55
.43
3.00
4. 97
3. 08
1931
2.88
2. 69
2.95
3. 06
2.79
2. 41
3. 08
B .-E q u iv a le n t A n n u a l R ates
Jan u ary _______
F ebruary ______
M a r c h - ..........A pril__________
M a y __________
J u n e _______ -J u ly ---------------A ugust________
Septem ber_____
O ctober_______
N ovem ber_____
December_____
21.8
20.9
22.8
25. 7
23.7
22.5
15.9
16.5
18.3
15.2
11.0
9.9
A verage___
18. 7
8.7
9.6
11.1
13.9
13.2
12.4
31.8
32.6
33.3
31.3
31.5
36.5
49.1
47.0
38.2
33.9
33.7
32.2
2.2
2.6
3.1
3.8
3.3
2.8
23.0
22.8
20.6
23.9
28.6
46.7
35.9
60.0
61.5
63.2
63.5
60.8
64.6
68.8
67. 7
60.9
52.9
47.6
44.6
59.7
33.9
35.0
34.8
41.6
45.1
61.9
46.5
51.4
48.8
43.2
38.6
35.5
29.5
31.9
39.8
30.1
24.9
25.1
37.1
35.0
36.8
43.2
37.2
32.8
29.3
46.5
51.4
48.8
43.2
38.6
35.5
29.5
31.9
39.8
30.1
24.9
25.1
33.9
35.0
34.8
37.2
32.8
29.3
37.1
Comparing rates for June, 1931, with those for May, 1931, there
was a decrease in the quit, discharge, and accession rates. The
lay-off rate, however, was much higher for June than for May.
Comparing June, 1931, rates with those for June, 1930, decreases were
shown for all classes of rates except the lay-off rate which was
higher during the current month than for June, 1930. The charts on
pages 90 and 91 show in graphic form the data presented in Table 1.
Table 2 shows the quit, discharge, lay-off, accession, and net turn
over rates for automobiles, boots and shoes, cotton, foundry and
machine shops, furniture, iron and steel, sawmills, and slaughtering
and meat packing for the year 1930 and for the first 6 months of the
year 1931, and for brick and men’s clothing for the months of April,
May, and June, 1931, presented both on a monthly and an equiva
lent annual basis.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[349]
INDEXES OF AVERAGE MONTHLY LABOR TURNOVER RATES, 1930 & 1931.
SEPARATION
QV 1T
7.00
LA Y-
•OFF
RATES.
DISCHARGE
TOTAL.
7.00
6.00
6.00
. 1930-
/V
[350]
4.00
1930
3 00
/\
P
V
V 'l
w
f
,1931.
\ _/
'
\
\
S. 00
\
\
V.
>
3.00
At 931.
1930.
2.00
Z00
/x
t
1.00
V
.1
\
V
\
1.00
I93L193R-
o
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4.00
J. f m. a. n. j. J. A. S. 0. M. D. J.
F.
1930.
■“-- -•----
R/
M. A. M. 0. J. A. S. 0. N. D. J. F n. A. M. 0. J. A. S. 0. N. D. d F. N a. n j. j : a. s . 0. N. D.
0
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
i
-A_/_
5.00
/A
LABOR TURNOVER
67999°— 31------7
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[351]
91
92
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 2 — A V E R A G E LA B O R T U R N O V E R R A T E S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S
A.—M o n th ly R ates
Separat ion rates
In d u stry and m onth
Q uit
Discharge
Lay-ofi
Total
Accession
rate
N et turnover rato
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
1930
1931
1930
Automobiles:
Jan u a ry _____________
F eb ru ary _____ _______
M arch _______________
A p ril________________
M a y .-- ----------- _ __
Ju n e ________________
J u l y . . . _____________
A ugust .
________
September _____ _ _ .
October
N ovem ber
_ ____
D ecem ber. __ - _ . . .
2.76
1.16
1.81
2. 21
2. 20
1.59
1.14
1.23
1. 29
1.19
.81
.88
0.54
.74
1.09
1.46
1.40
.90
0.92
.38
.56
.50
.50
.39
.24
.38
.33
. 25
. 16
. 17
0.18
.21
.39
.44
.39
.21
5. 81 2. 63 9. 49 3. 35 13. 50
2. 31 1. 71 3. 85 2. 66 4.74
2. 04 1. 71 4.41 3.19 6. 92
1.97 1.86 4. 68 3. 76 7. 45
5. 59 3. 07 8.29 4.86 3. 98
5. 90 10. 57 7. 88 11. 68 2.34
9. 48
10. 86
2 78
7. 66
3 69
9. 27
7.42
9. 04
3. 83
5. 39
4 02
6 83
3. 80
4. 77
5 95
3. 69
4. 74
3.43
2. 92
4.12
7. 76
5. 21
3.41
2.91
9.49
3. 85
4.41
4.68
3.98
2. 34
2 78
3 69
3 83
4 02
4 77
3.43
A verage______ _____
1.52
Boots and shoes:
Jan u ary ______ _ . . .
F eb ru ary ____________
M a rc h ..
A p ril________________
M a y ________________
J u n e ________________
J u ly ___ _____________
A u g u s t . __________
Septem ber. . _ _____
October____ _______ .
Novem ber
- _____
D ecem ber_____ _ . .
1.97
1.93
2. 00
2. 48
2. 06
1.94
2.04
2.19
2. 01
1.71
1.00
1.03
A v e ra g e.-_________
1.86
Brick:
A p r il,............. ........... .
M a y -------------------- .
June . . . . . . _______
2.07
1.98
2. 27
2. 40
2.36
2.06
1.91
1. 58
1.88
1.41
1.22
.58
Average— _________
1.81
Foundries and machine
shops:
J a n u a ry . ____
February ..............
M arch . .
A pril________________
M a y ________________
J u n e ..
J u ly _________________
August _______ ___
Septem ber________ .
O c to b e r_______ . . .
N ovem ber________. . .
D ecem ber.
_____ .
1.36
1.88
1.88
1.87
1. 29
1.11
1. 01
1.07
.85
.66
.55
.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1. 23
1. 27
1. 58
1.97
1. 57
1.61
—
.86
1.77
.80
C otton manufacturing:
Jan u ary .
F eb ru ary ____________
M arch_______________
April
___________
M ay_. --------------J u n e __ ______________
J u ly -------------------------A u g u st_____ . . . _ __
Septem ber. __ _ _
October
N ovem ber_______. . .
D ecem ber____
A verage..
.40
___ 1.23
1.00
1.00
1.36
1.64
1.53
1.25
.78
.70
.65
.68
.53
.47
. 57
.73
. 51
.47
.27
.24
5.09
.37
.31
.50
.42
.49
.40
.55
_____
.65
.60
.69
.68
.55
.58
.55
.46
.46
.48
.35
.24
.80
.88
.80
.79
.54
.43
.45
.44
.47
. 22
. 26
.55
1. 27
1.37
1.34
2.13
2. 47
1.82
1. 76
2. 84
2. 78
2. 73
4. 38
3. 88
1930
1.88
1.23
1. 16
1. 53
2. 37
1.85
4.02
4.00
3. 99
5.29
5 06
4. 23
4 37
5 76
5 30
4 91
5. 65
5.15
2.16
1. 92
2. 20
2. 23
2. 07
2.17
3. 34
3. 58
2.44
2.09
2.18
1. 92
2. 60
1.87
2. 00
2. 52
2. 30
2.24
2. 36
. 22
.22
.25
.36
.25
.25
2.03
3.24
2.87
4. 12
4. 52
4. 58
4. 08
3. 82
4. 01
2. 87
3.10
3. 57
5.22
3. 48
2.81
3.24
3. 92
4. 43
3.86
4. 81
4.88
4. 50
5.16
5. 31
4.98
4.81
5 80
5 62
4 78
3. 98
3. 75
2. 74
4.00
3. 21
3. 72
4.59
4. 20
3.95
4.19
6. 00
5. 55
6.78
6. 35
6 12
5 54
5. 33
5. 33
3. 75
3.91
5. 35
4. 48
5.88
4. 92
4.34
4.95
5.18
4. 39
4. 63
3. 95
3.76
3.05
2 26
2 56
2 45
2 27
1 85
2.05
3. 57
3.91
4.47
4.69
3. 51
3. 66
3. 48
2.81
3.24
3. 92
4.43
3.86
6.67
4. 50
3. 33
4.17
4.27
3.95
3.25
9 47
3. 57
3. 21
3. 72
4.59
3. 51
3. 66
4 58
3 98
2 93
1.46
3.47
2. 96
3. 38
3.08
2.44
1.95
4.19
4.63
3.95
3.76
3.05
2 45
9 97
1 85
2.05
3. 02
3.02
= =
[352]
2.92
2.66
3.19
3.76
3. 41
2.91
3.30
3. 50
3 06
2.87
3.87
4.61
5. 93
5. 38
4.02
3.09
3.18
2.76
3.19
3.78
4 37
4 08
2 99
2 05
2 41
3.66
6.67
4.50
3. 33
4.17
4.27
3. 95
3.25
2 47
2 72
4 58
4 34
2 93
1.46
1931
5.22
3.49
4. 69
2 32
2.10
2. 72
3.29
4.91
4.44
5. 97
3.09
3.18
2. 76
3.19
3.78
4 74
4 08
2 99
2 05
2 41
3.66
5 48
11 08
6.69
. 61
4 01
. 66
8. 65
.44 _____ 5.45
.40
.34
.36
.43
.37
.46
1931
7. 01
2.40
.52
. 52
.55
.90
.96
.77
.69
1931
2. 87
3. 38
3.08
2.44
1.95
93
LABOR TURNOVER
T a b l e 2 —A V E R A G E LA B O R T U R N O V E R R A T E S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S —Continued
A.—M o n th ly R a tes—Continued
Separation rates
In d u stry and m onth
Quit
1930
Furniture:
Jan u a ry _____________
F ebruary
_____ _
M arch _ . ____
A pril________________
M a y ------------------------J u n e _________________
Ju ly _________________
A ugust _ _____
Septem ber_______
October . . ________
N ovem ber__ _
December
1. 73
1.26
1. 44
1. 21
1.18
1.09
1.03
.99
.68
1931
0. 55
.57
.80
.95
1.05
1.06
Average____________ 1.18
Iron and steel:
Ja n u a ry ,.
________
F ebru ary ____________
M arch _______________
A pril________________
M a y ________________
J u n e _________________
Ju ly ____ .
_ ___
August . . .
_ __
S e p te m b e r ...____ .
O ctober.. ___________
N ovem ber _.
December _ . . . .
Average. _
1.81
1.91
1.91
2. 26
2.13
1.87
1. 54
1. 61
1.45
1. 13
1.11
.82
Sawmills:
Jan u a ry .. _ ________
F eb ru ary ____________
M arch _______________
A pril________________
M a y ________________
J u n e ------------------------Ju ly ____________
August
___
S eptem b er.. ■
October
N ovem ber _______
December __ ______
Average.
. _
Slaughtering and m eat
packing:
Jan u ary _________ . . .
F ebru ary ________
M arch _____________
A pril_____ _________
M a y ________ ______
J u n e -------------------- _.
Ju ly ________________
August ..
Septem b er..
October
. . . .
N ovem ber__ _____
D ecem ber.. .
A v e r a g e ...___
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1930
0. 64
.52
.41
.40
.41
.46
.45
. 29
.35
.71
.72
.71
.89
.87
.86
.45
.34
.45
.42
.40
.49
. 24
.26
.22
.20
. 13
. 10
.97
1. 22
1. 74
1. 79
1. 73
1.13
2. 22
1. 29
1.56
1.41
1.42
1.35
1.36
Lay-off
1930
4.38
4. 39
4. 33
4. 50
3. 45
3. 30
3. 61
5. 92
6. 66
.09
.15
. 12
.15
. 15
. 11
1.24
1.15
1. 22
1. 32
1. 71
2.25
2. 29
2.05
2.16
2.25
1. 95
2. 23
.91
.96
.86
.75
.79
.88
.79
.72
.65
.73
.56
.57
. 76
4.84
3. 86
4. 52
3.31
5. 72
4.83
1.36
1.03
1.38
1.90
2.16
2.65
.43
.50
.51
.46
.50
.33
.61
.68
.37
.47
.43
.52
1930
6. 75
6. 17
6. 18
6.11
5.04
4. 85
5. 09
7. 20
7. 69
3. 50
3. 40
3. 58
4. 00
4.24
4. 61
4. 07
3.92
3. 83
3. 58
3.19
3.15
1931
5. 64
4. 77
5. 69
4. 77
7. 02
6. 32
N et turnover rate
1930
1930
3. 34
2.87
3. 82
5. 09
5. 34
7.07
3. 72
2.48
2.35
2.16
1.90
2. 21
2. 94
3.18
3. 62
5. 52
5. 09
4. 06
3.88
3. 25
2. 56
2. 27
1. 91
2. 32
1. 74
1. 31
1. 40
5. 24
5. 51
4. 78
4. 66
3.81
4. 89
3. 72
3. 00
2.11
8. 02 9. 50 9. 42 9. 39
4. 56 8. 75 6.28 9.11
4. 56 8. 90 6.81 7.91
7.17 10.17 9.42 9. 66
6.43 12.96 8. 66 10.09
8. 70 9.24 10.16 5. 85
10. 73
6. 17
10.03
6. 71
11.58
6.93
9.56
8. 32
9. 99
4.96
9. 74
4. 51
10. 10
7. 47
6. 68
7. 70
7. 51
4. 47
4.14
4.59
5. 34
5.14
3. 79
4. 67
4. 80
5.59
4.40 9.91
6.48 11.03
6.88 10. 86
5. 02 8.13
4.13 7. 77
3.90 8.19
8. 21
7.95
6. 70
7.10
6. 48
7.85
6. 30 10.02
8. 72 7. 39
8. 66 5. 23
6. 91 8. 47
5.91 9.01
5. 78 10. 34
6. 92
6. 34
7. 33
7. 62
7. 30
6. 24
5. 37
8.35
7.68
3. 34
2. 87
3. 82
5. 09
5.04
4.85
3. 72
2. 48
2. 35
1931
5. 24
4. 77
4. 78
4. 66
3. 81
4. 89
4. 01
2.52
2.24
2.03
1.69
1. 57
1.20
2. 94
6. 03
[353]
1931
4. 01
3. 76
2. 20
1. 46
. 56
4. 52
3.99
3. 54
4. 97
8.10
5. 35
6.98
6.09
7. 64
6. 58
7. 23
7. 42
Accession
rate
Total
6.12
1. 82
.12
. 15
.23
1.18
1.37
1. 47
.92
1.35
.96
1. 07
.93
.95
.72
.83
.93
1931
4. 50
1.06
3. 01
2. 32
2. 37
2. 49
2. 91
2. 84
2. 72
2. 08
2. 09
2. 26
1. 70
1. 12
1. 69
0. 25
.34
.37
.51
.25
.43
. 31
1. 40
1. 39
1. 32
3. 80
3. 39
3. 89
4. 28
3. 51
2. 93
2. 68
3. 01
2. 99
2. 26
1.93
1. 39
1931
.44
1. 63
M en ’s clothing:
April . .
M ay._ ___________ _
Ju n e ________
. _
Discharge
3. 50
3. 40
3. 58
3. 88
3. 25
2.56
2. 27
1. 91
2. 32
1. 74
1. 31
1. 40
2.16
1. 90
2.03
1.69
1.57
1. 20
2. 94
3. 22
3.10
4. 05
3. 22
3. 00
2. 11
9. 99 9. 39
7. 44 8. 75
7. 07 7.91
7. 21 9. 66
7. 97 10.09
6.41 5. 85
6.17
6. 71
6. 93
8. 32
4. 96
4. 51
9. 42
6.28
6. 81
7. 21
7. 97
6.41
7. 47
9. 50
5. 02
5.19
6.31
6. 92
6. 08
9. 91
7. 39
5. 23
8.13
7. 77
8.19
6. 92
6. 34
6. 70
7.10
6.48
6. 24
7.68
6. 30
5.02
5.19
6.31
5.91
5.78
94
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 2 —A V E R A G E LA B O R T U R N O V E R R A T E S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S —C ontinued
B.—E q u ivalen t A n n u a l B a tes
Separation rates
In d u stry and m onth
Automobiles:
J a n u a ry ..____________
F eb ru ary ____________
M arch_______________
A pril________________
M a y ________________
J u n e ..
__ _
Ju ly _________________
August .
September _ _______
October
N ovem ber. _______ _
December __________
Quit
1930
1931
1930
1931
32.5
15. 1
21. 3
26.9
25.9
19. 4
13. 4
14. 5
15. 7
14.0
9.9
10.4
6.4
9.6
12.8
17.8
16.5
11.0
10.8
5.0
6.6
6.1
5.9
4.7
2.8
4. 5
4.0
2.9
1.9
2.0
2. 1
2.7
4.6
5.4
4.6
2.6
A verage.. . _____ . 18. 3
Boots and shoes:
Jan u ary ______________
F e b ru a ry __
... ...
M arch _______________
A pril________________
M ay . _______________
Jline .
____ . . . .
Ju ly _________________
August
. . . . . .
September ____. . .
October
__
Novem ber _ ____
D ecember.
A verage... ________
23.2
25.2
23. 5
30.2
24. 2
23.6
24. 0
25. 8
24.5
20. 1
12. 2
12. 1
14. 5
16.6
18.6
24.0
18.5
19. 6
22.4
Brick:
A pril.
M a y _________________
Ju n e ___
. ...
24.4
25.8
26.7
29. 2
27.8
25. 1
22. 5
18.6
22.9
16. 6
14.8
6.8
Average . . . . .
21.8
Foundries and machine
shops:
Jan u ary ___________ __
F e b ru a ry ____________
M arch_______________
A pril________________
M a y _________________
June
. .
Ju ly _________________
A ugust_____________ .
S ep tem b er.._
October . _______ _.
N ovem ber _________
D ecem b er................... .
17.7
22. 1
22.9
22.0
15.7
13. 1
11.9
13.0
10.0
8.0
6.5
Average......................... 14.8
11.8
13.0
16.0
20.0
18.0
15. 2
1930
28. 7
7.4
7.8
5.4
6.7
83.8
22. 1
16.0
13. 7
18.6
27.9
22.5
47.3
52. 2
47.0
64.4
59.5
51.4
51. 4
67.8
64. 5
57. 7
68. 8
60. 6
48. 8
101. 8
66. 3
25.4
25.0
25.9
27. 1
24.4
26.4
39. 3
42.1
29. 7
24. 6
26. 5
22.6
26.5
38. 1
34.9
48. 5
55.0
53. 9
48.0
46. 5
47. 2
34.9
36. 5
42. 7
[354]
41. 0
36.6
38. 2
47.7
52.2
47.0
57.7
30.6
24.4
23. 5
30. 7
27. 1
27.3
28. 3
2.6
2.9
2.9
4.4
2.9
3.0
1931
1930
1930
1931
62. 6
6. 6
10. 4
10.4
9.7
9.3
6.6
5. 1
5.3
5.4
5.5
2. 7
3. 1
1930
62. 6
4.4 14.9
4.0 17.9
5.9 15.8
5. 1. 25. 9
5.8 29. 1
4.9 22. 1
20. 7
33.4
33. 8
32.1
53.3
45. 7
4.7
4.4
4.2
5.2
4.4
5.6
N et turnover rate
34.4 111.7
53. 7 50. 2
91.3 51.9
63. 4 57.0
40. 1 46.8
35.4 28.5
32. 7
43.4
46. 6
47. 3
58.0
40. 4
9.2
9. 1
7.7
8.3
6.2
5.7
6. 7
8.6
6. 2
5. 5
3.3
■ 2.8
7.7
7.8
8. 1
8.3
6.5
7. 1
6. 5
5.4
5. 6
5. 6
4.3
2. 8
1931
Accession
rate
Total
68.4 31.0 111. 7 39.5 158.9
30. 1 22. 3 50.2 34.6 61.8
24.0 20.1 51.9 37.5 81.4
24.0 22. 6 57.0 45. 8 90.7
65.8 36. 1 97.6 57.2 46.8
71.8 128.6 95.9 142.2 28.5
32. 7
111. 6
127.8
109. 2
90. 2
43. 4
90. 3
110. 0
46. 6
63. 4
47. 3
80. 3
72. 4
46. 2
58.0
43. 4
40. 4
60.8
6.3
6. 1
7.2
10.6
11.7
9.1
8.4
Lay-off
4. 8
10. 5
20.8
9.7
C otton manufacturing:
Jan u ary ______________
F eb ru ary ____________
M arch _______________
A pril___ ____ ________
M a y _________________
June _
. ____
Ju lv ______________ __
A ugust. _ ____________
September _.
. . .
October _
N ovem ber.
. ._
D ecem ber.. . .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Discharge
66. 7
130. 4
81. 4
57.5
58.6
60.7
64.6
58.7
58.6
68. 3
66. 1
58. 2
46. 8
45.6
32. 2
54.6
70.6
67. 5
79.8
77.3
72.1
65. 2
64. 9
62.7
45. 6
46.1
64. 2
52.7
76.7
57.9
52.8
58.3
63.0
41. 8
47.1
41.8
43.7
55.9
49.5
48. 1
56. 3
27. 3
27.4
32.0
40.0
57.8
54.0
70.3
40.3
37.4
33.6
37.5
46.0
55. 8
48. 0
36. 4
24. 1
29. 3
43.1
57. 2
54.5
48. 1
44.3
37. 1
26. 6
30. 1
29 8
26. 7
22. 5
24. 1
36. 5
41.0
36.6
38.2
47.7
52. 2
47.0
66 7
92 9
81 2
105. 6
92. 9
81. 2
53.0
43.4
49. 1
52.0
46.5
39.6
29.1
32. 0
55. 7
51. 1
35. 7
17. 2
34.4
34.6
37.5
45. 8
40. 1
35.4
41. 8
42.0
51.0
52.6
57. 1
41.3
44.5
42. 0
36. 0
37.5
45.5
56. 1
69.8
65.4
47.3
40.3
37.4
33.6
37.5
46.0
51. 4
48.0
36. 4
24.1
29. 3
43.1
1931
53.0
43.4
49.1
52.0
46.5
39.6
29 1
32 0
55. 7
46 8
35. 7
17.2
42. 0
41.8
43.7
55.9
41.3
44.5
41.7
34 5
38.6
39.8
37. 5
28.7
23.7
54.6
54.5
48. 1
44.3
37. 1
26 6
30 1
29 8
26. 7
22 5
24.1
36.5
34 5
37.5
39.8
37.5
28.7
23.7
LABOR TURNOVER
95
T able 2 .—A V E R A G E L A B O R T U R N O V E R R A T E S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S -C o n tin u e d
B .—E quivalen t A n n u a l R ates—Continued
Separation rates
1930
Furniture:
Jan u a ry _____
F e b ru a ry ____
M arch ______
A pril________
M a y ________
J u n e ________
Ju ly -------------A ugust______
Septem ber___
October_____
N ovem ber__ D ecem ber____
21.1
14.8
17.5
14.2
13.9
13.3
Iron and steel:
J anuary____
February__
M arch _____
A pril______
M a y ______
J u n e _______
Ju ly ----------A ugust____
S eptem b er..
O ctober____
N ovem ber. _
Decem ber. _.
1931
6.5
7.4
9.4
11.6
12.4
12.9
12.1
12.0
8.0
1930
1931
7.8
6.1
5.0
4.7
4.8
5.6
5.3
3.5
4.1
6.2
2.9
5.2
8.4
9.4
8.4
10.8
10.2
22.8
10.5
18.1
18.9
17.6
13.3
13.5
9.7
Sawmills:
Jan u a ry _____
F ebru ary ___
M arch ______
A pril_______
M a y _______
J u n e _______
Ju ly ________
A ugust_____
Septem ber.
O ctober____
N ovem ber__
D ecem ber___
Average.
Slaughtering and meat
packing:
J a n u a r y ...------ ---------F ebru ary ____________
M arch ________ ______
A pril_________ _______
M a y ________________
J u n e . . . _____________
Ju ly _________________
A ugust______________
Septem ber___________
O ctober_____________
N ovem ber___________
D ecem ber___________
Average.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
5.3
4.4
5.3
5.1
4.7
20.1
1.3
1.2
27.4
27.0
24.1
26.3
26.5
23.7
26.2
3.7
21.8
1.6
27.3
30.9
29.3
35. 4
33.4
33.1
24.5
24.6
27.5
20.0
13.6
19.9
26.6
57.0
50.3
53.2
40.3
67.3
58.8
5.1
6.5
21.8
11.2
20.4
13.8
15.9
11.7
12. 6
10.9
11.6
8.5
5.6
5.9
4.0
15.2
20.3
16.6
17.3
15.9
16.6
6.0
82.2
72.5
75.2
71.9
59.3
59.1
59.9
87.5
90.5
41.2
44.3
42.2
48.7
49.9
56.2
47.9
46.1
46.6
42.2
38.8
37.1
66.4
62.1
67.0
58.1
82.6
76.9
61.7
71.9
56.3
56.7
44.8
59.5
43.8
30.2
27.7
40.6
33.8
46.5
59.9
59.3
59.1
43.8
30.2
27.7
47.9
47.9
40.6
33.8
46.5
59.9
62.9
86.0
25.5
24.8
26.0
35.7
37.4
44.1
65.0
66.4
47.8
47.2
38.3
31.2
26.7
22.5
28.2
20.5
15.9
16.5
29.7
29.2
23.9
20.6
18.5
14.6
41.2
44.3
42.2
47.2
38.3
31.2
26.7
22.5
28.2
20.5
15.9
16.5
1931
61.7
62.1
56.3
56.7
44.8
59.5
25.5
24.8
23.9
20.6
18.5
14.6
35.5
35.5
53.2 94.4 111.8
52.0 59.5 114.1
41.7 53.7 104.8
60.5 87.3 123.8
95.3 75.7 152.5
05.1 105.9 112.5
126.3
82.2
118.0
71.7
141.0
93.0
112.5
77.4
110.9
81.9
80.2
114.7
102.0
123.7
110.5 117.6 110.5
118.8 97.0 114.1
93.1 83.2 93.1
117. 6 87.7 117.6
118.8 93.8 118.8
71.2 78.0 71.2
72.6
72.6
79.0
79.0
84.3
84.3
97.9
97.9
60.4
60.4
53.1
53.1
110.9
81.9
80.2
87.7
93.8
78.0
121.6
87.3
114.6
12.7
72.3
121.1
10.7
12.5
7.2 78.6
8.9 100.4
4.4 88.4
5.7 54.4
5.1 48.7
6. 3 55.9
62.9
60.5
46.1
55.0
58.4
65.8
6.7
1930
1931
39.2
35.4
25.7
88.0
8.6
6.8
1930
39.2
36.5
49.3
6.8
10.9
9.1
9.3
10.7
9.3
8.5
7.9
1931
45.1
10.1
10.1
N et tu rn
over rate
45.3
35.4
25.7
1.8
2.8
13.9
17.9
17.3
1930
73.1
16.0
13.4
16.2
23.1
25.4
32.3
Accession
rate
T otal
26.8
17.2
1.5
11.4
15.9
20.5
36.1
14.6
15.0
14.4
16.1
1.8
6.0
2.8
17.0
16.4
16.1
44.7
44.2
45.8
52.1
41.3
35.7
31.5
35.4
36.4
26.6
23.5
16.4
1.1
2.0
1.4
1.8
3.1
2.7
2.4
19.6
M en’s clothing:
A pril______
M a y ______
J u n e ______
53.3
51. 6
52.7
53.0
40.6
40.2
42.5
72.0
78.4
1931
53.8
21.3
24.9
22.5
27.5
25.1
Average.
1930
2.9
4 4
4.4
14.1
A verage,..
Lay-off
Discharge
Quit
In d u stry and m onth
64.6
[355]
89.8
89.
51.8 116.6 74.2 117.9 111.8 116.6
84.5 143.8 113.7 96.4 65.5 96.4
81.0 127.8 102.0 61.6 61.1 61.6
61.1 98.9 84.1 103 1 76.8 98.9
48.6 91. 4 69.6 106.0 81.4 91.4
47.5 99.7 70.4 125.8 74.0 99.7
81.4
81.4
96.7
74.6
74.6
93.6
81.5
89.2
81.5
83.6
89.7
83.6
78.8
88.8
78.8
73.4
73.4
92.4
100.4
92.3
74.2
65.5
61.1
76.8
69.6
70.4
HOUSING
B u ild in g P er m its in P rin cip al C ities, J u n e , 1931
UILDING permits have been received by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics from 344 identical cities having a population of 25,000
or over for the months of May and June, 1931, and from 297 cities
for the months of June, 1930, and June, 1931.
The cost figures as shown in the following tables apply to the cost
of the buildings as estimated by the prospective builder on applying
for his permit to build. No land costs are included. Only building
projects within the corporate limits of the cities enumerated are
shown. The States of Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, New
Jersey, and Pennsylvania, through their departments of labor, are
cooperating with the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics in the
collection of these data.
Table 1 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings, of
new nonresidential buildings, and of total building operations in 344
identical cities of the United States, by geographic divisions. ,
B
1.— E S T IM A T E D CO ST O F N E W B U IL D IN G S IN 344 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S AS SH O W N
BY P E R M IT S IS SU E D IN M A Y A N D J U N E , 1931, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
T able
N ew residential buildings
E stim ated cost
Geographic division
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
ay,
M ay, 1931 June, 1931 M
1931
New E n g la n d ______
M iddle A tlan tic______
E ast N o rth C en tral___
W est N o rth C entral___
South A tlantic_______
South C en tra l...
M o u n tain and P a c ific -
$3, 524, 350 $3, 224,170
21,909, 744 19, 742, 586
, 547, 248 5, 008, 000
2, 651, 600 2, 214, 023
, 242, 760 2, 965, 500
2, 238, 350 2, 720, 865
, 348, 067 5, 641, 027
680
4,892
1, 311
673
1,131
768
1, 901
T o tal................... 49, 462,119 41, 516,171
Per cent of change____
-1 6 .1
11, 356
6
6
6
N ew nonresiden
tial buildings, es
tim ated cost
T otal
construction
(including altera
tions and repairs),
estim ated cost
June, M ay, 1931 June, 1931
M ay, 1931 June, 1931
1931
609 $4, 903, 904 $3,811, 659 $10, 539, 960
4, 306 25, 975, 351 13, 001, 752 53, 961, 799
988 13, 503,128 , 037,158 23, 132, 944
592 6,429, 261 4, 600, 844 10, 329, 236
651 3, 007, 435 4, 393, 937 11,286, 321
736 2, 842, 396 4, 250, 703 5, 978, 691
1,660 , 893, 247 7, 237, 793 15, 240, 708
8
6
$9, 704, 884
38, 378, 536
16, 395,041
7, 891, 757
9, 611,153
, 077, 741
15, 385,018
8
9,542 63, 554, 722 45, 333, 846 130, 469, 659 105,444,130
-1 6 .0
-2 8 .7
-1 9 .2
The estimated cost of total building operations in the 344 cities
from which reports were received for the month of June, 1931, was
$105,444,130 or 19.2 per cent less than the estimated cost of building
projects for which permits were issued in these cities during May,
1931. There was a decrease of 16.1 per cent in the estimated cost
of residential buildings and a decrease of 28.7 per cent in the esti
mated cost of nonresidential buildings, comparing June permits with
May permits. The new dwelling houses for which permits were
issued during 1931 were planned to house 9,542 families. This is
16 per cent less than the number of family dwelling units provided
in the buildings for which permits were issued in May.
Decreases in the estimated cost of new residential buildings were
shown in all of the geographic divisions except the South Central.
96
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97
HOUSING
In the South Central States there was an increase of 21.6 per cent
in the prospective expenditures for this class of building. The
decreases in new residential buildings ranged from 8.5 per cent in
New England States to 52.5 per cent in the South Atlantic States.
Increases in the indicated expenditures for new nonresidential build
ings were shown in three geographic divisions and decreases in the
remaining four divisions. The increases ranged from 5 per cent
in the Mountain and Pacific States to 49.6 in the South Central
States. The decreases ranged from 22.3 per cent in the New England
States to 49.9 per cent in the Middle Atlantic States.
Two geographic divisions, the South Central and the Mountain
and Pacific, showed increases in total construction. The other five
geographic divisions showed decreases in the estimated cost of build
ing projects comparing June permits with May permits. The
decreases ranged from 7.9 per cent in the New England States to
29.1 per cent in the East North Central States.
Decreases in family dwelling units provided were shown in each
of the seven geographic divisions. The decreases in family dwelling
units provided ranged from 4.2 per cent in the South Central States
to 42.4 per cent in the South Atlantic States.
Table 2 shows the estimated cost of additions, alterations, and
repairs as shown by permits issued, together with the per cent of
increase or decrease in June, 1931, as compared with May, 1931, in
344 identical cities of the United States by geographic divisions.
T a b le 2 .—E S T IM A T E D
COST OF A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S , A N D R E P A IR S IN 344
ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S AS SH O W N BY P E R M IT S IS SU E D IN M A Y A N D JU N E , 1931, BY
G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
E stim ated cost
Geographic division
Per cent of
change, June
compared
w ith M ay
M ay, 1931
June, 1931
New E ngland__________ ______ . . .
M iddle A tlan tic_________________
E ast N orth C e n tra l-.------- ---------W est N orth C en tral...........................
South A tlan tic.....................................
South C en tra l...
_ ----------- . . .
M ountain and Pacific____________
$2,111,700
6,076, 704
3,082, 568
1,248,375
2,036,326
897,945
1,999,394
$2, 069,055
5,634,198
3,349, 883
1,076,890
2,251,716
1,106,173
2,506,198
+26.4
- 7 .3
+ 8.7
-1 3 .7
+10.6
+12.3
+25. 3
T o tal. ___________________
17,452,818
18, 594,113
+ 6.5
Comparing permits issued in June, 1931, with those issued in May,
1931, in these 344 cities there was an increase of 6.5 per cent in the
indicated expenditures for additions, alterations, and repairs. Five
of the seven geographic divisions registered increases in this class of
building. The increases ranged from 8.7 per cent in the East North
Central States to 26.4 per cent in the New England States. The only
two geographic divisions showing decreases in the estimated cost of
additions, alterations, and repairs were the Middle Atlantic and the
West North Central.
Table 3 shows the index number of families provided for and. the
index numbers of indicated expenditures for new residential buildings,
for new nonresidential buildings, for additions, alterations, and
repairs, and for total building operations. These indexes are^worked
on the chain system with the monthly average of 1929 equaling 100.
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98
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a ble 3 .— IN D E X N U M B E R S OF F A M IL IE S P R O V ID E D F O R A N D OF T H E E S T IM A T E D
CO ST OF B U IL D IN G O P E R A T IO N S AS SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S IS S U E D IN P R IN C IP A L
C IT IE S OF T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S , JA N U A R Y , 1930, TO JU N E , 1931, IN C L U S IV E
[M onthly average 1929=100]
E stim ated cost of—
Families
provided
for
M onth
New resi
dential
buildings
N ew non
residential
buildings
Additions, T otal build
alterations, ing opera
and repairs
tions
1930
Jan u a ry ____________ _______ . .
Feb ru ary . _________________ . .
M areh___. _________ _______ .
A pril___ ___________________ . .
M ay ______ . ________ . . . .
Jun e_______ _ ______ _
.
Ju ly ------------------------------------------------A u g u st... _________ . . . . _ . . .
Septem ber________ ______ _
October
. . . _. . _______ _
N ovem ber_____ _________
D ecem ber__________________ .
34.2
43.0
57.1
62.0
59.6
54.4
49.9
48.7
51.3
58.3
52.9
45.0
29.4
34. 7
47.2
51.0
48.5
45.1
44.1
43.4
44.4
44.9
42.5
37.6
64.3
51.8
87.1
100.1
90.7
82.5
86.7
67.2
73.8
53.5
54.4
64.3
55.1
57.5
77.5
81.8
84.5
74.6
77.4
58. 6
64. 2
58.1
37.8
53.5
46.1
44.1
66.4
73.8
69.3
63.3
64. 8
54.4
58. 2
49. 7
46. 3
50.1
1931
Jan u a ry ________ _ _______________
Feb ru ary _______ _ ____
______
M arch___ ______ _
A pril. _ _____
....
M ay ________ _
... .
J u n e ................... ....... ...........
..........
39.1
40.3
53.4
64.6
51.7
43.4
30.8
30.3
40.7
48.6
39.8
33.4
43.4
43.8
76.4
73.9
58.5
41.7
55.5
48.6
58.0
65.2
53.0
56.5
38.9
37.9
57.1
60.6
48.8
39.4
The index numbers of new residential buildings, of new nonresidential buildings, of total building operations, and of families provided
for were all lower than for either May, 1931, or for June, 1930. The
index number for additions, alterations, and repairs, while lower than
for June, 1930, was higher than for May, 1931. The chart on page 99
shows in graphic form the trend of the estimated costs of new
residential buildings, of new nonresidential buildings, and of total
building operations.
Table 4 shows the dollar value of contracts let for public buildings
by the different agencies of the United States Government during the
months of May, 1931, and June, 1931, by geographic divisions.
T k BU h £ v r 9 0 N T R A C T S L E T F 0 R P U B L IC B U IL D IN G S BY D IF F E R E N T A G E N C IE S
OF T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S G O V E R N M E N T D U R IN G M A Y A N D JU N E , 1931 B Y G E O
G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
Geographic division
M ay, 1931
June, 1931
N ew England _ _________
M iddle A tla n tic .. _____
E ast N o rth C en tral_____
W est N o rth C entral
South A tlan tic. _______
South C e n tr a l__________
M o u n tain and Pacific________
$254, 712
2, 360, 803
778, 422
3,074, 500
766, 017
529, 973
2,403, 626
$1, 201,064
867,109
1, 211, 009
165,963
4,196, 442
1, 241,636
2, 712,194
10,168,053
11, 595, 417
Total
. . _____________
New contracts were let for United States Government buildings to
cost $11,595,417 during the month of June. These contracts were
let by the following Federal agencies: The United States Capitol
Architect; the Office of the Quartermaster General, War Department;
Bureau of Tards and Docks, Navy Department; Supervising Archi
tect Treasury Department; and the United States Veterans’ Bureau,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
13581
HOUSING
IM D E X E S OF COST OF BUILDSNS O P E R A T IO N S .
n oriT H iy
100
192.9 = 100.
average.
M EW
R E S ID E N T IA L .
10 0
75
75
1930
30
153
*
/
50
>
'
- “—
/
/
s.
/
\ v
£5
£5
M EW
100
/
/
75
\
\
50
NOM R E S ID E N T IA L .
/ \
/
^1930
\
N
\
\ s
100
\
/
//
//
k
//
\
\ //
>!
\
\
\
75
\
\
\
/
\
1
u—
--- /
/
50
IQQ T O l m ^ ifIC L U O m G A L T E R A T IO N S ^ -R EPA IR S
75
s.
/
/ 1930
50
j
------
—
* 100
75
\ >
s
\ s
/
/ /
/
\
\
\
\
\
\
50
i
1931
25
9J
o
z
cd of
of
o < u i < Q .
Q ‘3 u.
e
<
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
v
£
^
£
H’ •> o
< 3 ^ r > i Ij o O u J
e
- 3 - 3 < < o o z : cj
[359]
25
100
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Whenever a contract is let by the United States Government for a
building in cities having a population of 25,000 or over the cost of
such building is included in the costs as shown in the cities enumer
ated in Table 8.
Table 5 shows the dollar value of contracts awarded by the differ
ent State governments for public buildings during the months of
May, 1931, and June, 1931, by geographic divisions.
T a ble 5 .— C O N T R A C T S A W A R D E D
F O R P U B L IC B U IL D IN G S B Y T H E D IF F E R E N T
S T A T E G O V E R N M E N T S D U R IN G M A Y A N D JU N E , 1931, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
Geographic division
New E n g lan d ,- _______ _______
M iddle A tlan tic, _____________
E ast N o rth C en tral____________
W est N o rth C entral _________
South A tlan tic________________
South C entral , , ___________
M o u n tain and P a c ific _________
T o ta l, _________________
M ay, 1931
June, 1931
$190,103
2, 386, 498
221, 624
344,560
223,100
7, 497
753,114
$76, 492
2,056, 025
828,090
914, 390
961, 568
47, 787
230,634
4,126,496
5,114,986
Contracts let by the different State governments during June, 1931,
for new building operations total $5,114,986. Whenever a contract
is let by a State government for a building in cities having a popula
tion of 25,000 or over, the cost of such building is included in the cost
as shown in the cities enumerated in Table 8.
Table 6 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings, of
new nonresidential buildings, and of total building operations in 297
identical cities having a population of 25,000 or over for June, 1930,
and June, 1931, by geographic divisions.
T a ble 6 . —E S T IM A T E D CO ST OF N E W B U IL D IN G S IN 297 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S AS SH O W N
BY P E R M IT S IS SU E D IN J U N E , 1930 A N D 1931, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
N ew residential buildings
Geographic division
Estim ated cost
June,
1930
June,
1931
Families pro
vided for in new
dwellings
June,
1930
$3, 782, 370 $3,187, 370
21,171, 800 19, 659,986
12,430, 330 . 4,484, 700
2, 253, 361 2,193, 773
3, 246, 061 2, 912, 600
3, 721, 252 2, 607,840
7, 364, 511 5, 272, 577
611
4,417
1, 761
596
732
1, 251
2,083
T o ta l______ _ _ 53, 969, 685 40, 318, 840
Per cent of change____
-2 5 .3
11, 451
N ew E n g la n d _______
M iddle A tlan tic______
E ast N o rth C en tral___
W est N o rth C en tral__
South A tlantic, _____
South C entral „ ,
M ountain and P a c ific -
June,
1931
construction
N ew nonresiden T otal
(including altera
tial buildings, es
tions and repairs),
tim ated cost
estim ated cost
June,
1930
June,
1931
June,
1930
601 $7, 419,450 $3, 799,914 $13, 676,207
4,283 29, 986, 049 12,893, 227 60, 453,456
887 17,834, 661 7, 561,228 34,180, 273
587 8, 447,954 4, 595,304 12, 750, 844
637 4, 280, 794 4, 360, 617 9, 537, 789
696 5, 036, 906 4,112, 279 10,143, 760
1, 564 7,255, 870 6, 015,166 17,985, 639
June,
1931
$9, 632, 359
38,115, 066
15,184, 626
7, 862,412
9, 481, 098
7, 735,251
13, 745, 880
9, 255 80, 261,684 43, 337, 735 158, 727,968 101, 756, 692
-1 9 .2
-4 6 . 0
-3 5 .9
There was a decrease of 25.3 per cent in the indicated expenditures
for new residential buildings; a decrease of 46.0 per cent in the indi
cated expenditures for new nonresidential buildings, and a decrease
of 35.9 per cent in the indicated expenditures for total building opera
tions, comparing permits issued in June, 1931, with those issued in
June, 1930. Family dwelling units provided in new buildings showed
a decrease of 19.2 per cent in June, 1931, as compared with June, 1930,
in these 297 cities.
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Estimated expenditures for new residential buildings showed a
decrease in all geographic divisions. The South Atlantic was the only
geographic division showing an increase in the estimated cost of new
nonresidential buildings. Each of the other six divisions showed
decreases in this class of building. All seven geographic divisions
registered decreases in total construction comparing June, 1931, with
June, 1930. The number of family units provided also decreased in
each of the seven geographic divisions comparing permits issued in
June, 1931, with those issued in June, 1930.
Table 7 shows the estimated cost of additions, alterations, and
repairs as shown by permits issued together with the per cent of in
crease or decrease in June, 1931, as compared with June, 1930.
T a ble 7 .— E S T IM A T E D
CO ST O F A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S , A N D R E P A IR S IN 297
ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S AS SH O W N BY P E R M IT S IS SU E D IN J U N E , 1930, A N D J U N E ,
1931, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
E stim ated cost
Geographic division
Per cent of
change, June,
1931, compared w ith
June, 1930
June, 1930
June, 1931
New E ngland, ________________ .
M iddle A tlantic . . . _____________
E ast N o rth C en tral______________
W est N o rth C en tral_____________
South A tlan tic. . ____________ . .
South C entral .
. __________
M ountain and Pacific____________
$2,474, 387
9, 295, 607
3,915, 282
2,049, 529
2, 010,934
1, 385, 602
3, 365, 258
$2, 645, 075
5, 561,853
3,138, 698
1, 073, 335
2, 207,881
1, 015,132
2,458,137
+ 6.9
-4 0 .2
-1 9 .8
-4 7 .6
+ 9.8
-2 6 .7
-2 7 .0
T o ta l_____________________
24,496, 599
18,100, 111
-2 6 .1
Projected expenditures for additions, alterations, and repairs in
these 297 cities decreased 26.1 per cent in June, 1931, as compared
with June’, 1930. Increases in the estimated costs of repairs, etc.,
were registered in the New England States and the South Atlantic
States. Decreases were shown in the other five geographic divisions.
Table 8 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings, of
new nonresidential buildings, and of total building operations, together
with the number of families provided for in new buildings, in 344
identical cities for May, 1931, and June, 1931.
Reports were received from 50 cities in the New England States, 70
cities in the Middle Atlantic States, 93 cities in the East North Central
States, 25 cities in the West North Central States, 37 cities in the
South Atlantic States, 35 cities in the South Central States, and 34
cities in the Mountain and Pacific States.
Permits were issued for the following important building projects
during the month of June: In New Haven, Conn., a permit was issued
for a building for Yale University which costs $1,000,000; Mount
Vernon, N. Y., for two school buildings to cost $932,000; in the Bor
ough of the Bronx, for apartment houses to cost over $2,000,000; in
Brooklyn, N. Y., for apartment houses to cost nearly $3,500,000; in
Manhattan, for two churches to cost over $1,000,000; in Quincy, 111.,
for a school building to cost over $1,000,000; and in St. Paul, Minn.,
for a courthouse to cost over $2,700,000. Contracts were let by
Federal agencies for the following important projects during June:
A contract was let for the completion of the Senate Office Building in
Washington, D. C., to cost nearly $600,000; for a conservatory in the
United States Botanic Garden to cost over $600,000; for extension
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[361]
102
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
and remodeling of the post office in Houston, Tex., to cost over
$500,000; for a United States veterans’ hospital at Albuquerque,
N. Mex., to cost over $1,000,000; for a new post office and Federal
courthouse in Salt Lake City to cost over $850,000; and for the naval
base in Hawaii to cost over $2,000,000.
No reports were received from Bristol, Conn.; Taunton, Mass.;
Anderson, Ind.; Massillon and Zanesville, Ohio; University City, Mo.;
Pensacola, Fla.; Columbia, S. C.; Lynchburg, Va.; Fort Smith, Ark.;
Muskogee, Okla.; Corpus Christi and Laredo, Tex.; Riverside and
Santa Monica, Calif.; and Butte, Mont.
ÎH D EX ES OF FAMILIES PROVIDED FOR.
100
IS
so
Z5
T a b l e 8 .—E S T IM A T E D
CO ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D
IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , M A Y A N D JU N E , 1931
New England States
N ew residential buildings
E stim ated cost
Stato and city
Fam ilies pro
vided for in
new dwellings
M ay, 1931 June, 1931 M ay,
1931
Connecticut:
B ridgeport___. .
G reenwich______
H artfo rd _______
M e rid en .- . . . . .
New B rita in ___
N ew H a v en ___
N o rw a lk .. . . .
Stam ford____ .
T orrington. . . . _
W aterb u ry .. . . .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$191, *00
70, 000
46, 700
18, 700
16,000
65, 700
93,400
90, 500
23, 000
23, 200
$223,900
187, 000
54,400
4,800
0
65,000
87, 000
81, 000
21, 000
34,200
June,
1931
46
8
9
4
2
12
18
17
6
6
[362]
55
13
11
1
0
11
15
13
5
11
n e w nonresiaenuai
b u i l d i n g s (esti
m a t e d c o s t)
T otal construction,
including altera
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)
M ay, 1931 June, 1931 M ay, 1931
$7, 800
163, ICO
308,445
5,115
267,924
132, 325
14,475
28, 350
6, 055
13, 650
$44, 578
51, 700
358,648
1,938
12, 900
1,013, 775
8, 875
9,950
4,435
4,600
$227,960
252,200
458, 824
34,144
301,411
261, 860
118,100
155, 475
32, 965
49, 400
June,
1931
$292, 858
289, 200
993, 566
22,417
35, 679
1,190, 437
210,167
108, 430
28, 215
52, 525
103
H OUSING
T a b le 8 .—E S T IM A T E D CO ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D
IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , M A Y A N D J U N E , 1931—Continued
New England States— C o n tin u ed
N ew residential buildings
S tate and city
E stim ated cost
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
M ay, 1931 June, 1931 M ay,
1931
M aine:
Bangor_________
Lew iston. . . . . . .
P ortlan d _______
M assachusetts:
Beverly________
Boston 1________
B rockton...............
Brookline______
C am bridge_____
Chelsea________
Chicopee_______
E v e r e t t . . ___ .
Fall R iv e r_____
F itchburg___ _
H a v e rh ill...
H olvoke. . . . . . .
Law rence. _____
Lowell_________
L y n n ___ ______
M alden . . ___ _
M edford. ___
New Bedford
Newton
Pittsfield____
Quincy_________
Revere____
S a l e m . . . . ___
Somerville_____
Springfield____.
W alth am __
"Watertown..
W orcester.. . . .
New H am pshire:
Concord.........
M anchester
R hode Island:
C entral Falls___
C ranston____ .
E ast P rovidence.
N ew port .
P a w tu c k e t.____
Providence____
Woonsocket____
Junej
1931
New nonresidential
buildings ( e s t i m ated cost)
T otal construction,
including altera
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)
M ay, 1931 June, 1931 M ay, 1931
June,
1931
$33, 600
9,000
32,500
$32,000
19,400
47, 750
11
2
8
8
6
9
$7,275
1,300
18,005
$23,135
19,200
426,005
$51, 775
14, 300
66,262
$55,360
40, 200
503,086
30, 000
555,100
31,000
157, 500
110,000
4,000
15, 500
12,400
0
7,250
2,900
40, 000
4, 500
39,200
85,300
42, 600
340, 400
26, 500
239,000
90,850
55,400
22,900
33,000
10, 500
58,200
59, 200
38,000
180,000
15,800
553,100
29,400
24,300
85, 500
7,100
8,000
14,000
3,200
10, 500
0, 500
22,000
14,000
22,100
34,300
36,800
127, 500
13,000
290, 700
98,100
89, 500
2, 500
36,000
22, 000
74. 370
50, 800
182,000
204,450
6
132
7
10
2
1
5
4
0
2
2
6
1
6
17
9
89
4
24
18
11
7
6
3
14
8
8
25
3
129
7
3
12
2
3
4
1
3
4
2
3
5
7
7
24
3
32
19
32
1
6
6
16
8
13
32
4,635
2,386,180
20, 525
64,260
251,650
o
3,650
44, 650
11, 300
5,400
3,085
186,350
21,410
8,800
11,075
7,870
413, 230
10,900
23, 300
30,875
39,930
12,050
46,900
23,170
80, 875
5, 700
11,950
27,855
5,310
1,104, 305
7.145
9,150
12, 380
41,985
3, 689, 755
65,410
229, 260
447,035
34,810
2,124, 833
51,385
53,601
233,433
186, 789
5,700
1,750
3,065
5,765
1,100
8,700
77,935
27, 095
8,842
16, 715
7,900
16,885
13, 220
12,635
10,060
9,900
20,005
18, 550
3,675
12, 500
22, 595
26,150
70,450
34,250
16,390
12,165
249,175
153,660
56,615
118, 670
65,895
759,870
50, 800
297,295
142, 240
160, 810
43,150
91, 095
50, 005
227, 500
69,925
54, 755
242, 050
197, 514
58, 700
9, 342
14, 965
27, 247
36, 050
39, 645
122, 690
143,865
63, 992
155, 775
38,250
361,885
329,535
144, 432
18, 735
95, 500
57, 825
105, 645
63, 365
203, 200
257,414
41, 500
44,350
0
10, 500
8
15
0
6
5,200
6,245
2,000
71,030
49, 200
97,633
9, 500
132,164
0
116,100
77,400
4, 500
,75,800
159, 400
0
19, 700
72,100
20, 300
16,500
27,000
143,100
0
0
24
15
1
14
27
0
6
15
4
4
6
23
0
1,300
12,175
12,385
16,150
13,140
96, 285
9,630
3,400
7, 625
3,935
4,850
6, 550
62, 600
4, 759
3,160
137, 340
110,143
38, 415
108, 820
463, 563
19, 285
39,985
81, 450
42, 623
33, 050
42, 030
386, 555
17,414
T otal_________ 3,524,350
Per cent of change...
3, 224,170
- 8 .5
680
609
-1 0 .4
4,903,904
3,811,659 10, 539,960
-2 2 .3
9,704, 884
- 7 .9
M iddle A tlantic States
N ew Jersey:
A tlantic C ity __
B ayonne______
Belleville______
Bloomfield_____
C am den_______
C lifton_________
E ast O range___
E lizab eth ______
Garfield________
H oboken..............
Irv in g to n ______
Jersey C ity _____
K earny ________
M ontclair______
N ew ark________
New B runswick..
$24, 000
16, 000
37, 000
140, 000
0
38, 500
19, 700
32, 000
8, 200
0
67, 500
58, 500
48, 000
133, 200
163, 600
21, 533
$4, 750
0
29, 500
75, 000
4,800
123, 600
9, 000
47, 000
0
0
33, 400
55,000
14, 000
49, 950
175, 600
6,000
3
6
10
31
0
9
3
9
2
0
16
13
14
14
40
2
1Applications filed.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[363]
2
0
-9
16
1
28
4
4
0
0
6
11
3
6
34
1
$2,000
8,850
4, 800
6,000
35, 500
10, 680
94, 980
21, 000
2,100
227, 410
27, 540
55,611
353, 645
0
123, 375
6,500
$31, 900
9, 400
9, 575
4,000
9, 275
26, 000
14, 500
55, 000
1,450
0
132, 645
185,155
1,875
24, 700
302, 875
7,050
$71, 319
31,100
46,155
154, 000
51, 920
54, 600
129, 838
53, 000
12, 755
242, 074
108, 740
217, 646
404, 910
133, 200
450, 349
40, 443
$80,127
16, 815
50, 875
85, 500
28, 790
162,400
52, 427
102, 000
12, 925
9, 643
168, 725
276, 505
20, 750
77,350
629,311
100, 551
104
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
T a b l e 8.—E S T IM A T E D CO ST OF B U IL D IN G S FO R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D
IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , M A Y A N D JU N E , 1931—C ontinued
M iddle Atlantic States— C o n tin u ed
New residential buildings
E stim ated cost
State and city
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
ay,
M ay, 1931 June, 1931 M
1931
N ew Jersey—Contd.
0
O range.. ___. . .
0
Passaic_________
Paterso n_______
$20, 800
39, 000
P e rth A m boy___
92, 400
Plainfield_______
T renton________
12,100
0
Union C ity
W est N ew Y o rk ..
0
N ew York:
185,490
A lb an y _________
8. 600
A m sterd am ____
A u b u rn . ............
0
B ingham ton____
11, 300
361, 300
Buffalo_________
11, 000
E lm ira____
3, 500
Jam estow n_____
K in g s to n ______
38, 000
Lockport_______
7,800
M o u n t V ern o n ...
218, 500
19, 000
N ew burgh . . . _
N ew R ochelle.. .
596, 500
New Y ork—
T h e Bronx 1 3, 530, 600
Brooklyn 1 .. 6, 618, 350
870, 000
M an h a tta n 1
Queens 1 -. . 5, 536,250
504,915
R ich m o n d 1_.
55,300
N iagara F alls___
48, 500
Poughkeepsie___
R ochester______
141, 200
S ch en ectad y .. . .
60,475
Syracuse_______
140,000
T ro y ......................
116, 600
U tic a ____ _____
56,000
W a te r to w n ____
2, 000
231,432
W hite P la in s___
Y onkers________
446,400
Pennsylvania:
A llentow n______
26,000
Altoona________
37,046
B ethlehem _____
68, 700
B u tle r__________
600
C hester________
0
E aston_________
0
E rie ___________
116,250
H arrisburg_____
41, 000
H azleton_______
7,258
Jo h n sto w n ______
20, 500
Lancaster _____
7,000
61, 300
M cK eesport____
20, 700
N anticoke______
New C a s tle .. . . .
20, 300
11,495
N orristow n..........
338, 575
P hiladelphia____
P ittsb u rg h _____
251,200
Reading _______
47,000
10, 575
Scranton. . ___
6,200
W ilkes-Barre___
14, 500
W ilkinsburg____
6,500
W illiam sport___
Y o rk .__________
0
June,
1931
T otal construction,
including altera
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)
M ay, 1931 June, 1931 M ay, 1931
June,
1931
$5, 670
7, 500
9,000
5, 770
66, 400
61, 500
42,000
0
0
0
6
8
9
2
0
0
1
1
2
1
9
12
24
0
0
$83, 700
40, 220
2, 675
9, 625
38,810
21, 348
0
$4S, 597
5,400
196, 245
1, 550
4, 050
18,425
1,250
0
$122, 041
102, 025
133,173
55, 275
166, 023
78, 260
43,513
3,165
$68, 357
34, 730
261,324
15, 568
89,409
101,195
62,135
6,885
141, 000
26, 000
16, 500
50, 550
477, 900
8, 500
11,900
11, 500
17, 500
201,000
6, 000
226,500
19
2
0
2
118
2
1
6
2
18
4
89
16
2
3
14
156
2
3
3
4
20
1
12
176, 600
2, 675
3,005
7,971
492,450
4, 655
2,175
2,950
1,975
40, 950
126,100
14, 710
224, 206
15, 000
3,125
11,191
451, 226
418,380
4, 035
39, 260
31, 565
953,650
653, 650
1,950
394,156
15, 275
10, 205
55, 351
968,106
28, 090
20,885
71, 750
11,775
269,860
151, 400
980, 628
447,464
41, 700
23, 680
130, 347
1,028, 329
444, 400
22,910
58, 265
55,300
1,192,450
663,450
259, 215
3,166,950
4, 288, 325
1,650, 000
5, 502,850
648, 550
54, 200
41.800
82, 200
39, 000
134, 300
71,150
18,000
20, 500
276,000
387,850
859
1, 672
179
1, 184
132
13
7
22
12
27
12
11
1
25
54
1, 593, 200 5,153,305
1, 281,230 8, 370, 619
1,837,450 12, 032, 305
1,684,412 8,863,080
25, 670 1, 705, 202
47,025
111,708
318,150
250
427,498
652, 039
24, 750
172, 533
22, 725 1,102, 268
199, 873
35,100
5,975
71, 090
27,101
3,300
9,800 2,279,143
752, 625
51,850
5,142, 795
6, 577,030
4,819,846
7, 623, 050
745,422
133,282
57,400
703, 556
90, 200
194,185
114,450
50, 500
30,864
295,500
503, 540
75, 000
17,875
5,000
0
2, 500
13, 500
80,300
11,000
24,416
0
15, 500
51, 000
28,000
6, 000
29, 000
532, 200
342, 500
7, 600
25,100
4, 800
24, 000
10, 730
34, 600
1
7
9
1
0
0
21
5
2
4
2
14
4
4
3
68
61
4
3
4
3
2
0
25,075
5, 380
11,490
1,200
5, 550
9, 370
14.430
10, 550
8,270
9,925
47,110
115,125
0
3, 275
70,241
1,163, 250
285, 435
65, 935
16,870
138, 795
4,950
5, 384
35, 752
107,375
35, 017
21,415
1,200
10,225
28,310
116,330
53, 000
54, 764
28, 325
100, 715
183, 617
48,000
17,155
107, 799
2,055,185
939, 042
96, 370
79, 265
169, 876
47,100
25, 219
89, 805
T o ta l_________ 21,909, 744 19, 742,586
Per cent of change
—9. 9
'
4,892
729 1,181,100
1,132
905, 630
96 10, 090,880
1,376 2, 785,981
169 1,052, 387
12
18,410
7
243, 750
15
413, 769
8
43, 105
25
925,855
14
70, 600
4
3,015
3
1,880
19 2,007, 700
43
233,175
14
5
1
0
1
1
16
1
5
0
3
5
7
1
5
80
69
3
8
2
5
5
6
13,950
12,273
16, 775
3,200
5,850
4,959
244,679
8,150
69,464
6,210
28,400
3, 673
0
5, 770
11,213
1,204,870
450, 595
1,614, 506
215,035
6,988
3, 440
6, 024
9, 505
58,925
61, 799
118, 575
6, 600
17, 350
9, 779
451,011
90,450
97, 591
32,390
104, 525
96, 691
31, 595
35, 320
52,403
1,903, 240
1, 005, 160
1,702, 051
274,435
38, 322
29, 900
29, 697
19, 944
4,306 25,975, 351 13,001, 752 53,961, 799 38,378, 536
-4 9 .9
-1 2 .0
—28.9
'A pplications filed.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
New nonresidential
buildings ( e s t i m ated cost)
[364]
105
H OUSING
T a b l e 8.—E S T IM A T E D CO ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D
IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , M A Y A N D JU N E , 1931—Continued
East North Central States
N ew residential buildings
State a n d city
E stim ated cost
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
ay,
M ay, 1931 June, 1931 M
1931
Illinois:
$24,873
Alton _________
6, 450
Aurora_________
Belleville- _____
29,400
Berwyn_ ______
23,000
Bloomington____
37,000
772, 250
Chicago.................
Cicero. ________
17,500
D anville............. .
8,600
D ecatur________
51,700
25,934
E ast St. L o u is--.
E lg in __________
25, 600
E v a n sto n .
___
61,000
2, 600
G ranite C ity ____
33, 500
Jo liet---------------17,
200
M ayw ood______
M oline_________
17,500
Oak P a rk ______
86, 000
121,950
Peoria....... ............
10, 750
Q u in c y .. _____
34, 200
R ockford_______
17, 500
R ock Islan d ____
00, 300
Springfield-.........
W aukegan _____
23,000
Indiana:
0
E ast Chicago___
E lk h a r t- ..............
4,000
28,575
E vansv ille______
Fort W avne.
84,230
G ary---------------27, 300
32,250
H am m o n d ______
124,100
In d ia n a p o lis ___
K okom o________
0
3,600
Lafayette ______
M a r io n __ . . . .
0
M ichigan C ity ...
800
700
M ishaw aka_____
M uncie _. _____
6,900
17, 500
R ic h m o n d ... -_
South B end_____
45,150
Terre H au te
9,700
M ichigan:
84, 700
A nn A rb o r._____
B attle Creek____
6,250
20,900
B ay C ity ---------102, 800
D earbo rn_______
D e tro it.. ______ 1,452,150
87,344
F l i n t __________
46,000
G rand R ap id s.
H am tram ck___
0
0
H ighland P a rk ...
4,800
J a c k s o n .,...........
Kalamazoo
28, 700
26, 250
Lansing________
10, .500
M u s k e g o n _____
2,400
P ontiac________
1,225
Port H u r o n . ___
27,200
Saginaw _______
31,250
W y an d o tte_____
Ohio:
A kron ...... .........
43, 650
5,000
A shtabula- ____
Canton ______
16, 700
727,940
C incinnati _____
255,000
Cleveland______
C le ve la nd
128,000
H eights______
280,400
C olum bus______
D a y to n ..
_
149, 700
E ast C leveland..
0
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
June,
1931
n ew iiunnxuutuiutu
buildings ( e s t i m ated cost)
Total construction,
including altera
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)
M ay, 1931 June, 1931 M ay, 1931
June,
1931
$29,300
16,425
51,600
6,000
5,000
442, 700
14, 800
7, 600
26,200
18, 800
15, 600
49,000
0
8,000
0
19, 400
10,000
118,100
9,000
31, 500
15,000
91, 782
119,000
3
2
9
3
5
119
3
2
5
13
5
5
1
3
3
4
8
26
5
8
6
13
6
2
4
11
1
1
74
2
2
5
7
3
4
0
1
0
4
1
26
2
8
4
26
7
$5,800
238, 735
3,050
7, 299
71,000
686,870
650
850
7,800
83, 390
4,835
4,500
6,900
800
5,179
1,604
21,460
26,300
1,050
8,625
2,436
10,915
940
$33,460
1,850
500
2,975
2,000
846, 550
25,985
2,050
3, 775
173,060
2,200
18,000
350
265,919
825
3,215
3, 715
5, 650
1,209, 630
2,050
982
528, 385
23,950
$42,648
257, 460
34,900
36, 359
109, 000
2,030, 570
26, 662
14,900
82, 550
130,224
41, 542
148,000
9, 500
44, 300
26,979
22,111
125,950
334, 250
19,525
52,695
44,228
110, 212
38,640
$77,171
35, 758
62,000
13,475
10, 000
1,773,820
44, 360
74,385
33, 625
215, 775
37,869
207, 500
350
290,160
4,505
49,496
32,465
140, 550
1,220,855
63,425
29,180
636, 586
149,050
0
4, 000
23,250
69,050
7,000
17,030
178,200
0
17,000
9,500
0
0
24,000
6,950
18,800
0
0
1
8
19
10
6
24
0
1
0
1
1
4
4
8
4
0
2
7
15
3
4
40
0
9
5
0
0
9
3
6
0
49, 568
1,125
15,807
15, 539
3,460
3,135
504,929
1,600
0
595
15,995
1,615
6,930
450
37,415
4,505
20, 515
955
38,300
179,198
2,475
51,513
256, 766
1,300
245, 760
3,750
1,335
600
2,320
250
13,270
8,880
55, 568
19, 555
58,415
138, 743
63,020
57, 317
706,038
9,111
6,450
3,390
18,025
6,865
22, 596
32,350
102, 770
21,790
29,296
17,159
86,637
269,940
13,240
73,603
489,659
3,650
267,560
34,182
77,405
4,415
42,105
7,200
46,145
18,995
79, 200
2,500
25, 500
69, 600
1,039,365
46,393
40,900
0
0
0
19,100
11,000
12,600
0
3,000
4,700
4,500
13
2
6
21
303
19
13
0
0
1
5
8
4
1
2
9
5
9
1
7
16
201
12
11
0
0
0
6
3
5
0
2
2
1
2,481
16,000
6,060
11,085
587,428
48, 789
32, 500
400
i, 700
5, 815
60,205
533,405
251, 880
8,360
0
38, 692
6,545
65, 500
20, 595
316, 700
2,050
522,658
20, 706
78, 525
725
825
81,165
101,572
11,660
1,700
29, 875
700
8,470
7,245
108,384
27,300
70,848
122, 320
2,366, 894
168,418
111, 875
7,630
17,450
25,552
101,665
564, 980
268, 985
21,105
1,225
82,269
46,265
167,435
34,230
353, 735
77, 660
2,047,471
106,184
154,480
17, 735
4,745
86,443
132,167
38,450
20,150
33, 725
3,950
26, 899
19,395
46,950
6,200
18,000
691,245
159,500
8
1
5
128
48
11
2
5
119
28
77, 625
4,955
110,015
6,191,385
290,450
123, 601
31,270
4,535
823, 855
992,300
218,350
12, 875
136,035
7,051,270
823, 725
235, 781
42, 237
41,375
1, 598, 565
1,423,475
103,500
97,900
47,900
0
28
47
37
0
26
18
11
0
3,155
77,900
1,032, 840
687,097
3,315
68,150
126, 951
90
142, 605
393, 550
1,223, 902
688, Oil
112,415
197,100
226, 717
1, 895
[365]
106
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T a b l e 8 .— E S T IM A T E D
CO ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D
IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , M A Y A N D J U N E , 1931—C ontinued
East North Central States— C o n tin u e d
New residential buildings
E stim ated cost
S tate and city
Fam ilies pro
vided for in
new dwellings
ay,
M ay, 1931 June, 1931 M
1931
Ohio—C ontinued.
Elyria__________
0
$3,500
H am ilto n _______
$3,000
8, 800
Lakewood ____
129,500
48,000
L im a..... ......... .......
0
0
L o rain_________
3,800
13,000
M ansfield______
77,100
45,500
M ario n__ . ____
0
0
M iddletow n . . .
0
0
N ew ark- _ ___
0
0
N o rw o o d ..
33,000
4,000
P o rtsm o u th____
0
300
Springfield. ___
22, 500
57, 500
Steubenville____
16, 000
0
T o led o .-.
___
108, 600
75, 800
W arren________
23,180
7, 860
Y o u n g sto w n .., _
59,850
34, 900
Wisconsin:
A ppleton___ _ _
68, 200
71, 300
E a u C la ire -.. . 15, 527
10, 700
F ond d u Lac___
14,100
16, 600
Green B a y . ____
68,800
44, 500
K e n o s h a .. . ____
5,200
15, 400
M adison_______
50, 000
89, 000
289, 780
M ilw aukee— . . .
378, 300
O shkosh________
24,140
2, 400
Racine _______
0
18, 600
Sheboygan_____
20, 300
34, 200
Superior________
11, 500
5, 000
W est A llis..........
71, 700
13, 700
T o ta l__
6, 547, 248 5, 008, 000
Per cent of change___
-2 3 . 5
June,
1931
0
1
30
0
2
14
0
0
0
6
0
4
4
26
6
10
11
9
3
18
1
10
59
4
0
4
3
24
1,311
1
2
6
0
4
4
0
0
0
1
1
5
0
16
2
5
New nonresidential
buildings ( e s t i
m ated cost)
T otal construction,
including altera
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)
M ay, 1931 June, 1931 M ay, 1931
$3,580
201, 665
3,240
1,805
12,000
15,310
655
1,550
11,375
2,150
5,800
7,605
1,325
177,943
2,320
162, 944
14
93, 572
5
13, 400
4
142, 011
13 •
2,555
3
5, 425
16
17, 224
75
487, 285
2
13, 371
3
61,855
6
11, 805
2
83, 065
4
9,870
988 13, 503,128
-2 4 .6
$11,550
7,075
52,495
4,300
1,665
1,875
1,360
2,450
1,125
700
1,995
3,210
40, 225
123, 910
4, 790
5,850
$5,615
213,425
137, 740
6,265
22,195
102,958
1,605
10, 665
16,375
37, 700
9,000
48, 920
25, 675
328, 892
35, 210
239,109
June,
1931
$17,650
21, 709
102,605
9, 775
17,665
49,203
1,585
6,385
1,425
14, 710
4,188
69, 890
43,450
255,819
17, 345
229,893
193,417
32,865
106, 215
44, 797
35, 600
61, 500
990
158, 346
27, 565
39, 900
87, 940
93, 775
89, 695
19, 917
110.186
5, 595
88, 654
123,698
113, 593 1, 010, 258
918,435
10, 507
46, 271
21, 274
2, 225
86, 045
77,474
3,872
52, 323
59, 387
3,645
101, 976
14,415
4,995
92, 955
29, 855
8,037,158 23,132, 944 16, 395, 041
—40. 5
—29.1
West North Central States
Iowa:
B urlington_____
$5, 700
$3,000
Cedar R ap id s___
39, 770
60, 600
Council B luffs.
12,000
14, 000
D avenport______
46,920
43, 600
Des M oines_____
80, 470
106,900
D u b u q u e ........... .
14, 577
11,400
O ttu m w a______
50,000
28,400
Sioux C ity _____
67,600
26, 500
W aterloo_______
49,400
22,900
Kansas:
H u tch in so n_____
18, 700
23, 500
Kansas C ity ____
33,000
11,950
Topeka _______
61,600
39,000
W ichita________
126,625
85,050
M innesota:
D u lu th ________
49, 550
35, 750
491,975
M inneapolis____
356,170
St. P au l________
273,300
193, 740
M issouri:
Joplin__________
0
6,000
Kansas C ity ____
153,000
152, 500
St. Joseph______
9,850
6, 300
St. L o u i s . . _____
648,250
630, 500
Springfield ____
37,000
17,300
Nebraska:
Lincoln______ _
39,400
75,650
O m aha.. ___
123, 600
146, 700
N orth D akota:
Fargo__________
40,800
20,250
South D akota:
Sioux Falls...........
178,513
96,363
T o ta l_____ _ . 2, 651, 600 2,214,023
Per cent of change___
-1 6 . 5
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4
15
6
13
20
4
10
17
15
1
19
5
10
53
3
8
8
11
$1,400
24,923
102,150
3,377
63,457
16,624
105,200
29,005
14,468
$8, 750
148,412
1,900
51,150
181, 690
2, 505
7,425
8,785
3,400
$10,425
97,586
117,450
72,814
155,092
42, 003
260,150
120,655
68, 743
$35,250
221,627
17, 700
111,037
354,890
22, 556
39, 925
115,135
38,105
5
15
11
37
6
7
10
21
4,605
18,605
27, 770
19,404
11,585
3,820
16,385
256,240
28,555
62, 300
98, 000
168, 357
45, 750
21,980
68,570
359,202
13
118
47
8
94
35
13,190
355, 025
1,857,331
10, 245
150, 590
3,004,056
99,333
1,009,185
2, 233, 483
71,902
627,195
3,197,796
0
40
4
174
14
3
36
4
147
7
. 1,650
2,909,150
152,025
536,885
2,650
1, 500
430,100
1,955
222,010
3,150
5,100
3,384,150
168, 830
1,401,748
50, 250
13,246
1,034,500
26, 740
968,830
29,100
10
26
18
43
14, 720
131,910
46,855
20, 721
85, 555
320,130
135,960
195,916
5,540
72,092
29, 345
2,075
197, 250
4,600,844 10, 329, 236
—28. 4
109, 500
7,891, 757
-2 3 .6
10
5
8,250
45
673
30
592
-1 2 .0
15,487
6,429,261
1366].
107
H OUSING
T ablb ; 8.—E S T IM A T E D
CO ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D
IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , M A Y A N D JU N E , 1931—Continued
South Atlantic States
New residential buildings
E stim ated cost
State and city
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
M ay, 1931 June, 1931 M ay,
1931
Delaware:
W ilm ington____
D istrict of Columbia:
W ashington___
June,
1931
New nonresidential T otal construction,
including altera
buildings ( e s t i
tions and repairs
m ated cost)
(estim ated cost)
M ay, 1931 June, 1931 M ay, 1931
June.
1931
$310, 900
$66, 700
61
12
$15,982
$36,138
$368,472
$141, 339
4,265,000
1,184, 050
677
217
843, 673
3, 426,667
5, 362, 738
5,135,104
28, 250
33, 050
1,800
31,400
500
32, 700
36, 505
500
74,100
5, 800
14
15
3
4
1
15
18
1
6
5
14, 420
49, 800
425
5,200
50, 475
22, 505
31, 310
1, 750
13, 600
9,005
109, 955
207, 765
18, 450
71, 700
84, 511
131, 365
197, 657
23, 340
107, 900
39, 565
72, 600
28, 250
10, 950
19, 400
16, 000
97, 650
10, 050
13, 050
16,150
26, 600
31
11
5
4
6
44
6
4
7
8
186, 203
6, 698
1, 640
100
1,215
54, 738
2, 476
450
1,625
1,475
334,780
42,148
19, 955
52, 509
58, 515
221,454
21,165
25| 415
22, 516
48, 525
812, 000
4,000
3, 500
625, 000
5, 000
23, 800
173
1
1
122
2
7
1, 252, 200
1, 555
50, 565
492,300
750
2,550
2, 739, 300
6,830
55,315
2, 019, 900
8, 560
36, 350
1,000
0
7, 300
33, 000
8,500
1,400
1
4
6
4
3
13,815
1,300
109, 000
18, 400
, 000
21, 000
17, 650
2, 000
61, 500
9
1
23
8
2
5
5
1
3
165
11, 500
4, 800
10, 278
10,015
1,805
1,800
175, 290
1,375
33, 200
5,400
7, 775
9,115
1, 575
28, 300
9,860
38, 012
142, 706
15, 400
100, 017
19, 940
14, 907
17,100
228, 000
6,955
151, 065
43, 500
32, 054
31,815
23, 575
62, 300
126, 665
21, 000
20, 200
700
9,850
32, 500
13, 750
6
5
1
5
10
3
100
34, 625
5,100
13, 350
85
160
28,465
61, 585
8, 205
26, 775
36, 215
15,150
8,400
104,800
7, 000
9, 545
85, 400
197,100
1,800
151, 768
6,000
2,000
127, 227
44, 700
4
21
3
2
24
8
2
35
3
1
30
6
1,838
24, 795
7, 000
790
44, 243
74, 495
42, 721
9,700
0
320
24, 630
6, 630
20, 476
160, 645
19,930
24, 395
168, 080
277,945
58, 704
196, 652
9, 025
11,920
252, 603
56, 563
26, 500
23, 000
11, 900
11, 600
13, 000
97, 200
5,900
0
0
14, 300
10
2
5
3
3
26
3
0
0
5
3,275
1, 060
6,870
64, 029
43,411
2,100
13, 612
64,800
20, 720
1,170
196, 675
30,325
23, 520
82, 239
74,811
99, 300
64, 492
69, 000
36,175
20,435
T o ta l________ 6, 242, 760
Per cent of change___
2,965, 500
-5 2 . 5
1,131
651
—42.4
3,007, 435
4,393,937 11,286,321
+46.1
9, 611,153
-1 4 .8
Jack so n v ille____
M iam i
___ _
O rlando________
St. P e te rsb u rg .. .
T am p a_________
Georgia:
A tla n ta ________
A ugusta_______
C olum bus______
M acon___
_ __
Savannah_____
M aryland:
B altim ore..
C um berland____
H agerstow n..
N orth Carolina:
Asheville_____
C h a rlo tte .. __ . .
D u rh a m . ____
Greensboro _ . .
H igh P o in t_____
R aleigh__ „
W ilm in g to n ____
W inston-Salem ...
South Carolina:
C harleston. ___
Greenville. _
S partan b u rg . . . .
Virginia:
N ew port N e w s...
N o rfo lk ... _____
P etersb u rg .. . . .
P ortsm o u th ____
R ic h m o n d ___
Roanoke _____
W est Virginia:
C h a rle sto n _____
C larksburg_____
H unting to n ___
Parkersburg____
W heeling_______
0
10
0
0
South Central States
Alabam a:
B irm ingham .
M obile_____
M ontgomery.
A rkansas:
L ittle R o c k ..
K entucky:
A shland____
C ovington__
Louisville___
N ew port____
P a d u c ah ____
Louisiana:
B aton Rouge.
M onroe_____
N ew Orleans.
S hrev ep o rt...
$45,195
11, 400
58, 600
$11, 600
20, 800
93, 900
35, 250
0
8,000
103, 500
8, 200
9,150
20, 211
11, 500
60, 900
22, 000
67999°— 31------8
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
11
6
26
7
9
38
$203, 647
16, 200
9, 750
$25,976
5, 340
21, 600
$296,997
40, 060
83, 780
$95, 672
40, 750
129, 535
16,445
9
8
17,865
3,566
69, 627
35, 656
0
8, 500
88, 500
0
3, 300
0
2
15
2
4
0
2
13
0
5
1,400
166, 345
24,350
1,050
6, 255
640
15,190
56, 300
1,750
1,800
4,025
186,840
161, 495
13, 250
16, 080
1,090
36, 880
215, 675
2, 750
6,536
23,491
4, 000
172,425
17,125
9
4
26
15
6
1
40
15
6, 947
1, 600
54,210
3,877
3, 720
3,820
8, 525
307,068
40, 681
17, 800
192, 973
66,936
39, 369
8,045
236,062
513, 695
[367]
108
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T a b l e 8 . -E S T IM A T E D C O ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D
IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , M A Y A N D J U N E , 1931—Continued
South Central States-—C o n tin u ed
N ew residential buildings
S tate and city
E stim ated cost
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
M ay, 1931 June, 1931 M ay,
1931
Oklahoma:
___
E n id ... _
O klahoma C ity ..
Okmulgee______
T u lsa __________
Tennessee:
C hattanooga____
Johnson C ity ___
K n o x v ille ______
M em p h is_______
N ashville_______
Texas:
A m arillo_______
A ustin _ ______
B eaum ont
___
D allas__________
E l P aso ________
Fo rt W o rth ____
G alveston_____
H o u sto n________
P o rt A rth u r____
San Angelo_____
San A ntonio____
W aco__________
W ichita F alls___
T otal ______
Per cent of change...
June,
1931
New nonresidentiai
buildings
( e s ti
m ated cost)
T otal construction,
including altera
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)
M ay, 1931 June, 1931 M ay, 1931
June,
1931
$16,000
233, 700
0
79,875
$18,000
727, 300
0
131, 615
16
68
0
27
6
60
0
25
0
$126,416
646
276,310
$7, 960
647,165
0
704, 597
$16,000
404, 516
1,046
377; 496
$37, 775
1,406, 665
0
858, 637
51, 050
800
19, 620
74, 230
43, 300
25, 001
7, 700
41, 7C0
49,400
90, 500
16
1
9
33
20
9
3
9
22
16
51, 725
1,150
14, 544
159,250
45, 525
3,447
4, 950
11,112
70, 590
185,285
159,002
3,450
39, 312
355,220
123,195
80, 771
13| 225
79| 752
224j 120
300; 738
64, 300
128,150
40, 720
156,190
59, 258
168,104
61, 247
554, 200
3, 638
3, 250
68, 725
18,087
0
58, 225
93,865
19, 850
134,950
48, 630
80, 710
40, 000
595, 600
6, 000
6, 800
69, 540
15, 333
0
19
83
15
74
14
39
13
130
2
3
49
8
0
20
48
11
74
17
36
19
154
3
3
44
7
0
225, 600
10,095
282,085
100, 215
2, 265
716, 648
84, 745
149,950
36, 501
250
17, 780
27, 200
0
82, 268
23,122
6, 270
62, 290
13, 555
188,994
818, 633
902,130
4,099
85
27, 550
30, 400
900
293, 375
154,430
345, 571
337, 382
96,942
938,236
158, 682
733, 593
49,948
5,925
107,145
80,907
6, 774
149,283
148,100
42, 217
329,405
73,882
309j194
878j449
1, 539| 130
30+04
15,490
130i 797
58, 600
9; 272
2, 238, 350
2, 720,865
+21.6
768
736
- 4 .2
2,842, 396
4,250, 703
+49.6
5,978, 691
8,077, 741
+35.1
M ountain and Pacific States
Arizona:
Phoenix____
$44,805
Tucson.........
55, 550
California:
A lam eda___
26,400
A lh a m b ra ...
75,850
B akersfield..
37, 900
Berkeley___
163, 000
Fresno_____
51,150
G lendale___
183, S00
Long B each.
236, 200
Los Angeles.
1,869, 901
O akland___
197, 971
Pasadena__
130,450
Sacram ento.
190,910
San Bernard]
45, 200
San D ie g o ...
234,155
San Francisco___ 1, 046, 716
San Jose__
32, 300
Santa A n a.
6, 500
S to c k to n ...
108, 994
Vallejo____
10, 800
Colorado:
Colorado Springs.
6,700
D enver..............
384,150
Pueblo—...........
22, 000
M ontana:
G reat F alls_____
34, 200
New Mexico:
A lb u q u erq u e___
55, 500
Oregon:
P o rtlan d _______
273, 650
Salem__________
14, 900
U tah:
Ogden__________
10, 300
Salt Lake C ity ...
274, 240
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$109, 200
109, 550
15
20
36
24
$48,360
56, 670
$3,200
8,466
$114, 705
127,322
$122,095
309, 780
12,600
76, 250
2, 800
78, 000
45, 375
209, 200
230, 600
1, 634, 932
271, 650
94, 085
169, 200
29, 200
242, 570
1,055,125
51, 210
0
37, 000
11, 500
5
25
9
49
12
39
91
635
56
13
37
11
80
300
8
2
28
2
3
24
1
17
11
49
90
621
68
24
35
9
61
251
12
0
7
3
17, 530
3,900
2,175
23,697
5,345
26,385
155, 280
660,175
693,118
77, 072
331, 460
2,690
415, 432
1, 752, 485
3, 010
12,995
165,470
2,200
151, 710
5,575
46, 265
18, 353
6, 250
35,315
35,280
2,194, 649
296,443
227, 907
40, 870
8, 700
101, 780
1, 021, 686
15,780
0
33,861
750
50, 382
84,875
59, 555
209; 451
75,442
219,885
431,245
3,323,487
969,411
307, 335
574, 952
56, 750
684, 662
2,949, 345
61, 485
31, 459
285, 699
17, 675
182,687
90,875
53,850
137,378
8,000
221, 500
3, 675
3
96
10
3
57
4
6,920
381, 900
25,387
3,445
46, 200
79, 663
17, 670
888,100
64,040
88, 011
250,050
321, 565
4, 523, 575
633,350
645,486
288, 340
37, 900
429,199
2,334, 600
95,815
0
85,036
17,610
18,895
372, 700
103,943
35,600
8
13
10, 570
13, 335
53,145
58,100
41, 000
17
11
54, 275
1,125, 260
115,169
1,182,970
289, 700
10, 000
58
3
43
2
68, 290
1,625
160, 975
1, 512
439, 985
23, 391
563,405
23,493
17, 600
101,400
5
95
9
29
53,150
64, 786
1,170
1,368,176
74, 680
365,846
1, 512,488
[368]
20, 220
109
HOUSING
T a b l e 8 .— E S T IM A T E D
CO ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D
IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , M A Y A N D JU N E , 1931—Continued
M ountain and Pacific States— C o n tin u ed
New residential buildings
E stim ated cost
State and city
M ay, 1931 June, 1931
W ashington:
B ellingham _____
E v e re tt________
Seattle_________
Spokane___ ____
Tacom a------------T o t a l . __
.
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
M ay,
1931
June,
1931
N ew nonresidential
buildings (estima
ted cost)
Total constructions
including altera
tions and repair,
(estim ated cost)
M ay, 1931 June, 1931 M ay, 1931
$14,800
7, 600
361, 000
93,975
46, 500
$5, 000
6,500
314,055
72, 950
44,000
5
4
113
27
20
3
1
108
17
14
$1,385
1,405
1,705,935
3, 725
58, 445
6,348, 067
5, 641, 027
'- 1 1 .1
1, 901
1,660
-1 2 .7
6,893,247
$17,755
770
137,687
10, 255
18, 750
$20, 965
17, 560
2,266, 790
132, 735
125, 510
June,
1931
$26,485
15,445
617,307
131,155
91, 210
7,237,793 15,240, 708 15,385, 018
+ 0.9
+ 5 .0
H aw aii
H o n o lu lu _________
Per cprit of phftiigA
$146, 543
$198,411
+35.4
96
103
+ 7 .3
$45, 597
$225,101
+393.7
$218,818
$448,940
+105. 2
______ _____
B u ild in g P erm its in th e C ities of th e U n ited S ta te s H aving a
P o p u la tio n of 100,000 or Over, F irst H alf of 1931
S u m m a ry
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics has been publishing data semi
annually concerning building permits issued in the cities of the
United States having a population of 100,000 or over since 1922.
Reports were received for both the first half of 1930 and the first half
of 1931 from 92 of the 93 cities which fell in this population group
according to the 1930 census figures.
The costs as shown in the table below are as stated by the builder
on applying for his permit to build. They include the cost of the build
ing only; no land costs are included. Buildings within the corporate
limits of the cities enumerated only are shown.
During the first half of 1931 permits were issued in these 92 cities
for building operations to cost $621,658,988, which is 17 per cent less
than the estimated cost of the building operations for which permits
were issued during the first six months of 1930. New residential build
ings decreased 9.8 per cent and new nonresidential buildings 20.8
per cent, comparing permits issued during the first half of 1931 with
those issued in the first half of 1930. Dwelling houses for which per
mits were issued during the first half of 1931 were planned to provide
for 53,709 families—a reduction of less than one-tenth of 1 per cent
compared with the families provided for during the first half of 1930.
Although most of these 92 cities showed decreases in the estimated
cost of total building operations there were notable^ exceptions. In
New York there was an increase of over $30,000,000_ in the estimated
cost of building operations for which permits were issued^ during the
first six months of 1931 as compared with those issued during the first
six months of 1930. Other cities showing large increases were Boston,
New Orleans, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, St. Paul, Salt Lake City,
Syracuse, and Yonkers.
T
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[369]
110
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Detailed building permit figures for cities of the United States having
a population of 100,000 or over will appear in the September, 1931,
number of the Monthly Labor Review.
The table shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings,
new nonresidential buildings, and total building operations in 92 cities
of the United States having a population of 100,000 or over.
E S T IM A T E D C O ST O F N E W R E S ID E N T IA L B U IL D IN G S , N E W N O N R E S ID E N T IA L
B U IL D IN G S , A N D T O T A L B U IL D IN G O P E R A T IO N S IN 92 C IT IE S O P T H E U N IT E D
ST A T E S H A V IN G A P O P U L A T IO N OF 100,000 OR O V ER , F O R T H E F IR S T H A L F OF 1930,
C O M P A R E D W IT H T H E F IR S T H A L F OF 1931
N ew residential buildings
C ity
A kron____________
A lbany __________
A tla n ta ____________
B a ltim o re .________
B irm ingham _______
B oston_________ . . .
B ridgeport_____ _ .
Buffalo__ _ ______
Cam bridge . . _____
C am den_____ ______
Canton ___ . . . ___
C h a tta n o o g a ______
Chicago. _. . _____
C incinnati_________
C lev elan d ... . . . . . .
Colum bus__________
Dallas_____________
D a y t o n ___________
D enver .
_____
Des M oines________
D etroit
___
D u lu th ____________
E lizabeth.
E l Paso________ . . .
Erie . . . _____ ____
E v ansville_________
Fall R iver _______
F lin t______________
F o rt W ayne________
F o rt W o rth .. _____
G ary---- ------ ----------G rand R apids______
H artfo rd __________
H o u sto n____ _______
Indianapolis ______
Jacksonville_______
Jersey C ity . ______
K ansas C ity (K ans.).
K ansas C ity ( M o .) .K n o x v ille _________
Long B each_______
Los Angeles_______
Louisville__________
Low ell_____________
L y n n _ __________
M em p h is__________
M iam i____________
M ilw aukee_________
M inneapolis
_____
N ashville____ ______
N ew ark . . _______
New Bedford _____
N ew H av en_______
N ew O rle a n s............
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
E stim ated cost
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
New nonresidential
buildings
T otal construction,
including
altera
tions and repairs
E stim ated cost
E stim ated cost
First half
of 1930
First First First half
First half half
of half of of 1930
of 1931
1930
1931
F irst half
of 1931
F irst half F irst half
of 1930
of 1931
$4,419, 730
1,047,000
1,085, 58C
4, 609,800
273,332
3,454, 70C
660, 000
1, 774, 725
1, 268,143
266, 900
332,40C
738,820
12, 666, 60C
9,129, 242
4,061, 300
1, 702,100
1,409, 925
363,197
1,291, 650
455, 350
14, 532,916
115,155
522, 000
853, 308
375,100
381,650
78, 650
1,139,430
970, 330
1,117, 413
311, 200
568,150
477, 500
5,106, 630
1,655,890
276, 000
549, 000
280,950
3, 252,000
557,009
3,430,950
17,062, 226
1, 331, 300
78, 950
256, 500
2, 601, 730
332, 750
3,460, 575
2, 671,155
587, 925
969, 200
78, 500
790, 800
436, 980
$293,075
867, 290
603,885
6, 556, OOC
123, 555
4,009,46C
1, 016, 70C
2,186, 00C
709, 650
74,800
78, 75C
205, 265
4, 367,85C
3,894, 89C
1, 397, 70C
1, 212, 500
1,214, 710
481,612
2,497, 500
640, 270
7, 708, 430
150, 286
433, 000
423, 633
445, 750
246,175
8, 400
383, 890
433, 530
964, 028
109, 300
210,950
212, 300
4, 701, 226
1,183, 725
236, 750
269, 900
139,600
965, 500
152, 960
1, 589,275
10, 609, 623
701, 500
100,150
267, 000
394, 680
290, 205
2, 535,050
2, 500, 935
390, 350
1, 084, 700
68, 000
935, 700
536,904
$335, 369
568, 526
446,430
4, 761, 200
909, 380
11,112, 760
405, 726
3, 094,029
368, 599
584,951
245,915
129, 072
30,122,165
8,484, 660
2,838, 900
853, 250
651, 977
1, 280, 977
1, 002, 090
1,236, 377
6, 753, 917
60, 900
157,100
117,820
497, 359
378,780
195, 564
638, 034
978, 076
2,045, 768
607, 305
223,975
729,698
2,100, 605
2,413, 579
132, 575
511, 061
267, 848
4, 401,150
154, 979
637,125
8,232, 815
1, 647, 545
116, 745
388, 035
708,035
343, 050
2, 701,435
3,666, 795
919, 575
838,147
175,100
1,351, 665
2,841,964
$6,279, 578
2,831,927
5, 003, 966
16, 653, 200
1, 514, 478
13,874, 901
1,398, 340
6,249, 615
2,947, 940
1, 412, 725
1,076, 037
1,894, 376
41,953, 917
21,891, 264
13,952, 225
3,053, 350
4,130, 071
3, 333,157
3,843, 500
2, 601,184
27,486,168
616, 900
1,482, 400
1,818, 669
1,845, 442
947, 209
596,126
2,248, 444
1, 778, 669
4, 585,122
658,840
1, 686, 650
3,905,080
8, 788, 267
4, 538, 214
1, 209, 670
6, 572, 539
772, 230
8,140, 850
1,899, 383
6, 075,120
39, 712, 901
4,921, 065
377, 584
2,322,852
6, 556, 017
1,137,828
13, 092,107
6, 366,855
3,804, 079
6, 656,497
528, 860
3,666,097
2,089,775
280
62
106
109
403
262
986 1, 612
112
54
778
963
147
258
563
680
96
125
68
30
69
16
145
69
1,546
697
806
730
798
257
295
228
559
585
83
117
286
686
86
169
2,505 1, 528
35
38
154
119
267
132
86
90
104
63
21
3
269
77
201
92
318
302
80
28
151
59
34
45
1,216 1,135
363
216
109
85
152
69
104
70
644
231
178
53
1,167
600
5,812 3,626
263
104
20
24
52
56
640
160
65
88
894
535
723
629
188
134
182
234
12
11
149
81
122
182
1370]
$1,343,190
879, 272
3,212, 51C
7,983, 600
876, 599
5, 790, 537
468,415
3, 789, 51C
849, 539
905, 75C
622, 317
791,879
25,873,15C
11, 972, 605
7,037, 775
959,100
1, 765, 965
2,490, 251
1, 572, 750
2,006,432
9,036, 237
81, 295
933, 400
722,902
796, 551
289, 347
341, 631
766, 719
559, 582
3, 009,941
167, 095
692, 550
2, 714,125
3, 505,875
2, 208, 681
483,940
5, 619, 267
439, 300
3,867,800
1, 211, 262
2,280,805
16, 737,419
3,140,140
40,400
1, 732,427
2,948,890
373,010
8,062, 764
1,956,065
2,929, 380
4,133, 532
315, 615
2, 506, 573
1,064, 275
$1,154, 663
1,850,717
1, 726, 571
15,049, 700
1,423,269
17, 583, 794
1, 679, 871
5,856, 980
1, 658,822
760,241
467,066
583, 552
37, 651,195
13,830, 685
7, 774, 300
2, 352,400
2, 524,491
1,997,144
4,124,090
2,036,176
16, 587,346
443, 374
590,100
684, 379
1, 236,813
710, 610
267, 206
1, 219, 236
1, 601, 395
3, 270, 974
817, 715
665,315
1,857,829
6,992, 074
4,061,803
725, 200
1,231,171
447,948
6,296,400
380, 551
2,494,615
23,096,177
2,724,155
324,295
874,391
1, 737,116
1, 098,229
7,110, 216
6,987,355
1, 5651 579
3,194, 540
' 3191 000
2, 593, 586
3,840,848
111
HOUSING
E S T IM A T E D CO ST OF N E W R E S ID E N T IA L B U IL D IN G S , N E W N O N R E S ID E N T IA L
B U IL D IN G S , A N D T O T A L B U IL D IN G O P E R A T IO N S IN 92 C IT IE S OF T H E U N IT E D
ST A T E S H A V IN G A P O P U L A T IO N OF 100,000 OR O V ER , F O R T H E F IR S T H A L F O F 1930,
C O M P A R E D W IT H T H E F IR S T H A L F OF 1931—C ontinued
N ew residential buildings
C ity
E stim ated cost
First half
of 1930
New York:
T he Bronx______
B rooklyn, _____
M a n h a tta n ____
Queens_________
R ichm ond___ . .
N orfolk.. _________
O akland___________
O klahoma C ity _____
Omaha „
_______
Paterson. _________
P e o ria _____________
P hiladelphia_______
Pittsburgh _________
Portland (O reg.). . .
Providence______ _
R eading______ . . . _
Richm ond (V a.)____
R ochester__________
St. L ouis.. ________
St. P a u l— .
...
Salt Lake C ity ... . . .
San A ntonio__ . . . .
San Diego__________
San F ra n c is c o ._____
Scranton ___ ______
S e a ttle .. _ ________
Somerville_________
Spokane . _______
Springfield (M ass.) _ _
Syracuse.
________
Tacom a____________
T am p a_____________
Toledo -----------------T renton__________ _
T u lsa______________
Utica ___________ _
W ashington________
W ichita.. _________
W ilm ington________
W orcester__________
Yonkers__ _______
Y oungstown________
First half
of 1931
$9,806, 000 $23, 560,402
12, 636, 600 27,988,675
21, 213, 000 11,133, 000
21, 250, 310 36, 095, 700
1, 761, 000 2,164, 06C
491, 868
537, 936
2,732,000 1,789, 584
4,110, 925 2, 722, 850
463, 550
718,050
302, 200
165, 975
1,004, 600
664, 950
5, 731, 350 2, 747, 425
3, 944, 350 1,834, 785
1,983, 235 1, 720, 600
1,993,400
892, 500
417, 800
181, 800
707, 050
810, 877
946,955
761, 900
2, 961, 390 3,143,187
1,187, 520 1, 299, 600
1,014,600
862,990
1, 539,145
574, 960
1, 654, 600 1, 335, 652
5,146, 510 5,655,846
313,990
81, 625
7,568, 585 2,391,210
86,000
126, 500
652, 675
487,450
586, 700
353, 970
1,347, 500
716,100
744, 000
280,000
82, 630
113,425
905, 380
535, 800
131,800
197,400
2, 203, 565 1,159, 525
182, 500
301,450
9,472, 250 13,891, 655
1, 991, 240
637, 380
952, 700
661,350
827,125
740, 900
2,106, 750 3, 227, 740
385, 030
233,850
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
N ew nonresidential
buildings
T otal construction,
including
altera
tions and repairs
E stim ated cost
E stim ated cost
First
First
1930
1931
2,274
2, 779
3. 521
4.749
352
140
807
1,106
104
68
232
1,196
837
464
278
70
157
149
786
205
302
607
480
1,152
31
1, 522
27
176
138
242
230
48
247
28
503
40
1,090
444
186
154
233
89
5, 667 $13,442, 069 $15,876, 750 $27, 556,189 $41. 589, 702
7, 121 13, 654,375 5,104,157 31, 548, 06C 40, 090,137
1,582 59, 609, 200 71, 900, 087 99, 046,368 98, 440,896
8, 405 16,899, 331 9,494,155 41, 006,467 49,113,836
627 1,358,197 2,283,175 3,818,15C 4,936, 681
129
104, 636 1, 201,072
527, 527
822,129
507 1, 949, 752 2, 913,458 5, 518, 463 5,145,470
643 5,174, 662 9,357,761 9,928,855 12,370,226
175 2,607,000 1,179,936 3, 586,844 2,329, 614
38
439, 568
377, 775 1,159,457
879, 934
156
683,150
55, 092 1,992,015
993,477
562 24,169, 490 10, 284, 440 34, 569, 340 15,065,440
378 3, 288,825 4,224, 352 9, 962,874 7, 560,490
363 2,180,815 1,060,385 5,391,185 3, 500,410
141 2, 645,975
677,860 6,001,845 2,434,183
19
745, 555 1, 811,732 1,475, 544 2, 254,809
131 1,468, Oil
344, 553 2, 652,128 1,482,214
81 1,043,818 1,944, 048 2,932,173 3, 207, 022
837 4. 662, 615 7, 586, 067 9,278,695 11,693,679
201 5,051, 362 6, 687,947 7,081, 730 8, 620, 648
614,990 1,575, 798 1,856, 700 2,609,252
267
375 3,031, 388
645, 965 4, 984, 730 1,424,164
374
860,839 1,777,426 2,868, 613 3, 581, 971
1,446 5, 687, 531 6,003,024 12, 393, 561 12,873,619
792,615
27
288, 303 1,344, 616
658, 401
768 6,930,940 3,125, 776 16,426, 605 6,684, 966
32
196, 940
401, 675
442, 594
647,300
352, 344
127
605,945 1,334,148 1, 382,004
73 1,119,063
897, 272 2,106, 543 1, 518, 237
137
804,800 2, 700,428 2, 577,410 4, 614,846
113 1,689,790
973, 680 2,637, 880 1,444, 700
39
633, 447
146, 930
896, 630
408,917
118 4,825,680
830, 832 6,182,419 1, 646, 733
21 1,313, 508
448,852 1, 754, 538
873,110
276 1,918, 585 1,291,015 4,331, 970 2,712,311
37
176,040
156, 018
665,030
527,756
2, 205 16,988, 523 7,090, 023 30, 522,416 24,421,984
207 1,322,995
439,199 3, 602,304 1, 213,831
131 2,051, 012
672,281 3,436,122 1,844, 681
121 1, 634,651
111, 045 3,183,465 1,172,842
396
637,840 2,172, 385 3,168, 315 5,700, 680
48 1,210, 639
397,009 1,809, 399 1, 032,418
F irst half
of 1930
F irst half
of 1931
F irst half •F irst half
of 1930
of 1931
T otal _______ 253,925, 712 229,150,483 53,735 53, 709 383, 255,398 303,385, 724 749, 013, 782 621, 658,988
Per cent of change. .
- 9 .8
-2 0 .8
-1 7 .0
0)
i A decrease of less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
R ecen t C h an ges in W ages and H ours of Labor
NFORMATION received by the bureau regarding wage changes is
presented below in two distinct groups: Part 1 relates to manufac
turing establishments that report monthly figures regarding volume of
employment, while part 2 presents data obtained from new trade agree
ments and other miscellaneous sources. Although the effort is made,
it is not always possible to avoid duplication of data as between parts
1 and 2.
I
Part 1. Wage-Rate Changes in Manufacturing Industries
Five establishments in five industries reported wage-rate increases
during the month ending June 15. These increases, averaging 12.3
per cent, affected 182 employees or 5 per cent of all employees in the
establishments concerned.
Two hundred and ten establishments in 45 industries reported wagerate decreases during the same period. These decreases, averaging
10.8 per cent, affected 25,645 employees or 67 per cent of all employees
in the establishments concerned. Twenty wage-rate decreases were
reported by establishments in the food group, 34 were reported in the
textile group, 39 in the iron and steel group, and 27 in the lumber
group. Nineteen establishments in the fertilizer industry reported
decreases in rates of wages averaging 14.9 per cent and affecting 462
employees or 7 per cent of the employees in the establishments report
ing to the bureau in this industry. Wage-rate decreases reported by
eight establishments in the paper and pulp industry averaged 9.8 per
cent and affected 4,880 employees or 6 per cent of the employees in
the total number of establishments reporting in that industry,
112
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[372]
113
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
W A G E C H A N G E S O C C U R R IN G B E T W E E N M A Y 15 A N D .TUNE 15, 1931
Per cent of increase
or decrease in
wage rate
Establishm ents
In d u stry
N um ber
reporting
Total increase
num ber
or de
report crease
in
ing
wage
rates
Employees affected
Per cent of employees
Range
In estab
Total lishm ents
Average num ber reporting
increase or
decrease in
wage rates
In all
estab
lish
m ents
report
ing
In crea ses
Baking________________
Hosiery and k n it goods, ---Printing, newspapers
Automobiles . . .
___ _ ----B everages.-- , - ---- -- ------
729
346
449
213
273
T o tal____________________
1
1
1
1
1
20.0
10.1
2.3
16.0
5.0
20.0
10.1
2.3
16.0
5.0
4
46
24
100
8
5
2. 3-20. 0
12.3
182
12
2
39
8
73
0)
0
0)
(0
0 •
5 _______
D ecreases
Slaughtering and m eat packing---_ _
C o n fe c tio n e ry .-.___
Flour_____ ____________ _
-.
B ak in g ..
---------------------------Sugar refining, cane .
-----C otton goods. . .
Hosiery and k n it goods___.
Silk goods____________ _______
Woolen and w orsted goods__ . .
D yeing and finishing tex tiles..
Clothing, m en’s _____
_ - . ..
Shirts and collars.Iron and steel_____ .
_
Cast-iron pipe ________ _ - _
.
.. _
Structural ironw ork__
F oundry and machine-shop produ c ts _____ __ _
______ ____
______ . H ardw are___
Machine to o ls,.
.
_.
Steam fittings and steam and
hot-w ater heating ap p aratu s ----Lum ber, sawmills
___ _
Lum ber, m illw ork. _
F u rn itu re . __ ... _
Boots and shoes ______
Paper and p u lp ... _.
Paper boxes_____ ___ _
Printing, book and jo b . ___ _ . .
Printing, new spapers..
...
Fertilizers_____________ ____ .
C em ent __________
Brick, tile, and terra co tta______
P o tt e r y _______________________
Glass_______ ____ _ - _ .
Stam ped and enameled ware
Brass,-bronze, and copper products
Cigars and cigarettes____ _
...
Autom obiles___________________
C ar building and repairing, elec
trie-railroad______ __________
A gricultural im p le m e n ts ___ ____
Electrical m achinery apparatus,
and s u p p lie s _________ _____
Shipbuilding
_____ _ _ ___
Aircraft _ _ . . ______
__
Jew elry
_______
_ __
P a in t and varnish
...
R ubber goods, other th an boots,
shoes, tires, and inner tubes . . .
Typew riters and supplies----------Tnt.pl
211
332
407
729
13
505
346
258
201
129
336
102
194
45
174
2
5
10
2
1
14
7
1
3
1
6
2
2
1
6
10.0
10.0-20. 0
5. 0-10. 0
5. 0-10. 0
10.0
10. 0-18. 0
7. 0-10. 0
20.0
8. 0-13. 0
10.0
3. 0-20. 0
10.0
1. 0-10. 0
10.0
10. 0-20. 0
10.0
11.0
9.0
6.6
10.0
10.5
8.7
20.0
8.4
10.0
8.4
10.0
4.5
10.0
11.2
63
235
303
103
27
1,843
606
120
385
521
46Û
119
398
345
721
97
18
85
40
12
34
29
100
68
81
51
86
62
100
84
1,070
97
151
22
2
3
5.0-20. 0
10.0
10.0-20. 0
8.9
10.0
10.9
2,955
138
164
90
100
44
2
i
i
107
691
344
449
290
383
313
605
449
205
110
736
118
191
83
162
182
213
3
13
5
9
4
8
3
8
4
19
4
6
■6
2
2
1
2
2
10.0
5. 0-25. 0
10. 0-25. 0
8. 0-25. 0
1. 0-10. 0
5.0-15.0
10.0-29. 0
7.0-20.0
5. 0-10. 0
10.0-20. 0
5.0-20. 0
2.8-20. 0
5. 0-10.0
4.8-10.0
10.0
15.0
10.0
8. 0-10.0
10.0
13.1
19. 6
10.8
8.3
9.8
14.9
10.0
8.4
14.9
13.5
7.9
9.9
6.4
10.0
15.0
10.0
9.6
151
2,009
1,721
423
713
4,880
144
247
462
462
605
416
766
80
35
76
¿25
880
12
94
100
60
62
97
86
60
77
76
99
99
83
25
44
100
78
94
1
2
7
1
1
6
1
2
3
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
34
295
100
100
100
100
4
49
53
444
85
.
212
89
40
158
302
3
1
1
2
3
9.2-15.0
6.0
12.7
10.0
10.0
10.3
6. 0
12.7
10.0
10.0
960
34
10
188
101
80
17
3
1
10. 0-20. 0
10.0
16.0
10.0
40
82
22
14
210
1. 0-29. 0
10.8
25, 645
67
i Less th a n one-half of 1 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[373]
(0
(>)
0)
(0
0
0
1
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
4
3
1
7
3
1
4
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
1
1
1
114
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Part 2.—Wage Changes Reported by Trade-Unions Since April, 1931
W age changes reported by trade-unions' and, in a few instances,
from other sources, as shown in the table following cover 14,912
workers, of which 1,886 reported the adoption of the 5-day week as
a permanent feature and 3,500 for a period of three months.
Only three increases in wages were reported, two of which took place
in the printing trades and one, an increase of 5 cents per ton for pick
mining, in a few mines in Pennsylvania. In the building trades
decreases ranged from 2% to 50 cents per hour. Pocketbook workers
in New York City accepted a reduction ranging from $3.24 to $3.65
per week.
R E C E N T U N IO N W A G E C H A N G E S , B Y IN D U S T R Y , O C C U P A T IO N , A N D L O C A L IT Y ,
A P R IL TO JU L Y , 1931
R ate of wages
In d u stry , occupation, and locality
Building trades:
B ricklayers and masons—
Fall R iver, M a s s ------ - ------------ -H ouston, Tex., and v ic in ity _________
C arpenters—
Cedar Rapids, Io w a---------- - --------Fall R iver, M ass
_ _ - _____
H ouston, Tex., a n d v ic in ity------ -M adison, Wis_ - - - - - - - - - - ------ -San A ntonio, T ex ------------- --- W esterly, R . I ____ - ---- - --------C em ent finishers—
Cedar R apids, Io w a--- - --- Fall R iver, M ass-------------------- H ouston, T ex --------- ----- ------------Electricians—
M adison, W is--------------------- - Pueblo, Colo------------- ---------------------Laborers—
Greenwich, Conn - -----------M adison, Wis _ _ ---- -- -------Springfield, 111., and v icin ity-----------L athers—
Beaum ont, Galveston, H ouston, and
P o rt A rthur, Tex_. - --_ __ _ _
Lake Charles, La __ _______ _____
M adison, W is------------------ ------------P ainters—
Fall R iver, M ass---------- -- --M adison, W is____________________ Plasterers—
C hattanooga, Cleveland, a n d D ayton,
T enn____________________________
D alton, Ga_ ________________
D etroit, M ich --------------------------------Ellwood C ity, P a ______ _
____
F all R iver, M ass. _
______ F o rt Dodge, Iow a, a n d v icin ity___ _
H ouston, Tex., an d v ic i n i t y __ _
Jackson, M ich’., a n d v ic in ity _______ L ynchburg, V a______
M adison, W is. - -W heeling, W . V a., and v icin ity ______
Y oungstown, Ohio___ _
Plum bers—
B eaum ont, T ex__
_______ _ Fall R iver, M ass. ______ _ _____
M adison, Wis
Sheet-m etal workers—
Cedar R apids, I o w a ________________
M adison, W is__________ _- ______
Steam fitters—
Fall R iver, M ass________________
H elpers
_ _ ___
M adison, W is______________________
D ate of
change
1
$1. 25
1. 75
P er hour
$1.25
1. 6236
44
40
40
40
Apr.
1
do__
18
M ay
1
M ay
M ay
2
June
2
1.0736
1 00
1.25
1.20
1. 12H
1.00
1.00
44
44
11234
.8734
.92
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
Apr.
M ay
M ay
1
1
21
1.1236
1. 25
1.50
1.05
1. 25
i. 3734
48
44
40
48
40
40
M ay
July
1
17
1.45
1.25
1.35
1. 25
40
44
40
40
M ay
M ay
Apr.
25
1
1
• 81M
.95
.55
.75
.90
.55
44
40
44
44
40
40
28
M ay
do_ _
M ay
1
1. 6236-1. 75
1. 623^-1. 75
1. 6236
40
40
40
40
44
40
44
40
Apr.
M ay
21
1
1
June
_ do __
1
M ay
do
1
Apr.
do_ _
18
M ay
1
M ay
___do_ _
___do__
__do_ _
Apr.
25
1
AI ay
___do _
.90
1.15
1.1234
1. 50-1. 6234
1 50-1 fi2U
1. 50 “
.75
1 .1234
1.50
1.00
1. 50
1 00
1.3734
1.6236
1. 50
1 25
1 25
1 25
1.1234
1.3736
1. 75
1 50
1.50
1.25
1.00
1.75
1. 50
1 3736
1.50
1. 25’ *
1. 25-1. 6236 1.1234-1- 50
40
44
44
40
44
40
40
4936
40
44
40
44
» 40
40
4936
40
40
40
1.50
1.00
1. 40
1.00
1. 35
44
44
40
44
40
40
1
1
1.04
1. 25
1.00
1 .1734
44
40
44
40
do_
__do_ _
_ _do_____
1. 00
1. 00
. 75
1.3234
44
44
40
40
40
40
Apr.
M ay
i Tem porary change.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Before change A fter change Before After
change change
P e r hour
M ay
H ours per week
[374]
1. 3733;
1.1234
115
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
R E C E N T U N IO N W A G E C H A N G E S , B Y IN D U S T R Y , O C C U P A T IO N , A N D L O C A L IT Y ,
A P R IL T O JU L Y , 1931—C ontinued
H ours per week
R ate of wages
In d u stry , occupation, and locality
juare oi
change
Before After
Before change A fter change change change
P e r w eek
Clothing trades: Overall workers, Kansas
fifty TYTo
_____________
L eather workers:
Pocketbook workers, N ew Y ork, N . Y.—
First o,lass
___ _ ___ ___
M iners:
Colorado Springs, Colo- -- ----- -----Pennsylvania (5 mines)
_______ _
Pick miners
__ __ _
TTninn town P a
_______ ____- Printing trades:
Compositors—
Chicago, 111
- - Pitch held Til and vicinitv
Paducah, K y _ _ _ _ _ ________
M unicipal employees:
Portland, O re g .S tate Industrial Accident Commission,
Office, workers
__ _____ ___
San Francisco, Calif., Board of Public
Works
_____ ________________ — -
P e r w eek
19
$35. 00
$35. 00
44
40
20
June
do__
2 48. 30
2 43. 20
44. 65
39. 96
44
44
44
44
10
June
23
Juno
_ _do _
8
M ay
$6. 52
3. 50-4. 00
4. 55
M ay
P er day
.Tune
__do__
M ay
1
June
Ju ly
2 M inim um .
P er day
$5.00
4.00-4. 50
4. 60
(5)
0
P e r w eek
P e r w eek
48
48
0
0
48
48
0
44
44
48
1 40
44
48
(7)
44
44
(ä)
44
40
$57, 00
35. 00-40. 00
40. 00
$57. 00
36. 00-41. 00
43.00
1
0
1
0
1
0
5 N o t reported.
6 7 per cent reduction.
7 123^ p er cent reduction.
3 U nlim ited.
4 P er ton.
C o m p en sa tio n for O u t-o f-to w n W ork as Provided for in C ollec
tive A greem en ts
LARGE number of collective agreements provide extra compen
sation for members sent away from their homes, or usual head
A quarters,
to work. This compensation varies between the locals of
the same trade as well as between the different trades.
The majority of the building-trades agreements provide that when
an employer sends members of the union on an out-of-town job he
shall pay transportation to and from the job and furnish board and
lodging while at work on the job. A number of these agreements
stipulate the weekly allowance for board and lodging, others provide
that the employer shall pay the actual cost of board and lodging.
Where men return each night to their homes it is usually provided
that daily transportation shall be furnished, although in some cases
the employer pays daily transportation in excess of two car fares.
A few agreements provide that the employer shall pay for transporta
tion, board, and lodging on all jobs of two weeks’ duration or less, but
on jobs of more than two weeks’ duration the employees shall pay for
their own board and lodging.
Employers wdio advance transportation to members on out-of-town
jobs are protected by agreement provisions holding the union respon
sible for such advanced transportation if the member or members fail
to report on the job. In such cases the union reimburses the employer
and collects the amount from the member or members.
A large number of agreements provide that time spent in traveling
to an out-of-town job during working hours shall be paid for at the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[375]
116
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
regular rate of wages. Night travel time is not paid for by the
employer if he furnishes a Pullman berth for the employee.
More than 600 of the trade agreements received by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics in 1929 and 1930 provide extra compensation for
members on out-of-town work.
The following are examples of the provisions regarding out-of-town
work as they appear in the various trade agreements:
Asbestos workers.— M em bers shall receive b o ard on jo b s req u irin g sam e, a n d
shall receive tra n sp o rta tio n a n d expenses. B oard to be n o t less th a n $17.50 p er
week. _N ig h t tra v e l p a id a t single ra te unless b e rth is furnished, w hen no tra v e l
tim e will be paid. D ay tra v e l d u rin g w orking h o u rs p aid a t single ra te .
B oard a n d all tra n sp o rta tio n expenses a c tu a lly expended sh all be p a id by
em ployer. M en m a y w ork S a tu rd a y a ftern o o n for re g u lar ra te of wages except
w here th e B uilding T ra d e C ouncil p ro h ib its S a tu rd a y a ftern o o n w ork.
Bricklayers, masons, and -plasterers— M em bers doing out-o f-to w n w ork shall
receive all expenses fo r tra n sp o rta tio n , b oard, a n d lodging.
On out-of-tow n jo b m em b er shall receive tra n sp o rta tio n b o th w ays if he rem ains
u n til jo b is com pleted. A ny m em b er accep tin g tra n sp o rta tio n a n d n o t going to
w ork shall be fined to th e a m o u n t of tra n sp o rta tio n a n d such a m o u n t be p aid to
th e em ployer ad v an cin g th e tra n sp o rta tio n .
Carpenters and joiners.— A ny m em b er se n t o u t of to w n shall dem an d a n d receive
cost of tra n sp o rta tio n to a n d from tow n, according to th e following rule: If 10
m iles o r less, once a d a y ; o v er 10 m iles a n d less th a n 50 miles, once a w eek; over
50 miles, to be agreed upo n b y p a rtie s concerned.
M em ber req u ired to leav e th e c ity to w ork if re tu rn in g daily shall h av e all
tra n sp o rta tio n in^ excess of tw o fares p aid . If he does n o t re tu rn daily he shall
h ave board, lodging, a n d tra n sp o rta tio n paid.
Cement finishers.— E m p lo y er shall p a y tra n sp o rta tio n , tra v e l tim e, a n d $21 p er
w eek for b o ard a n d lodging to m em bers w orking o u t of tow n.
O n out-of-tow n jo b em p lo y er sh all p a y tra n sp o rta tio n , tra v e l tim e du rin g
w orking hours, a n d $1.50 p e r d a y fo r expenses.
Electrical workers.— T ra n sp o rta tio n , b o ard a n d lodging, a n d tim e consum ed in
tra v e l n o t to exceed 8 h o u rs in a n y 24 h o u rs to .b e p aid by th e em ployer. B oard
a n d lodging n o t to exceed $11 p e r week.
. M l m en se n t o u t of th e c ity on a jo b shall be allow ed tra n sp o rta tio n , trav elin g
tim e, sleeper, a n d b o ard b y th e em ployer. N o tra v e lin g to be done S a tu rd a y or
S unday o r o n a n y of th e holid ay s d esig n ated unless first ord ered b y th e em ployer,
m w hich case double tim e is to be p aid . N o p a y to be allow ed for tra v e l a t n ig h t
except on em ergency, breakdow n, or re p a ir calls, in w hich case double tim e is
to be allowed.
Elevator constructors. W hen m em bers are sen t outside th e jurisd ictio n al radius
covered b y th is ag reem en t th e y will be p a id stra ig h t tim e ra te s fo r all trav elin g
tim e d u rin g th e reg u lar w orking hours. If th e tr ip extends beyond th e regular
w orking hours single tim e will be allow ed for a c tu a l trav elin g tim e up to 5 hours.
On out-of-tow n w ork all board, tra n sp o rta tio n , a n d tra v e l tim e shall be p aid
by th e em ployer.
Hoisting and operating engineers.— T he em ployer shall p ay tra n sp o rta tio n to all
out-of-tow n jobs a n d re tu rn tra n sp o rta tio n if m em ber stay s u n til jo b is finished
or leaves th ro u g h no fa u lt of his own.
W hen a n engineer is se n t o u t of to w n to w ork he shall receive 8 hours p e r day
stra ig h t tim e, b oard , a n d tra n sp o rta tio n b o th w ays.
Glaziers.— W hen m en are se n t o u t of th e c ity to w ork, all expenses such as
railro ad fare, board, a n d loss of tim e while trav elin g m u st be p a id b y th e em
ployer. (B y trav elin g tim e is m ean t, m en shall receive 8 h o u rs’ p a y in 24 hours
traveling.)
. On out-of-tow n w ork all tra v e l a fte r w orking hours shall be p aid a t single
tim e unless sleeper is furnished. E xpenses shall be allow ed a t th e ra te of $3 50
p er day.
Hodcarriers, building and common laborers.— M em bers w orking o u t of tow n
shall receive $1 p e r d a y above th e reg u lar scale a n d ro u n d -trip tra n sp o rta tio n ,
w hen th e y do n o t re tu rn hom e daily.
M em bers se n t o u t of tow n to w ork will receive tra n sp o rta tio n b o th w ays and
$10 e x tra p e r week fo r board.
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Lathers.— W hen necessary to b o ard outside city, m em ber shall be p aid $ l _per
d ay ex tra a n d be furnished tra n sp o rta tio n to a n d from th e jo b once. If req u ired
to re tu rn to city each d ay w here th e trav elin g tim e exceeds one h o u r m em ber
will be allow ed a tim e allow ance based on stra ig h t tim e p a y a n d all ca r fare to
a n d from such job.
On out-of-tow n jo b m ore th a n 15 miles d is ta n t em ployer shall p a y tra n sp o r
ta tio n b o th w ays once a week. If m an q u its th e jo b re tu rn tra n sp o rta tio n will
n o t be allowed.
Painters, decorators, and paperhangers.— Jo u rn ey m en se n t o u t of th e city w here
it is necessary to b o ard aw ay from hom e shall receive fu ll b o ard a n d tra n sp o r
ta tio n in ad d itio n to th e ir reg u lar p a y . If req u ired to tra v e l in th e d a y tim e to
reach th e jo b th e y shall receive th e re g u lar scale of w ages fo r 8 h o u rs each d ay
going a n d retu rn in g . If trav elin g b y n ig h t em ployer m u st fu rn ish sleeping-car
b e rth a n d m eals en route.
If m em bers are d irected to rem ain on out-of-tow n jo b from th e beg nn in g to
th e end em ployer shall p a y fo r b o ard 7 day s p er week a n d tra n sp o rta tio n . If
higher w age or sh o rter hours on out-of-tow n w ork such shall a p p ly to m em bers
of th is local.
Operative plasterers.— On out-of-tow n w ork tra n sp o rta tio n an d tra v e l tim e to
be p aid b y em ployer.
M em bers se n t o u t of to w n to w ork m u st receive $1 p er d ay e x tra a n d tra n s
p o rta tio n b o th w ays.
Plumbers and gas fitters.— M em ber w orking outside th e city lim its shall receive
trav elin g expenses to an d from jo b fo r as m an y trip s as he is d irected by his
em ployer to m ake. If directed to b o ard w here w ork is lo cated he sh all be p aid
each w eek a sum e q u al to p revailing ra te fo r b o ard fo r m echanics in t h a t local
ity . All tim e properly em ployed in trav e lin g d u rin g re g u lar w orking h o u rs shall
be p a id fo r on single tim e. If w orkm an leaves his w ork before i t is com pleted,
a n d w ith o u t th e consent of his em ployer, it shall be on his ow n tim e a n d a t his
ow n expense.
T h e m aster plum bers shall fu rn ish all tra n sp o rta tio n on all jobs a n d board
w hen conditions require th e sam e.
Sheet-metal workers.— M en se n t o u tside th e city lim its, th e em ployer shall fu r
nish tra n sp o rta tio n , b o ard , a n d lodging.
O n out-of-tow n w ork em ployer shall p a y all railro a d fare, trav elin g tim e to
a n d from th e jo b , a n d all h o te l bills. M em ber shall n o t be p aid less th a n th e
w age scale of th is agreem ent.
Sign painters.— Sign p a in te rs a n d th e ir a ssista n ts w orking on th e ro a d shall
receive th e d aily w age scale ad o p te d by th e local unio n h av in g ju risd ictio n over
th e locality in which th e y a re w orking, b u t n o t less th a n th e w age scale pro v id ed
for in th is agreem ent. T h ey shall receive n o t less th a n $4.50 p e r d ay h o te l ex
penses, u n til th e y re tu rn to th e ir hom e tow n. T hey m u st com ply w ith th e w ork
ing rules a n d law s of th e locality in w hich th e y are w orking b u t th e 5-day w eek
shall p rev ail on all such ro a d work.
M em bers doing ro ad w ork shall receive stra ig h t tim e a t sta n d a rd scale for 5y>d ay week. T hey shall receive for h o te l expenses $3.50 p e r d ay for 7 d ay s a week.
Slate, tile, and composition roofers.— W here m en are req u ired to w ork aw ay from
hom e all necessary expenses a n d tra n sp o rta tio n will be p a id by th e c o n tracto r.
W hen w orking o u t of to w n a n d unable to go b ack a n d fo rth each d ay m em bers
shall w ork 9 ho u rs p e r d a y a t stra ig h t tim e except S atu rd ay s, 4}4 hours. E m
ployer shall p ay all b oard , railw ay fare, a n d tra v e l tim e in full.
Steam fitters.-— On all w ork o u tside th e city m em bers shall receive th e ir b o ard
a n d tra n sp o rta tio n to an d from w ork. F o r tim e consum ed in tra v e lin g during
Sundays a n d w eek days, m em bers shall receive stra ig h t tim e, a n d only 8 hours
allow ed in a n y one 24-hour d ay fo r tra v e lin g tim e. A ny em ployer h av in g w ork
outside th e city shall send a t le a st one m em ber, w ho shall n o t receive less than,
s ta n d a rd ra te of w ages— h igher ra te if city to w hich se n t p ay s a higher ra te .
M em ber w orking o u t of to w n m u st h av e tra v e lin g expenses a n d b o ard p aid by
em ployer. R egular wages p aid for tra v e lin g d u rin g w orking hours. T rav el a t
n ig h t sleeping-car accom m odations p aid for b y em ployer.
Structural-iron workers.— S atisfacto ry a rran g em en ts are to be m ad e as to tra n s
p o rta tio n an d trav elin g tim e on out-of-tow n w ork. A ny m em ber failing to re p o rt
for w ork a fte r tra n sp o rta tio n h a s been paid, th e a m o u n t p a id shall be refu n d ed to
em ployer b y th e union. M em ber m u st w ork a t le a s t one w eek before_ being e n
title d to fare an d tra v e l tim e one w ay unless w ork is com pleted in less tim e.
M em bers shipping o u t shall h av e tra n sp o rta tio n p a id ,.a n d shall be p a id full
d a y ’s p ay , for tra v e l tim e u p to 8 hours. If tra v e l tim e ta k e s m ore th a n 3 hours
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a fter 10 p. m. b e rth m u st be p rovided by em ployer. A ny m em ber accepting tra n s
p o rta tio n an d n o t re p o rtin g shall be fined a m o u n t of fare plus $10; fare to be
refunded to em ployer a n d fine to go to union.
A t th e op tio n of em ployer m em b er shall b o ard a t place of w ork a n d be p aid a
sum ecpial to room a n d b o ard a t prev ailin g ra te for building m echanics, o r 37%
cents p er h o u r for tim e a c tu a lly w orked in a d d itio n to reg u lar w age as full com
p ensation for b o ard a n d room . If m em ber leaves th e jo b before com pletion he
shall be p a id tra n sp o rta tio n one w ay only.
Terrazzo and mosaic w orkers— E m ployers shall p a y tra n sp o rta tio n , tra v e l
tim e, a n d a n allow ance of $12 p e r w eek for expenses to m em bers sen t o u t of tow n
to work.
Glass sign workers.— W hen sending glass blow ers o u t of city to w ork in o th e r
p lan ts, if i t is agreed upo n betw een th e p a rtie s t h a t th e position is to be p e rm an en t,
his tra n sp o rta tio n will be p a id to th e city he is being se n t to a n d tra v e l tim e p aid
a t th e regular ra te of 8 hours stra ig h t tim e p e r day , b u t in e v e n t th e em ployee is
sen t o u t of to w n for a p eriod n o t to exceed one week all of th e em ployee’s expenses
are to be paid.
Hotel and restaurant employees.— All out-of-tow n jobs to include tra n sp o rta tio n .
M em bers sen t o u t of to w n to w ork shall be p a id $4 p er d ay a n d ra ilro a d fare.
Longshoremen.— On o u tside w ork tra n sp o rta tio n w ill be fu rn ish ed m em bers,
w ith p ay from tim e of leaving u n til re tu rn to w harf. If stev ed o re fu rn ish es cook
a n d provisions fo r gangs he is to be p a id p revailing ra te fo r m eals.
M em bers w orking in stre a m , th e ir tim e will be co u n ted from tim e of leaving
pier u n til th e ir re tu rn to pier. M em bers to su p p ly one m eal du rin g d a y or night,
su b seq u en t m eals to be fu rn ish ed b y th e em ployer, o r a n allow ance to be m ade
to m em bers of 85 cen ts p e r m eal fo r such su b seq u en t m eals.
Boilermakers and iron-ship builders.— M en se n t o u t of th e c ity shall receive
first-class b o ard a n d lodging, tra v e lin g tim e, a n d tra n sp o rta tio n to a n d from
th e job. If em ployee h as w orked a n y p a r t of th e d ay a n d tra v e ls following
n ig h t he shall receive a n a d d itio n a l 8 h o u rs’ p ay . If sleeping accom m odations
are n o t p ro v id ed w hen tra v e lin g th e o v ertim e r a te shall be p aid.
M achinists.— M em bers se n t o u t of th e c ity will receive tra n sp o rta tio n , board,
a n d lodging, a n d w ill be p a id single tim e ra te of p a y while trav elin g , including
S undays a n d holidays. If m en do a n y a c tu a l w ork on S u n d ay s o r holidays on
w hich th e y tra v e l th e y w ill be p a id double tim e fo r w orking tim e.
Railway’ clerks.— E m ployees tem p o ra rily req u ired to p erform service aw ay
from h e a d q u a rte rs sh all be allow ed necessary tra v e lin g expenses w hile aw ay
from hom e, a n d sh all be p a id w hile w orking according to rules fo r reg u lar assign
m e n t w ith n o t less th a n 8 h o u rs p e r d ay . W hile w aitin g o r trav elin g outside th e
reg u lar w ork period th e y w ill be p a id a t one-half tim e ra te , except th a t no tim e
will be allow ed betw een 10 p. m . a n d 7 a. m . w here lodging is furnished. T rav el
during w orking h o u rs p a id a t stra ig h t-tim e ra te .
Railroad shopmen.— E m ployees will be p aid from tim e ordered to leave hom e
u n til re tu rn fo r a c tu a l tim e w orking, w aiting tim e, a n d tra v e lin g tim e b u t never
less th a n 8 h ours each cale n d ar day . W hen m eals a n d lodging are n o t provided
b y th e railro ad a c tu a l necessary expenses w ill be allowed.
Train dispatchers.— E ach tr a in d isp a tc h e r w ill be assigned to established h ead
q u arters, a n d w hen req u ired to leav e such h e a d q u a rte rs sh all be p aid a c tu a l
necessary expenses in a d d itio n to his re g u lar salary w hile aw ay.
Sculptors and carvers.— W hen n o t p ra c tic a l to co m m u te to o u t-of-tow n job
em ployer shall p a y b o ard ($15 p e r week) a n d trav elin g expenses to a n d from
th e job once each week.
Teamsters and chauffeurs.— W hen trav elin g on tra in or b o a t all expenses shall
be p aid by th e em ployer, including o v ertim e up to 10 p. m . If com pelled to
rem ain aw ay from hom e o v er n ig h t, em ployer sh all p a y lodging a t ra te of $1.50
per m an p e r n ig h t unless cu sto m er will p rovide su itab le lodging. M eals will be
p aid fo r a t 50 cen ts p e r m an.
M em bers com pelled to rem ain aw ay from th e ir hom es over n ig h t on acco u n t
of th e ir em ploym ent, th e em ployer shall p a y h o te l expenses such as bo ard an d
lodging.
Upholstery workers.— M em bers shall receive th e m inim um ra te of $3.75 per
d ay for h o te l accom m odations w hile w orking o u t of tow n. All tim e sp e n t in
trav elin g before 8 a. m . a n d a fte r 4.30 p. m . sh all be p a id a t tim e a n d one-half
ra te, except w hen m em bers tra v e l a t n ig h t, w hen th e y sh all be fu rn ish ed w ith
m eals an d sleeping accom m odations a n d th e ir p a y shall sto p a t 9 p. m.
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M od ification of R ailroad A greem en ts to P erm it R e d u ctio n in
H ours of Labor
AILROADS in their agreements with the federated shop crafts,
railway and steamship clerks, maintenance-of-way employees,
railroad trainmen, railroad signalmen, and miscellaneous employees
frequently provide for a reduction in the number of hours to be worked
per week during times of depression or when it becomes necessary to
reduce expenses.
Practically all of the railroads having agreements with the federated
shop crafts providing for a reduction in the number of hours worked
per week have placed their shop employees on a 5-day week.
The Southern Railway Co., when it became necessary to make
substantial reductions in the expenses of its mechanical department,
advised the representatives of the federated shop crafts of its will
ingness to reduce the number of hours worked per week rather than
to reduce the number of men employed.
Due to the fact that the agreement provided for a reduction in the
number of men employed and did not provide for a reduction in the
number of hours to be worked per week, the federated shop crafts
took a vote of the membership to ascertain whether or not they would
be willing temporarily to change the provisions of their agreement
and take a reduction in the number of hours worked per week rather
than have an additional number of men furloughed and thereby in
crease the large number of unemployed. The vote was almost
unanimously in favor of agreeing temporarily to a 5-day week. As a
result of the vote the shopmen on the Southern Railway were placed
on a 5-day week, beginning July 1, 1931.
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad’s agreement with the railway and
steamship clerks contains the following rule:
R
N othing w ithin tin s agreem en t shall be construed to p e rm it th e red u ctio n of
days for em ployees covered by th is ag reem en t below 6 day s p er week, except th a t
th is n u m b er m ay be reduced, in a w eek in w hich holidays occur, by th e n u m b er of
such holidays.
When it became necessary for the railroad to reduce expenses in
order to avoid the necessity of strict application of this rule, the fol
lowing agreement was made with the clerks’ committee:
1. R ule 18 of th e clerks’ ag reem en t w ill be te m p o rarily w aived, so fa r as th e
general office forces, B altim ore, M d., re p o rtin g to th e senior vice p resid en t, in clu d
ing accounting claim, treasu ry , v alu a tio n a n d relief d ep a rtm e n ts, a re concerned,
from th e effective d a te u n til Ju n e 30, 1931, a n d in ste a d of these p a rtic u la r em ploy
ees being guaranteed 6 days of 8 hours each, th e y will be g u a ran teed 5 davs w ork
of 8 hours each.
2. These em ployees will be allowed 5% d a y s’ p a y for th e 5 d a y s’ w ork perform ed
during th is tem p o rary arran g em en t.
3.
D uring this period, no em ployees in th e accounting d e p a rtm e n t, general
offices, B altim ore, M d., will be furloughed, th e re b y assuring all th e em ployees
of steady em ploym ent of 5 d ay s p er w eek w ith 5% d a y s’ pay .
4.
Should any vacancies arise in a n y of th e offices affected b y th is agreem ent, it
will n o t be necessary to ta k e on o th e r em ployees to fill them , b u t th e vacancies
will be bulletined dow n th e line, a n d th e b o tto m position m ay be abolished.
5.
Should i t be desired to continue th is a rran g em en t a fte r Ju n e 30, 1931, it will
be a m a tte r of fu rth e r nego tiatio n p rio r to th a t d ate.
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P rob lem of W age A ssig n m e n ts
A N ARTICLE in the May, 1931, issue of Personnel, by Errett
XJL Gates, who is in charge of the casualty department of Armour &
Co., discusses the effect upon both employers and employees of the
great extension, during recent years, of installment and credit house
buying. The problems opened up by the exploitation of this new field
of merchandising relate chiefly to the large cities and industrial centers
and do not affect rural districts and small towns, where credit is built
upon a different basis.
tPersonal credit no longer exists for wage earners in large commun
ities and the modern wage-assignment system has developed as the
result of the effort of a certain class of business men to exploit the
workingmen. The purchase of articles on credit, which frequently
involves the assignment of wages, is confined largely to luxuries which
in most cases the wage earner would not feel impelled to buy if it were
not for the high-pressure salesmanship used and the lure of the small
down payment and weekly installment.
In general, the article points out, the merchants who are thus ex
ploiting the working classes are of the more adventurous type, who are
willing to take chances but expect to protect themselves by excessive
charges and wage assignments. The legal principle of a “ chose in
action is deeply established in American and English law. These
merchants have seized upon this ancient legal device as a means of
security for credit, which was not necessary in the rural or small town
communities. The credit houses secure not only the wage assign
ment, but they hold as security the capacity of the wage earner.”
Assignment of wages is based on the employment contract, the length
of which is uncertain owing to the possibility of discharge or sickness,
which may terminate the employment and therefore the wage assign
ment at any time. Under the wage-assignment system, the credit
selling is based on the expectation, therefore, that a certain percentage
of the buyers will default on their contracts and prices are accordingly
increased so that even with the failure of a certain percentage of con
tracts a large profit will still be made.
The author states that, in addition to the fact that excessive prices
are charged for articles sold by the credit houses, and also that workers
are influenced to purchase articles which they can not afford and for
which they often have little use, the credit houses are often guilty of
fraud in sending wage-assignment notices, whether or not they have
bona fide wage assignments.
In view of the various abuses which have grown up under the wageassignment system, the Armour Co. has sought to protect itself and
its employees by entering into a contract with employees that they
will not assign wages without the consent of the company. The com
pany inaugurated this policy in September, 1928, and a notice was
sent out to all the credit houses with which the company had done
business in the preceding two years. This action precipitated a large
number of lawsuits, the first few of which were won by the company
on technicalities. The credit companies finally united to bring a test
case, which was won by the credit companies in the two lower courts
and has now been carried by Armour & Co. to the Supreme Court.
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The costliness of wage assignments is shown by the fact, cited by the
writer, that in the past 13 years Armour & Co. has handled about
39,000 such assignments; these have cost the firm much time and
trouble in making the adjustments. A wife can not make an assign
ment of her husband’s wages. Under the common law a man is obliged
to furnish his wife with the necessaries of life, although the amount he
should pay for such things is determined by his financial standing.
A credit house can sue a husband for debt, but if lie can show, for
example, that his earnings are inadequate to furnish his wife with
articles of luxury, such as a fur coat or other things which may be re
garded as nonessentials, the court will not require him to pay. There
must be a judgment in court before a garnishment demand is legal or
effective, but credit houses have abused the use of garnishment de
mands and thousands of demands are said to have been served with
out the required judgment in court. Other problems which have to
be solved and adjusted by the employer for his employees are wage
assignments signed in blank and wage assignments made by minors.
In the latter case, as minors can not make a contract, such assign
ments are invalid and in the former case, if it can be proved that the
credit company filled in the name of the employer after the assign
ment was made, the wage assignment will not hold. These and other
questions involving either sharp practice on the part of the credit
companies or the question of an employee’s legal rights are constantly
coming up for the company to settle or adjust.
E arn ings and Age of a G roup of F u ll-F a sh io n ed H osiery W orkers
N A general study covering the changing economic status of the
full-fashioned hosiery worker the industrial research depart
ment of the University of Pennsylvania has recently published some
statistics of earnings and age for a group of full-fashioned hosiery
workers.1 The information obtained covers workers within the
unionized branch of the industry in the United ¡states and the sta
tistics offered are as of 1929.
I
i
Full-Time Earnings
I t is stated that the earnings o f full-fashioned hosiery workers were
relatively high in 1929, a year when the industry was expanding
rapidly, and that earnings figures for 1930 and 1931 would undoubt
edly show a reduction.
_
.
.
Among a total of 9,850 workers in six occupations, employed m
union shops in 1929, records were secured for almost half (4,506),
and of these 3,174 were found to have had full-time employment.
Average annual earnings of this group of full-time union workers in
the full-fashioned hosiery industry are shown in Table 1 for each of
six major occupational groups.
i Taylor, George W .: T he Full-Fashioned Hosiery W orker.
Press, 1931.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a ble 1 .—A V E R A G E A N N U A L E A R N IN G S OF F U L L -T IM E U N IO N W O R K E R S IN T H E
F U L L -F A S H IO N E D H O S IE R Y IN D U S T R Y , 1929
A nnual earnings
Occupation
N u m b er of
workers A rithm etic
average
Leggers________
Footers____ _____
Toppers .
Loopers__ . .
S e a m e rs ___
Boarders:
M ale
_____
Fem ale _
T o tal___________
M edian
1,173
384
647
382
359
$3, 237
3,965
1, 361
1,308
1,274
$3, 217
3, 948
1,346
1,289
1, 239
82
147
1, 665
1,071
1, 731
1,075
3,174
From Table 1 it is apparent that full-time footers, with average
earnings of _$3,965, and leggers, with average earnings of $3,237,
earned considerably more than did workers in the other four occupa
tions, namely, toppers, loopers, seamers, and boarders. The report
under review states that almost all the leggers and footers were men
and. that with the exception of a few boys employed as toppers, the
positions for toppers, loopers, and seamers were held by women and
girls. It is further brought out that both men and women are com
monly employed as boarders and that boarding is the least stabilized
of occupations in the industry owing to the practice in hosiery mills
of keeping a large stock of hosiery on hand “ in the gray” (undyed),
that may be dyed quickly upon the purchaser’s demand. Not only
is_ employment unstable among boarders but the wage rates vary
widely and average earnings of women are generally lower than those
of men.
Age and Earnings
T h e a g e s of 3,473 employees were obtained and it was found that
somewhat under half this number were less than 25 years old, while
almost 70 per cent were under 30 years of age. The distribution of
the sample by age groups follows:
T a b l e 2 .—A G E O F H O S IE R Y W O R K E R S
N u m ber of P er cent of
workers
total
Age group
U nder 18 years
18 and u n d e r 20 years
20 a n d u n d er 25 years
25 and u n d e r 30 years _
30 and u n d e r 35 years_ ____
35 an d u n d er 40 years
40 a n d u n d er 45 years___ _
45 and u nder 50 years _
50 a n d un d er 60 years_
60 years and over_____
T otal
_ ___
88
313
1, 226
799
455
286
151
70
66
19
2. 5
9. 0
35.3
23.0
13.1
8. 2
4. 4
2.0
1. 9
.6
3, 473
100.0
Classifying the footers and leggers by age and full-time earnings,
it was lound that median earnings of both groups of workers increased
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[382]
123
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
with age up to the age class 40 and under 45 and declined thereafter.
Table 3 shows the results of this compilation for footers only:
T
vb ie
3 .—P E R C E N T OF F U L L -T IM E F O O T E R S E A R N IN G S P E C IF IE D IN C O M E S , BY
A G E G R O U P S, 1929
Per cent, of specified age, in classified earnings group
Total
20 and 25 and 30 and 35 and 40 and 45 and 50 and
under under under under under under under
60
years
25 years 30 years 35 years 40 years 45 years 50 years
A nnual earnings
iTnUor $9 nnn
.pZ,Uv/U elllv.1 Li11vlUI
-------------------'P^,ouu diivi n11vici
-------------------$3 000 a nd u n d er $3,500 _______
$3 .500 and u ndor $4,000 ____ ___ ___
$4 noOflnri u n d er $4 500
$4 500 and u n d er $5,000 _ _ _
$5’000 and over---- 1------ -----------------
7.7
2.2
.6
2.2
16. 1
33. 9
28. 5
14.9
1.6
4.8
4.5
1.1
11 5
46.2
15.4
11. 5
7.7
1.4
5. 5
26.0
37.0
17.8
11.0
1.3
9.0
36.0
33.7
13.5
2.2
3.4
32.8
43.1
19.0
1.7
6.4
32.3
32.3
29. 0
4.8
47.6
28.6
9.5
4.7
38.9
27. 8
16. 7
16.6
T o ta l_______________________
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
N um ber of footers _______ ___ - ATp.dian earnings__________________
26
$3,354
73
$3,759
89
$3,999
58
$4,170
31
$4,200
21
$3,950
18
$3, 750
316
$3,928
In Table 3 it is seen that with the exception of the age class 45 and
under 50, there is no case where a footer aged 35 or over had full-time
earnings of less than $3,000. However, in the lower age groups, that
is 30 and under 35 and 20 and under 25, a substantial percentage of the
footers fall in the earnings group under $2,000.
S alaries in V arious O ccu p a tio n s in Los A n geles
A report of a survey of teachers ’ salaries in the Los Angeles city
elementary and high school districts, submitted by the board of
INeducation
of that city in March, 1931, data were presented on the
financial compensation not only of teachers but also of various other
occupations. Some of the findings of this investigation are given in
the following tabulations.
Table 1 shows the minimum and maximum salary schedules for
various positions in the public-school system of Los Angeles, 1929-30:
T able 1.—M IN IM U M A N D M A X IM U M SA L A R IE S F O R S P E C IF IE D
A N G E L E S P U B L IC SCH O O LS, 1929-30
Salary
Salary
R an k or position
R an k or position
M in i
m um
Kindergartens:
Directors, S. S. _. . . - --- - $1,300
Assistants . -------------- -------- 1,050
E lem entary schools:
2, 600
Principals, 6 to 10 rooms.
3,000
11 to 17ro o m s.. . ---18 to 26 room s---------------- 3, 360
1,400
Teachers----- ------2, COO
Special schools, p rincipals---------Junior high schools:
4, 650
Principals------- ------------------
67999'
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-9
G R O U P S IN LOS
Maxirhum
$1,550
1,250
2, 850
3,300
3, 700
2, 440
3,000
4,650
M ini
m um
Junior high schools—C ontinued.
$3, 650
Vice principals
Teachers------ -- --------- --------- 1,800
Senior high schools:
Principals------ ---------------- - 4.200
3,650
Vice p rincipals--------- --------H eads of d e p artm e n ts---------- 3,050
1,800
Teachers---------------------------E lem entary and high schools:
3, 700
Supervisors of subjects----- . . .
3.200
A ssistant supervisors- . .
[383]
M axi
m um
$3, 650
3.040
5,400
4,300
3, 500
3.040
3,700
3,200
124
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
In order to compare the Los Angeles teachers’ salaries with those
of other important municipalities, the boards of education of the
following cities were requested to send information on this subject
for the Los Angeles survey report: Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo,
Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Newark, New
York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, San Francisco, and Wash
ington, D. C. The returns from this inquiry, combined with the
figures for Los Angeles, are summarized in Table 2:
. T able 2 . -S U M M A R Y O F P R IN C IP A L S ’ A N D T E A C H E R S ’ SA LA R Y S C H E D U L E S IN 16
C IT IE S OF O V ER 400,000 P O P U L A T IO N (1920 C EN SU S), 1929-30
M inim um
R ank
K indergarten teachers______
Elem entary schools:
Supervising principals
Teaching p rincipals_
A ssistant or vice principals____
T e a c h e rs --____. . . .
A typical classes, teachers______
Junior high schools:
Principals_______________
A ssistant or vice principals_______
Teachers__________
Senior high schools:
' P r in c ip a ls -..______. . .
A ssistant or vice principals-.Heads of d ep artm en ts..Teachers______________
N um
ber of
cities
report
ing
A ver
age
M axim um
M edi
an
16
$1,329
16
7
12
16
16
3, 013
2, 780
2,105
1,341
1 4ss
3,000
2,600
1,958
15
11
15
2, 727
16
15
12
£030
2,613
N um
ber of
cities
report
ing
A ver
age
M edi
an
16
$2,613
$2,420
1,455
JLO
0Q
1Q
lo
lb
16
4,715
3, 383
3,140
2,644
2,763
4, 500
2,900
2,820
2,420
2,700
2, 700
11
11
15
1,600
15
5,216
3. 758
2,997
5,000
3, 700
2,850
3|200
2,425
16
15
13
16
5,949
4,162
3,946
3,417
5, 738
4,200
3,800
3,250
In Table 3 the maximum annual salaries of a considerable number
of Los Angeles municipal employees other than teachers are recorded:
T a b l e 3 —M A X IM U M
SA L A R IE S
Position
Police departm ent:
C hief of police________
C hief of detectives
C ap tain of police
C ap tain of detectives____
L i e u te n a n t..____
Sergeant. _____
P atro lm an —
M otor police___________
Fire departm ent:
Chief engineer .
D e p u ty chief- _
M aster m echanic ___
B attalion chief ...
C a p ta in - - ____
P riv ate _________
A uto firem an. ........ .........
Engineering bureau:
C ity engineer__
Inspector of public works
D ivision head____ .
A ssistant engineer______
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
F O R V A R IO U S M U N IC IP A L
A N G E L E S , 1929-30
A nnual
salary
$6, 000
3, 900
3, 600
3, 600
3,000
2.700
2,400
2.700
7,200
5,400
3,600
3,600
3,000
2,400
2,580
10, 000
5,100
5, 100
3,120
P O S IT IO N S
Position
Engineering bureau—C ontinued.
.Draftsman
Surveyor
In stru m en t man
Assessor
A ttornev
Controller
Councilman
M ayor.
Superintendent of building
Civil service examiner
C ity clerk
D irector of efficiencv
H arbor manager
H ealth officer
Librarian
P ark superintendent
Public defender____
Prosecutor
Public works board
Receiving hospital surgeon
T re a su re r..
[3 8 4 ]
IN
LOS
A nnual
salary
$2, 400
2, 880
2,100
5, 400
10,000
7, 200
4.800
10,000
3.600
4, 200
7, 200
6,000
12, 000
7, 200
8,000
4.800
3.600
6,000
6,000
4.800
7,200
125
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Salaries for specified occupations in private establishments in Los
Angeles,employing more than 500 persons in 1929, are given in Table 4 :
T able 4 .— SA L A R IE S P A ID IN C E R T A IN CLASSES OF P O S IT IO N S IN P R IV A T E CON1 able 4 . b™
fig^ AL ()g a n q e LE S H A V IN G O V ER 500 E M P L O Y E E S , 1929
N um
ber of
posi
tions
Position
D raftsm an, architectural (and architect)....................
A ttorney---------------------- ----------------------------------Physician, in stitu tio n al------ ----------- ------------------C ivil engineer--------------------------------------------------Purchasing agent----------------------------------------------C harity visitor-------------------------------------------------Shovel operator------------------------------------------------D raftsm an, stru c tu ra l (a n d engineer)------------------B ricklayer_____________________________________
A ppraiser, p ro p e rty .-------------- --------------------------Inspector, building-------------------------------------------Photographer__________________________________
Plasterer------ ---------------------------------------------------Statistician____________________________________
P a in te r___________________________ ____________
C arpenter------------ ------------------------------------------D raftsm an, electrical (an d engineer)--------------------P lu m b er------------------------- -------------------------------Sheet-metal w orker----------------------------- ------ ----D ep u ty sheriff (peace officer an d p riv a te detective)
B lacksm ith____________________________________
Stenographer (m ale secretary)----------------------------Technician, laboratory--------------------------------------Clerk (supervising an d specialized)---------------------C hem ist------------- -------------------------------- ----------D raftsm an, mechanical----- . ------------------------------D raftsm an, bridge (and engineer)-----------------------C abinetm aker-------------------------------------------------B oilerm aker----------------------------------------------------M achinist------------------- -----------------------------------Steam fitter---------------- -------------------------------------In stru m en t m an (tran sit)---------------------------------Electrician_____________________________ - —-----A c c o u n ta n t---------------- -------------------------------------------
Steam engineer------------------------------------------------D raftsm an, civil engineering-----------------------------B aker------------------------------------ ------ -----------------Stenographic secretary-------------------------------------T ypew riter rep airm an --------------------------------------N urse, visiting health---------------------------------------Steam firem an_________________________________
C ashier (teller)---- ------ ------------------------------- ----S to re k e e p e r...----------------- ------------------------------L abor forem an------ -----------------------------------------T ractor d riv e r.----------- ------------------------------------A uto repairm an----------------------------------------------B utcher---------------------------------------------------------T ru ck driver--------------------------------------------------Cook (chef)----------------------------------------------------Shovel firem an------------------------------------------------N urse, graduate----------------------------------------------B ookkeeper..---------- --------------------------------------Roller operator-----------------------------------------------G ardener-------------------------------------------------------Bridge-construction m a n .--------------------------------L ibrarian an d lib rary assistant--------------------------Pow der m a n --------------------------------------------------Chauffeur____________________________________
W atchm an -----------------------------------------------------R od an d chain m a n -----------------------------------------D ictating-m achine operator------------------------------Stenographer (general)------------------------ ------------Road-construction foreman-------------------------- ---Bookkeeping-machine operator-------------------------T elephone operator-----------------------------------------C lerk (general)------------------- ------ --------------------M aintenance m an (buildings)---------------------------C alculating-m achine operator---------------------------T y p ist_______________________________________
E levator operator----------------------------------- —-----M ultigraph, addressing m achine, etc., o p e ra to r....
Laborer----------------------------------------------- ----------
40
17
6
56
56
3
17
148
18
14
11
2
29
26
152
565
67
6
18
17
38
20
2
1,081
4
83
15
69
131
125
56
93
280
575
244
257
37
178
15
14
137
670
174
349
67
395
58
908
107
6
14
1,195
6
30
83
9
33
178
346
160
17
892
100
382
262
2,889
85
403
545
209
85
4,482
A nnual salary 1
M edian
$3, 917
3, 750
3,450
3,075
3,033
2, 940
2,930
2,920
2, 796
2, 780
2,550
2,400
2, 394
2,360
2, 327
2,326
2,316
2,280
2,280
2, 250
2,235
2, 220
2, 220
2,177
2,160
2,157
2,153
2,151
2,149
2,139
2,109
2,106
2,101
2,099
2,094
2,073
2,057
2,044
1,950
1,944
1,936
1,869
1,863
1,836
1,835
1,831
1,787
1,759
1,753
1,740
1,710
1,707
1,650
1, 640
1,620
1,620
1,605
1,593
1, 593
1, 560
1,523
1,511
1,467
1,401
1,377
1,363
1,350
1,247
1, 229
1,224
1,221
1,106
Average
$3,461
4,126
3,564
3,192
3, 556
2,572
2,714
2,921
2,659
3,140
2,583
2,628
2, 543
2, 634
2,297
2,299
2,336
2,280
2, 273
2,100
2,318
2, 246
2, 220
2,375
2, 070
2,231
2,212
2,185
2,152
2,172
2,115
2,170
2,143
2,268
2,087
2,083
2,005
2,131
1,974
1,843
1,827
1,903
1,904
1,972
1, 726
1,846
1, 736
1,788
1,835
1,712
1,714
1,707
1,700
1,616
1,620
1, 768
1,716
1, 607
1,611
1,571
1,520
1,484
1,448
1,439
1,395
1,370
1,474
1,280
1,219
1, 252
1, 238
1,180
M odal
$4, 056
3,456
2, 460
3,156
2, 940
2, 340
2, 820
2, 700
2,580
2, 940
2,100
2, 340
2, 340
2,460
2, 280
2, 580
2, 700
2, 340
1,860
2,100
2,100
2,100
1,980
1,980
2,100
2, 100
2,100
2,100
2,100
2,340
2,100
2, 100
2, 100
1, 980
1,980
1, 620
1, 620
1, 500
1, 980
1,860
1, 860
1,620
1, 740
1,176
1,740
1, 740
1,620
1,620
1, 560
1, 500
1, 860
1, 500
1,500
1,620
1, 380
1,380
1,500
1, 260
1, 500
1, 260
1,260
1,260
1, 500
i T h e m onthly rate has been m ultiplied b y 12. No allowance has been m ade for irregular or seasonal
em ploym ent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[3S5]
126
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
W ages and R etail Prices in V arious F oreign C ou n tries and in
th e U n ited S ta te s
HE International Labor Review for May, 1931, published by the
Intel nation al Labor Office, contains data on wages and prices
in various foreign, countries and the United States in January, 1931,
or on the nearest date for which figures were available.
T
Wages
T a b l e 1, based on these data, shows money wages in specified
industries and occupations in 71 towns in 18 countries. The Inter
national Labor Office points out that the figures are not always com
parable, as for some localities they represent wage rates and for
others actual earnings; and, again, wage rates were supplied for some
classes of workers and actual earnings for others. Also, some hourly
v ages were calculated by the International Labor Office from figures
relating to daily or weekly wages and the number of hours worked
per day or per week.
T a ble 1 .
R A T E S O P W A G ES P E R H O U R IN S P E C IF IE D O C C U P A T IO N S A N D C O U N
T R IE S IN JA N U A R Y , 1931, OR N E A R E S T A V A IL A B L E D A T E
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of schilling=14.07 cents; Belgian franc=2 78 centsMnfsd l£aT «T 8fifil0 sL n ?L 8 oToT
crow n=26.8 cents; French franc=3.92 cents; m ark=23.8
cents, £ - $ 4 8665, shilling=24.33 cents, a n d penny=2.03 cents; lira=5.26 cents; lat=19.3 cents; florin=
40.2 cents, z lo ty —11.22 cents; escudo=4.49 cents; peseta= 10.4 cents]
Building
C ountry and city
B rick
P a in t
layers Carpen P lu m b ers
and ters and
ers
(gen
joiners
masons
eral)
Austria:
Graz________
Linz________
Vienna______
Belgium:
Brussels_____
Canada:
Halifax______
Montreal____
Ottawa______
Toronto______
Vancouver___
Winnipeg____
Denmark:
Copenhagen__
Estonia:
Tallinn______
Tartu________
France:
Bordeaux____
Lille_________
Lyon________
Marseilles____
Nancy_______
Paris________
Germany:
Berlin_______
Breslau______
Cologne______
Hamburg_____
Leipzig_______
Munich______
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$0. 21
.20
.24
$0.20
.21
.23
$0.17
.18
.18
$0. 23
.20
.27
. 19
.19
.22
.18
1.25
1.20
1. 25
1.35
1.35
1. 45
.73
. 85
.90
1.10
1. 00
1.10
.90
.90
1.05
1. 25
1. 25
1.25
.73
.85
.70
.85
.90
.95
F u rn itu re m aking
Struc
turaliron
work
ers
$0.15
.22
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1.00
1.00
1.00
1.25
1.00
Con
crete
w ork
ers
$0.16
L abor
Cabinet U phol French
ers
(gen w ork sterers polish
ers
ers
eral)
.22
$0.14
. 15
. 18
$0.19
. 21
.20
. 19
.15
.20
.45
.40
.45
.50
.56
.50
.45
.40
.45
.50
.50
.50
$0.19
. 21
.20
.65
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$0. 70
.73
.80
.65
.64
.54
.47
.51
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.41
.43
.09
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.11
.09
.11
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. 17
. 18
.27
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.32
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.32
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.33
.33
.30
.25
.27
.31
.27
.27
.33
.24
.31
.33
.29
.28
127
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a ble 1 .— R A T E S OF W A G E S P E R H O U R IN S P E C IF IE D O C C U P A T IO N S A N D C O U N
T R IE S IN JA N U A R Y , 1931, O R N E A R E S T A V A IL A B L E D A T E —C ontinued
F u rniture making—Con.
Building—Continued
C ountry an d city
G reat B ritain:
B irm ingham ---B ristol____
_
Glasgow_______
heeds
L ondon.- .
M anch ester.-- N eweastle
Irish Free State:
Cork
D u b lin ________
D u n d alk ______
Ita ly :
Plnrenee
M ilan
R o m e ________
Trieste ______
T u r i n - - . ______
L atvia:
Riga
N etherlands:
Am sterdam
T he H a g u e -----R o tterd am _____
U tre c h t.-............
Poland:
Po^en
Portugal:
Lisbon________
Spain:
Barcelona______
B ilbao________
M ad rid _______
V alencia_______
Sweden:
G oteborg______
M alino _
Stockholm _____
U nited States:
Baltimore
Boston. . . _Ohieago
Los Angeles___
N ew York
P h ilad e lp h ia .. .
St. Louis______
San Francisco.-Yugoslavia:
Belgrade
N ovi S ad ------Sarajevo . .
Struc
P a in t turalB rick C arpen
layers ters and P lu m b ers
ers
(gen wiron
and
ork
eral)
masons joiners
ers
Con
crete
w ork
ers
$0. 35
.35
.30
$0. 30
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$0. 39
.39
.40
. 39
.42
.39
.39
$0. 39
.39
.40
. 39
.42
.39
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43
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$0. 39
$0. 39
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.39
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eral)
$0. 37
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1. 75
1.50
1. 70
1 50
1.38
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1. 63
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1.65
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1.75
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. 14
.14
. 14
. 13
.09
. 15
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[387]
128
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T able 1.—R A T E S OF W A G E S P E R H O U R IN S P E C IF IE D O C C U P A T IO N S A N D C O U N
T R IE S IN JA N U A R Y , 1931, OR N E A R E S T A V A IL A B L E D A T E —C ontinued
M echanical engineering
Electri
cal in
stalla
tion
(build
ing)
Printing and bookbinding
C o u n try and city
Iron
M a
M a
F itters moldP a t Labor H and
Labor Electri
chine Book ers
and
tern ers (un compos chine
(un cal
ers
compos
m
ind
binders
turners (sand) makers skilled) itors 1
skilled) fitters
itors 1
ers
(skilled)
Austria:
G raz________ r _
Linz__ _______
V ienna_______
Belgium:
Brussels....... .......
C anada:
Halifax________
M ontreal______
O ttaw a________
Toronto
V ancouver_____
W innipeg______
D enm ark:
Copenhagen___
Estonia:
T a l l i n n - ___ _
T a rtu _________
Prance:
B ordeaux______
Lille__________
L y o n .— _ ___
Marseilles __ __
N an cy ____ _
Paris__________
G erm any:
B erlin_________
B reslau________
Cologne_______
H am b u rg______
Leipzig______
M u n ic h .......... .
G reat B ritain:
B irm ingham ___
B risto l.—
_
Glasgow . . . . .
Leeds. _______
L ondon________
M anchester.
N ewcastle_____
Irish Free State:
C ork__________
D u b lin ________
D u n d alk____
Italy :
Florence_______
G enoa_________
M ilan _______ _
R om e_________
T rieste________
T u rin _________
Latvia:
R iga__________
N etherlands:
A m sterd am .. _
T he H ague.
R o tterd am _____
U tre c h t_______
Poland:
K a to w itz _____
Lodz__________
Posen. _______
W arsaw _______
Portugal:
Lisbon________
$0.11
. 15
. 17
$0.11
. 15
.17
$0.11
. 15
.20
. 18
. 19
.05
.70
.65
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. 34
. 28
28
.39
.11
.11
.11
.11
1 Book and job.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$0. 21
.20
.21
[388]
.42
.53
.44
.42
. 23
15
. 17
. 27
.27
.11
! 19
. 13
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129
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a ble 1
R 4.T E S OF W A G E S P E R H O U R IN S P E C IF IE D O C C U P A T IO N S A N D C O U N
T R IE S IN JA N U A R Y , 1931, OR N E A R E S T A V A IL A B L E D A T E —C ontinued
M echanical engineering—Con.
P rinting and bookbinding—C ontinued
C o u n try and city
Electri
cal in
stalla
tion
(build
ing)—
Contd.
Electri
M a
MaIron
Labor
P a t Labor H and chine
Fitters moldchine Book ers (un cal
tern- ers (un composand
fitters
m
ind
binders
ers
o rs i com posskilled) (skilled)
makers skilled) T
turners (sand)
ers
ltors
itors 1
Spain:
Barcelona___
B ilbao______
M ad rid _____
Valencia-----Sweden:
Goteborg----M alm o_____
Stockholm _____
U nited States:
B altim ore___
Boston______
Chicago_____
D enver_____
Los Angeles.N ew Orleans.
New Y o rk .. .
P hiladelphia---St. Louis____
San Francisco.
B elgrade______
N ovi Sad _
Sarajevo ---------
A ustria:
G raz__________
L i n z ..................
V ienna________
Belgium:
Brussels........... .
C anada:
Halifax_____ ...
M ontreal--------O ttaw a_______
T oronto_______
V ancouver____
W innipeg........ .
D enm ark:
Copenhagen—
Estonia:
T a llin n _______
T a rtu ------------France:
Bordeaux_____
Lille_________
Lyon-------------M arseilles____
N an cy _______
$0.13
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.16
.10
.41
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.38
.31
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. 41
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.09
.09
.11
.25
. 11
. 18
Food
in
dustry
Local
author
ities
$0.13
.14
.16
.13
$0.16
.19
$0.17
.22
.17
.21
.22
.42
.38
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.42
.48
1.00
1.00
.77
.95
.96
1.30
1.00
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1.00
1.33
1.33
1.02
1. 02
1. 12
1.07
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1.32
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1.03
1.18
1.21
1. 21
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1.32
.78
1. 32
.96
.78
1. 05
1.11
1.00
.10
.82
.88
.84
.85
1.12
.21
. 11
.16
.19
.19
.25
.07
' .21
.16
Electrical power
distribution
C ountry and city
$0. 10
.10
.08
.09
$0.16
.17
.16
.10
.16
. 12
.14
.18
.14
. 14
$0.12
$0.16
. 17
. 16
1.00
1.11
1.18
.21
.16
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.84
1.06
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.88
1.18
1.14
.19
.30
.30
.19
.19
.19
Transport
R ail
M otor
way
Labor
R ail
Electri Labor T ram T ram drivers
ers
and and bus (van D rivers way perma Bakers
ers
cal
(un
goods
nent
(one
bus conduc and
(un
fitters
skilled)
porters w ay
horse)
tors
(skilled) skilled) drivers
lorry)
laborers
$n 90
22
.25
$0 20
. 21
.25
.21
$0.16
. 17
.14
.33
.33
.35
.35
.39
.40
$0.17
$0. 21
.23
.23
.19
$0.19
$0.50
.50
.50
.50
.50
.50
$0. 45
.45
.45
.45
.45
.45
.09
.08
.08
.06
.07
.07
.19
.18
.18
. 16
.16
.15
.19
. 18
.22
.21
.77
.75
.65
.75
.97
.95
.58
.58
.51
.63
.66
.64
.58
.51
.63
.66
.64
.45
.44
.49
.52
.56
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27
.37
. 33
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.16
.12
.08
.09
. 14
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17
. 17
.
11
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1 Book and job.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.22
.22
.11
.15
.15
.16
.40
.50
.46
.59
.72
.60
$0. 40
.40
.50
.60
.60
.50
.41
.42
.08
.08
.09
.08
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.22
. 18
.17
.14
130
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
T a b l e 1.—R A T E S O F W A G E S P E R H O U R IN' S P E C IF IE D O C C U P A T IO N S A N D COTTN
T R IE S IN JA N U A R Y , 1931, OR N E A R E S T A V A IL A B L E D A T E -C o n tin u e d
Electrical power
distribution—•
Continued
Food
Local
indus author
try — ities—
Contd. Contd.
T ransport—C ontinued
C ountry and city
R ail
E lectri Labor T ram T ram M otor
R ail
w ay
Labor
cal
ers
and and bus drivers D rivers w ay perm a
ers
(one
fitters
(un
bus conduc (van
goods
n ent Bakers
(un
and
horse)
(skilled) skilled) drivers
tors
porters w ay
skilled)
lorry)
laborers
G ermany:
B erlin ,..............
B re sla u ............
Cologne______
H am b u rg ____
Leipzig_______
M u n ich______
G reat B ritain:
B irm in g h am ...
B ristol_______
G lasgow. .........
Leeds________
L ondon______
M anchester___
Newcastle____
Irish Free State:
C ork........ ..........
D u b lin _______
D u n d alk_____
Italy :
F lo ren ce...........
Genoa________
M ila n ................
Rom e.............
Trieste_______
T u rin ........ .........
Latvia:
R i g a .. . .............
N etherlands:
A m sterdam ___
T he H ague___
R o tterd am ____
U tre c h t.......... .
Poland:
K atow itz_____
Lodz_________
Posen_________
W arsaw ______
Portugal:
Lisbon________
Spain:
Barcelona_____
B ilbao________
M ad rid _______
V alencia______
Sweden:
Goteborg______
M alm o________
Stockholm ____
U nited States:
B oston________
Chicago_______
D enver_______
Los Angeles___
N ew Orleans___
New Y o r k ...
Philadelphia .
St. Louis____
San Francisco. _.
Yugoslavia:
Belgrade____
Novi S ad ___
Sarajevo____
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$0.36
.21
.27
.32
.25
.25
.37
.39
.39
.37
.45
.36
.35
$0.30
.16
.22
.29
.21
.21
.27
.29
.28
.28
.32
.27
.28
.58
.49
.43
.15
.15
.10
.12
.17
.17
.14
.12
0.34
.26
.28
.32
.28
$0.31
.24
.27
.30
.27
$0. 24
.19
). 26
.25
.22
.21
.25
.26
.23
.24
.30
.23
.23
.23
.23
.24
.23
.23
.27
.31
.28
.26
.33
.28
.30
.23
.23
.23
.28
.32
.26
.30
.31
.31
.39
.31
.30
.29
.37
.30
.30
.30
.31
.29
.15
.16
.15
.13
. 15
.14
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.16
.22
.10
.32
.31
.30
.36
.28
.26
.29
.27
.12
. 12
.14
.13
.18
.14
.14
.13
.15
.17
.22
.20
.11
.09
.12
.08
.33
.21
.30
.31
.26
.12
. 14
.12
’."36"
.14
.07
.12
.10
.12
.09
.09
.18
. 13
. 10
.10
.10
.10
.08
.09
.39
.38
.42
.46
.43
.46
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.46
.95
1.70
.80
.81
.80
.81
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1.65
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.74
1.65"
.72
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1.00
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. 12
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[3901
.13
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.07
. 12
.15
.10
.38
.31
.43
.41
.47
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.73
.82
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-.79
.56
.93
.73
.77
.90
.05
.07
.06
.11
.09
.07
.12
W AGES AND H OURS OF LABOR
131
Retail Prices
T able 2 gives average retail prices of certain items in the budgets
of wage earners’ families in 19 countries.
T a b l e 2 . — R E T A IL
P R IC E S
OP S P E C IF IE D C O M M O D IT IE S , B Y C O U N T R IE S , JA N
U A R Y , 19311
[Conversions into U nited States currency m ade on basis of schilling= 14.07 cents; Belgian franc=2.78 cents;
Czechoslovak crown=2.96 cents; Scandinavian krone=26.8 cents; E stonian crown —26.8 cents, Trench
franc=3 92 cents; m ark=23.8 cents; £=$1.8665, shilling=24.33 cents, a n d penny=2.03 cents; lira=5.26
cents; lat= 19.3 cents; florin=40.2 cents; zloty=11.22 cents; escudo=4.49 cents; peseta=10.4 cents;
dinar = 1.77 cents]--------------------- -----------------------------
Article
Aus
U n it 2 tria (3
towns)
D en
Czech m a rk
Ger Great Irish
Bel
ana oslo (Co- E sto France m any Britain Free
gium C
State
nia
(2
(6
vakia
da
(6
(6
pen- ;owns) ¡owns)
(7
(Brus towns)
(3
(3
towns) ¡owns) towns)
hasels)
towns) gen)
$0.10
B read, w hite__________ K g ... $0.18 $0.05 $0.15 $0.06 $0.18 $0.13 $0.09 $0.20 $0.08
.09
.04
08
. 06
. 05
B read, ry e or “ black ” . . .
.09
.13
.08
.14
.13
.09
.08
.06
.08
.08
Flour, w heat.....................
.13
.15.
.12
.09
.16
. 11
do
.11
O atm eal................ .............
.78
.75
.73
.90
.59
.67
.79
.81
.70
B u tter, fresh.__________ ___do__
.71
.76
. 51
do
.67
B utter, s a lte d ................. .
.32
.40
.44
.44
.37
.43
.37
.34
.41
M argarine_______ _____ __do__
.42
.37
.45
.44
.36
.49
.44
.43
.40
.41
L a rd ______ ____ _______ .__do__
Beef (home produce):
.71
1.07
.21
.44 - .70
.92
.68
.50
F irst qu a lity _______ _do__
/l .35
‘I6
.44
.14
.50 i '
.39
.34
.38
.33
.45
Second q u a lity _____ ___do__
M u tto n (home produce):
.51
1.08 |
.18
.65 \
.37
do__
F irst q u ality _______
/— KQ ; .77
61
l .40
. 45
.47
.16
.34 / - 61
.20
Second q u a lity _____ ___do__
Pork:
.24
.68 \
.28
.73
.45
.58
.55
F irst q u a lity _______ ___do_
|
63
46
50
54
. 56 / ■ \ _____
. 22
.33
33
Second q u a lity _____
Veal:
r
/
_____
1.10
.17
.44 } .40
F irst q u a lity _______
.64 } .59 ( _____
.14
39!
50
\ . 40
Second q u a lity _____
.56
.59
.41
.57
.25
.44
.82
! ôo .44
do
B acon................................
.04
.02
.02
.04
.01
.04
.03
.02
.02
.03
Potatoes______________ ___do__
.
11
.14
.14
.14
.08
. 12
.19
.07
.13
. 16
Sugar, white, granulated. ___do__
1.20
1.43
.82
1. 51
1.17
1.30 1.11
.55
1.18
Coffee______ _____ ____ _ _do__ 1.14
.95
1.06
2.
57
1.
40
1.
80
2. 32
2.72
.97
1.25
do
T ea___________________
.51
.95
1. 22
.54
.57
.76
.57
1.11
do
Cocoa____________ ____
.49
.74
.72
.35
.65
.45
.16
.60
.67
.68
Cheese________________ ___do__
. 12
.06
.07
.11
.03
.08
.06
.06
.11
.07
M ilk, unskim m ed______ L iter.
.05
.04
.05
.04
.02
.04
.03
.03
.05
.03
Eggs, fresh................ ......... O ne..
. 12
.20
.15
.14
.17
.19
.14
.13
.21
.11
Rice_______ ___________ K g—
M acaroni or sim ilar
.39
.22
.43
.21
22
. 19
products_____________
.16
.17
.13
.09
.13
.11
do
.17
. 13
Peas, dried____________
H aricot beans, w h ite or
.13
.24
.13
.17
.15
do
. 14
. 17
. 17
re d __________________
.32
.44
.32
. 26
.39
. 25
Prunes, dried__________
.
26
64
43
Olive oil_______________
1 05 2.68
1. 36
1.41
.35
Firewood (fir)_________ 1 OO Ira
1.28
1.07
1.69
.89
; 98
L 42
.69
do
1 51
Coal, bitum inous______
1. 01
1.22
1 55
1. 64
1. 37
. 75
C oke_________________
.10
.06
.08
.08
.07
.04
.08
.09
.06
E lectricity (for lig h tin g ). K w h.
.04
.05
03
03
. 05
. 04
G as______ ____________ M
.09
.08
.
05
.06
.
06
!
o
4
.06
Paraffin oil____________ Liter.
1
1 Except for th e U nited States (December, 1930), and France and Portugal (F ebruary, 1931).
2 K ilogram =2.2046 pounds; lite r= 1.057 quarts.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[391]
132
T able 2 .
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
R E T A IL P R IC E S OF S P E C IF IE D C O M M O D IT IE S , B Y C O U N T R IE S JA N U A R Y
1931—C ontinued
’
'
Article
U nit
Bread, w hite_______ ____ ____
Bread, ry e or “ black:” _______
Flour, w heat____ _____ ______
O atm eal______________ _____
B u tter, fresh________________
B u tter, salted . .............................
M arg arin e._____ ______ ______
L a rd _________________ ______
Beef (home p ro d u ce):
F irst q u a lity _____________
Second q u ality ___________
M u tto n (home produce):
F irst q u a lity _____________
Second q u ality............... .......
Pork:
First q u a lity _____________
Second q u ality_________
Veal:
First q u a lity ...... .............. .
Second q u a lity ......................
Bacon_______________ ____
Potatoes____________________
Sugar, w hite, granulated______
Coffee_______________________
T ea.......... ................ .......
Cocoa_______________________
C h e e se ...___________________
M ilk, unskim m ed___________
Eggs, fresh__________________
Rice________________________
M acaroni or sim ilar p ro d u cts...
Peas, dried__________________
H aricot beans, w h ite o r re d ___
Prunes, d ried________________
Olive oil____________________
Firewood (fir)______ _________
Coal, bitum inous___________
Coke________________________
E lectricity (for lighting)___III
G as_________________________
Paraffin o il............ .
K g... do.
Nether
P o rt
United Y ugoIta ly Latvia lands Poland ugal Spain Swe States slavia
(4
den (3
(4
(6
(Riga)
(4 towns)
(Lis towns)
(3
towns)
tow ns)
towns)
bon)
towns) towns)
(10
$0.10 $0.12
.05
. 11
...d o .
-do.
_.do.
..d o .
--do.
--do.
.do.
-do.
..d o ..
..d o ..
...d o
...d o
..d o ..
..d o ..
...d o .
do.
--do.
L iter.
One.
K g ...
..d o
-.do.
.--d o ..
-..d o ..
Liter100 kg.
..-d o —
-.d o ..
K w h.
M—.
L iter.
.08
.63
.58
.36
.39
.73
-do.
-do.
-do.
.do.
$0.10
.25
( :
} .27
.53
.27
.61
.37
.22
.37
.02
.08
1.54
2 . 22
.39
.42
.04
.03
. 13
.17
.10
.12
.43
.37
.81
.97
.08
.04
.04
.33
.03
.16
.67
.75
.51
.53
.06
.04
.14
.23
.13
. 12
. 16
.24
$0.09
.04
.06
.35
.62
.52
.32
.32
$0.07
.56
.37
.26
.22
. 54
.40
.79
.61
} ■30
.40
.22
.68
.23
.19
.40
.31
.31
.24
.22
.63
.40
.18
.04
.01
.45
1.35
.54
.72
.09
1.00
2.74
.95
.51
.04
.04
.05
.54
.07
.02 .02
. 14
.18
.06
.09
.30
.74
.02
.13
. 18
.16
.07
.54
.29
1.35
1.57
1.80
.09
.05
.94
.79
.08
.04
.09
}
} •<
.65
.37
.50
.03
.09
.85
2.14
.58
.53
.06
.03
. 14
.23
.09
.20
. 18
0.07
.05
.05
.05
.83
.78
.50
.29
.09
.18
.95
1.17
1.08
.63
.36
1.01
. 10
0.19
.11
.13
.20
1.24
1. 55
1.25
.07
.04
.08
.26
.54
.63
.87
1.47
.07
.03
.95
.07
.12
.81
1.55
.80
. 13
.04
.20
.40
.24
.28
1.63
.07
.04
.31
.03
.21
.80
.97
.76
.48
.07
.02
. 14
. 17
. 10
. 15
.33
.46
.98
1. 41
. 10
.06
. 13
B asic W age in V arious A u stra lia n S ta te s
A
CCORDING to the Employers’ Review, the official organ of the
LEmployers federation of New South Wales, the basic wage of
Queensland was reduced by a recent order of the State industrial court,
^
July 1) from £3 17s. ($18.74)1to £3 14s. ($18.01) a week for
adult male workers. The basic wages and working hours in the
various States are given as follows:
B A SIC W A G ES IN V A R IO U S A U S T R A L IA N S T A T E S
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of £=$4.8665, shilling=24.33 cents; penny=2.03 cents.]
British
currency
Locality
£
Sydney (New South W ales)___
M elbourne (Victoria)
Adelaide (South Australia)
Brisbane (Q ueensland).. .
P erth (W est A ustralia)
s.
4 9
3 10
3 15
3 14
1 i7
U nited
States
currency
Hours per
week
d.
o
0
6
0
Q
$20 07
17 H
1/.
UQ
o
1lo.
8 Oi
Q7
io m
lo.
UI
1C
lo. 7A
48
48
48
48
i Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of £ = $4.8665; shilling=24.33 cents; penny=2.03 cents
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[3 9 2 ]
133
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
W ages o f C o n stru ctio n W orkers in N a n tes, F ran ce, 1931.
REPORT from W. J. Yerby, American consul at Nantes, France,
gives the following wages of construction workers, which were in
A
force for the year ending June 30, 1931.
W A G E S OF C O N S T R U C T IO N W O R K E R S IN N A N T E S , F R A N C E , 1931
[Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of franc*=3.92 cents]
Average hourlywages
Occupation
U nited
French
States
currency currency
C en ts
F rancs
Pferi emitters
_ ________________
ft arpen teXS
____ ______
B.nnf workers
_____ _____ _______
__ _ _______ ______
Joiners
Plasterers
________ - __ _ —
__ _____ -- ---------- --------Painters
_____ - - - -- - -P a rth workers
Laborers
______ _______ _____ _____
16.1
16.1
16. 1
15.9
16. 5
15. 9
13. 7
13.5
4.10
4.10
4. 10
4. 05
4. 20
4. 05
3. 50
3. 45
W ages in F rench In d o -C h in a in 1930
REPORT from Henry S. Waterman, American consul at Saigon,
the principal city of French Indo-China, dated December 15,
1930, gives the average daily wages in various occupations in Saigon
and in Hanoi, the capital of the country. The wages of coolies as re
ported from the two cities are 0.41 piastre (16.1 cents) per day in Hanoi
and 0.78 piastre (31 cents) in Saigon, but the average wages of coolies
in the country, working in the rice fields and rubber plantations, range
from 0.30 piastre (11.8 cents) to 0.50 piastre (19.6 cents) per day. The
wage study was made by the labor department in the latter part of
1930 among both commercial and governmental employers of labor
and covered about 16,000 workers in Saigon and 2,000 in Hanoi.
The following table shows the average daily wages in the two
principal cities of Indo-China in the latter part of 1930:
A
A V E R A G E D A IL Y W A G E S IN H A N O I A N D SA IG O N , F R E N C H IN D O -C H IN A , 1930
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of piast re 39.25 cents U nited States currency]
Average daily wages in
Occupation
P ia s tr e s
Parpen ter
_________________________
-- -- -- - J ni Tier
___ __________________ ___
Steam fitter
___ _________ - -Cinppersmith
---- ------ --------- ---------- FI entrici an
- - _______ — ------- — Flectrician (approntiee)
______ _ _____
Tinsm ith
_______________________
Foundry man
_____ ________ ____
____
Blacksm ith
____ __ __ - ----------- -M echanic
- - ____- _______ - — - Lathe operator
-- - __
- _______ —
Mason
- - - ---------------------Painter
_ _ _ _ _ ---- -Phauffenr
___
- —
Laborer
__
___
- --------Coolie, male
_ ___
__ — - —
Coolie female
____ _ _______________
Clonk
_____
___ _ _ _ _ _ _ — —
H ouse boy
_________________________
—
N u rs e ....”________________________________________________
i Per m onth.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Saigon
H anoi
[393]
0. 60
.53
.67
.68
.86
.44
.63
.70
.81
.96
.90
.53
.63
1.33
.66
.41
.23
i 17.00
i 13.00
111.00
U n ite d
S ta te s
c u rre n c y
$0.24
.21
.26
.27
.34
. 17
.25
.27
.32
.38
.35
.21
.25
.52
.26
.16
.09
i 6. 67
15.10
1 4. 32
P ia s tr e s
1. 36
1.53
1.52
1.45
2.00
1.50
1.46
1.37
1.50
1.69
1.66
1.40
1.32
1.82
1.50
.78
.40
1 35. 00
i 28.00
1 25. 00
U n ited
S ta te s
c u rre n c y
$0.53
.60
.60
.57
.79
.59
.57
. 54
.59
.66
. 65
.55
.52
.71
. 59
.31
*18
1 13. 74
1 10.99
1 9. 81
134
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
W ages in G erm an In d u stries, 19311
URING the months of February and March, 1931, new wage
agreements calling for a reduction of wages have been effected
m various districts of the German textile industry, such as in the
districts of Rhine (Westphalia), Gladbach-Rheydt, Krefeld, Chem
nitz, Plauen, Forst, and others. The reductions amounted to from
2.9 to 7.3 per cent.
As fixed by these agreements, the average wage rates in the German
textile industry declined from 79.4 pfennigs2 (18.9 cents) per hour for
skilled male workers in January, to 77.7 pfennigs (18.5 cents) in
February, and to 77.1 pfennigs (18.3 cents) in March, and those for
unskilled male workers fell from 66.7 pfennigs (15.9 cents) in January
to 65.^pfennigs (15.5 cents) in February, and to 64.2 pfennigs (15 3
cents) m March. The average wage rates for skilled female textile
workers declined from 58.1 pfennigs (13.8 cents) per hour in January
to 57.2 pfennigs (13.6 cents) in February, and to 56.5 pfennigs (13.4
cents) m March, and those for unskilled female workers from 46.9
p enmgs (11.2 cents) to 46.2 pfennigs (11 cents) and 45.3 pfennigs
(10.8 cents), respectively, during the same months.
The following table gives the average wages per hour fixed by col
lective agreements for skilled and unskilled workers of both sexes in
the German textile industry during the first quarter of 1931, com
pared with those in other important German trades and industries
during the same period.
D
t
W A G E S F IX E D B Y C O L L E C T IV E A G R E E M E N T S IN E F F E C T ON T in ? tjtdoti
I y AGROUPYS F E B R U A R Y ’ A N D M A R C H , 1931, F O R S P E C IF JE D " t R A ^ a I ^ I N D U S ^
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark=23.8 centsj
Skilled workers
Unskilled workers
T rade or in d u stry
Jan u a ry F ebruary
Textiles:
Males...________________
Females______________ "
Brewing_________________
Building trades__________
Candy, confectionery, and pastry
Cardboard:
Males__________________
Females________________
Chemical_________________
Metal____________________ ’
Mining__________________
Paper making____________
Printing__________________'
Railway________________ ~
C e n ts
18.9
13.8
30.8
33.6
25. 1
23. 1
15.2
25.7
24.1
27. 9
23.2
27.8
23.8
C e n ts
18. 5
13.6
30.8
33.6
25. 1
23. 1
15.2
25.7
23.5
27.9
22 .0
27.8
23.8
M arch
Jan u a ry
February
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
18.3
13.4
30.8
33.6
25. 1
21.6
14.2
25. 7
23. 5
27.9
22. 0
26.2
23.8
15.9
11.2
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[394]
11.0
27.4
27. 7
21.6
21.6
19.7
12.6
21.3
18.0
17.6
18. 5
24. 2
19.3
1 R eport of George P. W aller, U nited States consul a t D resden, dated M ay 21 1931
Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of pfennig=0.238 cent.
15. 5
27.4
27.7
19. 7
12.6
21.3
17.6
17.6
17.6
24. 2
19.3
M arch
135
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
W ages in th e M in in g In d u stry in G reece in 1929
HE annual report of the Bureau of Mines1of Greece for the year
1929 gives the total number of man-days worked in the mines
and quarries and the total amount of wages, from which the following
average
daily
°
^ wages have been computed:
Cents
T
70.
56.
71.
76.
M etal m in es________
L ignite m in es_______
Sm elting an d refining
Q u arries____________
1
3
0
6
62. 7
T o tal
R ecen t W age S cales E stab lish ed by C ollective A greem en t in
Italy
HE table following shows wage scales in various industries
adopted by agreement between employers and workers in the
T
localities specified.2
W A G E R A T E S E S T A B L IS H E D B Y A G R E E M E N T IN IT A L Y
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of lira=5.26 cents]
Wages per hour
Wages per hour
Industry , occupation, and
locality
In d u stry , occupation, and
locality
U nited
Italian cur
States
rency
currency
B u ild in g w o rk e rs— P a le rm o
M osaic workers:
F irst class-----------------Second class--------------Bricklayers:
M aste r---------------------Second class--------------Blacksm iths and carpen
ters:
First class........ .............. .
Second class...... ..............
Building laborers------ ------Boys:
16 to 18 years...................
U nder 16 years............ Team sters w ith horse and
wagon_________________
D rivers w ith m ule or
horse__________________
D rivers.......................... .........
T a ilo rs— Z a r a a
L ir e
1.70
1.25
2.35
2.10
2. 35
2.15
1.35
0.09
.07
.12
.11
.12
.11
.07
1.05
.75
.06
.04
'3.20
.17
2. 30
1.30
.12
.07
T a ilo r s — Z a ra a—C ontd.
A pprentices, production:
B o y s------------------------G irls-------------------------
nited
Italian cur UStates
rency
currency
L ir e
6.00
5.00
$0. 32
.26
W o o d w o rkers— M a c e r a ta b
Carvers:
Skilled workers c............
Qualified workers c -----Com m on w orkers------C a b in e tm a k e rs , tu r n e r s ,
carpenters, m achinists,
upholsterers:
Skilled workers c-------Qualified workers <=----Com m on w orkers------H e lp e r s .........................
W omen:
Skilled workers «...........
Qualified w orkers «----Com m on w orkers------A pprentices over 20 y e a rs...
Boys over 16 years...............
2.35
2.05
1.85
.12
.11
.10
2.00
.11
1.70
1.50
1.15
.09
.08
.06
1.00
.05
.04
.03
. 04- . 06
.03
.75
.55
.80- 1.15
.50
W orkers:
M is c e lla n e o u s in d u s tr ie s —
1.26
24.00
F irst class----------L e g h o r n d istric t
1.05
20.00
Second class-------Shipbuilding:
A pprentices:
1.95- 2. 90
M echanics, skilled----.18
3. 50
B oys___________ _
L a b o re rs ..................... . 1.85- 2.15
.16
3. 00
G irls ...................... .
“ Piecework rates are fixed so as to give a re tu rn of 15 per cent more th a n tim e rates,
6 Piecework rates are fixed so as to give a re tu rn of 18 per cent more th a n tim e rates,
c Skilled w orkers do work w ithout direction; qualified w orkers do work under direction.
1.03-1. 53
. 97-1.13
1 Greece. M inistère d e l ’Économie N ationale. D irection du Service des M ines. Statistique de Pindustrie minière de la Grèce p en d an t l ’année 1929.
_ , , . , / t,
» ..„n, noi .
2 D ata are from Lavoro Fascista (Rom e), Ju n e 3,1931, Lavoro Industriale (Rom e), A prili, 93 , and report
from Jose de Olivares, Am erican consul a t Leghorn, dated M ay 1-, -hwi.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[395]
136
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
W A G E R A T E S E S T A B L IS H E D B Y A G R E E M E N T IN IT A L Y —C ontinued
Wages per hour
In d u stry , occupation, and
locality
Italian cur
rency
U nited
States
currency
M is c e lla n e o u s in d u s tr ie s —L e g h o r n distric t —C ontd.
M etallu rg y :
M echanics, skilled
M echanics, u n s k ille d ...
R oad construction:
M echanics, skilled. _
Laborers
. ...
Building construction:
M asons... . . . ____
M asons’ helpers__
C arpenters_________
C arpenters’ h e lp e rs...
Wages per day
In d u stry , occupation, and
locality
Italian cur
rency
U nited
States
currency
M is c e lla n e o u s in d u s tr ie s —L e g h o r n d istr ic t— C ontd.
L ir e
1.95- 2. 90 $1.03-1. 53
1.85- 2.15
. 97-1.13
2. 75- 3. 00
2. 25- 2. 50
.15- .16
.12- . 13
2. 752. 252. 252.10-
.15.12.12.11-
3. 00
2. 90
3. 00
2. 90
.16
. 15
. 16
.15
Chemical in d u stry :
Operators, skilled. .
Laborers ______ _
Glass in d u stry:
Blowers . _____
L aborers. _______
Agriculture:
F arm hands, skilled___
F arm hands, unskilled..
H arbor work: Dock laborers.
L ir e
21.30-30.00 $1.12-1. 58
17.00- 22. 00
. 89-1.16
25. 00-55. 00
18.00- 22.00
1. 32-2. 89
.95-1. 16
15.4017.40
.81- . 92
10.40- 12. 40
. 55- . 65
40. 00-45. 00 2.10-2. 37
E ffect of E con om ic D ep ression on W ages and Labor C o n d itio n s
in Jap an 1
HE general economic depression has had a marked effect on
wages and labor conditions in Japan. During 1930 wages fell
the number of unemployed increased rapidly, and the number of labor
disputes increased by about 30 per cent. The general average wage
indev declined from 112.2 in 1929 to 101.9 in 1930, based on the latter
half ol 1920 as 100. The general drop in commodity prices reacted
unfavorably rather than favorably on the laboring classes in that it
further depressed business and industry and thus forced down wages
At the middle of 1930 there were 4,774,047 laborers in Japan according
to an announcement of the Japanese Home Department. Of these
workers, 3,239,733 were men and 1,534,314 were women. Amonothe factory workers, there were 1,077,188 men and 1,013,428 women”
a decrease of 111,888 compared to 1929. The number of miners
decreased 29,892 from 1929. Of these miners, 203,427 were men and
44 774 were women. The number of transport laborers and casual
laborers increased. Of the transport laborers, 465,785 were men and
f ^ 4 were women> an increase of 32,567; of the casual laborers,
1,493,000 were men and 428,428 were women, an increase of 10,179.
T
Wages and Prices
A c c o r d in g to wage index numbers, wages have fallen most in the
metal industry and least in the food industry. The following tables
show the general decline in wages in the various industries in Tokyo
and as compared with the decline in prices.
Table 1 gives the index numbers, on the 1920 base, of daily wages
m certain specified industries in 1928, 1929, and 1930.
AnJ ual Review of Commerce and In d u stry of Japan for 1930, forwarded b v H iram Bineham , jr., A merican Consulate General, Tokyo, u n d er d ate of M ar. 28, 1931.
7
1g
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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137
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b le 1 .— IN D E X N U M B E R S O F W A GES P E R D A Y IN T O K Y O , 1928, 1929, A N D 1930, E Y
IN D U S T R Y G R O U P
[L atter half of 1920= 100]
In d u stry
1928
1929
1930
D yeing and weaving in d u s try .
M etal in d u stry --------------------Chem ical in d u stry __
Food in d u stry . . . . . . . ____
Sundry in d u stry _____ . .
O ther in d u s t r i e s .. . _________
107.6
117.8
102. 1
122. 8
100. 5
116.8
114.3
112. 4
103. 2
128. 5
104. 3
114. 3
105. 1
93. 5
95. 7
126. 7
96. 6
100. 1
General average______ _
111. 4
112. 2
101.9
The trend of wages and of wholesale prices, by years, since 1920,
is shown in Table 2:
T a b l e 3 —IN D E X N U M B E R S O P W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S A N D O F L A B O R E R S ’ W A G E S IN
T O K Y O , 1920 TO 1930 i
[Average for latter half of 1920=100]
Index num bers of—
Index num bers of—
Year
Year
W hole
sale prices
1920___
________________
1921_______________________
1922 _ __________________
1923 .
. .
. ............
1924.. ____________________
1925_______________________
100. 0
91. 2
90.8
91. 2
95.0
93.6
W hole
sale prices
Wages
100.0
102. 2
109.8
111. 9
115. 8
110.4
Wages
84.4
79.8
78. 4
74. 8
61.6
1926- ________
1927_________
1928
1929 1930-
108. 8
113.0
111.4
112. 2
101.9
1 Source: T h e Tokyo Cham ber of Commerce and Industry.
As the statement below indicates, the index numbers of wages per
day in Tokyo showed a steady downward tendency throughout 1930,
with the exception of March, when a very slight increase took place.
Index of
daily wages
(1920=100)
1929: A verage for y e a r_______________ I __________________
1930:
J a n u a r y ______________
F e b ru a ry ________________________________
M arch _______________________________________________
A p ril________________________________________________
M a y ________________________________________________
J u n e ___-_____________________________________________
J u ly _________________________________________________
A u g u st______________________________________________
S ep tem b er___________________________________________
O ctober_____________________________________________
N ovem ber___________________________________________
D ecem ber___________________________________________
112.2
107.
106.
106.
104.
103.
102.
101.
100.
98.
97.
97.
96.
8
5
9
7
0
0
1
6
4
7
4
4
A verage for y e a r___________________________________ 101. 9
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[397]
138
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
. Table 3 shows daily wages in specified occupations in the same
city in December, 1930:
T a b l e 3.—D A IL Y W A GES IN R E P R E S E N T A T IV E O C C U PA T IO N S IN TO K Y O
T* TT T?
f
1090
D ECFM X
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of yen=49.6 cents]
D aily wage
A m ount
Occupation
Japanese
currency
U nited States
currency
Index
num bers
(December,
1929= 100)
Yen
Fem ale reeler in silk filature
Fem ale spinner in cotton spinning
Fem ale weaver, cotton
Fem ale weaver, silk.
C em ent m aker
T y p esetter. . . . .
C arpenter. _
P ain ter . . . .
Stevedore... ____
M an serv an t. ._ . . .
M aidservant ______
0.87
1.09
97
1 35
2 46
9 55
2. 37
9 57
2 45
i nn
. Q5
aO
$0.43
. 48
. 67
1. 22
1. 76
1.18
1.27
1. 22
. 50
. 47
88.8
76.2
121.2
84.4
85. 1
100.0
82. 6
91.1
87. 2
90.9
88. 8
General average.
Unemployment
As a result of the national census taken on October 1, 1930, the
Japanese Bureau of Statistics announced that the total number of
jobless on that date was 322,527. Of this number, 46.9 per cent were
m. jTe cities Osaka leading with 30,000, and followed by Tokyo
with 22,800 Yokohama with 12,600, and Kobe with 9,900. Tokyo
rrelecture showed the greatest number of unemployed (62,959), while
Osaka Prefecture followed with 36,809.
As compared with the census of five years ago, the number of
persons unemployed has increased 47.3 per cent. Much of the
unemployment is undoubtedly caused by the rapid increase in populalon. 1here has been a great deal of agitation for the issuance of
governmental loans for the relief of the unemployed, and according
to a report m the iokyo newspaper, Nichi Nichi, a loan of 41,000 000
yen ($20 336,000) will be floated by the Government, the proceeds of
which will be used lor unemployment relief. The disposition of the
funds made available was expected to be approximately as
($13>888>°00) to the home office, of which
13.000. 000 yen ($6,448,000) will be expended as the home office
quota lor national highway construction, 7,000,000 yen ($3,472,000)
will be furnished to the prefectural government as a State subsidy for
preiectural road construction, and 8,000,000 yen ($3,968,000) will be
jobless relief work planned by public utility organs:
8.000. 000 yen ($3,968,000) to the communications office for subsidizinosffippmg concerns; and 10,000,000 yen ($4,960,000) to the railway
office loi construction and maintenance work to be started primarily
to alleviate the distress of the unemployed.
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
139
Labor Disputes
T he hard, times caused an increase of approximately 30 per cent
in the number of labor disputes in Japan. Depression often made it
impossible to settle disputes so that lockouts, unfair discharges, and
violence occasionally resulted. There were 1,823 disputes settled
in 1930 as compared with 1,408 in 1929. The workers involved in
1930 numbered only 160,000, however, as compared with 170,000
involved in disputes in 1929.
H ours of Labor in M ozam b iq u e
DISPATCH from the United States vice consul in Portuguese
East Africa gives the details of a law regulating hours of labor
recently passed by the Mozambique Government, which became
effective early in April of this year. A 48-hour week is the maximum
permitted, and four hours is the longest permissible period of work
without a break. Labor is divided into two classes, shop and office,
and the length of the working week and the arrangement of hours
differ according to the class concerned. For shop labor, the workingday is divided into two 4-hour periods, one from 8 a. m. to noon,
and the second from 2 p. m. to 6 p. m., making a total of 48 hours
per week. For office labor, the Saturday afternoon holiday is recog
nized, and the working periods for the first 5 days of the week
are from 8 a. m. to 11.30 a. m. and from 2 p. m. to 5 p. m., with 4
hours (from 8 a. m. to noon) on Saturdays, making a maximum of
6% hours a day.
Overtime not to exceed 12 hours per week is permitted to allow
for emergencies and stock taking, but any overtime worked under
this provision must be balanced by an equal time off, allowed from
the regular hours. Retail food stores may remain open until 7 p. m.
on Saturday, and shops of every kind have the same privilege on the
evenings before Christmas and New Year’s Day. Shops and offices
are both required to observe Sundays and national and municipal
holidays as days of rest.
Certain exemptions from the prescribed hours are made for particu
lar types of establishments, such as shops dealing in drugs, food, and
tobacco, hotels and restaurants, hospitals, places of public entertain
ment, and the like. One exemption is for “ industrial establishments
which demand continuous work.”
Employment of minors under 15 years of age is forbidden, and
there are special prohibitions of overtime work for minors of 15 years
and persons aged 46 and upward.
The provision as to hours, it is explained, merely makes mandatory
the practice which is already customary among most of the commer
cial and industrial enterprises in the larger towns of the colony, but
which has been less general in the small establishments in urban
zones and in the rural areas.
A
67999°—31-----10
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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140
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
H ours and E arn ings in th e Iron and S teel In d u stry in S w eden
in 1929
following table, supplied to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
by the Bureau of Social Statistics of Sweden, shows the hours
T HE
and earnings in the various branches of the iron and steel industry
in that country in 1929:
H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN S P E C IF IE D B R A N C H E S OF T H E IR O N A N D S T E E L IN D U S
T R Y IN S W E D E N IN 1929
[Conversions into U n ited States currency on basis of krona=26.8 cents]
Average earnings
H ours per
w orker per
year
Branch of in d u stry , and
class of w orker
Iro n and steel (42 p la n ts):
M ales _ _
M inors___________
15,018
988
2, 362
2,245
71.7
51.4
16,108
2, 355
70.5
6, 545
793
1,025
2, 350
2, 323
2, 176
53.0
43.3
46. 9
T o tal________________
8, 588
2, 326
51.4
Foundries and m achine shops
(350 p la n ts):
M ales__ _______
F e m a le s ..____________
M inors_______ . _____
37, 998
614
2, 939
2, 341
2,207
2, 326
65.1
57.5
61.8
45,513
2, 338
64.8
5,469
1, 208
850
2,331
2,169
2, 185
59.7
84.9
71.3
7,527
2,288
64.8
T otal_______________
H ardw are (110p lants):
M ales__________
Fem ales______
M i n o r s . ___ . .
T otal___ _
...
E l e c t r o - m e c h a n i c a l (46
p la n ts):
M ales. _ _______
Fem ales______
M inors______
T o tal________
P er hour
Aver
age
O rdinary
num
work
ber of
Per
workers A ver cent
age
on
n u m piece
ber work Tim e Piece
work work
$0.21 $0. 30
.10
. 17
.25
. 14
. 11
.33
. 19
. 16
P er day
All work All work
(includ (includ
ing over ing over
time,
tim e,
pay
pay
m ents
ments
in kind, in kind,
etc.)
etc.)
$0.29
. 14
.30
.16
. 13
___ __
.27
. 18
. 11
.31
.20
.11
.35
.27
. 18
.39
.20
.16
.33
.24
. 16
.37
.26
. 15
P er year
Ordi
nary
work
$2.18 $637. 57
.91 302. 57
All work
(includ
ing over
time,
Pay
ments
in kind,
etc.)
$674.82
312. 76
2. 12
615. 33
650. 70
2. 37
1. 25
1.02
681. 52
368. 23
289.98
708. 32
373. 59
232. 66
2.06
603. 27
630. 07
2. 65
1.74
1. 22
741.82
507. 86
356. 71
776. 66
522. 60
357. 78
2.54
711.27
738. 07
2.91
1.96
1. 12
817. 40
540. 56
319.99
860. 55
559.58
323. 48
2. 5S
716. 36
751.47
The workers in the iron and steel industry average, in the country
plants, from 24 to 31 cents per hour, and those in plants located in
towns and cities average 31 cents. The employees in hardware
plants average from 25 to 30 cents in the country plants, those in the
town and city plants from 29 to 33 cents, and those in plants in
Stockholm and a few localities in the far north 49 cents. In the
foundries and machine shops the hourly earnings average from 26 to
30 cents in the country plants, from 30 to 35 cents in the town plants,
and 39 cents in Stockholm. All these figures cover the total earn
ings—regular pay, overtime pay, payments in kinds, etc.
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[400]
141
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
W ages and H ours of A gricu ltu ral Labor in S w itzerlan d , 1930
N 1888 the Swiss census showed 1,092,827 persons engaged in
agriculture. Each successive census since that time has shown a
decrease, there being in 1920 only 971,696 persons so engaged. During
the same period the number of agricultural workers employed-de
creased from 126,020 to 96,575. These figures are part of a study of
conditions in agriculture in Switzerland made in 1929-30 by the
secretariat of the Swiss Farmers’ Union, the results of which have
recently been published.1 According to the report, the number of
workers in agriculture has shown a still further decrease since 1920,
so marked a decrease that one of the purposes of the study was to
ascertain to what conditions the exodus of workers has been due and
what could be done to remedy the situation.
The study covered all of the Cantons of Switzerland. Inquiries
were addressed to 3,019 communes and replies were received from 2,335,
or 77.3 per cent. Among the subjects covered were the questions of
money wages, payments in kind, working hours, and general farm
costs.
Table 1, compiled from the report, shows the rates paid in specified
occupations in 1930 and gives comparative figures for the period
befo're the World War and in 1921, taken from previous studies by
the secretariat:
I
T a b l e 1.— W A G E K A T E S P A ID F O R S P E C IF IE D A G R IC U L T U R A L O C C U P A T IO N S IN
S W IT Z E R L A N D
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of franc=19.3 cents]
Average wage rates
1921
Pre-war
1930
Occupation
Francs
U nited
States
currency
Francs
U nited
States
currency
Francs
U nited
States
currency
Per week
H ead m en________ . _______
15.80
$3. 05
29. 65
Cowherds...... ................ ...........
C arters___________________
Field h ands_______________
D om estic and farm servants.
13.90
13. 30
10. 90
6. 85
2.68
2. 57
2. 10
1.32
25.90
24.90
21.20
13.00
$5. 72 /\ »27.55
b 32. 90
5.00 / »23.80
\ h 28. 40
4.81
23. 10
4.09
19. 55
2. 51
13. 70
» $5. 32
6 6. 35
»4. 59
b 5. 48
4. 46
3. 77
2.64
Per day
D ay laborers:
M ales—
Sum m er rate.
_______ ____
W inter r a t e . . _______________ .
Females—
Sum m er rate.
_________ . . . .
W in te rra te ________
D ay laborers receiving board and lodging:
M ales—
_______
Sum m er ra te ____ .
W inter ra te _____
.
____ _
Females—
Sum m er ra te _______ _
...
W inter ra te ___________________
11. 30
8.20
$2. 18
1. 58
9 60
6. 85
$1.85
1.32
5. 90
4. 45
1.14
. 86
5. 75
4. 05
1 11
.78
7. 25
4. 80
1. 40
.93
6. 30
4 15
1. 22
.80
3. 90
2. 85
. 75
. 55
3 90
2. 70
.75
.52
» Single m en.
6 M arried men.
1 Secrétariat des Paysans Suisses. Publication N o. 98: Les salaries et les conditions d u trav ail dans
l ’agriculture suisse, enquête de 1929-30. Brugg, 1930.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[401]
142
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
Table 2 shows the index numbers of the wages actually paid in
1H21 and 1930, based on the pre-war rate as 100, and also the index
numbers of “ real” wages in 1930, i. e., taking into consideration the
purchasing power of wages. The table reveals a rather general
decrease in wage rates between 1921 and 1930.
T a ble 2.—IN D E X N U M B E R S O F W A G E S OF A G R IC U L T U R A L L A B O R IN S W IT Z E R L A N D
[Pre-w ar rate=100]
Index numbers of
wage rates
Occupation
H ead m en__________
C ow herds....................
C arters____________
Field h an d s________
Domestic and farm se:
D a y laborers:
M ales—
Sum m er rate.
W inter r a te ..
Females—
Sum m er rate.
W inter ra te ...
1921
1930
Index
numbers of
“ re a l”
wages
19301
187
186
187
194
190
191
188
174
179
199
112
118
109
112
124
215
222
184
185
115
116
203
217
198
198
124
124 |
Index num - Index
bers of
num wage rates bers of
“ real”
wages
1921 1930 1930 i
Occupation
D ay laborers receiving board
and lodging:
M ales—
Sum m er ra te ______
W inter ra te ________
Females—
Sum m er rate_______
W inter ra te ........ ........
213
223
185
193
116
121
205
203
205
193
128
121
1 Based on purchasing power.
In addition to money wages, it is the custom in some places to fur
nish certain payments in kind. In the case of married workers these
usually include housing accommodations, use of work animals, and
the use of land for gardening. In the case of unmarried workers
clothing is sometimes furnished, or their laundry work done etc!
In the 937 cases in which data were obtained, the average annual
value of such additional payments was 57 francs ($11) per capita in
the case of unmarried workers, and 95 francs ($18) in the case of
married workers.
. The report gives data showing, for 1929, the average daily wages
m various industries and m agriculture. The figures, given in Table
3, show a much higher rate in all the branches of industry than in
agriculture, except in the case of woman workers.
T a ble 3 .—A V E R A G E D A IL Y W A G E R A T E S IN A G R IC U L T U R E A N L
IN S P E C IF IE D
IN D U S T R IE S IN S W IT Z E R L A N D , 1929
[( onversions into U nited States currency on basis of franc=19.-3 cents]
Foremen,
m aster w ork
men, etc.
Skilled and
semiskilled
workm en
U nskilled
workm en
W orkers u n
der 18 years
of age
W omen
In d u stry group
Swiss United Swiss U nited Swiss United Swiss United
U nited
cu r States cu r States cu r States cur States Swiss States
cu r
rency cur rency cu r rency cur rency cur
cur
rency
rency
rency
rency
rency
rency
A g r ic u ltu r e ..___
M etallurgy and mechanical
construction ._
Building construction
W oodworking
Textiles.
Food______
E a rth a n d stone____
F ra n c s
10. 60
$2.05
16. 65
16.03
15. 63
14.96
17.16
3.21
3.09
3.02
2. 89
3.31
Average, all in d u stries. _ 16. 07
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3.10
F rancs
8. 57
$1.65
12.08
13.19
11.69
13. 89
12.45
F rancs
6.97
$1.35
2. 33
2. 54
2. 26
9.50
10. 23
8. 85
1.83
1.97
1.71
2.68
11. 27
9. 53
2. 18
1.84
4. 52
.87
5. 69
1. 10
9. 85
1.90
5.31
1.02
2.40
[402]
F rancs
5. 97
$1.15
4.65
7.64
.90
1.47
F rancs
5. 57
$1.08
6. 53
5. 63
1.26
1.09
6.45
1.24
143
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Table 4 shows the average number of working hours per day in the
various seasons of the year in 1930 as compared with 1909. As is
seen, a slight increase has taken place.
T a ble 4 . —A V E R A G E L E N G T H O F W O R K IN G -D A Y IN A G R IC U L T U R E IN S W IT Z E R
L A N D , 1909 A N D 1930
Average w orking hours per day
I lr s . M in .
I lr s . M in .
Spring____________________________________________
TTny harvest
_ _________________ _ Slimmer
__ _ _________ _____ - — Alitiim n
_ _ ____ ___ - - ___ — W inter............... ................................................. .......................
_ _ _____ - - -- ______
1930
1909
1930
1909
Y early average
O ther male employees
Stable employees
Season
H rs. M in .
H rs. M in .
12
13
13
12
11
10
30
10
10
10
12
13
13
12
11
25
45
10
10
10
11
13
12
11
9
20
30
25
20
40
11
13
12
11
10
25
30
45
20
00
12
10
12
15
11
15
11
25
W ages in C ertain In d u stries in S w itzerlan d , 1930
HE average wages paid in 1930 to workers in the metal and
machine, building, and wood industries in Switzerland are given
in the May, 1931, issue of La Vie Économique, published by the Fed
eral Department of Public Affairs. These figures are reported by the
Federal Bureau of Industry, Arts and Trades, and Labor, and relate
to workmen injured in industrial accidents.
The following table shows the average daily wages of different classes
of workers in Switzerland in 1930:
T
A V E R A G E D A IL Y W A G E S O F W O R K E R S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S IN 1930
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of franc=19.3 cents]
Average daily wages of w orkers in—
Class of workers
M etal and machine
industries
Building industry
Wood industries
U nited
U nited
U nited
French
French
French
States
States
States currency
currency currency
currency currency currency
F rancs
F ra n c s
Forem en and m aster w o r k m e n ,- --------Skilled and semiskilled w orkers-----------U nskilled w o rk e rs --------------- ------------Y oung persons, un d er 18 years of ag e,.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
17.16
12.13
9.55
6. 46
4.90
[403]
$3.31
2. 34
1.84
1.25
.95
F ra n c s
15. 93
13. 23
10.28
$3.07
2. 55
1.98
15. 65
11.81
8.89
$3.02
2. 28
1.72
7.86
1.52
5.19
1.00
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
S u m m a ry for J u n e, 1931
MPLOYMENT decreased 2 per cent in June, 1931, as compared
with May, 1931, and pay-roll totals decreased 4.5 per cent.
The industrial groups surveyed, the number of establishments
reporting in each group, the number of employees covered, and the
total pay rolls for one week, for both May and June, together with
the per cents of change in June, are shown in the following summary:
E
SU M M A R Y O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S, M A Y A N D JU N E , 1931
Establishments
In d u strial group
Em ploym ent
M ay,
1931
June,
1931
Per
cent of
change
P ay roll in 1 week
M ay,
1931
June,
1931
1. M a n u fa c tu r in g __________
14,925 3, 018, 212 2, 942,179 > - 2 .6 $72, 247, 400 $67, 647, 610
2. Coal m in in g ______________
1, 460
307, 185
291, 672
-5 . 1
6, 404, 150
5, 905, 023
A n th ra c ite .................. .............
160
109, 977
104, 217
-5 .2
3, 024, 282
2, 648, 925
B itu m in o u s............................ . 1, 301
197, 208
187, 455
- 4 .9
3,379, 868
3,
256, 098
3. M etalliferous m in in g _____
331
40, 679
39,114
- 3 .8
978, 409
916,161
4. Q u arryin g a n d n o n m e ta llic m in in g _______________
741
31, 672
30, 539
- 3 .6
701, 294
677, 007
5. C rude p etro leu m produ c
in g —
577
26, 692
25, 582
- 4 .2
940.
899
911,
525
6. P u b lic u tilitie s ____________ 12, 26G 698, 717
694, 860
- 0 .6 21, 281, 368 21, 330, 355
Telephone and telegraph___
8, 042
309, 929
308, 099
- 0 .6
9,018,
698
9,106,
921
Power, light and w ater_____
3, 675
243,067
242, 059
- 0 .4
7, 658, 207
7, 631, 089
Electric-railroad
operation
and m aintenance, exclu
sive of car shops__
549
145, 721
144, 702
- 0 .7
4, 604, 463
4, 592, 345
7. T rad e_________________
12, 038
387,105
384, 153
- 0 .8
9, 676, 536
9, 625, 328
W holesale_________________
2,366
68, 721
68, 699 - < 2)
2,123,
7’73
2,108, 315
R etail_______________
9, 672
318, 384
315, 454
0
.9
7,
552,
763
7,
5i7, 013
8. H o tels_____________________ 2, 086
147, 709
146, 294
- 1 .0 3 2,407, 042 3 2, 345, 415
9. C a n n in g a n d preserving.
853
34, 504
43, 497 +2G. 1
612,
941
61I, 811
10. L a u n d rie s_______________
451
38, 452
38, 750
+ 0.8
717,181
721, 874
11. D y ein g a n d c le a n in g ______
192
7,241
7,417
+ 2.4
165, 006
169, 712
T o ta l___________________ 45, 911 4, 738,168 4, 644, 057
- 2 .0 116,132, 226 110, 891, 821
R e c a p it u l a t io n
by
Per
cent of
change
1 - 6 .2
- 7 .8
-1 2 .4
- 3 .7
- 6 .4
- 3 .5
- 3 .1
+ 0.2
+ 1.0
- 0 .4
- 0 .3
—0. 5
- 0 .7
- 0 .5
- 2 .6
+ 4.7
+0. 7
+ 2.9
- 4 .5
G e o g r a p h ic D iv is io n s
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION 4
New E n g lan d_____________
M iddle A tla n tic ___________
East N o rth C en tral________
W est N orth C entral_______
South A tlan tic____________
E ast South C entral________
W est South C en tral_______
M o u n tain___ _____________
Pacific____________________
All division s________
6,048
509, 536
502, 722
7, 403 1, 383, 962 1, 347, 289
9,967 1,310, 334 1, 276, 694
4,813
296, 677
295, 980
4, 758
496. 877
487, 673
2,450
197,146
193, 423
3,376
181, 186
177, 782
1, 689
84, 776
84, 393
5, 407
277, 674
278,101
- 1 .3 $12, 091,037 $11, 711, 501
- 2 .6 35, 550,418 33, 853, 385
- 2 .6 34, 558, 642 32,159, 356
- 0 .2
7, 238, 744
7,150, 269
- 1 .9
9, 487,418
9, 236, 546
- 1 .9
3, 391, 008
3, 283, 399
- 1 .9
4, 265, 076
4,140, 574
- 0 .5
2,164, 926
2,112, 558
+ 0 .2
7,384, 957
7, 244, 233
- 3 .1
- 4 .8
- 6 .9
-1 . 2
- 2 .6
- 3 .2
- 2 .9
- 2 .4
- 1 .9
45, 911 4, 738,168 4, 644, 057
- 2 .0 116,132, 226 110, 891, 821
- 4 .5
.eer^
change for the combined 54 manufacturing industries repeated from Tahle 9
p 150 the rem aining per cents of change, including total, are unweighted
re™ ated trom la b le 2,
2 Less th an one-tenth of 1 per cent.
3 Cash paym ents only; see note 4, p 163.
E n g la n d : Connecticut, M aine, M assachusetts, New H am pshire, Rhode Island Vermont
M id d le
Wisconsin W e T ^ C e l t r ^ ’
J a st N o jth C e n tra l:_ Illinois? K
S
m S !
S outh'^!arohna,
w
t t ^ ^
M ontana?
144
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[404]
145
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
The per cents of change shown for the total figures represent only
the changes in the establishments reporting, as the figures for the
several industrial groups are not weighted according to the relative
importance of each group.
Increases in employment in June as compared with May were
reported in 3 of the 15 industrial groups: Canning and preserving,
26.1 per cent; laundries, 0.8 per cent; and dyeing and cleaning, 2.4
per cent.
.
. .
Decreased employment was shown in the remaining 12 industrial
groups: Manufacturing, 2.6 per cent; anthracite mining, 5.2 per cent;
bituminous coal mining, 4.9 per cent; metalliferous mining, 3.8 per
cent; quarrying and nonmetallic mining, 3.6 per cent; crude petro
leum producing, 4.2 per cent; telephone and telegraph, 0.6 per cent;
power, light, and water, 0.4 per cent; electric railroads, 0.7 per cent;
wholesale trade, less than one-tenth of 1 per cent; retail trade, 0.9
per cent; and hotels, 1 per cent.
Increased earnings in June as compared with May were shown in
the three industrial groups reporting increased employment, and also
in the telephone and telegraph group, which reported a small decrease
in employment coupled with an increase of 1 per cent in pay-roll
totals. Decreases in earnings were shown in the remaining 11 groups,
the anthracite mining industry reporting the greatest loss in pay-roll
totals, 12.4 per cent.
#
.
Decreased employment and earnings were reported in each of the
nine geographic divisions, with the exception of the Pacific division,
which reported a slight gain in number employed, combined with a
falling off in pay-roll totals.
P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN JU N E , 1931, A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H M A T , 1931
A N D JU N E , 1930
In d u strial group
M ay, 1931
June, 1930
$22.90
- 3 .7
-1 2 .0
25. 42
17. 37
23.42
22.17
35. 63
- 7 .6
+ 1.2
- 2 .8
(>)
+ 1.2
-1 5 .7
-2 1 .9
-2 0 .4
-1 7 .5
- 0 .1
29.56
31.53
31.74
+ 1 .5
0
+ 0 .3
+ 5 .5
- 1 .9
- 2 .8
30. 69
23.83
16. 03
14. 76
18. 63
22.88
- 0 .6
+ 0 .4
- 1 .7
-1 7 .0
- 0 .1
+ 0 .4
- 5 .5
- 4 .7
- 6 .9
-1 5 .5
0
0
23.88
- 2 .6
0
1 M annfa e.tur in g
- ___________ ___ - - - -- -2. Coal m ining:
A nthracito
__ _
_________
B itu m in o u s__ ________________________________________
3 M etallifcrnus m ining
___
___
___
4 Quarrying and nonmeta.llie mining
_______ _
5 C rude petroleum producing
_ ---- ---------------------6. Public utilities:
Telephone and telegraph
____
_
___
pow er light and w ater
__________ _____
E lec te e railroads
_ _ _________
- —
7. Trade:
W holesale
_
_ ________ _____ - ------------_____ _
_____ _
Retail
- ___
8 Hotels (cash paym ents on 1y ) 2
_ __ _
q Pannin g and preserving
_
___10 "Laundries
_ _______ ________ - ___ -11. Dyeing and cleaning-. ------- --------------------------------------Total
_____
_
___
* inu uaaugc.
2 T he additional value of board, room, and tips can no t be com puted.
3 D ata no t available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[405]
Per cent of change
June, 1931, compared
w ith—
Per capita
weekly
earnings,
in June,
1931
146
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Per capita earnings for June, 1931, given in the preceding table
must not be confused with full-time weekly rates of wrages; they are
actual per capita weekly earnings computed by dividing the total
number of employees reported into the total amount of pay roll in
the week reported, and the “ number of employees” includes all per
sons who worked any part of the period reported—that is, part-time
workers as well as full-time workers.
Comparisons are made with per capita earnings in May, 1931, and
with June, 1930, where data are available.
For convenient reference the latest data available relating to all
employees, excluding executives and officials, on Class I railroads,
drawn from Interstate Commerce Commission reports, are shown in
the following statement. These reports are for the months of April
and May, instead of for May and June, 1931, consequently the
figures can not be combined with those presented in the summary
table.
E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S, CLASS I R A IL R O A D S
N um ber on pay roll
In d u stry
Class I railroads______________
-
Apr. 15,
1931
M ay 15,
1931
1, 315, 371
1, 321, 683
A m ount of pay roll in
entire m onth
Per
cent
of
change
April, 1931
M ay, 1931
+ 0 .5
$179,680, 621
$179,131, 761
Per
cent
of
change
- 0 .3
The total number of employees included in this summary is
5,965,740 whose combined earnings in one week amount to approxi
mately $151,500,000.
1. E m p lo y m en t in S elected M a n u fa ctu rin g In d u stries in J u n e ,
1931
C o m p a ris o n o f E m p lo y m e n t an d P a y -R o ll T o ta ls in M a n u fa c tu r in g In d u stries,
M a y a n d J u n e , 1931
MPLOYMENT in manufacturing industries in June, 1931,
decreased 2.6 per cent as compared with May, and pay-roll
totals decreased 6.2 per cent.
These changes are based upon returns from 13,887 identical estab
lishments in 54 of the principal manufacturing industries in the
United States, having in June 2,798,185 employees wffiose combined
earnings in one week were $64,068,865.
The bureau’s weighted index of employment for June, 1931, is 72.2,
as compared with 74.1 for May, 1931, and 74.5 for April, 1931, and
85.5 for June, 1930; the index of pay-roll totals for June, 1931, is 62.5,
as compared with 66.6 for May, 1931, 67.4 for April, 1931, and 84.1
for June, 1930.
Of the 12 groups of manufacturing industries on which the bureau’s
indexes of employment and pay rolls are based, increased employment
was shown in the food group alone, and increased earnings were
reported in only one group, tobacco products. The remaining groups
reported decreased employment and earnings; the greatest loss in
number of employees (6.6 per cent) was shown in the chemicals group,
E
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[406]
147
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
and the greatest decline in pay-roll totals (11.6 per cent) was reported
in the vehicles group. An additional group of 10 manufacturing
industries surveyed but not yet included in the bureau’s indexes of
employment and pay-roll totals will be found at the end of Table 1.
This group, due largely to the seasonal character of several of the
industries included, showed an increase in both employment and
pay-roll totals from May to June.
Employment increased in June in 18 of the 64 separate manufac
turing industries surveyed, and increased earnings were reported in
13 industries.
The greatest increases in employment over the month interval,
largely of seasonal nature, were reported in the following industries:
Beet sugar, 14.3 per cent; radio, 8.9 per cent; ice cream, 7.9 per cent;
aircraft, 5.1 per cent; woolen and worsted goods, 4.5 per cent; bever
ages, 4.4 per cent; and rubber boots and shoes, 4.2 per cent. The
men’s clothing industry reported a small gain in employment com
bined with an increase of 9.7 per cent in pay-roll totals. The woolen
and worsted goods industry, in which the greatest gain in earnings
in May was reported, showed a further increase in pay-roll totals of
2.9 per cent over the previous month.
The outstanding decrease in employment in June was a seasonal
decline in the fertilizer industry, which reported a falling-off in employ
ment of 39 per cent. Pianos and organs showed a loss of 18.6 per
cent in number of employees from May to June, silk goods 12.3 per
cent, and agricultural implements, 11.7 per cent. Employment in
the women’s clothing industry declined 8.9 per cent over the month
interval, the automobile industry reported 6 per cent fewer employees,
foundry and machine-shop products decreased 4.2 per cent, and the
iron and steel industry reported a loss of 4.8 per cent. The cotton
goods industry had 2.6 per cent fewer employees in June than in
May, and employment in the electrical machinery, apparatus, and
supplies industry declined 2.3 per cent.
The Mountain geographic division alone of the nine geographic
divisions reported increased employment and pay-roll totals. The
greatest decreases in both employment and earnings over the month
interval in the remaining eight geographic divisions were shown in
the East North Central division, which reported losses of 3.2 per cent
and 9.4 per cent in the two items, respectively.
T
1.—C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
M A N U FA C TU R IN G ' E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN M A Y A N D JU N E , 1931, BY IN D U S T R IE S
able
In d u stry
Food a n d kindred p ro d u cts.
Slaughtering and m eat packing------------------------------Confectionery____________
Ice cream ...
F lo u r.. _________________
B aking__________________
Sugar refining, cane_______
E sta b
lis h
m ents
N um ber on pay roll
M ay, 1931 June, 1931
2, 033
217, 917
218, 221
211
332
330
407
729
13
84, 191
32,395
13,612
15, 705
65, 293
6,721
83, 866
31, 846
14, 691
15, 527
65, 438
6,853
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Per
cent of
change
[4041
(')
- 0 .4
- 1 .7
+ 7 .9
-1 . 1
+ 0 .2
+ 2 .0
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
M ay, 1931
June, 1931
$5,486, 572
$5, 484, 346
2,171, 336
567, 282
447, 576
397,422
1. 707,981
194,975
2,157, 784
561, 225
473.055
384.931
1, 707,135
.300, 216
Per
cent of
change
(>)
- 0 .6
- 1 .1
+ 5.7
- 3 .1
- ( 2)
+ 2.7
148
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
E M P L O Y M E N T a n d p a y -r o l l t o t a l s i n i d e n t i c a l
M A N U F A C T U R IN G E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN M A Y A N D J U N E , 1931, BY IN D U S T R IE S —
Continued
In d u stry
E stab
lishm ents
N um ber on pay roll
M ay, 1931 June, 1931
Textiles a n d th eir p ro d u cts,
C otton goods. __ . ______
Hosiery and k n it goods .
Silk g o o d s...
Woolen and worsted goods..
C arpets and rugs . .
D yeing and finishing tex
tiles_______ _____
Clothing, m en’s __
Shirts and collars
... .
Clothing, wom en’s ____
M illinery and lace g o o d s...
Per
cent of
change
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
M ay, 1931
June, 1931
Per
change
2,403
505
346
258
201
31
565, 200
195,103
86, 619
53, 783
56, 461
18,955
550, 703
190,005
87, 208
47,179
58, 988
18, 701
- 2 .6
+ 0.7
-1 2 .3
+ 4.5
- 1 .3
§9, 778, 757
2,806, 503
1,471,408
959, 430
1,164, 059
417, 235
89, 337, 338
2, 635, 743
Î, 427, 915
833, 765
1,197, 535
401, 726
0)
—6.1
- 3 .0
—13 1
+ 2.9
- 3.7
129
336
102
368
127
36, 727
56,805
16, 450
30, 402
13,895
34, 590
57, 217
15, 980
27, 685
13,150
- 5 .8
+ 0 .7
- 2 .9
- 8 .9
- 5 .4
856, 327
957, 038
227, 219
651, 591
267, 947
770, 878
1,049, 406
' 209, 576
561, 760
249, 034
- 10.0
- 7 .8
—13. 8
- 7.1
1, 971
194
45
174
541,429
224, 471
9,844
23,895
519, 181
213, 774
9, 557
23,467
0)
- 4 .8
- 2 .9
- 1 .8
13,105, 882
5,613,175
209, 632
593,112
11, 787, 999
4, 889, 702
182, 499
572, 725
- 12.9
—12 9
- 3.4
1,070
97
151
191,897
27,157
22,674
183, 883
26, 621
21, 534
- 4 .2
- 2 .0
- 5 .0
4, 650. 937
550, 909
557,125
4, 248, 987
505,027
517j 187
—8. 6
—8. 3
- 7.2
107
133
24, 022
17,469
23, 483
16,862
-2 . 2
- 3 .5
531, 452
399, 540
506,316
365, 556
L u m b er a n d its p r o d u c ts ...
Lum ber, saw m ills. _ ._
Lum ber, m illw ork..
F u rn itu re ____
1, 484
691
344
449
171,132
93, 369
25, 619
52,144
169, 406
93,359
24, 855
51,192
3,090. 441
1,582,944
534, 881
972, 616
3, 018,199
1, 587j 590
515| 521
915,088
(i)
L eather a n d its p ro d u cts___
L e a th e r___
Boots and shoes____
433
142
290
126, 903
24, 984
101, 919
125,136
24, 999
100,137
+ (2)
- 1 .7
2, 493, 483
600,047
1,893,436
2, 420, 298
593, 868
1,826,430
(i)
— 1. 0
1, 750
383
313
605
449
239, 598
79, 558
23, 930
56,100
80, 010
235, 026
78, 019
23, 786
54, 346
78,875
(>)
- 1 .9
- 0 .6
- 3 .1
-1 .4
7, 416, 581
1,911,185
528, 461
1,831,100
3,145,835
7,163, 165
1, 808, 375
' 515, 610
1, 763^037
3,076; 143
(i)
—5 4
—2 4
—3. 7
- 2.2
466
163
205
98
97, 808
35, 708
10, 774
51, 326
91, 309
35, 205
6, 575
49, 529
- 1 .4
-3 9 .0
-3 .5
2, 755, 366
961, 999
177, 529
1, 615,838
2, 589, 918
939', 700
118; 004
1, 532; 214
(i)
—2.3
—33 5
- 5.2
1,155
110
736
118
191
113, 495
20,192
31,166
18, 557
43, 580
113, 281
19, 601
31,285
17, 603
44, 792
(i)
- 2 .9
+ 0 .4
- 5 .1
+ 2.8
2, 545, 633
537, 852
592, 832
399, 386
1, 015, 563
2, 462, 674
531, 260
569; 622
338; 447
1, 023, 345
—1. 2
- 3.9
-1 5 .3
245
83
47, 015
16, 904
46, 278
16, 982
+ 0 .5
1, 067, 908
360,193
1, 005, 596
349, 430
162
30, 111
29, 296
-2 .7
707, 715
656,166
- 7 .3
210
57, 250
56, 566
(*)
843, 339
846, 382
(>)
28
182
8,641
48, 609
8, 350
48, 216
- 3 .4
-0 .8
132, 600
710, 739
129, 958
716; 424
—2. 0
+ 0.8
1, 251
213
46
429, 640
303,161
815
408, 531
284, 955
730
-1 0 .4
12, 808,114
9,189, 579
16, 960
11, 026, 154
7, 551, 346
15, 891
(O
— 17.8
444
28, 396
27, 962
- 1 .5
858,142
838, 616
- 2 .3
548
97,268
94, 884
- 2 .5
2, 743,433
2, 620, 301
- 4 .5
Iro n a n d steel a n d th eir
p ro d u cts___
Iro n and steel_____
Cast-iron pipe .
Structural ironwork __
F o u n d ry and machine-shop
products_________ ____
H a rd w are.. . . .
M achine tools___ _
Steam fittings and steam
and hot-w ater heating
ap p aratu s__________
Stoves_______
Paper a n d p r in tin g
Paper and pulp
Paper b o x e s... .
Printing, book and job.
Printing, new spapers
C hem icals a n d allied produ cts .
Chem icals___
F ertilizers______
Petroleum refining
S to n e , clay, a n d glass produ c ts _____
C em ent. _
Brick, tile, and terra c o tta ..
P o ttery _______
Glass__________
M etal p rodu cts, o th er th a n
iron a n d steel
Stam ped and enameledware.
Brass, bronze, and copper
products_______
T obacco produ cts _
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff __
Cigars and cigarettes
Vehicles for la n d tr a n sp o rta tio n
Automobiles
Carriages and w agons..
Car building and repairing,
electric-railroad . . .
C ar building and repairing,
steam-railroad .
See footnotes a t end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[408]
(')
(')
-0 0
-3 .0
- 1 .8
0)
(i)
(i)
(i)
- 6 .0
+9 7
(i)
- 4.7
-a s
+0 3
—3. 6
- 5.9
- 3.5
to
+ 0 .8
(l)
- 3 .0
- 6 .3
149
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T a b le 1 -C O M P A R I S O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
M A N U F A C T U R IN G E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN M A Y A N D JU N E , 1931, BY IN D U S T R IE S —
C ontinued
E sta b
lishm ents
In d u stry
N um ber on pay roll
M ay, 1931 June, 1931
M iscellan eou s in d u str ies___
A gricultural im plem ents__
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies______
Pianos and organs________
R ubber boots and s h o e s ___
A utomobile tires and inner
tu b e s ..- ______________
Shipbuilding_____________
Per
cent of
change
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
M ay, 1931
June, 1931
Per
cent of
change
498
85
269, 567
13, 276
284, 547
11, 718
0)
-1 1 .7
$7, 291, 907
267,886
$6. 926, 796
236,304
0
-1 1 .8
212
61
10
154,305
5,064
12,066
150, 827
4,124
12,573
- 2 .3
-1 8 .6
+ 4 .2
4, 252,161
112, 291
202,118
3, 975, 459
93, 896
213,184
-6 .5
-1 6 .4
+ 5.5
41
89
49, 371
35, 485
49, 899
35,406
- 0 .2
1, 437, 310
1,020,141
1, 459,160
948, 793
+ 1.5
-7 .0
T otal—54 i n d u s t r i e s
used in c o m p u tin g
index n u m b e r s o f
e m p lo y m e n t a n d pay
r o ll__________________ 13, 887
2, 876, 954
2, 798,185
(')
68, 683, 983
64. 068, 865
1,038
18
43
40
158
302
141,258
23, 208
18, 007
8, 260
15,067
17,762
143, 994
23, 684
19, 608
8, 680
14, 835
17,610
0
+2.1
+ 8 .9
+5.1
-1 .5
- 0 .9
3, 563, 417
481,917
463, 585
272, 489
308,836
498,008
3, 578, 745
479,085
479,824
290, 550
300, 627
483,868
0
- 0 .6
+ 3 .5
+ 6 .6
- 2 .7
- 2 .8
80
61
273
18,098
2,383
11,738
18,120
2,724
12, 252
+0.1
+14. 3
+ 4 .4
402, 547
76, 922
359, 060
398,878
84,821
370,857
- 0 .9
+10.3
+ 3 .3
46
17
16, 764
9,971
16, 559
9,922
- 1 .2
- 0 .5
479, 760
220, 293
476, 257
213,978
- 0 .7
- 2 .9
14, 925
3, 018,212
2, 942,179
72,247,400
67, 647, 610
0
$7,985,121
21,302, 777
25, 633,935
3,893,493
6, 059,186
1,885, 452
1,959,477
694, 549
2, 833,410
$7, 582,480
20,082,359
23, 230,983
3. 796, 563
5, 790, 093
1,813,074
1, 876, 256
703, 854
2, 771,948
- 5 .0
- 5 .7
- 9 .4
- 2 .5
- 4 .4
- 3 .8
- 4 .2
+ 1.3
- 2 .2
72, 247, 400
67, 647, 610
0
In d u stries added sin ce F eb
ruary, 1929, for w h ich data
for th e ind ex-base year
(1920) are n o t availab le.. . .
R ay o n ... . . . . . . . . . . . .
R a d io ... ________________
A ircraft____________ ___
Jew e lry ...
____________
P a in t and v arn ish________
R ubber goods, other than
boots, shoes, tires, and inner tu b es___ ______ . . .
Beet sugar____ . ______
Beverages.......... ............... . .
Cash registers, adding m a
chines, and calculating
m achines. ____ . ______
T ypew riters and su p p lies...
All in d u s tr ie s _________
R e c a p it u l a t io n
0
(>)
G e o g r a p h ic D iv is io n s
by
GEOGKAPHIC DIVISIONS 4
N ew E ngland. .
_
... ..
M iddle A tlantic . . . . ______
E ast N orth C entral__
W est N orth C en tral. . .
___
South A tlan tic_________. . . .
E ast South C entral__________
W est South C e n tra l.. . . .
M o untain _________________ ______
Pacific _______ ___________ . . .
All d iv isio n s___ __
... ...
1,701
3,657
3,586
1,389
1,830
728
822
317
895
362,474
853,218
968,181
159, 500
339, 713
109, 757
88,020
27, 130
110, 129
354, 548
827, 084
937, 565
159.004
332, 680
108, 472
86, 077
27, 783
108, 966
14, 925
3,018,212
2, 942,179
- 2 .2
- 3 .1
- 3 .2
- 0 .4
- 2 .1
- 1 .2
- 2 .2
+ 2 .4
- 1 .1
0
1 T he per cent of change has not been com puted for th e reason th a t the figures in the preceding columns
are unw eighted and refer only to the establishm ents reporting; for the weighted per cent of change, wherein
proper allowance is made for the relative importance of tne several industries, so th a t the figures m ay
represent all establishm ents of the country in the industries here represented, see Table 2.
2 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
2 T he per cent of change has not been computed for the reason th a t the figures in the preceding columns
are unw eighted and refer only to the estaolishm ents reporting.
4 See footnote 4, p. 144.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[409]
15Ö
T
able
MONTHLY LABOK R EV IEW
2 .—P E R C E N T O P C H A N G E , M A Y TO J U N E , 1931—12 G R O U P S O F M A N U F A C T U R
IN G IN D U S T R IE S A N D T O T A L OF 54 IN D U S T R IE S
[C om puted from the index num bers of each group, which are obtained by weighting the index num bers of
the several industries of the group by the num ber of employees, or wages paid, in the industries]
Per cent of
change M ay to
June, 1931
Per cent of
changé M ay to
June, 1931
Group
Group
N um A m ount
ber on
of pay
pay roll
roll
N u m A m ount
ber on
of pay
roll
pay roll
Food and kindred products____
Textiles and their products ---Iron and steel and their productsLum ber and its p ro d u c ts --____
Leather and its products______
Paper and printing _________
Chemicals and allied products—
Stone, clay, and glass products—
C o m p a riso n
of
+ 0.1
- 2 .9
—4.1
- 0 .9
-1 .4
- 2 .0
- 6 .6
- 0 .3
- 0 .1
- 4 .9
-1 0 .0
- 2 .4
- 3 .0
- 3 .3
- 5 .8
- 3 .8
M etal products other th a n iron
and steel - _____ _ Tobacco products _____ - —
Vehicles for land transportationMiscellaneous industries- _____
- 1 .6
- 1 .2
- 4 .4
- 1 .9
- 6 .0
+ 0.4
-1 1 .6
- 5 .1
T o ta l: 54 in d u stir e s........
-2.6
-6.2
E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y -R o ll T o ta ls in
In d u str ie s, J u n e , 1931, w ith J u n e , 1930
M a n u fa c tu r in g
T h e level of employment in manufacturing industries in June, 1931,
was 15.6 per cent below the level of June, 1930, and pay-roll totals
were 25.7 per cent lower.
Decreased employment and pay-roll totals were reported in each
of the 12 groups of industries, the lumber group and the iron and steel
group showing the greatest losses over the year interval. The leather
group reported the least change in employment in this yearly com
parison, a decrease of 5.7 per cent from the level of the corresponding
month in 1930.
The woolen and worsted goods industry was the only industry of
the 54 upon which the bureau’s indexes are based which reported
more employees at the end of the 12-month period than at the begin
ning. The agricultural-implement industry showed the greatest loss
in employment over the year interval, a decrease of 52 per cent. The
machine-tool industry and the carriage and wagon industry both
reported losses of 37 per cent from June, 1930, to June, 1931, and the
piano industry showed a drop of 30 per cent in number of employees.
Decreases of 20 per cent or more were reported in the following nine
industries: Silk goods, structural ironwork, foundry and machine-shop
products, sawmills, fertilizers, petroleum, cement, brick, and steamrailroad car shops. The automobile industry had 18.3 per cent fewer
employees at the end of the 12-month interval, and the iron and steel
industry was 19.4 per cent below the level of a year ago.
Decreased employment, ranging from 10.2 per cent in the New
England geographic division to 20.5 per cent in the West South Central
division, was shown in this year-to-year comparison for June in each
of the nine geographic divisions, and in each division with the excep
tion of the Mountain division the decrease in employment was ex
ceeded by the decrease in employees’ earnings.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[4 1 0 ]
151
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T a ble 3 .— C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D
P A Y -R O L L T O T A LS IN M A N U F A C
T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S , J U N E , 1931, W IT H JU N E , 1930
[The per cents of change for each of the 12 groups of industries and for th e total of all industries are weighted
in the same m anner as are the per cents of change in Table 2]
Per cent of change
June, 1931,
compared w ith
June, 1930
Per cent of change
June, 1931,
compared w ith
June, 1930
In d u stry
In d u stry
N um ber A m ount
on pay of pay
roll
roll
N um ber A m ount
on pay
of pay
roll
roll
F o o d a n d k in d re d p ro d u c ts
Slaughtering and m eat pack
ing ----------------------- ------ Confectionery------------------Ice cream _________ _______
F lour------------------- ---------B aking__________________
Sugar refining, cane...........--
- 7 .6
-1 2 .4
- 8 .5
- 2 .4
- 9 .0
-1 0 .7
-7 .1
-1 3 .7
-1 1 .1
-1 2 .2
-1 2 .9
-1 9 .2
-1 1 .7
-1 7 .9
T extiles a n d th e ir p ro d u c ts ..
C otton goods-------------------Hosiery and k n it goods-----Silk goods________________
Woolen and worsted goods—
C arpets and rugs-------------D yeing and finishing textiles.
Clothing, m en’s __________
Shirts and collars-------------Clothing, w om en’s -----------M illinery and lace goods—
- 7 .4
- 5 .3
- 7 .9
-2 1 .8
+ 1.3
- 2 .2
- 4 .9
-1 0 .2
- 9 .0
- 6 .2
- 9 .8
-1 2 .8
- 7 .3
-1 4 .9
-2 7 .3
- 3 .2
+11.3
- 4 .7
-1 9 .8
-1 4 .6
-1 7 .4
-1 9 .1
I r o n a n d steel a n d th e ir
p r o d u c ts __________________
Iron and steel— ................. .
Cast-iron p ip e____________
Structural ironw ork_______
Foundry and machine-shop
products----------------------H ardw are-----------------------M achine tools____________
Steam fittings and steam
and hot-w ater heating ap
paratus----------- ------------S toves......................................
-2 3 .4
-1 9 .4
-1 8 .7
-2 5 .8
-3 9 .0
-3 7 .8
-33. 1
-3 8 .8
-2 7 .1
-1 6 .3
-3 7 .3
-4 1 .0
-2 8 . 6
-4 8 .5
-1 2 .9
-1 9 .3
-2 9 .1
-3 4 .6
L u m b e r a n d its p r o d u c ts ---Lum ber, saw m ills________
Lum ber, m illw ork............
F u rn itu re __ ____ _________
-2 4 .4
-2 8 .0
-1 8 .3
-1 8 .8
-3 7 .3
-4 2 .7
-2 9 .4
-3 0 .2
L e a th e r a n d its p r o d u c ts ----L eather....... ......................
Boots and shoes__________
- 5 .7
- 9 .1
- 4 .9
- 9 .7
-1 2 .9
- 8 .4
P a p e r a n d p r i n t i n g . . .............
Paper and p u lp ---------------Paper boxes--------------------Printing, book and jo b-----Printing, newspapers---------
- 8 .5
-1 3 .6
- 8 .1
-1 0 .6
- 1 .8
-1 3 .5
-2 4 .3
-1 3 .4
-1 6 .1
- 4 .5
R e c a p it u l a t io n
by
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-1 6 .1
-1 0 .0
-29. 1
-2 0 . 1
-2 1 .3
-1 4 .6
-3 7 .5
-2 5 .1
S to n e, clay, an d glass produ c ts ______ — - -------------Cement _________________
Brick, tile, and terra c o tta ..
P o ttery........... ....................... .
Glass____________________
-1 6 .7
-2 3 .0
-2 3 .8
- 6 .3
-1 0 .0
-2 8 .2
-3 0 .7
-4 0 .9
-1 8 .1
-1 7 .4
-1 4 .2
- 8 .6
-2 6 .4
-1 8 .4
-1 6 .8
-2 9 :4
M etal products, o th er th a n
iron and ste el_____________
Stamped and enameled ware.
Brass, bronze, and copper
p ro d u c ts ------------------T obacco p ro d u cts________ .
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff _______
Cigars and cigarettes -----V ehicles for la n d transporta tio n
________
Automobiles ____________
Carriages and wagons_____
Car building and repairing,
electric-railroad_________
Car building and repairing,
steam -railroad__________
-1 8 .7
- 6 .9
-1 0 .8
-1 2 .9
-1 9 .5
-2 1 .0
-1 8 .3
-3 7 .6
-3 0 .2
-3 0 .4
-4 0 .3
-1 2 .7
-1 8 .5
-2 4 .6
-3 1 .0
M iscellaneous in d u str ies___
Agricultural im plem ents---Electrical m achinery, apparatus, and supplies---------Pianos and organs________
R ubber boots and shoes----Automobile tires and inner
t u b e s ____ ____ ______
Shipbuilding. . . _ -----------
-2 0 .2
-5 2 .0
-2 9 .7
-6 0 .6
-1 9 .5
-3 0 .1
-1 1 .1
-3 2 .0
-4 1 .0
-3 1 . 6
-1 4 .9
-1 6 .5
-1 5 .2
-2 4 . 5
All in d u stries__________
-1 5 .6
-2 5 .7
W est South C en tral---------------M ountain . . .
Pacific.
--------- ------
-2 0 .5
-19. 5
-1 8 .5
-2 8 .6
-1 7 .5
-2 8 .6
All division s___________
-1 5 .6
-2 5 .7
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION
-1 0 .2
—15. 5
-1 8 .5
-1 5 .5
-1 1 .0
-1 4 .6
-1 0 .4
G e o g r a p h ic D iv is io n s
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION
E ast N orth C entral. . _ .
W est N orth Central . . .
South Atlantic
E ast South C entral---------- ---
C hem icals a n d allied produ c ts ____________________ -Chemicals________________
Fertilizers- ______________
Petroleum refining________
-1 7 .4
-26. 0
-30. 1
-2 0 .8
-1 8 .5
-2 3 .7
r411]
(COnt.)
152
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
P er C a p it a E a r n in g s in M a n u fa c tu r in g In d u str ie s
A c t u a l per capita weekly earnings in June, 1931, for each of the
64 _manufacturing industries surveyed by the Bureau of Labor Stat
istics, together with per cents of change in June, 1931, as compared
with May, 1931, and June, 1930, are shown in Table 4.
Per capita earnings in June, 1931, for the combined 54 chief manu
facturing industries of the United States, upon which the bureau’s
indexes of employment and pay rolls are based, were 3.7 per cent less
than in May, 1931, and 12 per cent less than in June, 1930.
The actual average per capita weekly earnings in June, 1931, for
the 54 manufacturing industries were $22.90; the average per capita
earnings for all of the 64 manufacturing industries surveyed were
$22.99.
Per capita earnings given in Table 4 must not be confused with
full-time weekly rates of wages. They are actual per capita weekly
earnings computed by dividing the total number of employees re
ported into the total amount of pay roll in the week reported, and
the “ number of employees” includes all persons who worked any
part of the period reported—that is, part-time workers as well as
full-time workers.
T a b l e 4 .—P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S I N
J U N E , 1931, A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H M A Y , 1931, A N D JU N E , 1930
Per capita
weekly
earnings
in June,
1931
Industry
Food and kindred products:
Slaughtering and m eat p ack in g ............................. ................. .
Confectionery______ __________________________________
Ice cream __________________________________
F lo u r.____________________________________________" ...
B aking______________________________________________
Sugar refining, cane___________________________________
Textiles and their products:
C otton goods________________________________ ____ ____
Hosiery and k n it goods________________________________
Silk goods____ __________________________________
W oolen and worsted goods_____________________________
C arpets and ru g s_____________________________________
D yeing and finishing textiles_______________________
Clothing, m en’s ______________________________________
Shirts and collars_____________________________________
Clothing, w om en’s ____________________________________
M illinery and lace goods_______________________________
Iron and steel and th eir products:
Iron and steel.______ _____ _____________ _______ _______
Cast-iron p ip e __________ ________________________
Structural ironw ork_______________________________ A~_
Foundry and machine-shop pro d u cts__________________
H ard w are____________________________________________
M achine tools______________________________________
Steam fittings and steam and hot-w ater heating apparatus.
Stoves_______________________________________________
L um ber and its products:
Lum ber, saw m ills_____________________________________
Lum ber, mill w ork____________ _____________________
F u rn itu re _________ ______ ____________________________
Leather and its products:
L eather______________________________________________
Boots and shoes_____ ______ ___________________________
Paper and printing:
Paper and p u lp ________ _____ ___ ____________ _________
Paper b o x e s ..._____________ __________________________
Printing, book and jo b ________________________________
Printing, new spapers............................................ ..............
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[4121
Per cent of change June*
1931, compared w ith—
M ay, 1931
June, 1930
$25. 73
17.62
32.20
24.79
26. 09
29.22
- 0 .2
+ 0 .6
- 2 .1
- 2 .1
- 0 .3
+ 0.7
- 2 .7
-1 0 .0
- 4 .4
-9 .7
- 5 .1
-4 .8
13. 87
16. 37
17. 67
20.30
21.48
22. 29
18. 34
13.11
20.29
18.94
- 3 .5
- 3 .6
- 1 .6
- 2 .4
- 4 .4
+ 8 .8
- 5 .1
- 5 .3
- 1 .8
-2 .0
- 7 .7
-7 .2
- 4 .8
+13.4
- 0 .1
-1 0 .9
- 6 .3
-1 2 .2
-1 0 .2
22. 87
19.10
24. 41
23.11
18. 97
24.02
21.56
21. 68
- 8 .6
-1 0 .3
- 1 .7
- 4 .7
- 6 .5
- 2 .2
-2 .5
-5 .2
-2 2 .8
-1 7 .5
-1 7 .7
-1 9 .3
-1 4 .8
-1 7 .6
-1 8 .7
-1 8 .6
17. 01
20. 74
17.88
+ 0 .4
- 0 .7
- 4 .1
-2 0 .2
-1 3 .5
-1 4 .1
23. 76
18.24
- 1 .1
- 1 .8
- 4 .4
- 3 .5
23.18
21. 68
32.44
39.00
- 3 .5
- 1 .8
- 0 .6
- 0 .8
-1 2 .5
-5 . 5
-6 . 2
-2 .6
-
1.0
153
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T a ble 4 .—P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S IN
JU N E , 1931, A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H M A Y , 1931, A N D JU N E , 1930-C ontinued
In d u stry
Chemicals and allied products:
rdieiTiinals
-- ______________________ ____
Fertilizers
_ _ _ _ __ _ _ — Petroleum refining
________ _ _________- —
Stone, clay, and glass products:
__________________ — ---- -C em ent
Brick tile and terra cotta,
_ ________________ _
P ottery
__________ - __ _ - -- - - - — —
M etal products, other th a n iron and steel:
Stam ped and enameled w are_____ _________________________
Brass bronze and popper products _ __ _____- - __________
Tobacco products:
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snufr
- _____
______
Cigars and cigarettes
______ ___ ___
— - —
Vehicles for land transportation:
Automobiles
_____ _ ___
_
-Carriages and wagons ______________________________________________________________
C ar building and repairing electric-railroad
_ _ _ __
Miscellaneous industries:
Agricultural im plem ents_____ _______ ______________________
T
?lieeiliecll
orvfrir>cil mopbincr
is and
_
__
_
_
_
iL
lilitUllllld v
j ,m
a h Jino
jJc iirati
uruo,
cu-ivx SUDDlieS — --_
---------- _
Pianos and organs
_
_
_
_
_
__
_
_
_
_ - -- - —
R ubber boots and shoes
_______ ----------------Automobile tires and inner tubes
__ __ _____ _ _ _ _ _ _
Shipbuilding
_
------- --------Industries added since February, 1929, for which d ata for th e indexbase year (1926) are not available:
.Aircraft
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
- -- —
Jewelry
_
_
_
_
_- _
_
_
___ —
— - ——
P aint and varnish
_ ___
___ _
R ubber goods, other th an boots, shoes, tires, and inner tu b es. . .
Beet sugar
___________ _____ — -—
Cash registers, adding machines, and calculating m achines-----T ypew riters and supplies______________________________ ____
l Less th an one-tenth of 1 per cent.
In d ex
N um bers
Per capita Per cent of change June,
1931, compared w ith—
weekly
earnings
in June,
1931
M ay, 1931 June, 1930
$26. 69
17. 95
30. 94
- 0 .9
+ 8.9
- 1 .7
-5 . 2
-1 1 .9
- 6 .5
27. 10
18. 21
19.23
22.85
+ 1.7
- 4 .3
-1 0 .6
- 1 .9
- 9 .9
-2 2 .5
-1 2 .6
- 8 .0
20. 58
22.40
- 3 .4
- 4 .7
-1 0 .8
-1 5 .2
15. 56
14. 86
+ 1 .4
+ 1 .6
-6 .0
- 9 .6
26. 50
21. 77
29.99
27. 62
-1 2 .6
+ 4.6
- 0 .8
- 2 .1
-1 4 .9
- 4 .4
- 6 .8
- 8 .3
20.17
26. 36
22. 77
16.96
29. 24
26. 80
-0 )
- 4 .4
+ 2.7
+ 1 .3
+ 0.4
- 6 .8
-1 7 .9
-15. 7
-1 5 .9
-2 2 .8
- 0 .4
- 9 .6
20.23
24. 47
33.47
20. 26
27. 48
22.01
31. 14
30. 27
28.76
21.57
- 2 .6
- 4 .9
+ 1.5
-1. 2
- 2 .0
- 1 .0
- 3 .5
- 1 .0
+ 0.5
- 2 .4
- 0 .3
-1 0 .2
+ 6 .2
-1 6 .7
- 5 .4
- 8 .4
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
2 D ata not available.
of E m p lo y m e n t an d P a y -R o ll T o ta ls
In d u stries
in
M a n u fa c tu r in g
T a b l e 5 shows the general index of employment in manufacturing
industries and the general index of pay-roll totals, by months, from
January, 1923, to June, 1931, together with the average indexes for
each of the years 1923 to 1930, inclusive.
Index numbers showing relatively the variation in number of per
sons employed and in pay-roll totals in each of the 54 manufacturing
industries upon which the bureau’s general indexes are based and in
each of the 12 groups of industries, and also general indexes for the
combined 12 groups of industries, are shown in Table 6 for June, 1930,
and April, May, and June, 1931.
In computing the general indexes and the group indexes the index
numbers of separate industries are weighted according to the relative
importance of the industries.
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154
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a ble 5 .
G E N E R A L IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN M A N U
FA C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S , JA N U A R Y , 1923, TO J U N E , 1931
[M onthly average, 1926= 100]
E m ploym ent
Pay-roll totals
M onth
1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931
J a n __
F e b ...
M a r ..
A p r ...
M a y ..
J u n e ..
Ju ly . .
A u g ...
Sept__
O c t...
N ov..
D e c ...
106.6
108.4
110.8
110.8
110.8
110.9
109.2
108.5
108.6
108.1
107.4
105. 4
103.8 97.9 100.4
105.1 99.7 101.5
104.9 100.4 102.0
102.8 100.2 101. 0
98.8 98.9 99.8
95.6 98.0 99.3
92.3 97.2 97.7
92.5 97.8 98.7
94.3 98.9 100.3
95.6 100.4 100.7
95.5 100.7 99.5
97.3 100.8 98.9
97.3
99.0
99.5
98.6
97.6
97.0
95.0
95.1
95.8
95.3
93.5
92.6
91.6
93.0
93.7
93.3
93.0
93.1
92.2
93.6
95.0
95.9
95.4
95.5
95.2
97.4
98.6
99. 1
99.2
98.8
98.2
98.6
99.3
98.3
94.8
91.9
90.2 73.1 95.8 98.6 93.9 98.0 94.9
90.3 74.1 99.4 103.8 99.3 102.2 100. 6
89.8 74.8 104.7 103.3 100.8 103.4 102.0
89. 1 74.5 105. 7 101. 1 98.3 101. 5 100.8
87.7 74.1 109. 4 96.5 98.5 99.8 99.8
85.5 72.2 109.3 90.8 95.7 99.7 97.4
81.6
104.3 84.3 93.5 95.2 93.0
79.9
103.7 87.2 95.4 98.7 95. 0
79.7
104.4 89.8 94.4 99.3 94.1
78.6
106.8 92.4 100.4 102.9 95. 2
76.5
105.4 91.4 100.4 99.6 91.6
75.1 ........ 103.2 95.7 101. 6 99.8 93.2
89. 6 94.5
93.9 101.8
95. 2 103.9
93.8 104. 6
94.1 104. 8
94.2 102.8
91.2 98. 2
94. 2 102 1
95.4 102.6
99.0 102. 3
96.1 95.1
97.7 92.0
87 6 62 3
90. 7 67 0
90 8 68* 6
89 8 67 4
87. 6 66 6
84.1 62. 5
75.9
73 9
74 2
72 7
68 3
67! 4 _______
Av__ 108.8 98.3 99.3 100.0 96.4 93.8 97.5 83.7 173.8 104.3 94.6 97. 7 100.0 96.5 94.5 100.4
80.3 >65.7
1Average for six m onths.
Following Table 6 are two charts which represent the 54 separate
industries combined and show the course of pay-roll totals as well as
the course of employment for each month of the years 1926 to 1930,
and January to June, 1931, inclusive.
T able 6.
IN D E X E S OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN M A N U F A C T U R
IN G IN D U S T R IE S J U N E , 1930, A N D A P R IL , M A Y , A N D JU N E , 1931
[M onthly average, 1926=100]
Em ploym ent
In d u stry
1930
June
Pay-roll totals
1931
April
M ay
1930
June
June
1931
April
M ay
June
G e n e r a l in d e x ______________
85.5
74.5
74.1
72.2
84. 1
67.4
66. 6
62.5
F o o d a n d k in d r e d p r o d u c t s _____
Slaughtering and m eat p ack in g.
C onfectionery__________________
Ice cream ______________________
F lour__________________________
B ak in g_________________________
Sugar refining, can e____________
95.3
98.6
79. 2
99. 2
95. 5
98.9
93. 5
87.0
89.4
78.1
78.5
87.9
90.1
83.5
88.0
90.6
78.6
83.7
86.3
91.7
79.1
88.1
90.2
77.3
90.3
85.3
91.9
80.7
99.6
102.4
82.6
100.2
100.9
101.6
99.4
85.9
90.0
73.2
79.4
84.4
87.5
83.5
87.3
91.6
73.3
82.6
84.1
89.7
79.5
87.2
91.0
72. 5
87.3
81.5
89.7
81.6
T e x tile s a n d t h e ir p r o d u c ts ______
C otton goods___________________
H osiery and k n it goods_________
Silk goods______________________
W oolen and w orsted goods______
Carpets and rugs_______________
D yein g and finishing textiles____
C lothing, m en ’s________________
Shirts and collars_______________
C lothing, w om en ’s _____________
M illinery and lace goods________
83. 7
81. 3
88.9
86.2
79. 9
78.8
90. 4
81. 6
79.9
90. 5
80. 3
80. 1
77.3
80.6
80.7
71. 7
77.2
93. 5
76. 1
75. 1
98. 3
84. 4
79.8
79.1
81.4
76.9
77,4
78.2
91. 2
72.8
74.9
93.2
76. 5
77. 5
77.0
81.9
67.4
80.9
77.1
86.0
73. 3
72.7
84.9
72.4
75. 1
73.5
85. 1
79.9
77. 0
56.6
80.0
69. 3
67.7
75.5
70.0
71. 4
71.4
72.9
71.9
65. 4
64. 6
90.6
58. 2
62.8
83.7
77.7
68. 9
72.6
74. 7
66. 9
72. 4
65. 4
84. 7
50. 7
62. 7
72. 4
60.9
65
68
72
58
74
63
76
5
1
4
1
5
0
2
55 6
57 8
62 4
56.6
I r o n a n d s te e l a n d th e ir p r o d u c ts
Iron and steel___________________
Cast-iron p ip e__________________
Structural ironw ork_____________
F oundry and m achine-shop prod
u cts..............................................
88. 0
87. 7
72. 8
96. 0
71. 9
76.2
60.6
74.1
70. 3
74.2
61.0
72.5
67. 4
70. 7
59.2
71.2
85.2
87.0
72.6
95.9
60. 7
67.3
58.2
60.7
57. 8
62. 1
55. 8
60.8
52. 0
54 1
48 6
58.7
91.3
70.9
69.5
66.6
87.5
58.2
56.4
51.6
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[414]
155
TEEND OF EMPLOYMENT
T a b i e 6 .—IN D E X E S OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN M A N U F A C T U R
IN G IN D U S T R IE S JU N E , 1930, A N D A P R IL , M A Y , A N D JU N E , 1931—C ontinued
Pay-roll totals
Em ploym ent
June
Iron a n d steel a n d th eir prod
u c ts —C ontinued.
H ardw are____________________
M achine tools_________________
Steam fittings and steam and hotw ater heating apparatus--------Stoves................................................
April
M ay
1931
1930
1931
1930
In d u stry
June
June
A pril
M ay
June
79.7
104.1
68.8
70.8
68.0
68.7
66.7
65.3
68.3
98.2
53.6
56.1
53.2
54.5
48.8
50.6
62.7
77.6
57.7
65.4
55.8
64.8
54.6
62.6
56.4
70.3
44.7
50.0
41.9
50.3
40.0
46.0
L u m b er an d its p rod u cts.
Lum ber, sawmills--------Lum ber, m illw ork-------F u rn itu re --------------------
71. G
71. 7
b6. 5
74.4
54.3
51. 1
55.2
62.2
54. 6
51.6
56.0
61. 5
54. 1
51.6
54.3
60.4
70.0
73. 1
67.0
65.6
44. 1
40.1
47.7
49.7
45.0
41.8
49.1
48.7
43.9
41.9
47.3
45.8
L eather an d its p ro d u cts,
L eather_______________
Boots and shoes.-............
83.6
85.0
83.3
81.5
77.6
82.5
79.9
77.3
80.6
78.8
77.3
79.2
71.4
83.9
67.8
G8. 2
73.3
66.8
66.5
73.8
64.4
64. 5
73.1
62.1
Paper an d p r in tin g ..........
Paper and p u lp _______
Paper boxes__________
Printing, book and job.
Printing, new spapers—
98.6
93.8
88.0
99.2
108.2
92.0
82.0
82.0
91.9
107.6
92.0
82.6
81.4
91.5
107.7
90.2
81.0
80.9
88.7
106.2
103. 6
94. 1
92. 1
104. 3
113.0
93.4
75.5
82.1
92.6
110.2
92.7
75.2
81.7
90.9
110.3
89.6
71.2
79.8
87.5
107.9
C hem icals a n d allied p ro d u cts.
Chem icals_________________
Fertilizers------- -----------------Petroleum refining_________
89.8
93.1
62.8
94.4
86.8
86.6
116.4
77.9
80.6
85.0
72.9
78.1
75.3
83.8
44. 5
75.4
95.5
94.9
70.7
100.3
83.7
84.1
105.4
79.7
79.8
82.9
66.5
79.2
75.2
81.0
44.2
75.1
S to n e, clay, a n d glass p rodu cts.
C em ent_____________________
Brick, tile, and terra co tta------P o tte ry _____________________
Glass_______________________
77.9
83.4
69.4
83.1
84.6
63.6
63.9
51. 1
80.6
72.9
65.1
66. 1
52.7
82.1
74.0
64.9
64.2
52.9
77.9
76.1
74.7
87. 1
64.1
71.4
84.1
54.7
57.6
38.5
70.6
68.1
55.7
61.1
39.4
69.0
69.0
53.6
60.4
37.9
58.5
69.5
80.8
79.4
71.0
73.8
70.4
72.3
69.3
72.6
78.7
76.0
63.1
67.3
61.6
63.9
57.9
62.0
56.3
M etal p rod u cts, o th er th a n iron
a n d steel______________________
Stam ped and enam eled w are----Brass, bronze, an d copper prod
ucts________________________
T obacco p r o d u c ts-------------Chewing and smoking tobacco
and snuff_____________
Cigars and cigarettes------V ehicles for la n d tra n sp o rta tio n .
A utom obiles_____________ ____
Carriages and w agons-------------C ar b u ild in g a n d re p a irin g ,
electric-railroad____ _
C ar b u ild in g a n d re p a irin g ,
.■
steam -railroad_________
_
M iscellaneous in d u str ies—
A gricultural im plem ents __
Electrical machinery, apparatus,
and supplies---------------Pianos and organs_______
R ubber boots and shoes.. .
Shipbuilding.
67999°— 81------11
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.
81.4
69.7
69.5
67.7
79.7
61.5
60.7
91. 2
82.1
82.7
81.7
89.3
69.5
72.3
72. G
87.9
91. 6
79.8
82.4
84.6
82.4
81.8
81.7
88.5
89.4
73.9
69.0
78.7
71.5
77.1
72.0
82.7
90.9
59.5
68.2
76.8
40.8
68.3
79.1
41.5
65.3
74.3
37.1
83.1
86.8
67.0
64.7
68.8
40.9
65.6
73.5
42.6
58.0
60.4
40.0
87.6
78.9
77.7
76.5
91.3
77.9
76.2
74.4
78.8
59.6
56.9
54.4
72.0
36.3
68.3
32.0
78.1
27.4
45.6
69.4
96.6
73.0
22.9
48.1
70.5
89.8
75.2
59.9
58.2
56.7
95.9
91.5
79.3
59.9
78.0
49.7
76.5
43.9
97.2
81.3
71.9
43.6
102.3
45.5
74.5
86.1
117.3
86.2
41.5
61.7
69.0
100.3
84.3
39.1
63.5
72.5
98.2
82.4
31.8
66.2
73.3
98.0
107.4
38.8
70.3
83.1
119.0
78.9
31.6
43.9
65.1
94.9
[415]
156
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
MAHUFAC.TUR.lrtQ IN D U ST R IES.
MONTHLY INDEXES, 1926-1931..
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[M O UTH LY
A V ER A G E.
1416]
1926=100.
157
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
MANUFACTURING
MONTHLY
INDUSTRIES.
IN D E X E S ,
M O N TH LY
A VERAG E
1926-1931
1926 = 100
PAY-ROLL T O TA LS.
105
"\
S '
<•
\
\
IS Z G
\
*y
r
\
: ' i /
100
i f
if
r \
s ,—
/
! 9 ?.6
/ \ N
\
/
/
\ 's/ /
/
\
\
' \
/
W
/
\
95
----- Ljv, 90
/S ~ -
/
V
VY
/
V
90 \
100
\
/
1 9 Z .‘
/ '
'"
J329 /
^
!
y
—
\/
105
193 D
\
V
\
\
\
85
85
\
\
\
\
80
V
75
80
75
\
V- ——•a .
\
70
70
v----\
Y.^
\
65 IQ} |
65
60
60
JA N
FEB.
MAR.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
APR.
M AY
JU N E JU LY
AUQ. S EP T
OCT.
NOV.
DEC.
R/
[417]
158
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T im e W orked in M a n u fa c tu r in g In d u str ie s in J u n e , 1931
R eports as to working time of employees in June were received
from 12,277 establishments in 64 manufacturing industries. Two
per cent of the establishments were idle, while employees in 56 per
cent were working full time, and employees in 42 per cent were work
ing part time.
Employees in the establishments in operation in June were working
an average of 89 per cent of full time, this percentage showing a
decrease of 1 per cent in average full-time operation over the month
interval.
Employees in the 42 per cent of the establishments working part
time in June were averaging 75 per cent of full-time operation.
T a b l e 7.—P R O P O R T IO N O F F U L L T IM E W O R K E D IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S
BY E S T A B L IS H M E N T S R E P O R T IN G IN JU N E , 1931
Establishm ents
reporting
Per cent of estab
Average per cent of
lishm ents in
full tim e reported
which employees
by—
w orked
Industry
T otal Per cent
num ber
idle
Food an d kindred products
Slaughtering and m eat packing______ _
Confectionery________ _
Ice cream ____________ _
F lo u r______________
___________
B aking___
Sugar refining, cane______
Textiles a n d th eir produ cts
C otton goods ___ _____
Hosiery and k n it goods.. .
Silk goods________ _____
Woolen and worsted goods____
C arpets and ru g s.. ___
D yeing and finishing textiles
Clothing, m en’s ______
_____
Shirts and collars___
Clothing, w om en’s
_____
M illinery and lace goods___________
Iron a n d steel a n d th eir produ cts
_____
Iron and steel______
Cast-iron pipe_____ _ . . .
Structural ironwork . . .
Foundry and machine-shop products__
H ardw are. ___ . . .
M achine tools
Steam fittings and steam and hot-w ater
heating ap p aratu s______
Stoves____________
L um b er a n d its p ro d u cts.
Lum ber, sawmills . . .
Lum ber, m illw ork.
F u rn itu re _________
L eather a n d its p r o d u c ts..
L eath er.
______
Boots and s h o e s _______
Paper a n d p r in tin g __________
Paper and p u l p ... __ _ _
Paper boxes . . .
Printing, book and j o b ___ . . .
Printing, new spapers______ _____
C hem icals a n d allied p ro d u cts .
Chem icals___ __ _____
Fertilizers. _ ______
Petroleum refining. ...........
1 Less th a n one-half of 1 per cent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1, 776
184
278
272
370
660
12
1, 956
459
288
242
184
28
120
253
80
216
86
1,774
143
42
162
1, 004
58
140
103
122
1,130
509
277
344
378
119
259
1, 390
197
259
543
391
366
137
160
69
[418]
1
1
(0
3
4
3
1
9
2
5
1
8
1
2
7
12
1
1
2
1
2
1
2
3
1
2
2
3
1
5
5
2
9
1
Full
tim e
P a rt
tim e
All oper
ating es
tablish
m ents
E stablish
m ents op
erating
p a rt time
78
87
76
85
71
80
78
77
49
79
74
93
67
63
60
65
64
61
46
47
68
64
72
59
27
38
17
36
27
17
16
21
23
50
21
23
7
33
33
37
33
27
36
54
53
27
35
20
40
72
55
71
64
72
81
82
95
97
88
97
93
99
96
92
90
92
95
94
86
89
94
94
95
91
77
80
65
86
76
74
74
78
79
82
76
77
68
65
57
78
67
69
69
13
27
43
48
38
40
55
62
52
67
54
39
66
92
68
63
61
96
85
72
55
50
61
58
43
38
45
32
42
61
34
8
27
35
31
3
72
77
85
86
86
83
90
68
68
74
73
77
71
77
89
94
90
88
94
99
95
94
93
100
75
81
78
78
75
77
82
82
83
81
82
79
91
159
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T a b l e 7 —P R O P O R T IO N O F F U L L T IM E W O R K E D IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S
BY E S T A B L IS H M E N T S R E P O R T IN G IN JU N E . 1931—C ontinued
Per cent of estab Average per cent of
lishm ents in
full tim e reported
which employees
byworked
Establishm ents
reporting
In d u stry
Total Per cent
idle
num ber
S to n e, clay, a n d glass p r o d u c t s _______
C em ent - . . .
----------------Brick, tile, and terra c o tta .. ------- -P o tte ry __________
______ ______
Glass---------- ------- ---------- ------------- M etal p rod u cts, o th er th a n iron and
steel _ _ ___ - -- . . . . ---Brass, bronze, and copper products------T obacco p r o d u c ts ... _________________
Chewing and smoking tobacco and
snuff .
_ - __
-- --------Cigars and cigarettes.
--------------------Vehicles for lan d tr a n sp o r ta tio n ----------Automobiles _
__ _ _ _ _ __
Carriages and w agons..
. -----Car bu ild in g and repairing, electricCar building and repairing, steamrailroad____________________________
M iscellaneous in d u s tr ie s .. ___________
A gricultural im plem ents ____________
Electrical m achinery, apparatus, and
supplies
. . --------------------------Pianos and organs.
------- ---------------1}libber boots and shoes
Automobile tires and inner tubes
S hipbuild in g .. _________ _____ _____
Industries added since February, 1929—
Radio- _ ___________ _______ _____
Rayon
_ __ ___ - _____
________
___
A ircraft______
Jew elry. ______ _ _ . ---------- ---------P a in t and v arn ish . _ -----R ubber goods, other th a n boots, shoes,
tires, and inner tubes
Beet sugar
__Beverages
__
- __ - - __Cash registers, adding machines, and
calculating m achines
_ _ 1_______
Typew riters and su p p lie s.-. -------------T o ta l_______________
______
...
740
90
412
100
132
209
70
139
199
26
173
1,128
176
39
178
50
9
32
84
802
41
15
37
127
248
69
15
210
1 Less th a n one-half of 1 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[419]
Establish
m ents op
erating
p a rt tim e
57
81
53
31
73
34
10
36
65
20
90
98
89
82
96
74
77
72
74
80
1
3
36
46
31
40
64
54
68
58
84
89
82
87
75
79
74
79
54
38
56
37
59
42
60
44
63
31
93
86
91
85
90
85
78
79
75
72
82
18
97
86
41
38
32
59
61
67
87
86
81
78
78
71
21
24
44
75
70
71
61
67
76
36
77
78
72
56
25
27
29
37
33
22
62
22
84
80
85
98
95
94
94
95
99
83
97
80
/3
72
86
83
79
84
84
90
73
84
52
47
91
48
40
9
91
84
99
80
65
81
79
50
21
50
97
84
85
68
56
42
89
75
«
4
2
(*)
10
(>)
1
1
1
4
2
1
2
3
2
«
IS
34
6
12, 277
All oper
ating es
tablish
ments
9
9
11
4
6
408
505
429
76
P a rt
tim e
Full
tim e
3
160
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
2. E m p lo y m en t in N o n m a n u fa ctu rin g in d u str ie s in J u n e , 1931
N THE following table the bureau presents by geographic divisions
the data for 14 nonmanufacturing industries, the totals for which
also appear in the summary of employment and pay-roll totals, page 144.
The canning and preserving industry reported the usual seasonal
increase in employment in June, but pay-roll totals in this industry
did not show a corresponding gain, several very large canneries re
porting the termination of the packing of certain seasonal vegetables
during the June pay period. The decrease in employment in the
bituminous coal mining industry was accentuated by labor troubles in
certain localities.
I
T a ble 1.—C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN M A Y A N D JU N E , 1931, B Y IN D U S T R IE S
Geographic division
E stab
lish
ments
N um ber on pay roll
Per cent
of change
M ay, 1931
June, 1931
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
M ay, 1931
June, 1931
Per
cent of
change
A N TH R A C IT E M IN IN G
M iddle A tlantic.
160
109,977
104,217
- 5 .2
$3,024,282
$2,648,925
-1 2 .4
B IT U M IN O U S COAL M IN IN G
M iddle A tlantic___
E ast N o rth C entral.
W est N o rth Central.
South A tla n tic ...__
E ast South C entral.
W est South C entral.
M o u n tain _________
Pacific_____ ____ _
391
155
52
315
228
25
125
10
61,430
25, 472
3,569
50, Oil
41,100
1,632
12, 516
1,478
56,371
24,622
3, 370
48,157
39, 902
1,656
11,885
1,492
-8 .2
- 3 .3
- 5 .6
- 3 .7
- 2 .9
+ 1.5
- 5 .0
+ 0.9
$1,025, 695
492, 632
62, 308
843,835
607,619
23,950
293, 338
30, 491
$924, 694
490,378
63,864
£60, 774
582, 982
25,462
269,307
38, 637
- 9 .8
- 0 .5
+ 2.5
+ 2 .0
- 4 .1
+ 6.3
- 8 .2
+26.7
All division s..
1,301
197,308
187,455
- 4 .9
3,379,868
3,256,098
- 3 .7
M ET A L LIFE R O U S M IN IN G
M iddle A tlan tic___
E ast N o rth C entralW est N o rth Central.
E ast South C en tralW est South C entral.
M o u n tain _________
Pacific____________
7
49
57
14
59
101
34
1,018
10,463
6,125
2,666
2,093
16,137
2,177
1,054
10,120
5, 906
2,452
1,886
15, 522
2,174
+ 3 .5
- 3 .3
- 3 .6
- 8 .0
- 9 .9
—3. 8
- 0 .1
$20,529
195,122
153,197
50, 773
36, 261
459, 465
63, 062
$20,974
184,276
146, 737
46, 367
33, 027
422,134
62, 646
+ 2.2
- 5 .6
- 4 .2
- 8 .7
- 8 .9
- 8 .1
- 0 .7
All d ivision s..
331
40,679
39,114
- 3 .8
978,409
916,161
- 6 .4
Q U A R R Y IN G A N D N O N M ET A L LIC M IN IN G
N ew E n g lan d _____
M iddle A tlantic___
E ast N o rth C entralW est N o rth C entral
South A tlantic_____
E ast South C en tralW est South C entral.
M o u n tain _________
Pacific____________
103
111
217
68
95
63
41
3
40
4,240
6,333
7, 559
1,884
5,205
3, 269
1,984
53
1,145
3,998
6, 569
7,245
1,808
5,075
2,810
1,792
53
1,189
- 5 .7
+ 3.7
- 4 .2
- 4 .0
- 2 .5
-1 4 .0
- 9 .7
(*)
+ 3.8
$114, 941
151, 280
191, 437
40, 669
82, 803
43, 552
44, 210
1,793
30, 609
$101, 721
149,830
184, 342
40, 618
84, 038
41,609
41, 585
1,911
31, 353
-1 1 .5
- 1 .0
- 3 .7
- 0 .1
+ 1.5
- 4 .5
- 5 .9
+ 6.6
+ 2.4
All division s..
741
31,672
30,539
- 3 .6
701,294
677,007
- 3 .5
See footnotes a t end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[420]
161
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
l.-C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN M A Y A N D J U N E , 1931, B Y IN D U S
T R IE S —C ontinued
TABLE
Geographic division
E stab
lishments
N um ber on pay roll
Per cent
)f change
M ay, 1931
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
M ay, 1931
June, 1931
Per
cent of
change
June, 1931
CRUDE PE T R O L EU M PR O D U C IN G
M iddle A tlan tic--------------E ast N orth C en tral.— . . . W est N orth C en tral______
South A tlantic .
.. —
E ast South C entral . . W est South C entral _
M ountain
. . ____ -Pacific___________________
42
5
24
14
5
370
20
91
667
28
108
297
210
18, 048
278
7,056
636
26
106
296
204
17,743
273
6,298
- 4 .6
- 7 .1
- 1 .9
- 0 .3
- 2 .9
- 1 .7
- 1 .8
-1 0 .7
$16, 590
552
2, 241
7,479
4,494
628,946
9, 466
271,131
$15,809
545
1,824
6,939
4, 271
619,156
9, 823
253,158
-4 .7
1. 3
—18. 6
—7. 2
—5. 0
—1. 6
+3. 8
-6 . 6
AB divisions________
577
26, 692
25, 582
- 4 .2
940, 899
911, 525
- 3 .1
T E L E PH O N E AND T EL E G R A PH
N ew England _________
M iddle A tlantic . _______
E ast N o rth C entral . . . .
W est N orth C en tral. . . . . .
South A tlantic
- —
E ast South C entral. . .
W est South C entral .
M ountain . . . . ______
Pacific___________ ______ —
All division s_______
724
1, 245
1,431
1,371
560
621
692
483
915
27,406
99, 744
69,465
28, 876
20, 063
9,963
17,121
7, 214
30, 077
27, 567
98, 842
68, 782
28,953
19, 778
9,927
17,090
7, 269
29, 891
+ 0 .6
- 0 .9
- 1 .0
+ 0 .3
- 1 .4
- 0 .4
- 0 .2
+ 0 .8
- 0 .6
$862, 279
3, 255, 895
1,912, 580
719, 673
550, 846
223, 366
391, 354
177,166
925, 539
$877, 312
3, 277, 533
1, 924, 042
732, 333
554, 463
226, 015
397, 682
180, 300
937, 241
+ 1.7
+ 0.7
+0. 6
+ 1 .8
+0. 7
+1. 2
+ 1 .6
+ 1 .8
+ 1.3
8, 042
309, 929
308, 099
- 0 .6
9, 018, 698
9,106, 921
+ 1.0
POW ER, LIG H T, AN D W ATER
New E n g la n d __ .
M iddle A tlantic
---------E ast N orth C entral
W est N orth Central
South A tlantic.
E ast South C entral. . .
W est South Central
M o u n ta i n ____
... Pacific_____ . . . ---------
268
320
657
431
284
170
584
124
837
22, 391
60, 675
55, 838
27, 406
23, 223
6,945
16, 943
6,106
23, 540
22, 397
60, 412
56, 322
27, 858
23, 068
6,955
16, 226
5, 826
22, 995
+ (2)
- 0 .4
+ 0 .9
+ 1.6
- 0 .7
+ 0.1
- 4 .2
- 4 .6
- 2 .3
$714, 558
2, 007, 454
1,824,995
802, 211
716, 739
172, 270
467,056
186, 280
766, 644
$725, 757
2, 003, 584
1, 828, 626
807, 524
717,077
173, 942
452, 355
179,967
742,257
+ 1 .6
—0. 2
+0. 2
+0. 7
+ (2)
+ 1 .0
—3.1
—3. 4
-3 . 2
AU division s_________
3, 675
243,067
242, 059
- 0 .4
7, 658, 207
7, 631, 089
- 0 .4
ELEC TR IC RAILR O A D S 3
New England . . . .
__
M iddle A tlantic
_ _
E ast N orth C entral . . .
W est N orth Central
South A tlantic
- ___
TCast South Central
W est South Central
M ountain
Pacific____ ___
____
All division s______
47
159
107
84
52
13
34
15
38
13, 671
37,122
43,093
13, 969
11, 660
2,723
5,186
2,009
16, 288
13, 724
37, 021
42, 301
14,118
11, 583
2, 703
5, 045
2,005
16, 202
+ 0 .4
- 0 .3
- 1 .8
+ 1.1
- 0 .7
- 0 .7
- 2 .7
- 0 .2
- 0 .5
$489, 548
1,189,161
1, 392, 380
426, 733
328, 021
75, 933
139, 298
54,446
508, 943
$491,160
1,195, 947
1, 377, 534
431, 531
329,449
75, 200
137, 511
54,100
499, 913
+ 0.3
+0. 6
“ 1.1
-}"i. 1
+0. 4
—1. 0
1. 3
-0 . 6
—1. 8
549
145, 721
144, 702
- 0 .7
4, 604, 463
4, 592, 345
- 0 .3
See footnotes a t end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[4211
162
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T a b l e 1 .— C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN M A Y A N D JU N E , 1931, BY IN D U S
T R IE S—C ontinued
Geographic division
E stab
lish
ments
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
N um ber on pay roll
Per cent
of change
M ay, 1931
June, 1931
M ay, 1931
June, 1931
Per
cent of
change
W HOLESALE TR A D E
New E n g lan d____________
M iddle A tla n tic ______
E ast N orth C entral_____ .
W est N orth C entral. . .
South A tlantic
________
E ast South C e n t r a l ..___
W est South C entral_______
M ountain _ . . . . ___
Pacific________ __________
564
308
302
213
184
65
297
80
353
13, Oil
9,287
11,591
12,295
3,504
1.635
5, 851
1,770
9, 777
13,310
9, 337
11, 428
12,176
3, 466
1,655
5,811
1,761
9, 755
+ 2 .3
+ 0 .5
- 1 .4
- 1 .0
- 1 .1
+ 1.2
- 0 .7
-0 .5
- 0 .2
All divisions___ ____
2, 3G6
68, 721
68, 699
~ ( 2)
$399, 324
304, 817
357, 289
360, 719
105,860
44, 557
169, 377
59, 287
322, 513
$403, 492
300,183
350, 799
356, 436
104, 530
45,034
167, 624
59,085
321,132
+ 1 .0
- 1 .5
- 1 .8
- 1 .2
- 1 .3
+ 1.1
- 1 .0
- 0 .3
- 0 .4
2,123, 773
2,108, 315
- 0 .7
R ETA IL TR A D E
New England ___ _______
M iddle A tlan tic__________
E ast N orth C en tral______
W est N orth C en tra l.. . . .
South A tlan tic______ _____
E ast South C entral _______
W est South C en tral_____
M o u n tain . _ ___________
Pacific_____________ _____
All division s_______
2,379
408
2, 738
693
1,064
370
228
218
1,574
53,048
79,505
74,348
20, 955
21,215
8, 519
12, 739
4, 975
43,080
52,977
79, 410
73, 435
20, 535
21,285
7, 939
12, 805
5,069
41,999
-0 .1
- 0 .1
-1 .2
- 2 .0
+ 0.3
-6 .8
+ 0.5
+ 1 .9
- 2 .5
$1, 284, 527
2,051,939
1, 780,357
440,024
468,224
154, 608
258,923
105, 342
1,008, 519
$1, 277, 536
2,044,101
1, 804, 781
437,334
468, 207
148,501
251,917
108, 634
976, 002
- 0 .5
-0 .4
+ 1 .4
- 0 .6
- ( 2)
- 4 .1
- 2 .7
+3.1
- 3 .2
9, 672
318, 304
315, 454
-9 . 9
7, 552, 763
7, 517, 013
- 0 .5
H O TELS *
N ew E ngland ___________
M iddle A tlan tic______ . . .
E ast N orth C e n tra l.. . _.
W est N o rth C entral ___
South A tlantic _________
E ast South C entral ._ __
W est South C entral
M o u n ta in ..
Pacific______ _ _________
All divisions. . . .
126
398
393
284
169
95
160
112
349
8,168
44, 980
31,310
15, 098
12,066
6, 346
9, 447
3,600
16, 694
9,020
45, 313
31, 038
14, 936
11, 289
5, 944
8,859
3, 607
16,288
+ 10.4
+ 0 .7
-0 .9
- 1 .1
-6 .4
- 6 .3
- 6 .2
+ 0.2
- 2 .4
$134, 284
790,785
531, 057
213, 055
174, 629
75, 180
121, 393
60, 698
305, 961
$142, 788
771, 762
522,523
206,977
160, 574
69,101
112, 514
60,143
299,033
+ 6 .3
- 2 .4
—1. 6
- 2 .9
-8 . 0
- 8 .1
- 7 .3
- 0 .9
-2 .3
2,086
147, 709
146, 294
- 1 .0
2, 497, 042
2, 345, 415
- 2 .6
C A N N IN G AND PR E SE R V IN G
N ew E n g l a n d . __
M iddle A tlan tic___. .
E ast N orth C e n tra l..
W est N orth C entral
South A tlantic ___
E ast South C e n tra l.._
W est South C entral . . .
M ountain ___
Pacific________________ _
All d iv isio n s-.
.
61
86
225
59
99
34
33
53
203
1,185
7, 250
6,647
1,264
3,148
1,203
1,024
953
11,830
1, 154
8,090
7,512
1,615
3,953
1,675
1,662
1,299
16,537
- 2 .6
+ 11.6
+ 13.0
+27.8
+25.6
+39.2
+62.3
+36.3
+39.8
$22, 586
142,024
120,197
22, 608
37, 838
14, 306
7,116
25, 922
220, 344
$22, 522
146,437
134, 763
25,606
45,198
17,929
7,240
26, 581
215, 535
- 0 .3
+ 3.1
+12.1
+ 13. 3
+19.5
+25.3
+ 1.7
+ 2.5
- 2 .2
« 853
34, 504
43, 497
+26.1
612, 941
641, 811
+4.7
Sçe footnotes at end of table,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[422]
163
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T able i . —C O M P A R IS O N O P E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN M A Y A N D JU N E , 1931, B Y IN D U S
T R IE S—Continued
Geographic division
A m ount of pay roll
N um ber on p ay roll
E stab
(1 week)
Per cent
lish
of
change
ments M ay, 1931
June, 1931
M ay, 1931 June, 1931
Per
cent of
change
L A U N D R IE S
New E n g la n d .___ _____
M iddle A tlantic . . . . . .
E ast N o rth Central
W est N o rth C e n tra l...
South A tla n tic .
E ast South Central
W est South C e n tra l..
M ountain _____
Pacific_________
All division s______
53
89
80
58
52
32
13
19
55
2,818
11, 345
5,445
4, 654
5,728
2, 246
777
1,772
3,667
2,850
11,450
5,416
4,692
5, 958
2,211
787
1,781
3, 605
+ 0 .9
- 0 .5
+ 0 .8
+ 4 .0
- 1 .6
+ 1.3
+ 0 .5
- 1 .7
$57, 934
231, 288
104, 599
82,112
92,120
27, 924
11,082
30, 754
79, 368
$58, 966
233, 655
104,121
82, 685
94, 731
28, 466
11, 081
30, 442
77, 727
451
38, 452
38, 750
+ 0.8
717,181
721, 874
+0. 7
22
22
22
30
40
12
12
19
13
1,124
1,411
894
884
1,044
564
321
263
736
1,177
1,483
882
903
1, 085
574
343
260
710
+ 6 .9
- 1 .1
- 3 .5
$25, 935
35, 902
21, 510
19, 701
19, 808
10, 674
6, 633
6, 420
18, 423
$27, 767
37, 592
21, 643
20, 237
20,473
10, 908
7,164
6, 277
17, 651
+7.1
+ 4.7
+ 0.6
+ 2 .7
+ 3 .4
+ 2 .2
+ 8 .0
-2 .2
-4 .2
192
7, 241
7, 417
+ 2 .4
165, 006
169, 712
+2. 9
+ 1 .8
+ 1 .0
- 0 .5
+ 0 .7
+ 2 .8
+ 1.9
-0
- 1 .0
- 2 .1
D Y E IN G AN D C LEA N IN G
New E n g lan d . _____
M iddle A tlan tic____
E ast N o rth Central
_ _
W est N o rth C en tra l..
South A tlantic
E ast South C entral. .
W est South C entral
M o u n tain _____ . . .
Pacific_____________
All d iv isio n s.. ____
+ 4 .7
+5.1
- 1 .3
+2.1
+ 3 .9
1 No change.
2 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
3 N ot including car building and repairing; see m anufacturing industries, Table 1, et seq.
4 T he am ount of pay roll given represents cash paym ents only; th e additional value of board, room,
and tips can not be com puted.
5 Included in the total of 853 establishm ents reporting in June were 43 establishm ents w hich were closed
in M ay b u t had resum ed operation in June, and 10 establishm ents which were operating in M ay and
reported a seasonal closing in June, 1931. There were also 266 additional canning establishm ents whose
reports were not included in th e total num ber of reporting establishm ents, as the plants had been seasonally
closed for a period of 2 or more m onths.
T a b le 2 — C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN N O N M A N U
FA C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S , JU N E , 1931, W IT H JU N E , 1930
In d u stry
A nthracite m ining_________
B itum inous coal m ining____
M etalliferous m ining__ _____
Q uarrying and nonm etallic
m ining ____ ____________ _
C rude petroleum producing. _
Telephone and telegraph _
Power, light, and w ater_____
Per cent of change,
June, 1931, com
pared w ith June,
1930
N um ber
on pay
roll
A m ount
of pay
roll
-1 6 .2
-1 1 .3
-2 9 .1
-2 9 .3
-3 0 .7
-4 3 .5
-1 9 .9
-2 7 .9
-1 2 .9
- 7 .1
-3 3 .9
-2 8 .0
- 8 .1
- 8 .8
Per cent of change,
June, 1931, com
pared w ith June,
1930
In d u stry
N um ber
on pay
roll
Electric railroads__________
Wholesale tra d e ___________
R etail trade
. . _________
H o te ls ________
______
C anning and preserving. ___
L aundries___ ______ ____
D yeing and cleaning............ ..
-1 0 .0
- 9 .7
- 5 .1
- 6 .5
-1 4 .9
0
0
A m ount
of pay
roll
-1 2 .6
-1 4 .7
- 9 .5
-1 2 .9
-2 8 .1
0
0
1 D ata not available.
In dexes
of
E m p lo y m e n t
and
P a y -R o ll T o ta ls
In d u stries
for
N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g
T a b l e 3 shows the index numbers of employment and pay-roll
totals for anthracite, bituminous coal, and metalliferous mining,
quarrying, crude petroleum producing, telephone and telegraph,
power, light, and water, electric railroads, wholesale and retail trade,
hotels, and canning and preserving, by months, from January, 1930,
to June, 1931, with the monthly average for 1929 as 100.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[423]
T a ble 3 .—IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S F O R N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S , JA N U A R Y , 1930, TO J U N E , 1931
[M onthly average, 1929= 100]
A nthracite B itum inous M etallifer
mining
coal mining ous mining
Quarrying
and nonmetallic
mining
Crude
petroleum
producing
Telephone
and tele
graph
Power,
light, and
w ater
Y ear and m onth
O peration
and m ain
tenance
of electric
railroads 1
Wholesale
trade
R etail
trade
Hotels
C anning
and pre
serving
E m P ay E m P a y E m P a y E m P ay E m P ay E m P a y E m P ay E m P a y E m Pay E m P ay E m P ay E m P ay
ploy roll ploy roll ploy roll ploy roll ploy roll ploy roll ploy roll ploy roll ploy roll ploy roll ploy roll ploy roll
m ent totals m en t totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals
95.7
92.3
90.9
92.7
92.5
90.8
79.6
79.8
83.0
71.9
83.5
80.0
92.7
90.8
89.3
94.0 101.6 105.1
88.6 100.2 101.9
91.3 99.4 105.8
A p r il_______________
M ay ________________
Ju n e _________________
84.1
93.8
90.8
75.0
98.8
94.3
94.4
90.4
88.4
81.7
77.5
75.6
89.3
87.5
84.6
88.3
85.6
81.6
87.4
90.8
90.3
85.4
90.2
90.9
86.8
89.8
90.2
86.6
85.4
87.1
Ju ly _________________
A ugust_____________ .
Septem ber___________
91.6
80.2
93.8
84.0
78.8
91.6
88.0
89.2
90.5
68.9
71.1
74.9
80.5
79.0
78.1
71.9
71.0
69.9
89.9
89.3
87.7
85.5
85.8
82.5
October______________
N ovem ber__ ____ _ _
December___________
99.0 117.2
97.2 98.0
99. 1 100.0
91.8
92.5
92.5
79.4
79.1
77.7
77.2
72.8
70.1
68.6
63.4
59.9
84.7
78.3
70.2
93.4
9.5.3
93.4
81.3
83.2
78.0
1931
Jan u ary ______________
F eb ru ary ____________
M a r c h .._ . . . _______
90.6 89.3
89.5 101.9
82.0 71.3
93.9
91.5
88.8
73.3
68.3
65.2
68.3
65.3
63.5
A pril________________
M a y ________________
Ju n e _____ ________
85.2
80.3
76.1
85.9
82.4
78.4
58.6
54.4
52.4
63.9
62.4
60.0
A verage_______
75.2
76.1
66.7
99.6 99.7
98.8 100.4
99.7 102.1
97.1
95.1
94.4
97.8 100.0 100.0
95.7 98.7 98.3
95.4 97.7 99.7
98.9
94.4
93.9
99.7 100.4 100.3
96.0 102.4 103.8
95.5 102.4 104.4
46.1
45.7
49.7
50.3
51.5
50.8
98.9 103.4 100.7 102.6
99.7 103.2 103.4 104.5
99.8 103.4 104.6 107.8
95.2
95.2
94.8
97.1
96.0
97.0
97.3
96.8
96.5
97.9
97.4
98.6
97.3
96.7
93.9
97.5 100.1 100.3
97.3 98.0 98.4
96.8 98.0 98. 1
74.8
65.7
83.0
72.6
66.9
81.5
89.9
87.7
85.0
88.5 100.0 106.6 105.9 106.7
86.0 98.8 102. 5 106.4 106.6
84.0 96.8 102.2 105.2 106.1
95.3
92.9
91.8
95.6
92.1
90.5
96.0
95.0
94.8
96.0
93.6
93.6
89.0
85.6
92.0
91.7 101.3
87.6 101.5
92.4 100. 1
99.8 126.3 112.7
98.6 185.7 172.0
97.1 246.6 214.8
79.3
66.8
59.9
85.2
83.6
77.4
82.6
80.0
77.2
94.5 100.9 104.8 105.6
93.0 97.9 103.4 103.7
91.6 101.3 103.2 106.3
91.0
89.3
88.8
88.9
87.7
88.6
94.2
92.6
92.0
92.9 95.5 95.1
91.0 98.4 96.8
91.3 115.1 107.7
97.5
95.2
93.5
95.5 164.7 140.0
93.6 96.7 82.9
91.5 61.6 57.4
84,3
79.3
87.4
85.9
97.9 102.9 103.0 104.3
93.4
93.5
96.0
95.9
95.9
96.2
99.2
98.5 103.9
96.1
55.0
54.6
52.8
64.4
66.6
70.0
50.4
54.4
58.2
74.8
73.2
72.2
71.5
70.0
73.2
90.5
89.2
88.6
96.3
94.8
97.9
99.2 98.6
97.8 99.7
96.7 102.4
86.9
86.6
86.4
85.6
87.1
88.1
89.5
88.2
87.4
87.5
88.4
89.1
90.0
87.1
87.8
89.4
86.7
87.5
95.0
96.8
96.8
91.0
93.7
93.4
48.9
48.3
53.0
46.1
48.6
50.3
51.4
49.3
46.1
76.1
75.0
72.3
62.6
62.3
60.1
69.8
67.8
65.0
66.3
64.7
62.7
88.1
87.4
86.9
95.0
94.1
95.0
97.1
97.6
97.2
86.8
85.9
85.3
86.6
85.1
84.8
87.4
87.1
87.1
85.2
84.7
84.1
90.1
89.9
89.1
88.3
88.0
87.6
95.9
92.5
91.6
89.9
87.7
85.4
59.6
56.0
70.6
57.1
56.0
58.6
97.6
98.7
98.3
1 N ot including electric-railroad car building and repairing; see vehicles group, m anufacturing industries, p. 148, et seq.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
[424]
1930
Ja n u a ry ... ---------------- 102.1 105.8 102.5 101.4
F eb ru ary ___ _________ 106.9 121.5 102.4 102.1
M arch ________ ^_____ 82.6 78.5 98.6 86.4
165
TR EN D OF EM PLOYM ENT
E m p lo y m en t in B u ild in g C o n stru ctio n in J u n e , 1931
MPLOYMENT in the building construction industry in June,
1931, increased 3.7 per cent, as compared with May, 1931, and
pay-roll totals increased 1.5 per cent, according to reports received
from 4,333 firms having in June 65,370 employees, whose earnings in
one week were $1,948,957.
The bureau’s survey of employment in this industry now covers
20 cities and their suburbs. Data furnished by three cooperating
State bureaus which collect information concerning employment and
earnings in this industry within their respective States are also pre
sented. Reports from contractors in 5 additional cities—Birmingham,
Charlotte (N. C.), Hartford, Oklahoma City, and Portland (Me.)—have
been secured for one pay period nearest June 15, and information
concerning these localities will be published when comparable
data from identical contractors for two months are available.
The following table shows the localities covered, the number of
identical firms reporting for both months, the number of employees
and amount of earnings for one week in May and June, 1931, together
with the per cents of change over the month interval.
E
C O M P A R IS O N
OF
E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN B U IL D IN G C O N
S T R U C T IO N IN M AY A N D JU N E , 1931, B Y C IT IE S
Locality
A tla n ta .. ____________________
C leveland.. ___ ______ . . ..
... .
D allas_______
D enver. . . .
Des M oines _ ................... ........
Indianapolis.. .
...
Jacksonville .
.
------- -Louisville ____ ______
_____
M e m p h is _____ ____ ____ ______
M in n ea p o lis_______ . ______
______ _________
New Orleans
O m a h a ... .
. . . . . ----------Portland, Oreg.
. . . . ________
Providence.
. ______________
R ichm ond___ ______
...
St. Louis .
.
...
Salt Lake C ity ..
..
______
Seattle
__________________ ..
W ashington, D . C__
W ilmington, D e l.. . . ____. . .
B altim o re 2. . . . . . ____________
M assach u setts2
___________
W isconsin 2______ ___________
T otal
N um ber
of estab
lishments
N um ber on pay
roll
M ay, 1931 June, 1931
119
339
113
171
57
169
45
118
77
229
114
103
184
209
115
456
84
174
454
93
72
764
74
1, 732
6,652
1,648
1,328
889
2,111
374
1,095
695
3,365
2, 579
1,052
1, 532
2,553
1,710
4, 320
654
2, 770
9, 683
1, 522
1, 774
10, 352
2, 636
1,572
5,938
1, 786
1,327
1,118
2,190
494
1,154
816
3, 559
2,445
1,157
1,633
2,732
1,735
4,195
720
2,950
10, 499
1, 544
2,161
10, 611
3,034
4, 333
63, 026
65, 370
1 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
Per
cent of
change
- 9 .2
-1 0 .7
+ 8 .4
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
Per
cent of
change
M ay, 1931 June, 1931
+25.8
+ 3.7
+32.1
+ 5.4
+17.4
+ 5 .8
-5 . 2
+10.0
+ 6 .6
+ 7 .0
+ 1 .5
- 2 .9
+10. 1
+ 6 .5
+ 8.4
+ 1. 4
+21. 8
+ 2 .5
+15.1
$34, 295
249, 337
43,965
38, 390
28,467
67, 657
6,757
26,071
14, 397
103, 413
49, 519
27, 694
47, 873
80,192
40, 831
154, 468
18, 392
86, 672
293, 781
42, 763
44, 475
350, 534
69, 589
$30, 528
223, 464
46, 065
37, 476
32, 607
74, 257
8,879
27,353
16, 840
106, 755
46, 352
29, 673
50, 073
79, 618
41, 526
154, 487
21, 224
88, 462
326, 674
43,113
54, 097
335, 648
73, 786
-1 1 .0
-1 0 .4
+ 4 .8
- 2 .4
+14.5
+ 9 .8
+31.4
+ 4.9
+17.0
+ 3 .2
- 6 .4
+ 7.1
+ 4 .6
- 0 .7
+ 1 .7
+ 0)
+15.4
+2. 1
+11.2
+ 0 .8
+21.6
-4 . 2
+ 6 .0
+3. 7
1, 919, 532
1, 948, 957
+ 1.5
-
0. 1
2 D ata supplied b y cooperating State bureau.
The bureau’s monthly employment survey of the building-construc
tion industry, while being steadily expanded, has not yet attained
sufficient volume to represent its proper proportion in comparison with
the other 15 industrial groups in the summary table, page 144, and
therefore the figures have not been included. The several industrial
groups in the summary table are not weighted according to their
relative importance, and the significance of the trend in employment
and earnings in this industry would not be properly reflected in the
combined total of the summary table at the present time.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[425]
166
MONTHLY LABOE E E VIEW
E m p lo y m en t on C lass I S te a m R ailroads in th e U n ited S ta te s
HE monthly trend of employment from January, 1923, to May,
1931, on Class I railroads—that is, all roads having operating reve
nues of $1,000,000 or over—is shown by the index numbers published in
Table 1. These index numbers are constructed from monthly reports
of the Interstate Commerce Commission, using the monthly average
for 1926 as 100.
T
T a b l e 1.—IN D E X OF E M P L O Y M E N T ON CLASS I ST E A M R A IL R O A D S IN T H E U N IT E D
S T A T E S , JA N U A R Y , 1923, TO M A Y , 1931
[M o n th ly average, 1926=100]
M onth
1923
Jan u ary _________
F ebruary_________
M arch_________ _
A p ril___________
M ay_____________
________
June
Ju ly
August
September
October
Novem ber _____
D ecem ber________
A v e ra g e ____
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
98.3
98.6
100.5
102.0
105.0
107.1
108. 2
109. 4
107. 8
107. 3
105. 2
99.4
96.9
97.0
97.4
98.9
99.2
98.0
98.1
99. 0
99. 7
100. 8
99. 0
96.0
95.6
95.4
95.2
96.6
97.8
98.6
99.4
99.7
99.9
100. 7
99.1
97.1
95.8
96.0
96.7
98.9
100.2
101. 6
102.9
102. 7
102. 8
103.4
101.2
98.2
95.5
95.3
95.8
97.4
99.4
100.9
101. 0
99.5
99.1
98.9
95.7
91.9
89.3
89.0
89. 9
91. 7
94.5
95.9
95.6
95.7
95.3
95.3
92.9
89.7
88.2
88.9
90. 1
92. 2
94.9
96. 1
96. 6
97.4
96.8
96.9
93.0
88.8
86.3
85.4
85. 5
87.0
88.6
86.5
84.7
83.7
82.2
80.4
77. 0
74.9
73.7
72.7
72.9
73.5
73.9
104.1
98.3
97.9
100.0
97.5
92.9
93.3
83.5
i 73.3
i Average for 5 m onths.
Table 2 shows the total number of employees on the 15th day each
of May, 1930, and April and May, 1931, and pay-roll totals for the
entire months.
In these tabulations data for the occupational group reported as
“ executives, officials, and staff assistants” are omitted.
T a b l e 2 —E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S OF R A IL R O A D E M P L O Y E E S , M A Y , 1930,
A N D A P R IL A N D M A Y , 1931
[From m onthly reports of In terstate Commerce Commission. As d ata for only the more im portant occu
pations are shown separately, the group totals are no t the sum of the item s under the respective
groups]
N u m b er of employees a t m id
dle of m onth
T otal earnings
Occupation
P rofession al, clerical, a n d general.
C lerks------ . . . . . . . . . ----------Stenographers and ty p ists______
M a in te n a n ce o f w a y a n d str u c lu r e s ___ _ . . . . . .
____ ___
Laborers, extra gang a n d work
tra in . . . . . . . .
Laborers, track and roadw ay
section______________________
M a in te n a n ce o f e q u ip m e n t and
sto r es_____
. .. .. .
.
Carm en. _____________________
M achinists____________________
Skilled trades helpers_____ _____
Laborers (shops, engine houses,
power plants, and stores). . . .
Common laborers (shops, engine
houses, pow er plants, and
stores)...........
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
April,
1931
M ay,
1931
260, «33
145, 221
24,130
230,359
125,828
21, 514
227,838 $38,589,452 $34,109,960 $33,616,285
124, 284 20,424,305 17,525,537 17, 251,169
21, 219
3,193,339
2,845,479
2, 780, 258
408,042
290,569
308,317
38, 441,526
27,060,604
69,309
31, 228
37,276
5, 273,817
2,200,223
2, 583, 532
208,997
153,036
164,113
15,313,913
10,534,865
11,087,960
422,105
90,577
52,413
92,808
362,654
75, 677
47,473
79, 601
355,740
74, 062
46, 916
78,128
57,690,602
14,094, 616
8,524, 700
10,809,096
46,085,439
10,780,323
7,055,912
8,450,424
44,599,187
10, 385, 232
6, 825,478
8,172, 276
34,715
29, 655
29,073
3,371,566
2,712,074
2, 701, 841
38,821
38,039
3,830,098
2,925,200
2, 783,144
47, 385
[426]
M ay,
1930
A pril,
1931
M ay,
1930
M ay,
1931
27,963,239
167
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T a b l e 2.—E M P L O Y M E N T A N D
E A R N IN G S O F R A IL R O A D E M P L O Y E E S , M A Y , 1930,
A N D A P R IL A N D M A Y , 1931—C ontinued
N um ber of employees at m id
dle of m onth
Total earnings
Occupation
T ra n sp o rta tio n , oth er th a n train,
e n g in e a n d y a rd ____ .
Station agents__ ____ _
. ---Telegraphers, telep h o n es, and
tow erm en_________ ________
Truckers (stations, warehouses,
and platform s)... ---------- . . . .
Crossing and bridge flagmen and
gatem en_____________________
M ay,
1930
April,
1931
M ay,
1931
184,906
28,855
163,290
27,858
162,283 $23, 701,857 $20,495,309 $20,495,068
27, 768
4,692, 364
4,407,956
4,396,355
M ay,
1930
April,
1931
M ay,
1931
22,101
20,040
19, 850
3,513,063
3,078,199
3,127,198
30,052
24,324
24, 228
2,894,452
2,253,373
2,198, 584
20,015
19,002
18, 996
1,570,017
1,474,174
1,472, 853
T ran sp orta tio n (yard m a sters,
sw itch ten d ers, a n d h o stlers).
20,622
18,283
17,937
4,100,412
3,507,194
3,498,946
T ra n sp o rta tio n , tra in a n d c n g in e -----------------------------------------R oad conductors.. . . . . . . -----R oad brakem en and flagmen. _
Y ard brakem en and yard helpers.
R oad engineers and m otor m e n ..
R oad firemen and helpers----------
288,935
32, 553
63,433
49,101
38, 820
39, 386
250,216
28,447
54, 735
42, 616
33, 399
34,199
249,568
28, 491
54, 871
42, 227
33, 455
34,136
59,064, 702
7,992, 501
11,231,814
8, 589, 941
10, 647,276
7, 776, 660
48,422,115
6, 640, 226
9,080,839
6, 947, 326
8, 793, 049
6,368, 046
48,959,036
6, 761, 511
9, 237, 374
6,943, 799
8,947,758
6,485,153
All em p lo y ees______________ 1,584,643 1,315,371 1,321,683 221,588,551 179,680,621 179, 131, 761
C h an ges in E m p lo y m en t and Pay R olls in V arious S ta te s
following data as to changes in employment and pay rolls
have been compiled from reports received from the various State
T HE
labor offices:
P E R C E N T O F C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O LLS IN S P E C IF IE D ST A T E S
M o n t h l y p e r io d
P er cent of change,
M ay to June, 1931
P er cent of change,
M ay to June, 1931
State, and in d u stry group
State, and ind u stry group
E m ploy
m ent
Em ploy
m ent
P ay roll
A rkansas
A uto dealers, garages_____
A uto bodies, wood p a rts ...
Bakeries and cafés_______
Beverages_________ —
B rick and t i l e . .
.. . .
C andy and confections___
Cooperage, heading, veneer
C otton compresses, gins,
a nd products . _.
Coal m ines______
F u rn itu re m anufacture___
Flour, grain, feed, fertilizer.
Glass factories----------------H andles, hubs, spokes-----H otels_____ ___
L aundries. . _____ .
L um ber m ills---- -- ------M a c h in e ry ,
fo u n d ries,
parts, sm elters_________
Newspapers and printers _.
Packing houses____
Petroleum products
---Sand, gravel, s t o n e ______
Textile mills, garm ents___
P ay roll
A rk a n s a s —Continued
- 3 .7
+2. 0
- 3 .3
+ .7
- 7 .7
-1 5 .4
+ 1.6
-3 . 5
- 1 .3
+2. 5
- 2 .3
-2 0 .3
-1 1 .3
+30. 2
+ 19. 2
-14 . 1
+22. 9
-2 . 1
- 9 .9
+ .7
+1. 1
- 9 .1
+61. 7
+29. 2
-20. 7
+34. 1
-1 4 . 1
-18. 1
+ .9
- 2 .5
-3 .6
- .2
+ 1.5
- 4 .4
- 6 .5
-1 0 .8
- 2 .5
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-
2. 8
- 1 .1
- 6 .9
- 1 .1
-7 . 7
Public u tilities_________
Wholesale and retail____
M iscellaneous_________
All industries____
- 0 .3
- .9
+25. 2
-1 . 2
-1 .2
- 1 .9
+ 1.1
April to M ay, 1931
C a lifo rn ia
Stone, clay, and glass prod
u cts__________________
M etals, m achinery, and
conveyances___________
F u rn itu re and fixtures____
O ther wood m anufactures.
L eather and ru b b er goods. _
Petroleum producing and
refining_______________
O th e r m is c e lla n e o u s
chemical p roducts............
[427]
+ .6
- 1 .7
+ .5
-5 . 5
+ 7.9
+ 8.1
+ .4
- 5 .4
+ 8 .0
+ 6 .8
- 2 .7
-6 . 2
- .9
- 4 .4
168
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
P E R C E N T O F C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O L L S IN S P E C IF IE D S T A T E S —
C ontinued
M o n t h l y p e r io d — Continued
Per cent of change,
M ay to June, 1931
P er cent of change,
A p ril to M ay , 1931
State, and in d u stry group
State, and in du stry group
E m ploy
m ent
E m ploy
m en t
P ay roll
M aryland
C alifornia—Continued
P rin tin g _______________
Publishing_______
- __
Paper goods - - - - - - T e x tile s ___ Clothing, m illinery, and
laundering--. . ______
Foods, beverages, and to
bacco. .
.
- - -M otion pictures__
M iscellaneous____ . . . - All in d u stries..
_ .
-4 . 5
9
+ 4 .9
-4 . 6
- 7 .3
+ .2
+ 1 .0
-6 . 7
- 5 .7
- 5 .8
- 7 .6
+10.3
- .3
- .9
+ 7 .5
- 1 .6
- 1 .3
- .8
M ay to June, 1931
Illin o is
Stone, clay, and glass.
products
.
____
M etals, m achinery, and
conveyances.
---- -- _
W ood products______ - Furs and leather goods----Chemicals, oils, paints,
etc_____________
___
Prin tin g and paper goods..
Textiles _
------ C lothing and m illinery___
Foods, beverages, and to
bacco.
----- -.
M iscellaneous___________
All m a n u factu rin g ...
Trade, wholesale and reta il______________
_________
Services__
Public u tilities- - - - - Coal m ining. ___________
Building and contracting..
Food products___________
Textiles- _ _________
Iro n and steel, and their
p ro d u c ts ____________ L um ber and its products, L eather and its products.—
R ubber tires _ ______ _
Paper and printing
____
Chemicals and allied prod
ucts r _________________
Stone, clay, and glass
p ro d u c ts __
M etal products, other than
iron and steel—.
-----Tobacco products____ . .
T ransportation equipm ent.
Car building and repairing.
M iscellaneous______
All m a n ufacturing...
- 1 .4
- 3 .8
- 4 .9
-8 . 5
+ 1 .0
- 9 .5
-14. 0
+ 5 .2
- 5 .0
-3 . 1
+3. 2
+ 1 .8
- 7 .9
- 2 .8
+• 7
+28.9
+1.1
+ 4.3
+ 2.5
+ 8 .0
- 3 .0
-4 . 6
+• o
+2. 1
+ 1 .4
+4. 2
+ 11.5
+ 4 .6
+■ 5
+26.0
+ 1 .6
+ 4.1
All industries______
- 1 .3
- 1 .0
Iow a
Food and kindred produ c ts ............. ............... .......
T e x tile s.
_____________
Iron and steel works_____
L um ber p roducts________
L eather products________
Paper products, printing
and p u b lis h in g _______
P a te n t medicines, chem i
cals, and com pounds___
Stone a n d clay p ro d u c ts ...
Tobacco a n d cigars_____
R ailw ay-car shops_____„
Various industries___ ____
- 4 .7
+ .3
- .8
+ 8.7
+ 2 .6
All industries_______
-.1
- 0 .6
+.1
- 4 .6
+ .6
-3 .2
- 2 .7
R etail establishm ents — . .
Wholesale establishm ents..
Public u t i l i t i e s . - ______
Coal m ines_____ _________
H otels_____ ______ _ . .
Q u a r r ie s ..____
___ _
Building construction-----L a u n d rie s..
______
Cleaning and dyeing estab
lishm ents.........................
+ 2 .9
- 3 .6
- 1 .6
+ .7
- 2 .6
- 4 .7
-.9
- 3 .9
-.9
- 5 .1
. - 4 .4
-1 5 .0
+10.2
- 3 .3
-1 4 .5
-1 6 .5
- 5 .6
- 8 .9
-5 .5
- 5 .1
+ 2 .8
-.4
-.6
-1 2 .0
-3 .8
- 1 .2
-.6
-.4
- 2 .7
- 3 .9
+ .3
+ 2.7
- .7
- 2 .9
-6 . 5
-. 6
+19.6
+ 1.4
+ 1 .6
+ .2
-2 1 .5
-.7
- 4 .9
+20.5
+ 2 .5
+ 6.1
+ 3 .2
E m p lo y m e n t—index
num bers (1925-1927
= 100)
+ 1.1
All nonm anufacturin g ---------------------
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
P a y roll
April,
1931
M ay, 1931
M a ssa c h u setts
Boot and shoe cut stock
and findings___________
Boots and shoes_________
B read and other bakery
products______________
Clothing, m en’s _________
Clothing, w om en’s ______
Confectionery___________
C otton goods____________
Dyeing and finishing tex
tiles__________________
Electrical m achinery, ap
paratus, and supplies—
F o u n d ry and machineshop pro d u cts_________
F u rn itu re _______________
Hosiery and k n it goods__
Leather, tanned, curried,
and finished_________
Paper and wood p u lp ____
Prin tin g and publishing--.
R ubber footw ear________
R ubber goods, tires, and
tu b es...................................
[428]
86.0
73.9
86.3
66.2
99.2
62. 1
99. 6
84.6
59.2
97.9
51. 4
99.5
80.9
58.1
96.6
92.0
68.9
66.2
85. 7
72. 5
68.0
83.8
70.2
70.0
93.1
82. 2
97. 1
55. 5.
94.6
81.3
98.0
60.'6
59.1
60.3
169
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
P E R C E N T O F C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O LLS IN S P E C IF IE D S T A T E S C ontinued
Monthly period— C o n tin u ed
E m p lo y m en t— index
num bers (1925-1927
= 100)
State, and in d u stry group
P er cent of change,
M ay to June, 1931
State, and in d u stry group
E m ploy
m ent
M a ss a c h u s e tts —C ontd.
Silk goods........ .............. ......
Textile m achinery and
p a rts _________________
W oolen and worsted goods.
All ind u stries,_____
E m ploy
m ent
P a y roll
N ew Y ork—C ontinued
70.4
60.3
61.3
65.4
72.2
61.9
69.3
70.8
P er cent of change,
A pril to M ay, 1931
E m ploy
m en t
M ich ig a n
Paper and p r in tin g ...........
Chemicals and allied prod
u c ts__________________
Stone, clay, and glass prod
u c ts___________________
M etal products, no t iron
and steel______________
Iron and steel p ro d u cts___
L um ber and its p ro d u c ts..
L eather and its products.
Food and kindred products.
Textiles and th eir products.
Tobacco p ro d u cts________
Vehicles for lan d transpor
ta tio n _________________
M iscellaneous___________
All industries.
-.7
N ew Jersey
Food and kindred products
Textiles and th eir products
Iron and steel and their
products_______ _______
L um ber a nd its p ro d u c ts...
L eather and its p ro d u c ts...
Tobacco products_______
Paper and p rin tin g ______
Chemicals and allied prod
u c ts__________________
Stone, clay, and glass prod
u c ts__________________
M etal products other th a n
iron and steel__________
Vehicles for lan d transpor
ta tio n ________________
M iscellaneous___________
All industries.
P ay roll
+ 1 .3
- 4 .3
- 1 .1
+ 8 .2
+11.8
+ 4 .9
- .4
-1 0 . 2
-4 . 6
+17. 2
- 1 .9
+ 4 .0
+ 5 .6
+2. 3
-1 . 5
-1 0 .0
+3. 0
+12.3
+14.8
+ 3 .5
+ 8 .7
+ 2 .7
+10.0
+14. 7
+ 8 .6
+ 1.1
+ .1
-3 . 5
+ 3 .1
- 3 .1
-3 . 1
+ 3 .2
+• 5
+ 1 .3
- 3 .1
-4 .6
- 2 .3
+ .8
- 2 .6
-4 .8
+ 1 .9
+ 1 .9
-2 .7
- 2 .8
+ 4.1
+ 1.1
-.5
+16.4
+ 1 .8
+ 1
M ay to June, 1931
N ew York
Stone, clay, and glass____
M iscellaneous stone
and m in e ra ls ...........
Lime, cem ent, and
p laster____________
B rick, tile, a n d p o t
te ry ..................... ........
G lass...............................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- 0 .3
-.9
+ 1 .4
- 4 .1
+ 3 .6
M etals and m achinery____
Silver and jew elry___
Brass, copper, and
alu m in u m ________
Iron and steel_______
Structural and archi
tectural iro n ______
Sheet m etal and h ard
w are______________
Firearm s, tools, and
cu tlery ____________
Cooking, heating, and
ventilating appara
tu s _______________
M achinery, including
electrical a p p aratu s..
A u to m o b ile s , c a r
riages, and airplanes.
Railroad equipm ent
and repair_________
B oat and ship build
in g —
Instrum ents and ap
pliances___________
Wood m an u factu res.........
Saw
and
planing
m ills_____________
F u rn itu re and cabinet
w ork____________ _
Pianos and other m u
sical in stru m e n ts__
Miscellaneous wood__
Furs, leather, and rubber
goods_________________
L eather_____________
Furs and fur goods___
Shoes_______________
O ther leather and can
vas goods__________
R u b b er and g u tta per
cha_______________
Pearl, horn, bone, etc.,
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc.
Drugs and chem icals..
Paints and colors____
Oil products_________
M iscellaneous chemi
cals..............................
P a p e r__________________
Prin tin g and paper goods..
Paper boxes and tubes.
M iscellaneous paper
goods_____________
P rinting and book
m aking. . . ...................
Textiles_________________
Silk and silk goods___
Wool m anufactures___
C otton goods________
K n it goods (excluding
silk)_______________
O ther textiles................
[429]
- 3 .3
- 3 .6
- 5 .2
-
6.6
10.0
-
- 3 .7
- 5 .1
- 4 .6
-
2.2
- 9 .7
+ .9
+ 4 .0
-2 .3
- 7 .2
+ 2 .4
- 6 .4
-3 0 .3
-1 . 4
-1 .5
+ 9 .3
+ 2 .3
- 1 .4
+. 4
+ 1 .3
-
2.0
-.9
-.9
-2 .7
- 2 .3
-
2.8
- 3 .4
-
2.0
- 3 .1
-3 .6
- 1 .7
-
8.8
+.2
+ 1 .4
+ 1.0
- 4 .0
P a y roll
170
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W -
P E R C E N T OE C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O L L S IN S P E C IF IE D S T A T E S —
C ontinued
Monthly 'period— C o n tin u ed
Per cent of change,
M ay to June, 1931
P er cent of change,
M ay to June, 1931
State, and in dustry group
State, and industry group
E m ploy
m ent
N ew Y o rk —C ontinued
Clothing and m illinery___
M en ’s clothing_______
M en ’s fu rn ish in g s,.
W om en’s clothing____
W om en’s underw ear, _,
W om en’s headw ear___
M iscellaneous sew in g ,,
Laundering and clean
in g —
Food and tobacco________
Flour, feed, and cereal.
Canning and preserv
in g —
O ther groceries_______
M eat and dairy prod
u c ts_______________
B akery products_____
C an d y______________
Beverages.......................
Tobacco_____________
W ater, light, and pow er__
All in d u stries,.........
P e n n s y lv a n ia
M etal pro d u cts__________
Transportation eq u ip m en t.
Textile p roducts_________
Foods a n d tobacco_______
Stone, clay, and glass prod
u c ts_____________ ____ _
L um ber pro d u cts________
Chem ical p ro d u cts_______
Leather and ru b b er prod
u c ts___________________
P ap er and p rin tin g ______
All m an u factu rin g .,.
T exas
A uto and body w orks____
B akeries________________
Confectioneries................... .
Pure food p ro d u cts_______
Ice cream factories_______
F lour m ills ...........................
Ice factories_____________
M eat packing and slaugh
terin g_________________
Cotton-oil m ills__________
C otton compresses_______
M en ’s clothing m anufac
tu re ___________________
W om en’s clothing m an u
facture________________
Brick, tile, and terra co tta,
Foundries and machine
shops_________________
Structural-iron w orks____
Railroad car shops_______
Electric-railw ay car shops.
Petroleum refining..............
Sawmills________________
L um ber m ills____________
F u rn itu re m anufacture___
Paper-box m anufacture___
C otton-textile m ills ...........
C em ent p la n ts___________
E m ploy
m ent
P ay roll
T exas—C ontinued
- 7 .6
-1 .4
-2 .9
-1 9 .0
-5 .4
-1 8 . t
- 3 .3
Commercial p rin tin g ..
N ew spaper publishing.
Q uarrying___________
P ublic u tilities_______
R etail stores_________
W holesale stores_____
H o tels._____________
M iscellaneous_______
+ 1. 1
+ 3 .4
+ 5 .7
All industries__
+57.1
- 1 .4
W iscon sin
-.7
- 1 .4
- 5 .3
+26.6
+ 2 .2
-.8
- 3 .0
-9 .2
1-14.2
- 6 .0
+ 2 .9
+ .2
+ .5
+ 1 .1
- 1 .7
-.8
- 1 .6
- 6 .2
- 1 .3
- 3 .4
- 4 .7
- 5 .2
- 6 .8
-
1.0
+■ 2
+10.1
+ 1.9
-1 0 .6
-8 .9
+11.9
-1 .4
-2 .2
-1 0 .9
+ .5
+ 1 .6
+ 1 .6
-.4
+7. 9
-1 1 .2
+ 2 .4
+ .8
-2 . 1
- 1 .8
1.8
-
A pril to M ay, 1931
M anual
- 3 .9
‘- 3 .8
- 5 .7
+ .4
+ 4 .2
- 2 .7
-7 .2
+14.4
-1 3 .3
-.6
+ 1 .9
-5 .2
-.7
- 1 .1
- 5 .2
- 5 .5
Logging------------------------M ining:
Lead and zinc_______
Iro n ------------------------Stone crushing and qu arry
ing—
M anufacturing:
Stone and allied in
d u stries___________
M e ta l.............................
W ood_______________
R u b b er______________
L eath er.........................
P a p e r_______________
Textiles___ ____ _____
Foods_______________
P rin tin g a nd publish
ing—
Chem icals (including
soap, glue, a nd ex
plosives)......................
-1 5 .2
-42.0
-8 .3
-.6
-1 7 .8
-1 8 . 5
All m a n u fa c tu rin g ...
Construction:
B uilding.........................
H ig h w ay ____________
R ailroad_____________
M arine dredging,
sewer digging_______
C om m unication:
Steam ra ilw a y s,______
Electric railw ays_____
Express, telephone, tel
egraph_______ _____
Light and pow er_________
Wholesale tra d e _________
H otels and re stau ran ts___
L aundering and dyeing___
1.2
-
+17.2
1.2
-
- 1 .4
+ .7
+35.0
- 6 .4
-.9
+ 1.0
+ 1.8
+ 2.6
-. 7
+• 4
+ 4 .0
+ .6
- 2 .7
+ 5.3
+ .1
-
2.2
-1 . 5
-
1.6
.0
-
1.8
+ 6.2
+ 8.1
+34.2
+47.3
+55. 4
+36.0
2.1
-2 9 .7
-
+ 1 .7
+ .2
+ 2. 0
- 2.1
+ 1.8
+ .8
- 1 .3
+ 6.5
- 1 .4
-2 . 7
+ 3 .3
-1 . 3
- 5 .1
N onm anual
M anufacturing, mines, and
q u arries_______________
C o n stru ctio n ................ .......
C om m unication_________
W holesale tra d e _________
R etail trad e—sales force
o n ly ---------------------------M iscellaneous professional
services_______________
i Prelim inary figures.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
P ay roll
[430]
-.9
-. 5
-.4
-
2.1
-.2
- 3 .5
- .3
+ .3
+ 2.8
+ 1.8
-.4
-1 5 .3
171
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
P E R C E N T O F C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O LLS IN S P E C IF IE D S T A T E S —
C ontinued
Yearly period
E m ploym ent—i n d e x
num bers (1925-1927=
Per cent of change,
M ay, 1930, to M ay,
1931
100)
State, and in d u stry group
State, and in d u stry group
E m ploy
m ent
M ay, 1930 M ay, 1931
P ay roll
M a ssa c h u setts—Con.
C alifornia
Stone, clay, and glass
products______________
M etals, m achinery, and
conveyances---------------W ood m anufactures-------L eather and ru b b er goods..
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc.
Printing and paper goods.. I
Textiles_________ _____ _ 1
Clothing, m illinery, and
laundering____________
Foods, beverages, and to
bacco________ _________
M iscellaneous2................. .
All industries.
-1 6 .7
-2 2 .4
-1 7 . 9
-2 1 . 2
-5 . 1
-2 2 . 4
-8 .2
" 3-9
- 4 .9
-2 3 .7
-2 9 . 9
-1 4 .2
-2 9 .4
-1 2 .4
-1 4 .8
-1 0 .1
-1 8 . 7
- 9 .2
-2 7 .4
-1 5 .6
-2 2 .0
- 8 .9
- 9 .3
-1 1 .1
-1 0 .1
Publie u tilities-------W holesale and retail.
-1 0 .4
Fou n d ry and machineshop p ro d u cts_________
F u rn itu re ____________ . ..
Hosiery and k n it goods—
Leather, tanned, curried,
and finished___________
Paper and wood p u lp -----Prin tin g and pub lishing...
R ubber footw ear________
R ubber goods, tires, and
tu b es_________________
Silk g o o d s ..____________
Textile m achinery and
p a rts _________________
Woolen and w orsted goods
103.5
90. 6
70. 6
83.8
70.2
70.0
96.7
91. 6
104. 1
80. 1
94.6
81.3
98.0
60.6
82.3
84.7
60.3
60.3
73.0
69.8
61.9
69.3
70.8
All industries............
Per cent of change,
M ay, 1930, to M ay,
1931
E m p lo y m e n t —index
num bers (1925-1927=
100)
June, 1930 June, 1931
M ichigan
Illin o is
Stone, clay, and glass prod
u c ts —
M etals, m achinery, and
conveyances__________
W ood products_________
F u rs and leather goods__
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc
P rinting and paper goods.
T extiles-----------------------Clothing and m illin e ry ...
Foods, beverages, and to
bacco___________
87.4
69.4
96.0
63.5
90.8
95.9
101.2
85. 6
78.9
68.9
48.6
95.7
81.7
88.3
93.4
73.4
90.2
76.2
All m anufacturing..
91. 2
72.3
Trade, wholesale and retail.
Public u tilities____
Coal m ining______
Building and contracting..
69.5
103.0
54.3
76.5
65. 1
95.9
68.8
47. 1
All industries.
90.7
76.7
M ay, 1930
products________
Clothing, m en’s ___
C lothing, w om en’s .
C onfectionery____
C otton goods_____
tiles _
All in d u stries............
89.1
83.1
86.3
66.2
107.1
59. 6
103. 2
84.2
63.6
97.9
51.4
99.5
80.9
58. 1
93.6
92.0
97.0
66.2
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-1 3 .8
-1 4 .9
-1 7 .5
-2 4 .3
-3 6 .7
-12. 7
-2 6 .3
-28. 3
-1 4 . 1
-. 3
-1 0 .8
+ 8.1
-1 6 .5
-3 2 .5
-4 2 .5
-28. 7
-20. 8
-1 3 .0
- 9 .5
-1 9 . 7
-25. 1
-2 0 .8
-1 8 .5
-19. 6
-2 1 .7
P en n sy lv a n ia
M etal products__________
Transportation eq u ipm ent
Textile products-------------Foods and tobacco_______
Stone, clay,and glass prod
ucts __________________
L um ber products-----------Chem ical pro d u cts---------Leather and ru b b er prod
u c ts __________________
Paper and p rin tin g ---------
-2 3 .2
-3 4 . 1
-1 2 . 9
- 6 .8
-4 0 .4
i -51. 9
-1 4 .0
-1 0 .8
-1 6 .7
-2 9 .9
-8 .2
-2 9 .1
-3 2 .5
-1 8 .0
-1 0 . 6
-6 . 7
-1 5 .1
-1 4 . 6
All m anufacturing.._
2Includes m otion pictures.
1 Prelim inary figures.
67909°—31----- 12
-1 0 .6
June, 1930, to June
1931
M ay, 1931
M assa ch u setts
Boot and shoe cu t stock
and findings_____
Boots and shoes___
Paper and p rin tin g --------Chemicals and allied prod
ucts __________________
Stone, clay, and glass
products______________
M etal products, n o t iron
and steel_____________
Iron and steel p ro d ucts___
L um ber and its products
L eather and its p ro d u c ts...
Food and kindred products
Textiles and th eir products.
Tobacco products-----------Vehicles for land transpor
ta tio n _________________
M iscellaneous.----------------
[431]
172
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
P E R C E N T O P C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O LLS IN S P E C IF IE D S T A T E S —
C ontinued
Yearly 'period— C ontinued
State, and in d u stry group
Per cent of change,
June, 1930, to June,
1931
State, and indu stry group
E m ploy
m ent
E m ploy
m ent
P ay roll
T exas
A uto and body w orks. __
Bakeries______ . . .
Confectioneries_____. . . .
Pure-food p ro d u cts______
Ice-cream factories _______
F lo u rm ills___ ____
Ice factories___. . . .
M eat packing and slaugh
tering___
______
Cotton-oil mills________
C otton com presses... _ . . .
M en ’s clothing m anufac
tu re _____ ____ . . __
W om en’s clothing m an u
facture __
______
Brick, tile, and terra co tta.
Foundries a n d m achine
s h o p s . _________
Structural-iron w orks____
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Per cent of change
June, 1930, to June,
1931
T ex as—C ontinued
- 8 .3
-9 . 2
6
-1 3 .4
-1 4 .2
-1 8 . 6
-1 7 .8
- 4 .2
+40.0
- 1 .5
+ 2 .5
+43.5
-4 1 . 6
-5 6 .2
-1 6 .0
Railroad car shops.
Electric-railw ay car shops.
Petroleum refining
Saw m ills__ ____
L um ber m ills____
F u rn itu re m anufacture _‘___
Paper-box m anufacture___
Cotton-textile m ills. ._ _
C em ent p lants
Commercial printing
N ew spaper publishing.. _
Q u a rry in g ________ . .
Public utilities
R etail stores____________
Wholesale stores
H otels.........................
M iscellaneous_______
—18. 6
-3 .8
-1 7 .4
-23. 5
-23. 8
-18. 7
-5 .6
-3 7 .8
-1 3 .1
-1 1 . 6
-1 2 . 9
-3 .2
-1 2 .8
-. 7
-7 .0
-5 . 9
-2 1 .0
All industries..
-1 7 .4
[4321
P ay roll
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
R e ta il P r ic e s o f F o o d in J u n e , 1931
HE following tables are compiled from simple averages of the
actual selling prices 1 received monthly by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics from retail dealers.
Table 1 shows for the United States retail prices of food June 15,
1930, and May 15 and^ June 15, 1931, as well as the percentage
changes in the year and in the month. For example, the retail price
per pound of lard was 16.6 cents on June 15, 1930; 13.5 cents on
May 15, 1931; and 13.0 cents on June 15, 1931. These figures show
decreases of 22 per cent in the year and 4 per cent in the month.
The cost of various articles of food combined shows a decrease of
20.1 per cent June 15, 1931, as compared with June 15, 1930, and a
decrease of 2.2 per cent June 15, 1931, as compared with May 15,
1931.
T
J U N E 15, 1930
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole numbers]
Average retail price on—
Article
U n it
June 15,
1930
M ay 15,
1931
June 15,
1931
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
Per cent of increase
(+ ) or decrease
( - ) June 15,1931,
com pared w ith—
June 15,
1930
M ay 15,
1931
P o u n d _______
........ do«..............
........ do.............
........do...........
........do.............
47.9
42.7
35.1
28.1
19.4
39.5
34.5
29.1
21.7
14.5
38.7
33.7
28.3
20.9
13.6
-1 9
-2 1
-1 9
-2 6
-3 0
-2
-2
-3
-4
-6
P ork chops
_ ______ ________ ____do...............
Bacon, sliced« _ ________________ ____do...............
H am , sliced
________________ ____do_______
T,amh, leg of
_ ________ ........ do............. .
_________________ ____do«.............
Tt p.ns
36.6
42.3
54.0
36.6
35.7
30.1
37.6
46.5
31.2
31.7
29.4
36.9
45.8
30.5
31.1
-2 0
-1 3
-1 5
-1 7
-1 3
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
........do...............
Q u art_______
16-oz, cans___
P o u n d ..............
........ do...............
31.8
14.0
10.1
43.3
25.6
33.8
12.3
9.1
31.2
19.6
33.6
12.0
9.1
30.7
19.0
+6
-1 4
-1 0
-2 9
-2 6
-1
-2
0
-2
-3
____do__............
........d o ...............
___do...............
D ozen_______
P o u n d _______
34.9
16.6
24.3
33.6
8.8
27.4
13.5
23.3
24.8
7.7
26.5
13.0
23.3
25.8
7.6
-2 4
-2 2
-4
-2 3
-1 4
-3
-4
0
+4
-1
Sirloin steak _ ___ ______________
R ound steak _____________________
R ib roast
_________________
Oh nek roast
_____________
P late beef
______________
Salmon, red, canned« ____________
M ilk, fresh
________________
M ilk, evaporated_________________
B utter
__ ________________
Oleomargarine (all b u tte r substitutes).
Cheese
__ ______________
Lard
____________________
Vegetable lard su b stitu te__________
Pggs, strictly f r e s h ______________
Bread
________________
0
-2 3
3.7
4.8
3.7
_ ___________ ........do...............
-2
-1 5
4.5
4.6
meal __________________ ____ ........do...............
5.3
0
-8
8.0
8.0
8.7
Rolled oats««____________________ ____do_______
-1
8.9
-5
9.0
9.4
C orn flakes____ _____ ____________ 8-oz. package..
—0.
4
6
24.0
25.4
24.1
28-oz.
package.
W heat cereal....................................... .
i In addition to m onthly retail prices of food and coal, th e bu reau publishes periodically th e prices of
gas and electricity for household use in each of 51 cities. A t present this inform ation is being collected
in June and D ecem ber of each year.
Flour
C o rn
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[433]
173
174
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T a b l e 1.—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O P S P E C IF IE D PO O D A R T IC L E S A N D P E R C E N T
O P IN C R E A S E OR D E C R E A S E JU N E IS, 1931, C O M P A R E D W IT H M A Y IS, 1931, A N D
JU N E IS, 1930—C ontinued
Average retail price on—
Article
U nit
Ju n e 15,
1930
M acaro n i...................
R ice.............................
Beans, n a v y ............
P otatoes........ ............
O nions........................
P o u n d ...
___ do___
___ do___
___ do___
........do___
Cents
19.4
9.5
11.5
4.2
5.9
C abbage.....................
Pork and beans____
Corn, canned______
Peas, canned______
___ do___
No. 2 can.
___-d o __
___ do___
Tomatoes, can n ed ...
Sugar_____________
T e a .................. ...........
Coffee.................... .
Prunes____________
Raisins____________
B an a n a s.____ _____
O ranges.......................
M ay 15,
1931
June 15,
1931
C en ts
C e n ts
Per cent of increase
(+ ) or decrease
( - ) June 15,1931,
compared w ith—
June 15,
1930
M ay 15,
1931
17.1
8.3
8.2
2.8
4.6
16.9
8.2
8.0
2.4
4.8
-1 3
-1 4
-3 0
-4 3
-1 9
-1
-1
-2
-1 4
+4
5.6
11.0
15.4
16.3
4.1
9.4
13.6
14.1
4.0
9.3
13.3
13.8
-2 9
-1 5
-1 4
-1 5
-2
-1
-2
-2
___ do___
P o u n d ...
----- do___
___ do___
12.4
6.1
77.8
40.6
10.2
5.6
74.5
33.5
10.1
5.6
74.2
33.1
-1 9
-8
-5
-1 8
-1
0
- 0 .4
-1
___ do___
___ do___
D ozen__
___ do___
17.0
12.0
31.0
67.2
12.1
11.0
26.6
37.8
11.8
11.1
26.1
37.6
-3 1
-8
-1 6
—44
-2
+1
-2
-1
W eighted food index.
Table 2 shows for the United States average retail prices of specified
food articles on June 15, 1913, and on June 15 of each year from 1925
to 1931, together with percentage changes in June of each of these
specified years compared with June, 1913. For example, the retail
price per pound of ham was 27.3 cents in June, 1913; 53.0 cents in
June, 1925; 59.7 cents in June, 1926; 55.5 cents in June, 1927; 51.7
cents in June, 1928; 55.3 cents in June, 1929; 54.0 cents in June, 1930 •
and 45.8 cents in June, 1931.
As compared with June, 1913, these figures show increases of 94
per cent in June, 1925; 119 per cent in June, 1926; 103 per cent in
June, 1927; 89 per cent in June, 1928; 103 per cent in June, 1929; 98
percent in June, 1930; and 68 per cent in June, 1931.
1 he cost of the various articles of food combined showed an increase
of 21.0 per cent in June, 1931, as compared with June, 1913.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[434]
175
WHOLESALE AND R ETA IL PRICES
T a ble 3 .— A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF S P E C IF IE D FO O D A R T IC L E S A N D P E R C E N T
OF IN C R E A S E J U N E 15 OF C E R T A IN S P E C IF IE D Y E A R S C O M P A R E D W IT H J U N E 15,
1913
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole numbers]
Per cent of increase June 15 of each
specified year compared w ith June
15, 1913
Average retail prices on June 15—
Article
1913 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931
as.
a s.
as.
as.
a s.
a s.
as.
a s.
Sirloin stea k ...p o u n d .
R ound s te a k ., .d o .. .
R ib roast______ do___
Chuck roast____do----P late beef.......... .d o —
25.9
22.6
20.1
16.3
12.2
41.0
35.2
29.8
21.8
13.8
42.0
36. 2
30.6
22.7
14.6
42. 4
37.0
31. 1
23. 5
15.2
47.4
41.6
34.7
27.6
18.5
51.2
45.8
37.6
30.7
21.3
47.9
42.7
35.1
28. 1
19.4
38.7
33.7
28.3
20.9
13.6
58
56
48
34
13
62
60
52
39
20
64
64
55
44
25
83
84
73
69
52
98
103
87
88
75
85
89
75
72
59
49
49
41
28
11
Pork chops_____d o ...
Bacon, sliced.. . do . .
H am , sliced____do. .
Lam b, leg of— -do___
H ens__________ do___
Salmon, red, canned
. . . . pound
M ilk, fresh___.Q u art..
M ilk, evaporated
______ 16-ounce can .
B u t t e r . . ____p o u n d ..
Oleomargarine (all
b u tte r substitutes)
___________p o u n d ..
Cheese______ A do___
L a rd _____ ___ do—
Vegetable lard substitu te ______ p o u n d ..
Eggs, strictly fresh
___ ________dozen .
B read_______ p o u n d ..
F lo u r_________ do----Corn m eal_____ d o ...
RnllAri o ^ ts,
do
20.8
27.3
27.3
19.4
21.9
36.2
47.0
53.0
38.4
36.9
42.0
51.5
59.7
41.9
40.2
34.7
47. 1
55.5
41. 0
36.3
34.8
43.2
51.7
42.2
37.1
37.6
43.8
55.3
41.2
41.3
36.6
42.3
54.0
36.6
35.7
29.4
36.9
45.8
30.5
31.1
74
72
94
98
68
102
89
119
116
84
67
73
103
111
66
67
58
89
118
69
81
60
103
112
89
76
55
98
89
63
41
35
68
57
42
31.3 38.1 32.3 35.3 31.4 31.8 33.6
8.8 13.7 13.8 13.9 14.0 14.2 14.0 12.0
56
57
58
59
61
59
36
11.3 11.5 11.5 11.1 10.9 10.1 9.1
35.2 52.7 50.3 51.8 53.9 53.8 43.3 30.7
50
43
47
53
53
23
‘ 13
30.3 30.1 28.2 27.3 27.2 25.6 19.0
21.8 36.5 35.7 37.0 38.1 38.0 34.9 26.5
15.8 22.9 22.6 18.8 18.2 18.3 16.6 13.0
67
45
64
43
70
19
75
15
74
16
22
60
5 i 18
52
68
85
86
46
68
85
76
20
66
67
79
39
64
73
83
48
61
48
83
20
57
45
83
18
36
12
55
28
36
24
15
13
10
15
94
178
233
61
72
133
33
36
39
7C
3C
4:
71
38
45
61
38
45
65
21
45
6t
15
43
3fc
6
36
11
Corn-flakes
..8-ounce package..
W heat cereal*
28-ounce package..
M acaroni__ .p o u n d . _
R ice.....................do----Beans, n a v y ___ do ___
25.8 25.8 25.1 24.9 24.8 24.3 23.3
27.9 42.3 40.7 33.5 38.8 41.4 33.6 25.8
5.6 9.4 9. 4 9.3 9.2 9.0 8.8 7.6
3.3 6. 1 6. 1 5.5 5.7 4.9 4.8 3.7
2.9 5.4 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.3 5.3 4. 5
9.2 9.1 9.0 8.9 8.9 8.7 8.0
11. C 10.9 10. (
P otatoes_______do___ 1.8
O n io n s _______ do ___
Cabbage
. . d o __
Pork and beans
__ .N o. 2 c a n ..
Corn, canned__ d o ...
Peas, canned _do___
Tom atoes, canned
_________No. 2 can.
Sugar, granulated
___________ p o u n d .. 5.:
T e a ___________ do___ 54. <
Coffee_________ do___ 29.8
P runes________ do ___
Raisins
____ do___
B ananas . ..d o zen
Oranges ______do___
9.5
9.5
9.4
8.9
24.6 25.4 25.1 25.5 25.4 25.4 24.0
20. 5 20.3 20.0 19.8 19.7 19.4 16.9
8.6 11.0 11.7 10.7 9.9 9.7 9.5 8.2
10. ( 9.2 9.: 12.3 14.2 11.5 8.0
3.5
9.1
6.0
5.0
7.4
6.1
6.0
8.8
9.6
2.9
6.1
5.5
3.1
7.6
4.8
4.2
5. i
5.6
2.4
4.8
4.0
12. 11. f 11.5 11.1 11. £ 11. ( 9.3
18.2 16.4 15.6 15.9 15.8 15.4 13.3
18.1 17.1 16.7 16.8 16.6 16.i 13.8
13.8 11. S 12. ( 11.6 13.1 12. ‘ 10.1
5. 6
7.5 6.9 7.3 7.3 6.4 6.
75.3 76.9 77.: 77.: 77.5 77. 74.2
50.8 61. t 47.1 49.2 49.4 40.6 33.1
17. 17. 15.6 13.6 14.6 17.6 11.8
14.
36.
60.
All articles com bineds
14. 14.3 13.6 11.6 12. 11.1
35. 33.5 32.5 31.' 31.i i 26.1
50.( 49.3 62.6 44.6 67C 37.6
1
58. > 63.: 62.-1 56.1 58.: 5 i.: 21.0
a Beginning w ith Jan u ary , 1921, index num bers showing th e trend in th e retail cost of food have been
composed of th e articles shown in Tables 1 and 2, weighted according to th e consum ption of the average
family. From Jan u ary , 1913, to December, 1920, th e index num bers included th e following articles: barloin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate beef, pork chops, bacon, ham , lard, hens, Hour, corn
meal, eggs, b u tter, m ilk, bread, potatoes, sugar, cheese, rice, coffee, and tea.
Table 3 shows the trend in the retail cost of three important groups
of food commodities, viz, cereals, meats, and dairy products, by years,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[435]
176
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
from 1913 to 1930, and by months for 1929, 1930, and 1931. The
articles within these groups are as follows:
Cereals: Bread, flour, corn meal, rice, rolled oats, corn flakes,
wheat cereal, and macaroni.
Meats: Sirloin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate
beef, pork chops, bacon, ham, hens, and leg of lamb.
Dairy products: Butter, cheese, fresh milk, and evaporated milk.
T a b l e 3 .—I N D E X N U M B E R S O F R E T A I L C O ST O F C E R E A L S , M E A T S , A N D D A I R Y
P R O D U C T S F O R T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S , 1913 T O J U N E , 1931
[A verage cost in 1913=100.0]
Y ear and m onth
1913: Average for year___
1914: Average for year___
1915: Average for year___
1916: Average for year___
1917: Average for year___
1918: Average for year___
1919: Average for year___
1920: Average for year___
1921: Average for year___
1922: Average for year___
1923: Average for year___
1924: Average for year___
1925: Average for year___
1926: Average for year___
1927: Average for year___
1928: Average for year___
1929: Average for year___
Jan u a ry ____________
F ebruary____ ______
M arch_________
A pril___________
M a y __________
J u n e ___ __________
Ju ly _______ 1_______
A ugust___________
Cereals M eats
100.0
106.7
121.6
126.8
186.5
194.3
198.0
232.1
179. 8
159.3
156.9
160.4
176.2
175.5
170.7
167.2
164.1
164. 1
164.1
164.1
164.1
163.5
163.0
163.5
164.7
100.0
103.4
99.6
108.2
137.0
172.8
184.2
185.7
158.1
150.3
149.0
150.2
163.0
171.3
169.9
179.2
188.4
180.9
180.3
182.8
187.5
191. 2
192.4
195.9
196.0
D airy
prod
ucts
100.0
97.1
96.1
103.2
127.6
153.4
176.6
185.1
149.5
135.9
147.6
142.8
147.1
145.5
148.7
150. 0
148.6
151.9
152.6
152.4
148. 9
147.5
146.8
146.8
147.1
Year and m onth
1929—Continued.
Septem ber_________
O ctober____________
N ovem ber_________
December__________
1930: Average for year___
Jan u a ry ____________
F eb ru ary___________
M arch ___________
A pril______________
M a y .._____________
J u n e _______________
Ju ly _______________
A ugust___ _________
Septem ber_______ .
October____________
N ovem ber_________
December
1931:
Jan u ary
F eb ru ary
M areh
April
M ay
June.
Cereals M eats
165.2
163. 5
163.6
162.9
158.0
162.9
161. 6
160.9
160.3
159.8
160.1
158.6
156.9
156.4
154.4
152.4
151.6
D airy
prod
ucts
194. 2
189. 2
184.1
181. 8
175.8
183.6
183.1
183. 0
183.3
181.5
179. 9
175.2
169.9
173.3
171.1
164.0
161.6
148.1
149. 3
147« 0
144. 9
136.5
138. 9
138. 5
137.6
138. 9
137.0
133. 7
133.9
137.4
138.8
137.8
135.3
129.8
145.7
108.0
147 1
m
3
In d ex N u m b e r s o f R e ta il P rices o f F o o d in t h e U n ite d S ta te s
I n T able 4 index numbers are given which show the changes in
the retail prices of specified food articles, by years, for 1913 and 1920
to 1930,2 by months for 1930 and 1931. These index numbers, or
relative prices, are based on the year 1913 as 100, and are computed
by dividing the average price of each commodity for each month and
each year by the average price of that commodity for 1913. These
figures must be used with caution. For example, the relative price
of sirloin steak for the year 1930 was 182.7, which means that the
average money price for the year 1930 was 82.7 per cent higher than
the average money price for the year 1913. As compared with the
relative price, 196.9 in 1929, the figures for 1930 show a decrease of
14.2 points, but a decrease of 7.2 per cent in the year.
In the last column of Table 4 are given index numbers showing
changes in the retail cost of all articles of food combined. Since
January, 1921, these index numbers have been computed from the
average prices of the articles of food shown in Tables 1 and 2, weighted
according to the average family consumption in 1918. (See March,
1921, issue, p. 25.) Although previous to January, 1921, the number
2 For index num bers of each m on th , January, 1913, to D ecem b er, 1928, see B u lletin N o . 396, p p . 44 to
61; and B u lletin N o . 495, p p . 32 to 45. Index num bers for 1929 are published in each Labor R ev iew , F eb
ruary, 1930, to February, 1931,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[436]
177
W HOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES
of food articles varied, these index numbers have been so computed
as to be strictly comparable for the entire period. The index num
bers based on the average for the year 1913 as 100.0 are 121.0 for
May, 1931, and 118.3 for June, 1931.
T
able
4.—IN D E X
N U M B E R S O F R E T A IL P R IC E S O F P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D
B Y Y E A R S, 1913, 1920 TO 1930, A N D B Y M O N T H S F O R 1930 A N D 1931
[Average for year 1913-100.0]
Y ear and
m onth
1913.....................
1920.....................
1921.....................
1922.....................
1923.....................
1924.....................
1925.....................
1926.....................
1927.....................
1928................. __
1929.....................
1930.....................
Jan u a ry ___
F e b ru a ry ..
M arch____
A pril...........
M a y ............
Ju n e ______
J u ly ...........
A ugust........
Septem ber.
October___
N ovem ber.
D ecem ber1931:
Jan u ary ___
F e b ru a ry ..
M arch ........
A pril...........
M a y ______
Ju n e ______
Y ear and
m onth
1913.....................
1920.....................
1921.....................
1922.....................
1923— ..............
1924....................
1925.....................
1926.....................
1927.....................
1928................... .
1929................. .
1930.....................
Jan u a ry ___
F e b ru a ry ..
M arch____
A pril_____
M ay ______
Ju n e ______
Ju ly ____
A ugust.......
Septem berO ctober___
N ovem ber.
D ecem ber..
1931:
Jan u ary __
F e b ru a ry . .
M arch ........
April...........
M a y ............
J u n e _____
S rloin Round R ib Chuck Plate
steak steak roast roast beef
Pork
Lam b,
chops Bacon H am leg oi Hens
M ilk B utter
100.0
172.1
152.8
147.2
153.9
155.9
159.8
162.6
167.7
188.2
196. 9
182. 7
192.9
191.3
190.6
190. 2
190. 2
188. 6
182.3
175.6
177.2
175. 2
170.5
168.9
100.0
177. 1
154.3
144.8
150.2
151.6
155.6
159.6
166.4
188.3
199. 1
184.8
195.5
194.2
192.8
193.3
192.8
191.5
184. 3
176.7
178.0
176. 2
170.9
169. 1
100.0
167.7
147.0
139.4
143.4
145.5
149. 5
153.0
158.1
176.8
185.4
172. 7
183.3
181.8
181.3
181. 3
179.8
177.3
171.7
163.1
166.7
164.1
160.6
159.6
100.0
163.8
132.5
123.1
126.3
130.0
135.0
140.6
148. 1
174. 4
186.9
170.0
184. 4
184.4
182.5
182. 5
179.4
175.6
166.3
155.6
160.0
158. 7
154.5
153.8
100.0
151. 2
118. 2
105.8
106.6
109.1
114. 1
120.7
127.3
157.0
172.7
155.4
172.7
171.9
170.2
168. 6
164. 5
160. 3
149.6
138.8
142. 1
142.1
139.7
139.7
100.0
201.4
166. 2
157.1
144.8
146.7
174.3
188. 1
175.2
165.7
175.7
171.0
168. 1
167.6
171.9
176.7
171.9
174.3
173.8
174.8
186. 2
180.5
156.2
149.5
100.0
193. 7
158.2
147.4
144.8
139.6
173.0
186.3
174.8
163.0
161.1
156.7
157.0
157.8
157.8
157.4
156.7
156. 7
156.7
155.6
158. 1
157.8
155. 9
153.0
100.0
206.3
181.4
181.4
169.1
168.4
195.5
213.4
204.5
196.7
204. 1
198.5
199.3
200.7
201.1
200.4
200.7
200.7
200.0
198. 1
198.9
197.4
193.7
191.4
100.0
207.9
178.3
193.7
194.2
196.3
204.2
206.3
205.8
208.5
212. 2
185.7
206.9
201.6
193. 7
189.4
189.9
193.7
188.9
178.3
179.9
173.5
166.1
164.6
100.0
209.9
186.4
169.0
164.3
165.7
171.8
182.2
173.2
175.6
186.4
166.7
178.4
179.3
179.8
179.3
175.6
167.6
161.5
158.7
159.6
158.7
153.1
150.2
100.0
187.6
164.0
147.2
155. 1
155.1
157.3
157.3
158.4
159.6
160.7
157.3
159.6
158.4
157.3
157.3
157.3
157.3
157.3
157.3
157.3
157. 3
157.3
151.7
100.0
183.0
135.0
125.1
144.7
135.0
143.1
138.6
145.2
147.5
143.9
120.4
121.9
122.7
121. 9
125.6
120.9
113.1
114.1
123.8
127.2
124.8
118.5
111.0
167.3
161.4
158.7
157.5
155.5
152.4
168.2
161.0
157.8
156.5
154.7
151.1
159.1
154.0
153.0
150.0
147.0
142.9
152. 5
145.6
141.9
139.4
135.6
130.6
138.0
131.4
128. 1
124. 8
119.8
112.4
141.9
131.4
140.0
141.4
143.3
140.0
148.9
145.2
143.0
141. 1
139.3
136.7
188.1
183.3
178.4
175.5
172.9
170.3
166.1
164.6
164.0
165.6
165.1
161.4
153.5
148.8
150.2
153.1
148.8
146.0
149. 4
146.1
144.9
141.6
138.2
134.8
98.4
94.8
97.4
91.9
81.5
80.2
Cheese Lard
Eggs
Bread Flour
Corn
meal
Rice
Pota Sugar
toes
100.0
188.2
153.9
148.9
167.0
159. 7
166. 1
105.6
170. 1
174. 2
171.9
158.8
169. 2
167.0
164.7
162. 9
162.0
157.9
155. 2
153.4
154.8
154.8
152.9
150. 2
100.0
186.7
113.9
107.6
112.0
120.3
147.5
138. 6
122.2
117. 7
115.8
107.6
108.9
108. 2
107.0
106.3
105. 7
105. 1
103.2
104. 4
110.8
112.0
110.8
105.7
100.0
197.4
147.5
128.7
134.8
138.6
151.0
140.0
131.0
134.5
142.0
118.8
160. 6
136.8
102.3
100.0
97.7
97. 4
101. 7
112.5
124.9
129.9
140.3
120.6
100.0
205.4
176.8
155.4
155.4
157.1
167.9
167.9
166. 1
162. 5
160.7
155.4
158.9
157.1
157.1
157.1
157.1
157.1
157. 1
155.4
155.4
153.6
151.8
151.8
100.0
245.5
175.8
154.5
142. 4
148.5
184.8
181.8
166. 7
163.5
154. 5
142.4
154.5
154.5
151.5
148.5
145. 5
145. 5
139.4
136.4
133.3
13a 3
127.3
124.2
100.0
216. 7
150.0
130.0
136.7
156.7
180.0
170.0
173.3
176.7
176. 7
176.7
180.0
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
173.3
173.3
100.0
200.0
109. 2
109. 2
109. 2
116.1
127.6
133.3
123.0
114.9
111.5
109.2
110.3
110.3
109. 2
110.3
109.2
109. 2
109. 2
109.2
110.3
109. 2
106.9
105.8
100.0
370.6
182.4
164. 7
170.6
158.8
211.8
288. 2
223.5
158.8
188.2
211.8
229.4
229.4
229.4
241. 2
252.9
247.1
194. 1
182.4
188.2
182.4
170.6
170.6
100.0
352.7
145. 5
132.7
183.6
167.3
130.9
125.5
132.7
129.1
120.0
112.7
120.0
118.2
116.4
114.5
114.5
110.9
110.9
110.9
107.3
105. 5
107.3
107.3
100.0
134.7
128.1
125.2
127.8
131.4
138.8
141.0
142.5
142.3
142.6
142.5
143.4
143.3
142.8
142.5
142.5
143.0
143.0
142.3
142.1
141.9
141.4
141.4
100.0
157.7
121.8
121.1
126.5
145.3
172.8
171.1
162.1
165.1
164.8
136. 2
147.0
143.3
140.6
138.9
137.2
136.2
135.6
134. 6
132.6
131. 2
129.9
129.2
100.0
203.4
153. 3
141. 6
146. 2
145.9
157.4
160. 6
155.4
154.3
156.7
147.1
155. 4
153.0
150.1
151.2
150.1
147.9
144.0
143.7
145.6
144.4
141.4
137.2
145.2
141. 2
137. 1
132.6
124.0
119.9
99.4
91.8
89.9
89.9
85.4
82.3
104.6
78.8
82.6
79.4
71.9
74.8
146.4
142.9
141.1
137.5
137.5
135.7
121.2
121.2
118. 2
115. 2
112. 1
112.1
170.0
166.7
166. 7
163.3
153.3
150.0
102.3
102. 3
98.9
96.6
95. 4
94.3
170.6
158. 8
158.8
164.7
164.7
141.2
107.3
107.3
105.5
103.6
101.8
101.8
141.0
140.6
139.7
138. 2
136.9
136.4
126.8
125. 2
121.8
116. 1
112.4
111.1
132.8
127.0
126.4
124.0
121.0
118.3
1 22 articles in 1913*1920; 42 art*cles in 1921-1931
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[437]
Tea
Coffee All ar
ticles i
178
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
The curve shown in the chart below pictures more readily to the
eye the changes in the cost of the food budget than do the index
numbers given in the table.
C o m p a ris o n o f R e ta il Food C o sts in 51 C itie s
Table 5 shows for 39 cities the percentage of increase or decrease
in the retail cost of food 3 June, 1931, compared with the average
cost in the year 1913, in June, 1930, and May, 1931. For 12 other
cities comparisons are given for the 1-year and the 1-month periods;
these cities have been scheduled by the bureau at different dates since
1913. The percentage changes are based on actual retail prices
secured each month from retail dealers and on the average consump
tion of these articles in each city.4
Effort has been made by the bureau each month to have all sched
ules for each city included in the average prices. For the month of
Ib5
145
125
105
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY JUN JUL
AUG. S E P OCT NOV
DEC.
June, 99 per cent of all the firms supplying retail prices in the 51
cities sent in a report promptly. The following-named 37 cities had
a perfect record; that is, every merchant who is cooperating with
the bureau sent in his report in time for his prices to be included in
the city averages: Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Bridge
port, Butte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Hous
ton, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Little Rock, Los. An
geles, Louisville, Memphis, Minneapolis, Newark, New Haven, New
York, Norfolk, Omaha, Peoria, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland
(Me.), Portland (Oreg.), Providence, Richmond, Rochester, St. Louis,
St. Paul, San Francisco, and Scranton.
3 For list of articles see note 2, p. 175.
4 T he consum ption figures used for Jan u ary , 1913, to December, 1920, for each article in each city are
given in th e L abor Review for November, 1918, pp. 94 and 95. T he consum ption figures which have been
used for each m onth, beginning w ith January, 1921, are given in the Labor Review for M arch, 1921, p. 26.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[438]
179
W HOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES
T a b l e 5 . —P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E IN T H E R E T A IL C O ST O F FO O D IN J U N E . 1931, C O M
P A R E D W IT H T H E CO ST IN M AY , 1931, J U N E , 1930, A N D W IT H T H E A V E R A G E CO ST
IN T H E Y E A R 1913, B Y C IT IE S A N D IN T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S
C ity
Percent Percentage decrease
June, 1931, com
age in
pared w ith—
crease
June,
1931,
compared June,
M ay,
w ith 1913
1930
1931
C ity
U n ite d S ta te s ___
18.3
20.1
2.2
M ilw aukee______
A tlan ta.....................
B altim ore________
B irm ingham ______
Boston___________
B ridgeport_______
19.8
23.0
14.3
19.8
17.7
19.3
23.9
20.3
16.1
1.3
1.9
3.5
1.2
0.7
M obile_____ _
N ew ark
N ew Haven
Buffalo___________
B u tte ____________
Charleston, S. C . . .
Chicago__________
C incinnati________
19.9
21.2
17.0
18.3
19.2
19.4
3.1
1 0.4
1.6
1.6
1.7
22.8
22.2
22.2
19.1
22.3
4.5
2.0
2.6
0.5
4.4
3.0
3.7
2.1
1.4
2.1
2.9
4.0
2.4
1.4
2.3
C leveland.................
C olum bus................
D allas......................
D enver__________
D etro it......................
23.1
30.0
25.7
12.3
12.4
8.5
18.2
Fall R iv e r........... .
H ouston............ .......
In dianapolis...........
Jacksonville______
Kansas C ity ______
12.7
12.6
20.0
21.5
22.2
24.4
17.8
17.8
L ittle R ock_______
Los Angeles.............
Louisville . ______
M anchester___ _
M em phis.......... .......
10.0
5.3
11.7
18.5
9.6
21.9
21.2
22.9
19.0
22.9
14.5
1 Increase,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Percent Percentage decrease
June, 1931, com
age in
pared w ith—
crease
June,
1931,
M av,
compared June,
w ith 1913
1930
1931
21.8
20.8
19.6
1.6
19.8
23.8
19.6
16.0
16.5
0 9
3* 2
1.2
22.7
16.7
19.8
21.3
23.7
3 2
1.9
1. 5
0 3
1.3
15.3
19.8
17.4
19 4
N ew Orleans
N ew Y ork.......... .
Norfolk........ .......
O m aha_____ _
Peoria___________
12.1
24.9
P hiladelphia.
P ittsb u rg h _______
Portland, Me
Portland, Oreg
Providence.
26.2
19.6
Richmond
Rochester........ .........
St. Louis .
St. Paul
Salt Lake C ity
22.1
San Francisco
Savannah________
Scranton
Seattle.
Springfield, 111
W ashington
20.9
14.0
9 8
18.0
21.7
7.1
25.5
16.7
27.4
20'.5
1.0
2.3
i n
1 0* 4
1.6
20 7
22.5
19. 5
19.7
18.9
2, 3
i! i
2 2
12
1i . i
17.5
19.0
19.6
18 8
24 8
17.6
1 6
1.8
14
l' 7
1*9
2.8
180
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
R etail P rices of Coal in J u n e , 19311
HE following table shows the average retail prices of coal on
June 15, 1930, and May 15 and June 15, 1931, for the United
States and for each of the cities from which retail food prices have
been obtained. The prices quoted are for coal delivered to consumers,
but do not include charges for storing the coal in cellar or coal bin
where an extra handling is necessary.
In addition to the prices for Pennsylvania anthracite, prices are
shown for Colorado, Arkansas, and New Mexico anthracite in those
cities where these coals form any considerable portion of the sales
for household use.
The prices shown for bituminous coal are averages of prices of the
several kinds sold for household use.
T
T
able
1 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF C O AL P E R T O N O F 2,000 PO U N D S ,
H O U S E H O L D U SE , ON JU N E 15, 1930, A N D M A Y 15 A N D J U N E 15, 1931
1930
C ity, and k in d of coal
1930
1931
C ity, and kind of coal
June
15
M ay
15
U nited States:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove—
Avaragft price
$14. 62 $14. 22 $14. 33
index (1913=100)
189. 3 184. 0 185.5
C hestnut—
Average price________ $14. 32 $14.19 $14.31
Tndp.Y 0913—100')
180. 9 179. 4 180.8
B itum inous—
Average price__________ $8. 54 $8. 04 $8.00
Index (1923=100)............... 157.2 148.0 147.3
A tlanta, Ga.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizesBaltimore, M d.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove
C hestnut
B itum inous, ra n of mine—
H igh volatile___________
B irm ingham , Ala.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
Boston, Mass.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove.......................
C h estn u t______________
Bridgeport, Conn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove
C h estn u t.
Buffalo, N . Y.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove
C hestn u t
B u tte, M ont.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
Charleston, S. C.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
Chicago, 111.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove____ ______ _______
C h estn u t______________
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile_________
Low volatile_________
R u n of mine—
Low volatile____ _____
June
15
June
15
$7.19
$6. 69
$6. 69
13. 58
13.08
13. 25
13.00
13. 25
13.00
7.68
7.61
7.61
6.90
6.31
6. 35
15.35
14. 85
14. 75
14. 69
14. 75
14. 69
14. 50
14. 50
14.13
14.13
14. 00
14. 00
13. 20
12. 71
12. 60
12. 60
12.80
12.80
11.11
10. 49
10.47
9.67
9.67
9. 67
16. 38 15.75
15.92 1 15. 75
16.00
16. 00
7.69
10.38
7. 39
9.86
7. 45
10.14
7.75
7.24
7.23
C incinnati, Ohio:
B itum inpus—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile_______ - $5.70
Low volatile____ _____ 7. 75
Cleveland, Ohio:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__________________ 14. 80
14. 50
C h estn u t.........................
B itum inous----Prepared sizes—
fi 90
9.15
Low volatile_________
C olum bus, Ohio:
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
H igh volatile____ ____ 5.79
Low volatile.............. .
7.13
Dallas, Tex.:
Arkansas anthracite—Egg__ 14. 00
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 12.17
D enver, Colo.:
Colorado anthracite—
Furnace, 1 and 2 m ixed-- 14.94
Stove, 3 and 5 m ixed____ 14.94
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 9.76
D etroit, M ich.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__________________ 14.25
C hestn ut___ __________ 14.25
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
8. 00
H igh volatile_________
Low volatile_____ ____ 9.46
R u n of m ine—
Low volatile____ _____ 7.67
Fall R iver, M ass.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
15. 75
Stove_________ ______
C h estn ut....... ...................... 15.50
H ouston, Tex.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 11.60
Indianapolis, I n d ,:
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
H igh volatile................
5.73
Low volatile_____ ____ 7.96
R u n of mine—
Low volatile____ _____ 6.80
FO R
1931
M ay
15
June
15
$5.05
7. 03
$5. 30
7.28
14.00
13.88
14. 00
14.00
6 58
8.57
fi 58
8. 57
5. 30
7.00
5. 36
7.00
14.50
12. 25
14.50
12.25
15. 25
15. 25
8.47
15.13
15.13
8.24
14.50
14.50
14.50
14.50
6. 97
8.13
6.97
8.06
7.13
7.13
15. 00
15.00
15.25
15.25
10.40
10. 20
5.68
7. 75
5.84
7.75
6.65
6. 65
1 Prices of coal were formerly secured sem iannually and published in the M arch and Septem ber issues
of th e L abor Review. Since, June, 1920, these prices have been secured and published m onthly.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[4401
181
W HOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
T art* 1 - A V E R A G E R E T A I L P R IC E S O F C O A L P E R T O N
i. ABLE A.
AV
JUS
™
1930
C ity, and k in d of coal
a atta a a a v ik
O F 2,000 P O U N D S , F O R
Alsjn TTTXn?. IK
— r.rtnt.inilfid
1021
C ity, and kind of coal
June
15
M ay
15
1931
1930
1931
June
15
June
15
June
15
M ay
16
14.25
4.64
^ CO
00 00
Jacksonville, Fla.:
P en n sylvan ia anthracite—
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. ¡¡13.00 510.00 >10.00
C hestn u t________________ $14.75 >14.25
K ansas C ity , M o.:
4.66
B
itu m in ou s, prepared sizes, 5.11
Arkansas an thracite—
’ortland, M e.:
— 12.05 11.94 11.69
Furnace__________
P
en
n
sylvan
ia
anthracite—
13.00
Stove N o. 4 . . . ------------- 12.67 13.33
S to v e ___________________ 16.32 15.84
6.69
6.73
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 7.06
C hestn u t________________ 16.32 15.84
L ittle Rock, A rk.:
A rkansas anthracite—E g g .. 12.50 13.00 12.50
B
itu
m in ou s, prepared sizes, 13.18 12.82
9.39
9.17
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 9. 40
rovidence, R . I.:
Los Angeles, Calif.:
Penn
sylvan ia an thracite—
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 16.25 15.50 15.75
S to v e_____ ____________ 2 15.25 14.75
Louisville, K y.:
C
hestn
u t_______________ 215.25 14.75
B itu m in o u s R ichm ond, Va.:
Prepared sizes—
P
enn
sylvan
ia anthracite—
4.88
5.03
6.19
H igh volatile_____
14.00 13.50
S to v e___ ______________
7.50
7.50
Low volatile__________ 8.50
C
h
estn
u
t---------------------- 14.00 13.50
M anchester, N . H .:
B itu m in ou s—
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Prepared sizes—
| Stove........... .........
— 16.00 15.50 15.50
7.75
7.25
H igh volatile__________
C h estn u t------- --------------- 16.00 15.50 15.50
7.83
7.86
Low volatile__________
M em phis, T enn.:
R u n of m ine—
6.91
7.02
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 7.82
6.75
6.89
Low
volatile---------------M ilwaukee, W is.:
Rochester, N . Y .:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
P
en
n
sylvan
ia
anthracite—
Stove__________ _ ----- 15.75 15.25 15.39
S t o v e ..1------------------------- 13.95 13.50
15.30 15.25 15.39
C hestn u t.........
C hestn u t------------------------ 13.45 13.50
B itu m in o u s S t. Louis, M o.:
Prepared sizes—
P
enn
sylvan ia anthracite—
7.45
7.45
H igh volatile_________ 7.68
S tove___________________ 16.23 15.97
9.54
9.54
10.16
Low v olatile.. _____
C
h
estn
u t_______________ 15.98 15.91
M inneapolis, M inn.:
5.19
5.77
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes.
Pennsylvania an thracite—
S
t.
Paul,
M
inn .:
17.41
Stove_____ ____________ 17.75 17.25
P en n sylvan ia anthracite—
C hestn u t________ ______ 17.30 17.20 17.41
S tove----------------------------- 17.75 17.25
B itum inous—
C hestn u t_______________ 17.30 17.25
Prepared sizes—
B
itu
m in ou s—
9.92
9.91
H igh volatile_____ . . 10.26
Prepared sizes—
„ Low volatile.................... 13.14 12.48 13.34
9.67
H
igh volatile__________ 10.08
M obile, Ala.:
Low v o la tile--------------- 13.15 12.52
8.19
8.31
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 8.83
Salt
Lake
C
ity,
U
tah
.:
N ew ark, N . J.:
7.60
8.36
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes.
Pennsylvania anthracite—
S to v e .._____________ __ 13.46 12.81 13.06 San Francisco, Calif.:
N ew M exico anthracite—
C hestnut ____________ 12.96 12.81 13. C6
Cerillos egg------- ------------ 25.00 25.00
N ew H aven, Conn.:
Colorado anthracite—
Pennsylvania an thracite—
24.50 24.50
14.15
E
g g -............... ........... —
14.15
14.40
Stovfi
___
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes 15.75 15.75
flhAst.nnt.
. . . 14.40 14.15 14.15
Savannah,
Ga.:
N ew Orleans, La.:
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes »9.62 *9.62
8.07
8.07
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 9.11
Scranton, P a.:
N ew Y ork, N . Y .:
P en n sylvan ia anthracite—
Pennsylvania anthracite—
9.75
9.50
S to v e----------------------------13.21 12.96 13.17
Stove___ __________
9.48
C hestn u t----------------------- . 9.38
nhpstrm t
12.71 12.96 13.17
Seattle,
W
ash.:
Norfolk, Va.:
. 10.57 10.68
B
itu
m
in
ou
s,
prepared
sizes
Pennsylvania anthracite—
13.50 13.50 13.50 Springfield, 111.:
Stove_____ _______
4.34
B itu m in ou s, prepared sizes . 4.37
C hestn u t __ _______ 13.50 13.50 13.50
W ashington, D . C.:
B itu m in o u s P
en
n
sylvan
ia
anthracite—
Prepared sizes—
12.92
S to v e__________________
6.50
6.50
6.75
High volatile .
12.92
C hestn u t_______________
7. 75
7.00
7.00
j,ow v nlatil©- _____
B
itu
m
in
ou
s—
R u n of mine—
Prepared
sizes—
6.50
6. 63
6.50
Low v o la tile ...___ _
7.36
H igh volatile_________ 18.21
Omaha, N ebr.:
9.25
L ow v olatile--------------- _ 110.68
9.11
9.11
9.38
Bitum inous, prepared sizes
R u n of m ine—•
Peoria, 111.:
7.04
M ixed ------- ---------------- 17.78
6.13
6.23
6.29
Bitum inous, prepared sizes
Philadelphia, P a.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove________
- - . 13.00 12.25 12.25
12.50 12.25 12.25
C hestn u t........... ..............
i T h e average price of coal delivered in bins is 50 cents nigner m an n ei» sm ,» o .
a ■—
—
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
12.43
15.25
15.25
13.50
13.50
7.25
7.83
6.75
13.78
13.78
15.63
15.50
5.06
17.45
17.45
9.62
12.51
7.58
25.00
24.50
16.00
*9.62
9.70
9.68
9.59
4.34
13.12
13.12
7.36
9.25
7.10
............. ....
^ A l l c o a R o l d i n Savannah is w eighed b y th e city . . A charge of 1 0 cents per ton or half ton is m ade.
addition al charge has been included in th e above price.
» Per ton o f 2,240 p ounds.
[441]
16.32
16.32
T h is
182
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The following table shows for the United States both average and
relative retail prices of Pennsylvania wrhite-ash anthracite coal, stove
and chestnut sizes, and of bituminous coal in January and July, 1913
to 1929, and for each month from January, 1930 to June, 1931. An
average price for the year 1913 has been made from the averages for
January and July of that year. The average price for each month
has been divided by this average price for the year 1913 to obtain the
relative price.
T a b l e 2 —A V E R A G E A N D R E L A T IV E P R IC E S OF C O A L F O R T n E U N IT E D S T A T E S
ON S P E C IF IE D D A T E S F R O M JA N U A R Y , 1913, TO J U N E , 1931
B itum inous
Pennsylvania anthracite, w hite ash—
Y ear and m onth
C hestnut
Stove
Average
price
R elative
price
Average
price
Relative
price
Average
price
R elative
price
1913: Average for y e a r----------Ja n u a ry _______________
J u ly __________________
1914: Ja n u a ry _______________
J u ly ---------------------------1915: Jan u ary -------------------J u ly ________ ____ _____
1916: Jan u ary ______________
J u ly .............................. .......
1917: J an u a ry - _____________
J u ly ------ ---------------------1918: J a n u a ry -------- ------------J u ly __________________
1919: Jan u ary ______________
J u ly ---------------------------1920: Jan u ary -------------------J u ly ---------------------------1921: Ja n u a ry ----------------------J u ly __________________
1922: Ja n u a ry ..... ................... J u ly ------ ------ --------------1923: J a n u a ry ______ ____ ____
J u ly ----------------- ------ —
1924: J a n u a r y . . .........................
J u ly ___________ _______
1925: Jan u ary ___________ —
J u ly .......... - -------- ---------1926: Jan u ary ........ ..................
J u ly ---------- ----------------1927: Jan u a ry ..... ............ ............
J u ly ....................... ..............
1928: J a n u a ry .................... .........
J u ly ___________ ____
1929: J a n u a ry _______________
J u ly ................- ------ --------
$7.73
7.99
7.46
7.80
7.60
7.83
7.54
7.93
8.12
9.29
9.08
9.88
9.96
11. 51
12.14
12.59
14. 28
15.99
14.90
14.98
14.87
15.43
15.10
15. 77
15.24
15.45
15.14
0
15.43
15.66
15.15
15.44
14. 91
15. 38
14.94
100.0
103.4
96.6
100.9
98.3
101.4
97.6
102.7
105. 2
120.2
117.5
127.9
128.9
149.0
157.2
162.9
184.9
207.0
192.8
193.9
192.4
199.7
195. 5
204.1
197.2
200.0
196.0
(')
199.7
202.7
196.1
199.8
192.9
199.1
193.4
$7.91
8.15
7.68
8. 00
7.78
7. 99
7.73
8.13
8. 28
9.40
9.16
10.03
10.07
11. 61
12.17
12.77
14. 33
16.13
14.95
15.02
14.92
15.46
15.05
15. 76
15.10
15. 37
14.93
(>)
15.19
15.42
14.81
15.08
14. 63
15.06
14.63
100.0
103.0
97.0
101.0
98.3
101.0
97.7
102.7
104.6
118.8
115.7
126.7
127.3
146.7
153.8
161.3
181.1
203.8
188.9
189.8
188.5
195.3
190.1
199.1
190.7
194.2
188.6
(>)
191.9
194.8
187.1
190.6
184.9
190.3
184.8
$5.43
5.48
5.39
5.97
5. 46
5. 71
5.44
5.69
5.52
6.96
7.21
7.68
7.92
7.90
8.10
8. 81
10.55
11.82
10.47
9.89
9.49
11.18
10.04
9.75
8.94
9.24
8.61
9.74
8.70
9.96
8.91
9. 30
8.69
9.09
8.62
100.0
100.8
99.2
109.9
100.6
105.2
100.1
104.8
101.6
128.1
132.7
141.3
145.8
145. 3
149.1
162.1
194.1
217.6
192.7
182.0
174.6
205.7
184.7
179.5
164.5
170.0
158.5
179.3
160.1
183.3
163.9
171.1
159.9
167.2
158.6
1930: Jan u ary ---------------- -F eb ru ary __________ ___
M arch ..........- ------ --------A p ril................................ —
M ay ------- -------------------Ju n e__________________
J u ly _________________
A ugust_______________
September____________
October --------------------N o v e m b er..------ ---------D ecem ber----------------- -
15.33
15.33
15.33
15.32
14.65
14.62
14.84
14.88
15.08
15.13
15.14
15.13
198.4
198.4
198.4
198.3
189.6
189.3
192.1
192.6
195.2
195.8
196.0
195.9
15.00
15.00
15.00
14. 99
14.33
14.32
14. 53
14.57
14.80
14.87
14. 90
14.89
189.5
189.6
189.6
189.4
181.0
180.9
183.6
184.1
187.0
187. 9
188.2
188.1
9.11
9.04
9.02
8.84
8.53
8. 54
8.65
8.70
8. 79
8.88
8.94
8.94
167.6
166.4
166.0
162.7
157.0
157.2
159.1
160.1
161.7
163.3
164.6
164.4
1931: Ja n u a ry ............ - ............ .
F eb ru ary ................. ...........
M arch..................... ............
A p ril......... - ------ ---------M a y .............. - ............. .......
June__________________
15.12
15.09
15.09
14.45
14.22
14.33
195.8
195.3
195.4
187.0
184.0
185.5
14.88
14.85
14.85
14. 39
14.19
14.31
188.1
187.6
187.7
181.8
179.4
180.8
8.87
8.83
8. 71
8.46
8. 04
8.00
163.2
162.5
160.3
155.8
148.0
147.3
i Insufficient data.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[442]
183
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
R etail Prices of G as in th e U n ited S ta te s
HE net price per 1,000 cubic feet of gas for household use in
each of 51 cities is shown in the following table. In Table 1 the
average family consumption of manufactured gas is assumed to be
3,000 cubic feet per month. In cities where a service charge or a
sliding scale is in operation, families using less than 3,000 cubic feet
per month pay a somewhat higher rate than here shown, while those
consuming more than this amount pay a lower rate. The figures here
given are believed to represent quite closely the actual monthly cost
of gas per 1,000 cubic feet to the average wage-earner’s family.
Prices for natural gas and for manufactured and natural mixed gas
are shown in Table 2 for those cities where it is in general use. These
prices are based on an estimated average family consumption of 5,000
cubic feet per month.
T
T a b l e 1 .— N E T P R IC E P E R 1,000 C U B IC F E E T O F M A N U F A C T U R E D GAS B A SE D O N A
F A M IL Y C O N S U M P T IO N O F 3,000 C U B IC F E E T , IN S P E C IF IE D M O N T H S F R O M
A P R IL , 1913, TO J U N E , 1931, B Y C IT IE S
Apr.
15,
1913
Ju n e
15,
1924
June
15,
1925
June
15,
1926
Ju n e
15,
1927
June
15,
1928
June
15,
1929
Dec.
15,
1929
June
15,
1930
Dec.
15,
1930
$1. 00
A tlanta
B altim ore............ ..........
.90
B irm ingham ________ 1.00
B oston______________
.81
B u tte ............................... 1.49
$1.55
.85
.80
1.20
2.10
$1. 55
.85
.80
1.18
2.10
81 55
.85
.80
1.18
2.10
SI 55
.85
.80
1.18
2.10
$1.55
.85
.80
1.18
2.10
$1.43
.85
.80
1.18
2.10
$1 43
.85
.80
1.16
2.10
$0. 85
.80
1.16
2.10
$0.85
.80
1.16
2.10
$0.85
.80
1.16
2.10
1.55
.98
1.25
1.55
.98
1. 25
1.55
1.98
1.25
1.45
1.98
1.25
C ity
June
15,
1931
C harleston, S. C _____
Chicago...........................
C leveland___________
D enver______________
D etro it........ ...............
1.10
.80
.80
.85
.75
1.55
1.02
1.25
.95
.82
1. 55
1.02
1.25
.95
.82
1.55
1.02
1.25
.95
.79
1. 55
1.02
1.25
.90
.79
1. 55
.98
1.25
.90
.79
1.55
.98
1.25
.79
.79
.79
.79
.79
F all R iver______ ____
H o u s to n ....................
In d ia n a p o lis..................
Jacksonville_________
M anchester....................
.80
1.00
.60
1.20
1.10
1.15
1.09
1.15
1.97
1. 38
1.15
1.05
1. 10
1.97
1.38
1.15
1.15
1.15
1.15
1.14
1.14
1.14
1.14
1.05
1.97
1.38
1. 05
1.92
1. 38
.95
1.92
1. 34
.95
1.92
1. 34
.95
1.92
1.34
.95
1.92
1.34
.95
1.92
1.34
.95
1.92
1.34
M em phis____________
M ilw aukee__________
M inneapolis...................
M o b ile ............................
N ew ark_____________
1.00
.75
.85
1.10
1.00
1.20
.82
1.01
1.80
1.20
1.20
.82
.95
1.80
1.20
1.20
.82
.97
1. 80
1. 20
1.20
.82
.96
1. 76
1.20
1.20
.82
.94
1. 76
1. 20
.82
.89
1. 76
1.20
.82
.89
1. 76
1.21
.82
1.05
1. 76
1.21
.82
.96
.82
.96
1. 21
1.21
N ew H a v en ...... ..........
N ew Orleans_________
N ew Y ork___________
N orfolk_____________
O m a h a .........................
.90
1. 10
.84
1. 00
1.15
1. IS
1. 30
1.23
1.40
1.18
1.13
1. 30
1.23
1.40
1.08
1.13
1. 30
1.23
1.33
1.08
1.13
1.30
1.24
1.33
1.08
1.13
1.30
1.25
1.33
1. 00
1.13
1.13
1.13
1.13
1.13
1.25
1.33
.95
1.24
1.32
.95
1.24
1.32
.95
1.24
1.32
.88
1.24
1.32
.88
Peoria..............................
P hiladelphia_________
Portland, M e ...............
Portland, Oreg_______
P rovidence....................
.90
1.00
1.10
.95
.85
1.20
1.00
1.55
1.16
1.22
1.20
1.00
1.55
1.16
1.17
1.20
1. 00
1.50
1.19
1.17
1.20
1.00
1.42
1.17
1.13
1.20
1.00
1.42
1.17
1.13
1.20
1.00
1.42
1.17
1.13
1.20
1.00
1.42
1.17
1.13
1.20
1.00
1.42
1.17
1.13
1. 20
1.00
1.42
1.17
1.13
1.20
.95
1.42
1. 17
1. 13
R ichm ond___________
R ochester_____ ______
St. Louis___________ _
St. P a u l........ ..................
.90
.95
.80
.95
1.30
1.00
1.00
.85
1.30
1.00
1.00
.85
1.29
1.00
1.00
.90
1.29
1.00
1.00
.90
1.29
1.00
1.00
.90
1.29
1. 00
1.11
.90
1.29
1. 00
1.11
.90
1.29
1.00
1. 11
.90
1.29
1.00
1. 11
.90
1.29
1.00
1.11
.90
Salt Lake C ity _______
San Francisco________
Savannah _______ _
S c ra n to n -.......................
.87
.75
.95
1.57
LOO
1.45
1.50
1.54
1.05
1.45
1.50
1. 53
.95
1.45
1.50
1.52
.95
1.45
1.40
1.51
.94
1.45
1.40
1.51
.90
1. 45
1.40
.90
1.45
1.40
1.45
1.40
1.45
1.40
1.45
1.40
1.00
1.00
.93
1.45
1.35
1.00
1. 45
1. 35
1.00
1.45
1. 25
1. 00
1.45
1.25
1.00
1.45
1.25
1.00
1.45
1. 25
1.00
1. 77
1.45
1. 25
1.00
1.77
1.43
1. 25
1.00
1. 77
1.43
1.25
.95
1.77
1.43
2 1.25
.95
1. 77
Seattle______________
Springfield, 111_______
W ashington, D . C ___
H onolulu, H aw aii........
1 Price is based on 15.9 therm s, w hich is th e equivalent of 3,000 cubic feet of gas of a heating value of
530 B ritish therm al u n its.
2 Price is based on 17 therm s which is the equivalent of 3,000 cubic feet of gas of a heating value of 565
B ritish therm al un its.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[443]
184
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
T a b le 2 —N E T P R I C E P E R 1,000 C U B IC F E E T O F GA S B A S E D O N A F A M I L Y C O N S U M P
T IO N O F 5,000 C U B IC F E E T , I N S P E C I F I E D M O N T H S F R O M A P R IL , 1913, T O J U N E ,
1931, B Y C IT IE S
Natural gas
C ity
Apr.
15,
1913
A tlan ta________ ______
B u ffalo.....__...................
$0. 30
C in cin n ati................ .......
.30
C levelan d ............... .........
.30
C olu m b u s........................
.30
D allas________________
.45
D en ver________ ____ __
H ou ston ______________
.27
K ansas C ity ....................
L ittle R ock ...... ...............
.40
Los A n geles__________
L ou isville_____________
M em p h is_____________
M o b ile_______________
N ew Orleans________
P ittsb u rgh ......................
.28
Salt Lake C ity _______
San Francisco________
June
15,
1930
D ee.
15,
1930
June
15,
1924
June
15,
1925
June
15,
1926
June
15,
1927
June
15,
1928
June
15,
1929
D ec.
15,
1929
$1.17
$1.09
$1.09
$0. 50
.55
.45
.68
$0. 75
.55
.55
.74
$0. 75
.60
.55
.74
$0.75
.60
.48
.79
$0.75
.6 0
.48
.79
.95
.65
.75
.95
.65
.75
.95
.65
.45
.75
.95
.65
.91
.45
$0. 75
.60
.48
.79
.99
.7 5
.95
.65
.84
.45
.95
.75
.6 0
.48
.79
.99
.75
.95
.65
$0.75
.60
.48
.79
.99
.75
.95
.65
.84
.45
.97
.60
.6 0
.95
.6 0
.95
.60
.95
.60
.75
.6 0
.48
.79
.99
.75
.9 5 ,
.65
.84
.45
.95
1. 24
.95
.60
.99
.99
.99
.75
.60
.48
.79
.99
.75
.95
.65
.84
.45
.95
1.24
.95
.60
.97
.97
.97
$0. 65
$0. 65
$0.65
.91
.45
.45
.53
0.6
.60
. 95
.65
.84
.45
.95
June
15,
1931
.99
1
Manufactured and natural gas mixed
Buffalo_______________
Los A ngeles..... .............._
$0.60
.68
$0. 60
.68
$0. 65
.68
$0.65
$0.65
$0.65
$0. 65
From the prices quoted on manufactured gas, average prices have
been computed for all of the cities combined and are shown in
Table 3 for specified months of each year from 1913 to 1930. These
prices are based on, an estimated average family consumption of
3,000 cubic feet.
Relative prices have been computed by dividing the price in each
year by the price in April, 1913.
The price of manufactured gas in June, 1931, showed an increase
of 24.2 per cent since April, 1913. From December, 1930, to June,
1931, there was no change in the average price of gas.
T a b l e 3 .—A V E R A G E A N D R E L A T I V E N E T P R IC E P E R 1,000 C U B IC F E E T O F M A N U
F A C T U R E D GA S I N U N I T E D S T A T E S , B A S E D O N A F A M IL Y C O N S U M P T IO N OF 3,000
C U B IC F E E T I N S P E C I F I E D M O N T H S O F E A C H Y E A R , 1913 T O 1931
D ate
Apr. 15, 1913________________
A pr. 15,1914________________
A pr. 15[ 1915.............................
A pr. 15, 1916..............................__
A pr. 15', 1917........................... .
Apri. 15, 1918.... .....................
Apr. 15/1919________________
A pr. 15, 1920________________
M ay 15, 1921________________
Sept. 15, 1921________________
Dec. 15,'1921..._____________
M ar. 15, 1922_______________
June 15, 1922________________
Sept. 15, 1922............................ .
Dec. 1 5 ,1 9 2 2 ..............................
M ar. 15, 1923._______________
June 15,1923___ ____________
Sept. 15, 1923______ _________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Average R elative
net price
price
$0.95
.94
.93
.92
.91
.95
1.04
1.09
1.32
1. 31
1.30
1.29
1.27
1.26
1.25
1.25
1.24
1.24
100.0
98.9
97.9
96.8
95.8
100.0
109. 5
114. 7
138.9
137.9
136.8
135.8
133. 7
132.6
131.6
131.6
130.5
130.5
D ate
Dec. 15, 1923___________ ____
M ar. 15, 1924__________ ____ _
Ju n e 15, 1924________________
Sept. 15, 1924______ _________
Dec. 15,' 1924 ______________
Dec. 15]
June 15,
Dec. 15,'
June 15',
Dec. 15|
June 15',
Dec. 15,
June 15,
Dec. 15,
June 15,
Dec. 15,
June 15,
[444]
1 9 2 5 ..._____________
1926________________
1 9 2 6 ..._____________
1927_____ __________
1927________________
1928____ _______ ____
1928.............. .................
1929.......... ......................
1929___________ ____
1930________________
1930.................................
1931................................
Average Relative
net price
price
$1.25
1.24
1.24
1.24
1.24
1. 23
1. 23
1. 23
1.22
1. 22
1. 22
1.21
1.22
1.22
1.21
1. 21
1.18
1.18
131.6
130.5
130.5
130.5
130.5
129.5
129.5
129.5
128.4
128.4
128.4
127.4
128.4
128.4
127.4
127.4
124.2
124.2
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
lo D
R eta il P rices of E lectricity in th e U n ited S ta te s
E x p la n a tio n o f P rices
HE following table shows for 51 cities the net rates per kilowatthour of electricity used for household purposes for specified
months in 1929, 1930, and 1931. For the cities having more than
one tariff for domestic consumers the rates are shown for the schedule
under which most of the residences are served.
Several cities have sliding scales based on a variable number of
kilowatt-hours payable at each rate. The number of kilowatt-hours
payable at each rate in these cities is determined for each customer
according to the watts of installation, either m whole or in part in
the individual home. The number of watts so determined is called
the customer’s “ demand.”
.
, ,
,
In Baltimore the demand is the maximum normal rate oi use ol
electricity in any half-hour period of time. _ I t may be estimated or
determined by the company from time to time according to the cus
tomer’s normal use of electricity and may equal the total installation
reduced to kilowatts.
.. .
,
In Buffalo the demand consists of two parts—lighting, 25 per cent
of the total installation, but never less than 250 watts; and power,
2% per cent of the capacity of any electric range, water heater, or
other appliance of 1,000 watts or over and 25 per cent of the rated
capacity of motors exceeding one-half horsepower but less than 1
horsepower. The installation is determined by inspection of premises.
In Houston the demand is estimated as 50 per cent of the con
nected load, each socket opening being rated at 50 watts.
.
In New York the demand for Company C, when not determined
by meter, has been computed at 50 per cent of total installation in
residences, each standard socket being rated at 50 watts and all
other outlets being rated at their actual kilowatt capacity.
In Portland, Oreg., the demand for Company A has been esti
mated as one-third of the connected lighting load. Ranges, heating
devices, and small power up to a rated capacity of 2 kilowatts are
not included.
T
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[4451
186
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
N E T P R IC E P E R K IL O W A T T -H O U R F O R E L E C T R IC IT Y F O R H O U S E H O L D U SE IN
S P E C IF IE D M O N T H S O F 1929, 1930, A N D 1931, F O R 51 C IT IE S
C ity
A tlanta__________
B altim ore________
B irm ingham ______
B oston___________
B ridgeport_______
Buffalo___________
B u tte .......... .............
Charleston, S. C __
Chicago__________
C incinnati__ ____
M easure of consum ption, per m onth
Service charge_____ ____________________
F irst 50 kilow att-hours__________________
N ext 150 k ilo w att-h o u rs...............................
F irst 20 hours’ use of dem and L _______
N ext kilow att-hours equal to 8 tim es the
consum ption a t th e p rim ary ra te —
m inim um 200 kilow att-hours.
F irst 100 kilo w att-h o u rs.. __________ __
F irst 2 kilow att-hours per 100 square feet
of floor area.
N ext 70 kilow att-hours....................................
Excess_________________ _______________
All current ____ ______ _____________
F irst 60 hours’ use of d em and 1________ .
N ext 120 hours’ use of d e m a n d 1...................
Excess_________________ _____ __________
F irst 25 kilow att-hours__________________
N ext 25 kilow att-hours...................................
F irst 100 kilow att-hours_______ ______ _
F irst 3 kilow att-hours per r o o m . . . . _____
N ext 3 kilow att-hours per room .................. .
Excess....................................................... ...........
Service charge per room ___________
F irst 6 kilow att-hours p er room ; minim um , 4 rooms.
Excess__________ ________ ___________ _
Cleveland:
C om pany A ___ F irst 40 k ilow att-hours...................................
N ext 200 kilow att-hours_________________
C om pany B ___ Service charge_____ ____________________
F irst 600 kilow att-hours_________________
Colum bus................ F irst 50 kilow att-hours____ ____________
D allas.........__........... F irst 800 kilow att-hours_________________
D enver_____ _____ First 15 kilow att-hours____________ .
N ext 30 kilow att-hours. ..............................
Excess_________________ _____ __________
D etro it___________ F irst 3 kilow att-hours per active room;
m inim um , 3 rooms.
N ext 50 kilow att-hours........ ..........................
Excess.................. ................................................
Fall R iv er________ First 25 kilow att-hours________________ .
N ext 75 kilow att-hours_________________
H ouston.................... First 3 kilow att-hours per room ; minim um , 4 rooms.
N ext 100 k ilo w a tt-h o u rs..____ __________
Indianapolis______ First 50 kilow att-hours______________
N ext 50 k ilo w a tt-h o u rs________________
Jacksonville........... _ F irst 500 kilow att-hours . . .
K ansas C ity .......... F irst 5 kilow att-hours per active room;
m inim um , 3 rooms.
N ext 5 kilow att-hours per active room ___
Excess...............................................................
L ittle R o c k ............ F irst 4 rooms or less. (Rooms in excess of
4,10 cents each additional.)
F irst 6 kilow att-hours per ro o m ...................
N ext 6 kilow att-hours per room __________
Los A n g e le s .......... F irst 35 kilow att-hours*____________
N ext 140 kilow att-hours_________________
Louisville________ F irst 30 kilow att-hours
M anchester_______ F irst step: 3 rooms, 15 kilow att-hours; 4
rooms, 18 kilow att-hours; 5 rooms, 21
kilow att-hours; 6 rooms, 24 kilow atthours; 7 rooms, 27 kilow att-hours; 8
rooms, 30 kilow att-hours.
N ext step: N u m b er of kilow att-hours
equal to th e first step.
M em phis____ ____ F irst 6 kilow att-hours per room __
Excess______________ __________________
M ilw aukee_______ F irst 9 kilow att-hours for each of th e first
6 active rooms and th e first 7 kilow atthours for each active room in addition
to th e first 6.
N ext kilow att-hours u p to a to ta l of 150..
Excess________________________________
M inneapolis............ F irst 3 kilow att-hours per active room;
m inim um , 2 rooms.
N ext 3 kilow att-hours per active r o o m ....
For footnotes see end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
June,
1929
D e
cem
ber,
1929
June,
1930
D e
cem
ber,
1930
June.
1931
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
100. 0
5.0
3.0
7. 0
a 4.0
100. 0
5.0
3.0
6.7
3.4
100.0
5.0
3.0
6. 7
3.4
100. 0
5.0
3.0
6.7
3.4
100 0
5.0
3.0
6. 7
3.4
7.7
8.5
7.7
8.5
7.7
8.5
7.7
7.5
7.7
7.5
5.0
3.0
5.5
5.0
4.0
1.5
8.0
4.0
8 10. 0
7.0
5.0
3.0
10. 0
50.0
5.0
3.0
5.5
5.0
4.0
1.5
8. 0
4.0
3 10.0
7.0
5.0
3.0
10. 0
5.0
5.0
3.0
5.5
5.0
4.0
1.5
8. 0
4.0
3 10.0
7.0
5.0
3.0
10.0
5.0
5.0
3.0
5.5
5.0
4.0
1.5
8. 0
4.0
3 10.0
7.0
5.0
3.0
10. 0
5.0
5.0
3.0
5. 5
5.0
4.0
1.5
8.0
4.0
9.0
7.0
5.0
3.0
10.0
5.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
<5.0
* 5.0
30. 0
«3.0
7. 0
6. 0
7. 0
6.0
5.0
9.0
30.0
« 3.0
6. 0
6.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
9.0
5.0
4. 0
30.0
3.0
6.0
6.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
9.0
5.0
4.0
30.0
3.0
6.0
6.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
9.0
5.0
4.0
30.0
3.0
6. 0
6.0
7. 0
6.0
5.0
9.0
3.6
2.3
8. 0
5.0
«7.2
3.6
2.3
8.0
5.0
7.0
3.6
2.3
8. 0
5.0
7.0
3.6
2.3
8.0
5.0
7.0
3.6
2.3
8.0
50
7.0
M .5
6. 5
6.0
» 7.0
7.0
4.0
6. 5
6.0
7 0
6.5
4.0
6. 5
6.0
7.0
6.5
4.0
6 5
6.0
7.0
6.5
4.0
6. 5
6.0
7. 0
6.5
5.0
2.5
4.5
2.5
4.5
2.5
50.0
4.5
2. 5
50. 0
4 5
2.5
50. 0
8 10.0
8 10.0
6 5. 0
* 5. 0
1« 7.6
10.0
7. 6
10.0
7.0
5. 0
4.8
2. 5
7. 6
10.0
7.0
5. 0
4 8
2.5
7. 6
10.0
7 0
5.0
4.8
2. 5
7. 6
10.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
6.0
6.0
8. 0
5.0
6.7
8. 0
5.0
6.7
8. 0
5.0
6.2
8. 0
5.0
6.2
8.0
5.0
6.2
ii 2.9
1.9
8.6
H 2.9
1.9
8.6
la 2.9
1.9
8.6
12 2.9
1.9
8.6
2.9
1.9
8.6
7.1
7.1
7.1
7-1
7-1
187
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
N E T P R IC E P E R K IL O W A T T -H O U R F O R E L E C T R IC IT Y F O R H O U S E H O L D U SE IN
S P E C IF IE D M O N T H S O F 1929, 1930, A N D 1931, F O R 51 C IT I E S —C ontinued
City,
Mobile-
N ew ark____
N ew H aven..
N ew Orleans
N ew York:
C om pany A .
C om pany B .
C om pany C .
N orfolk________
O m ah a.......... —
Peoria.
Philadelphia:
C om pany A .
C om pany B .
P ittsb u rg h _____
Portland, M e.
Portland, Oreg.:
Com pany A ..
C om pany B .
Providence.
R ichm ond.
Rochester..
St. Louis:
C om pany A .
Com pany B .
St. P aul.
Salt Lake C ity .
San Francisco..
Savannah.
S cranton ..
June,
1929
D e
cem
ber,
1929
June,
1930
D e
cem
ber,
1930
June,
1931
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
C en ts
80.0
80.0
80.0
80.0
80.0
5.0
9.0
8.0
5.5
25.0
5.0
9.0
8.0
5.5
25.0
9.1
7.8
5.0
9.0
8.0
5.5
25.0
9.1
7.8
5.0
9.0
8.0
5.5
25.0
9.1
7.8
5.0
9.0
8.0
5.5
25.0
9.1
7.8
7.0
9.5
7.0
8.5
5.5
3.0
9.0
3.0
7.0
9.5
7.0
8.5
5.5
3.0
9.0
6.0
3.0
3.0
7.0
9.5
7.0
8.5
5.5
3.0
9.0
6.0
3.0
7.0
9.5
7.0
7.5
5.5
3.0
9.0
6.0
3.0
M in im u m charge including use of first 10
kilow att-hours.
N ext 38 kilow att-hours................................ .
F irst 20 k ilo w att-h o u rs.................................
N ext 30 kilow att-hours...................................
F irst 10 kilow att-hours..................................
N ext 20 kilow att-hours------- ---------- ------N ext 30 kilow att-hours—------- ------------F irst 3 rooms, 15 kilow att-hours; 4 rooms,
18 kilow att-hours; 5 rooms, 21 kilow atthours; 6 rooms, 24 kilow att-hours; 7
rooms, 27 kilow att-hours; 8 rooms, 30
kilow att-hours.
N ext 3 rooms, 35 kilow att-hours; 4 rooms,
42 kilow att-hours; 5 rooms, 49 kilow atthours; 6 rooms, 56 kilow att-hours; 7
rooms, 63 kilow att-hours; 8 rooms, 70
kilow att-hours.
» 8.0
13 8.0
« 8.0
75.0
75.0
H 6.0
H 6.0
H 6.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
5.5
4.0
9.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
5.5
4.0
6.0
9.0
6.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
5.0
F irst 30 kilow att-hours........ ...........-..............
N ext 40 kilow att-hours...................................
E xcess _______ ________ _______ __ ____
F irst 30 kilow att-hours......... ............. ..........
N ext 40 kilow att-hours-.............................. .
Excess---------- ------------------------- ----------Service c h arg e................................... - ............
All cu rren t__________ _____ - ..................
F irst 100 kilow att-hours------ ------ ----------Service charge including first 12 kilow atthours.
N ext 48 kilow att-hours..................................
is 6.7
16 6.7
U 2.9
1« 7.3
» 6.7
h 2.9
50.0
6.5
8.5
5 8.0
M easure of consumption, per m onth
Service charge for house of 3 rooms—con
sum ption of 5 kilow att-hours included,
10 cents extra for each additional room;
n o t more th a n 10 rooms counted.
N ext 45 kilow att-hours........ .....................—
F irst 20 kilow att-hours........ ................ ..........
N ext 30 kilow att-hours..................... .............
All cu rren t........ ...................................... ..........
Service charge......................... ................. —
F irst 20 kilow att-hours..................... .............
N ext 30 kilow att-hours----------- -------------F irst 1,000 kilow att-hours..................... All c u rre n t......... ........................................
F irst 60 hours’ use of dem and 1----------F irst 100 kilo w att-h o u rs..........................
F irst 10 kilow att-hours per room .......... .
N ext 160 kilow att-hours...........................
F irst 4 kilow att-hours per active room .
N ext 4 kilow att-hours per active room.
Excess.......................................................... .
F irst 9 kilow att-hours per active room -----Excess---------- -------------------------------------First 4 rooms or less, 18 kilow att-hours;
5 or 6 rooms, 27 kilow att-hours; 7 or 8
rooms, 36 kilow att-hours.
Excess
__________________________ __
F irst 3 kilow att-hours per room, m inim um
2 rooms.
N ext 3 kilow att-hours per ro o m ..................
E xcess
________ __ ______ __ __ __ __
Service" charge—consum ption of 11 kilo
w att-hours included.
Excess----------------- --------— ------ -----------Service c h arg e...---------- ------------------F irst 30 kilow att-hours for residence of 6
rooms. 5 kilowatt-hours added for each
additional room.
N ext 140 kilow att-hours------------------------Service charge------------------------------------F irst 50 kilow att-hours----------------- --------Service charge-------------------------------------All c u rre n t........................................................
F or footnotes see end of table.
6 7 9 9 9 °— 31-
-13
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[447]
9.1
7.8
7.0
9.5
7.0
8.5
5.5
3.0
9.0
6.0
6.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
5.5
4.0
8.0
5.5
4.0
8.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5 .0
is 7.6
16 6.7
U 2.9
18 7.3
1« 6. 7
il 2.9
50.0
6.5
8.5
5 8.0
is 7.6
16 6.7
H 2.9
is 7.3
1« 6.7
H 2. 9
50.0
6.5
8.5
5 8.0
5.5
3.0
1.8
5.5
3.0
1.8
50.0
6.5
8.5
3 8.0
5.5
3.0
1.8
5.5
3.0
1.8
50.0
6.5
7.5
6.7
2.4
6.7
8.0
8.0
5.5
4.0
100.0
5.5
6.7
2.4
6.7
6.7
2.4
6.7
6.7
2.4
6.7
6.7
2.4
6.7
2.4
8.6
2.4
2.4
8.6
2.4
8.6
2.4
8.6
7.1
2.9
90.0
7.1
2.9
90.0
7.1
2.9
90.0
7.1
2.9
90.0
7.1
2.9
90.0
7.0
40.0
5.0
7.0
40.0
5.0
7.0
40.0
4.5
7.0
40.0
4.5
7.0
40.0
4.5
3.5
26 9.0
2! 9.0
3.5
3.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
6.0
21 9.0
6.0
6.0
2 1 9 .0
22 8 . 0
3.5
100.0
6.0
100.0
5.0
188
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
N E T P R IC E P E R K IL O W A T T -H O U R FO R E L E C T R IC IT Y F O R H O U S E H O L D U SE IN
S P E C IF IE D M O N T H S OF 1929, 1930, A N D 1931, F O R 51 C IT IE S -C o n tin u e d
M easure of consum ption, per m onth
C ity
Seattle:
C om pany A __
C om pany B __
First
N ext
First
N ext
40 kilow att-hours.____ ____________
200 kilow att-hours.......................... .......
40 kilow att-hours ________________
200 kilow att-hours__________ ____
Springfield, 111.:
Com pany A __
F irst 30 kilow att-hours_________________
N ext 70 kilow att-hours_________________
F irst 30 kilow att hours . . . -------------------N ext 70 kilow att-hours___________ ______
W ashington, D . C . All current ___________________________
Honolulu, H aw aii-. F irst 100 kilow att-hours________________
C om pany B ...
June,
1929
C e n ts
5 .5
D e
cem
ber,
1929
June,
1930
D e
cem
ber,
1930
June,
1931
C en ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
2.0
5.5
2.0
5.5
2.0
5.5
2.0
5.5
2.0
5.5
2.0
5.5
2.0
5.5
2.0
5.5
2.0
5.5
2.0
6.0
3.0
0.0
3.0
5.2
8.0
6.0
3.0
6.0
3.0
5.2
8.0
6.0
3.0
6.0
3.0
4.7
8.0
6.0
3.0
6.0
3.0
4.7
8.0
6.0
3.0
6.0
3.0
4.2
1 For determ ination of dem and see explanation of prices.
2 N ext kilow att-hours up to 800.
8 First 50 kilowatt-hours.
4 F irst 80 kilow att-hours
5 All current.
6 F irst 30 hours’ use of dem and. For determ ination of dem and see explanation of prices.
7 Excess.
8 First 200 kilow att hours.
9 First 50 kilow att-hours.
101 to 149 kilow att-hours.
n N ext kilow att-hours u p to a total of 300.
12 N ext kilow att-hours u p to a total of 200.
13 F irst 12 kilow att-hours.
14 N ext 36 kilowatt-hours,
i* F irst 9 kilow att-hours.
26 N ext kilow att-hours in excess of the first 9 kilow att-hours u n till 100 use of dem and has been reached.
For determ ination of dem and see explanation of prices.
17 N ext 50 kilow att-hours.
18 F irst 13 kilow att-hours.
19 N ext kilow att-hours: For an installation of 600 w atts or less 7 kilow att-hours will apply. For each
30 w atts of installation in excess of 600 w atts 1 additional kilow att-hour will apply.
20 F irst 100 kilowatt-hours.
21 F irst 150 kilowatt-hours.
22 F irst 250 kilow att-hours.
Index N u m b ers of W h olesale Prices in J u n e , 1931
HE index number of wholesale prices computed by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor
shows a decline for June. This index number, which includes 550
commodities or price quotations weighted according to the impor
tance of each article and based on prices in 1926 as 100.0, declined
from 71.3 in May to 70.0 in June, a decrease of slightly more than
1% per cent. The purchasing power of the 1926 dollar in June was
$1,429.
Farm products as a group averaged 2% per cent below May prices,
due to decreases for oats, rye, wheat, beef cattle, hogs, sheep and
lambs, poultry, cotton, hay, domestic wool, and oranges. Corn,
onions, fresh milk at Chicago, fresh apples, and lemons, on the other
hand, were higher than in the month before.
Among foods price decreases were reported for butter, fresh and
cured meats, canned salmon, bananas, oleomargarine, and edible
tallow, resulting in a net decrease of about one-half of 1 per cent
for the group. Cheese, dressed poultry, coffee, sugar, rye flour, corn
meal, and lard averaged higher than in May.
Advances in hides and skins more than offset slight declines in
leather and boots and shoes, netting an upward trend for the group
as a whole. No change was reported for other leather products.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[448]
189
W HOLESALE AND R ET A IL PRICES
In the group of textile products further decreases are shown for
cotton goods, silk and rayon, woolen and worsted goods, and other
textiles, causing the group to decline nearly 1% per cent within the
month.
A decided decrease in petroleum products forced the fuel and
lighting group down 4% per cent from May to June. Anthracite
coal advanced slightly, while bituminous coal and coke showed
further recessions.
.
Among metals there were slight declines in certain iron and steel
products and agricultural implements, with larger decreases for nonferrous metals. Automobiles and other metal products remained at
the May level.
T R E N D OF W H O LESA L E
DEC.
JAN. FEB.
MAR.
APR.
MAY
JUNE JULY
P R IC E S .
AUG. SEPT.
OCT.
NOV.
DEC.
Lumber, brick, cement, paint materials, and other building ma
terials continued to move downward in' June. No change was re
ported for structural steel. The group as a whole showed a decrease
of a little more than 1 per cent.
With further price recessions during June for chemicals, fertilizer
materials, and mixed fertilizers, the chemicals and drugs group
showed a decrease of 1%per cent. Both furniture and furnishings in
the group of house-furnishing goods continued to decline in the month.
In the group of miscellaneous commodities, prices of cattle feed
fell markedly, while paper and pulp, crude rubber, and other miscel
laneous items declined slightly. No change was reported for auto
mobile tires.
.
Raw materials as a whole averaged lower than in May, as did also
semimanufactured articles and finished products.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[449]
190
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
In the large group of nonagricultural commodities, including all
articles other than farm products, and among all commodities other
than farm products and foods, the June prices averaged lower than
those for the month before.
IN D E X NUM BERS OF W HOLESALE PR IC E S BY GROUPS AND SUBGROUPS OF COM
M O D ITIES [1926=100.0]
Groups and subgroups
June, 1930 May, 1931 June, 1931
All commodities___ _______________
Purchasing
power of
the dollar
June, 1931
86.8
71.3
70.0
$1. 429
Farm products_________________________
Grains_____________________________
Livestock and poultry________________
Other farm products_____ ____ ______
88.9
78.7
88.5
92.7
67.1
59.6
64.1
71.5
65.4
56.0
61.9
70.8
1.529
1. 786
1. 616
1.412
Foods_________________________________
Butter, cheese, and milk______________
Meats__________________________ ___
Other foods________________ ________
90.5
00.4
99.9
85.1
72.9
78.4
74.4
69.7
72.4
79.1
71.3
70.1
1.381
1. 264
1.403
1.427
Hides and leather products_______________
Hides and skins_____________________
Leather____________________________
Boots and shoes_____________________
Other leather products_________ ____
102. 4
99.0
102. 9
103. 0
105.1
87.3
62.6
88.1
94.8
101.3
87.8
65.5
87.8
94.7
101.3
1.139
1.527
1.139
1.056
.987
Textile products________________________
Cotton goods________________________
Silk and rayon______________________
Woolen and worsted goods____________
Other textile products________________
82.2
89.3
64. 3
88.6
69.0
66.3
73.9
44.0
76.4
55.9
65.4
72.6
43.8
75.9
53.1
1.529
1.377
2.283
1. 318
1.883
Fuel and lighting materials_______________
Anthracite coal_____________ _______
Bituminous coal__________________ .II
Coke............... ............................... .I I ..I I
Gas______________________ _________
Petroleum products______ ___________
76.4
85.8
88.2
84.0
99.7
63.6
60.9
87.6
83.9
83.7
99.0
35.9
58.1
88.8
83.2
81.5
(>)
30.7
1.721
1.126
1.202
1.227
3. 257
Metals and metal products_______________
Iron and s te e l....______________ IIIIIII
Nonferrous metals____________IIIIIII.I
Agricultural implements____________I__
Automobiles________________________
Other metal products________
I._
95.4
91.7
78.1
95.0
105.5
98.4
87.8
87.2
60.6
94.7
98.6
94.4
87.4
86.9
58.9
94.6
98.6
34.4
1.144
1.151
1. 698
1. 057
1.014
1.059
Building materials_______ __________
Lumber______________________ H ill""
Brick___________________ III.IIIIIIIII
Cement_______________ _______
Structural steel________________IIII II
Paint materials__________________1.1..
Other building materials________ IIIIIII
90.0
85.3
83.0
91.7
86.8
88.7
99.6
78.4
68.4
80.8
79.7
84.3
70.5
93.2
77.5
67.8
80.8
77.7
84.3
70. i
91.7
1.290
1.475
1.238
1.287
1.186
1.427
1.091
Chemicals and drugs___________________
Chemicals_________
IIIIIII"
Drugs and pharmaceuticals_______ IIIII'
Fertilizer materials___________________
Mixed fertilizers___________________ H I
88.9
93.8
67.9
85.3
94.1
79.1
81.9
62.8
80.5
82.8
77.9
80.2
62.1
79.8
82.4
1. 284
1.247
1.610
1.253
1.214
House-furnishing goods___________________
Furniture________________IIIIIIIIIIIH
Furnishings_______________________ III ___I"
96.2
96.5
95.9
89.2
93.5
85.5
88.6
92.8
85.0
1.129
1.078
1.176
Miscellaneous___________________
Cattle feed_________
111111111111
Paper and pulp_______________ HI
Rubber________________________ "I
Automobile tires______________ II.IIIII!
Other miscellaneous____________ IIIIIII!
74.5
102.0
85.2
25.9
52.2
103.3
62.8
67.9
81.3
13.7
45.7
84.9
61.8
61.1
80.3
13.3
45.7
84.0
1.618
1.637
1.245
7.519
2.188
1.190
Raw materials_______________________
Semimanufactured articles_______ II.H I
Finished products______ _________________
Nonagricultural commodities_________ IIIIH
All commodities, less farm products and foods.
84.8
82.0
88.9
86.3
85.7
66.5
68.9
75. 1
72.6
73.2
64.7
68.5
74.0
71.4
71.9
1. 546
1.460
1.351
1. 401
1. 391
1Data not yet available.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[450]
COST OF LIVING
C h an ges in C ost of L iving in th e U n ited S ta te s
The index number for cost of living for June, 1931, is 150.3, as com
puted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Depart
ment of Labor, and shows a decline of 6.5 per cent as compared wuth
December, 1930. This index number includes prices obtained from
51 cities on food and from 32 cities on various articles of clothing,
rents, fuel and light, house-furnishing goods, and miscellaneous items,
weighted according to their importance in the family budget, and is
based on prices in 1913 as 100.
For 19 of these cities the base period of the index is December,
1914, and for 13 cities it is December, 1917. To determine the change
in cost of living between the average of 1913 and December, 1914,
retail food prices, wholesale prices of other articles, and certain other
data were compiled by the bureau.
Changes in the total cost of living in the United States for all
periods for which data were gathered are shown by the index num
bers in Table 1.
T
able
1 . — IN D E X
N U M B E R S S H O W IN G C H A N G E S IN CO ST O F L IV IN G IN T H E U N IT E D
ST A T E S , 1913 TO J U N E , 1931
D ate
A verage, 1913________
D ecember, 1914_____. . .
December, 1915_______
D ecember, 1916_____ ___
D ecember, 1917._______
D ecember, 1918, ______
June, 1919.. ______. . .
D ecember, 1919_____ A .
June, 1920____________
D ecember, 1920_____ _
M ay, 1921_____________
September, 1921_______
D ecember, 1921________
Index
num
ber
100.«
103.0
105.1
118.3
142.4
174.4
177.3
199.3
216. 5
200.4
180.4
177.3
174.3
D ate
M arch, 1 9 2 2 ..______
June, 1922.. ______
Septem ber, 1922______
D ecem ber,'1922___ . . .
M arch, 1 9 2 3 ..____. . .
June, 1923__________
September, 1923
December," 1923_______
M arch, 1924
June, 1924..
______
September. 1924
D ecember, 1924___
Ju n e, 19251_____ . . . _
Index
num
ber
166.9
166. 4
166. 3
169. 5
168. 8
169. 7
172.1
173. 2
170. 4
169.1
170. 6
172. 5
173.5
Index
num
ber
D ate
December, 1925
June, 1926
December, 1926
June, 1927’
177.9
174.8
175.6
173.4
172.0
170.0
171.3
170.2
171.4
166.6
160.7
150.3
December, 1927
June, 1928
December, 1928
June, 1929
December, 1929
June, 1930
D ecember, 1980
June, 1931 . . .
Table 2 shows the index numbers which represent changes in six
groups of items entering into the cost of living in the United States
from 1913 to June, 1931.
Since 1913 prices in the food group have increased 18.3 per cent;
clothing, 46 per cent; rents, 42 per cent; fuel and light, 65.4 per cent;
house-furnishing goods, 77 per cent; and miscellaneous items, 106.6
per cent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[451]
191
192
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
The peak of prices occurred in June, 1920, and between this period
and June, 1931, clothing shows the largest decrease, 49. 2 per cent;
food comes next, showing a reduction of 46.0 per cent; house-furnish
ing goods showed a decline of 39.5 per cent and fuel and light showed
a recession of 3.8 per cent. Rents and miscellaneous items increased
during this period 5.3 and 2.6 per cent, respectively.
In the period between June, 1930 and June, 1931, the decrease in
the cost-of-living groups averaged 20 per cent for food; 9.6 per cent
for house-furnishing goods; 8.1 per cent for clothing; 5.1 per cent for
rent; 4.3 per cent for fuel and light; and 0.9 per cent for miscellaneous
items.
During the 6-month period ending June, 1931, prices declined
13.8 per cent in the food group; 6 per cent in the house-furnishings
group; 5.5 per cent in fuel and light group; 4.6 per cent in the clothing
group; 3.1 per cent in the rent group; and 0.7 in the miscellaneous
group.
T
2 —IN D E X N U M B E R S S H O W IN G C H A N G E S IN C O ST O F G R O U P S O P IT E M S
E N T E R IN G IN T O CO ST O P L IV IN G IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S , 1913 TO JU N E , 1931
able
Index num bers
D ate
Food
A verage, 1913
.
C loth
ing
R ent
HouseFuel and furnish Miscel
light
ing
laneous
goods
All
items
___________
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
December, 1914__________
_______
December, 1915___________ _ _______
December, 1916_____________________
December, 1917_____________________
December, 1918________ __________
June, 1919___________ _ ______
D ecember, 1919_____________
June, 1920______________
December, 1920_______
________
M ay, 1921__________________________
September, 1921___ _______
December, 1921___ __________
M arch, 1922____________
June, 1922________________________
Septem ber, 1922_____ _________
December, 1922______________
M arch, 1923_____________
June, 1923___________
September, 1923___ ____ _
December, 1923___ ___ ____
M arch, 1924__________
June, 1924_______________ _
September, 1924________
December, 1924_____________________
June, 1925_____________
December, 1925______________
June, 1926___
___
December, 1926______ _______
June, 1927__________
December, 1927_________
June, 1928___________
December, 1928 __________
June, 1929____________
December, 1929____
June, 1930________
______
December, 1930. _ ______ _
June, 1931________________
105.0
105.0
126.0
157. 0
187.0
184.0
197.0
219.0
178.0
144.7
153.1
149.9
138. 7
140.7
139.7
146.6
141.9
144.3
149.3
150.3
143.7
142.4
146.8
151. 5
155.0
165.5
159.7
161.8
158.5
155.9
152.6
155.8
154.8
158.0
147.9
137.2
118.3
101.0
104.7
120.0
149.1
205.3
214.5
268.7
287.5
258.5
222.6
192.1
184.4
175.5
172.3
171.3
171.5
174.4
174.9
176. 5
176.3
175.8
174.2
172.3
171.3
170. 6
169.4
168.2
166.7
164. 9
162.9
162.6
161.9
161.3
160.5
158.9
153.0
146.0
0
101.5
102.3
100.1
109.2
114.2
125.3
134.9
151.1
159.0
160.1
161.4
160.9
160.9
161.1
161.9
162.4
163.4
164.4
166.5
167.0
168.0
168.0
168.2
167.4
167.1
165.4
164.2
162.1
160.2
157.6
155.9
153.7
151.9
149.6
146.5
142. 0
101.0
101.0
108.4
124.1
147.9
145.6
156.8
171.9
194.9
181.6
180.9
181.1
175.8
174.2
183.6
186.4
186.2
180.6
181.3
184.0
182.2
177.3
179.1
180. 5
176.5
186.9
180.7
188.3
180.8
183.2
177.2
181.3
175.2
178.7
172.8
175.0
165.4
104.0
110.6
127.8
150.6
213.6
225.1
263.5
292.7
285.4
247.7
224.7
218.0
206.2
202.9
202.9
208.2
217.6
222.2
222.4
222.4
221.3
216.0
214.9
216.0
214.3
214.3
210.4
207.7
205.2
204.6
201. 1
199.7
198. 5
197.7
195.7
188.3
177.0
103.0
107.4
113.3
140.5
165.8
173.2
190.2
201.4
208.2
208.8
207.8
206.8
203.3
201.5
201.1
200.5
200.3
200.3
201.1
201.7
201.1
201.1
201.1
201.7
202.7
203.5
203.3
203.9
204. 5
205.1
205. 5
207.1
207.3
207.9
208.5
208. 1
206.6
103.0
105.1
118.3
142.4
174.4
177.3
199.3
216.5
200.4
180.4
177.3
174.3
166.9
166.4
166.3
169.5
168.8
169.7
172.1
173. 2
170.4
169.1
170.6
172.5
173.5
177.9
174.8
175.6
173.4
172. 0
170.0
171.3
170. 2
171.4
166.6
160.7
150.3
1 No change.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[452]
193
COST OF LIVING
Table 3 shows the per cent of decrease in the price of electricity in
32 cities since December, 1913. The June, 1931, figure shows a
decrease of 1.6 per cent as compared with December, 1930.
T a b l e 3 .— P E R C E N T O F D E C R E A S E IN T H E P R IC E O F E L E C T R IC IT Y A T S P E C IF IE D
P E R IO D S AS C O M P A R E D W IT H D E C E M B E R , 1913
P er cent
of de
crease
from D e
cember,
1913
D ate
December, 1914_____
December, 1915_____
December, 191fi
December, 1917_____
December, 1918
June, 1919December, 1919
June, 1920 _
D ecember, 1920
M av. 1921 .
Septem ber, 1921
D ecember, 1921_____
M arch, 1922________
3. 7
6. 2
8.0
11. 1
6. 2
6.2
7.4
7.4
4.9
4.9
4.9
4.9
4.9
Per cent
of de
crease
from D e
cember,
1913
D ate
June, 1922_________ __
September, 1822______
December, 1922_______
M arch, 1923_____ . __
June, 1923___________
Septem ber, 1923______
December, 1923_______
M arch, 1924_______
June, 1924_________ __
September, 1924______
December, 1924______
June, 19251___________
December, 1925______
6. 2
6.2
7.4
7.4
7.4
8.6
8. 6
8.6
8.6
8.6
8.6
9.9
9.9
Per cent
of de
crease
from D e
cember,
1913
D ate
June, 1926_______ ____
D ecember, 1926_______
June, 1927_____ ______
December, 1927__ ____
Ju n e, 1928 . . _________
December, 1928____ _
June, 19 2 9 -.___ ______
D ecember, 1929_______
June, 19301...... ................
December, 1930_______
Ju n e 1931____________
11.1
11.1
12.3
12.3
13.6
14.8
17.3
17.3
18.5
18.5
19.8
The per cent of decrease in the total cost of living in each of the 32
cities and in the United States, from June, 1920, June, 1930, and
December, 1930, to June, 1931, is presented in Table 4. In the
period between June, 1920, and June, 1931, the decreases in the 32
cities ranged from 25.8 to 36.3 per cent and averaged 30.6 for the
United States. In the year from June, 1930, to June, 1931, the
decreases ranged from 5.6 to 12.8 per cent and averaged 9.8 per cent
in the United States.
Considering the 6-month period from December, 1930, to June,
1931, the decreases for the 32 cities ranged from 3.9 to 9.1 per cent
and for the United States averaged 6.5 per cent.
T a b l e 4 .— P E R C E N T O F D E C R E A S E IN C O ST O F L IV IN G IN S P E C IF IE D C IT IE S F R O M
JU N E , 1920, J U N E , 1930, A N D D E C E M B E R , 1830, TO J U N E , 1931
P er cent of decrease from—
P er cent cf decrease from—
C ity
A tla n ta ________ -B altim ore...................
B irm ingham :___ _
Boston____________
Buffalo____________
Chicago_________ .
C incinnati________
C le v ela n d ________
D enver___________
D etroit____________
H ouston.___ ______
Indianapolis_______
Jacksonville_______
K ansas C ity _______
Los A n g e les.............
M em phis_________
M inneapolis_______
June,
1920, to
June,
1931
33.0
27.3
33.5
30.2
28.5
29.3
25.8
29.9
30.9
36.3
31.6
31. 5
31.9
31.9
26.5
29.4
26.8
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
June,
1930, to
June,
1931
Decem
ber, 1930,
to June,
1931
8.9
9.2
12.8
9.8
10.1
10.2
9.2
13.9
8.1
12.7
10.5
11.4
8.4
5.6
9.5
9.9
8.0
5.9
0.0
9.1
7.6
6. 6
6.4
6.4
7.1
5.4
6.9
6.1
7.1
6.1
4. 5
6.3
6.3
5.1
C ity
M obile_____ _
N ew Orleans_____
N ew Y ork......... ......
Norfolk__________
P h ila d e lp h ia ... . . .
P ittsb u rg h _____ .
Po rtlan d , M e _____
Po rtlan d , Oreg____
R ichm ond........ ......
St. Louis_________
San Francisco_____
Savannah________
Scranton_________
Seattle___________
W ashington____ .
Average, U nited
States_____ ____
[453]
June,
1920, to
June,
1931
June,
1930, to
June,
1931
Decem
ber, 1930,
to June,
1931
30.9
28.7
28.3
30.7
27.3
27.3
23. 6
32.5
28.8
28.7
27.1
32.8
26.2
27.6
29.0
10.8
11.8
8.5
8.3
8. 1
9.6
8.2
9.3
9.0
10. 2
8.4
8. 1
9.5
7.9
8.0
7.4
8. 2
6. 2
6. 6
5. 6
5. 9
5. 7
4. 5
6. 3
6.8
5.7
5.1
6.4
3.9
5.8
30.6
9.8
6.5
194
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
Retail prices of standard articles of food are reported regularly by
mail from a representative number of grocers, meat dealers, bakers
and dairy men in each of the 32 cities. Coal, wood, gas and elec
tricity prices are also reported by mail for these cities. All other costof-living data are secured by personal visits of agents of the bureau.
On each article of clothing, house furnishings, and miscellaneous
items, four quotations are obtained in every city except New York,
where five are taken. The number of rents varies from 400 to 2,500
according to the population of the city; these figures are secured from
real-estate agencies on unfurnished houses, flats, and apartments.
For the 6-month period ending June, 1931, food prices decreased
materially in all cities, ranging from 8.1 to 19.3 per cent, with an
average of 13.8 per cent for the United States.
Clothing prices are less than six months ago. The decreases in this
group ranged from 1.1 to 9.6 per cent and averaged 4.6 per cent for all
cities.
Rents are also reduced but not so materially. The decreases for
this group ranged from 0.4 to 9.1 per cent and averaged 3.1 per cent
for the United States.
The fuel and light group showed a decline in all cities except one
and the slight increase in this city was caused by higher coal prices.
The decreases in this group ranged from 0.4 to 18.3 per cent and
averaged for the United States 5.5 per cent.
The prices of house-furnishing goods, including rugs, linoleum,
dining and living room furniture, stoves and other necessary house
hold articles, have also joined the general downward movement.
Price recessions in June in this group ranged from 1.8 to 12.4 per cent
and averaged 6.0 per cent for the United States.
Miscellaneous items also moved downward in price in the last 6
months. Included in this group are street-car fares, motion pictures,
newspapers, doctor and dentist fees, medicine, hospital care, spec
tacles, laundry, cleaning supplies, barber service, toilet articles and
preparations, telephone rates and tobacco price. The decrease for
the 32 cities averaged 0.7 per cent. In only one city the miscellane
ous items showed an increase, occasioned by an advance in street
car fare, while no change was reported in four cities.
Table 5 shows the per cent of change in the cost of living for 19
cities for each of 6 groups of items from December, 1914, to June, 1931.
T
able
5 .—C H A N G E S IN C O ST OF L IV IN G IN 19 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1914, T O J U N E , 1931
P er cent of increase over December, 1914, in expenditure for—
C ity and date
Food
B a ltim o re , M d .:
D ecember, 1915________________
December, 1916, ________________
D ecember, 1917________________
December, 1918______________
June, 1919.____ _________________
December, 1919_______________. . .
June, 1920____ _____ ____________
December, 1920_________________
M ay, 1921._____________________
D ecember, 1921_________________
June, 1922........... ............... ...............
D ecember, 1922.— ______________
June, 1923
.
____
1 Decrease.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
i 4. 1
20.9
64.4
96.4
91.1
92.5
110.9
75.6
43.4
46.9
39.9
46. 1
46.5
Clothing
2.7
24.0
52.1
107.7
128.9
177.4
191.3
159. 5
123.2
88.6
78.9
80.5
81.4
[454]
R ent
i 0.2
.9
3.0
13.8
16.8
25.8
41.6
49. 5
63.0
64.7
65.4
60.9
69.6
nouse- M iscel
Fuel and furnish
light ing goods laneous
0.5
9.1
25.5
46.0
37.1
48. 1
57.6
79.0
70.9
85.5
84.8
94.9
91.8
5.6
26.4
60.8
122.3
134.6
167.0
191.8
181.9
147.5
123.7
113.3
116.6
127.5
»1.4
18.5
51.3
78.7
82.8
99.4
111.4
112.9
111.8
108.6
104.4
102.6
103.8
All
items
i 1.4
18.5
51.3
84.7
84.0
98.4
114.3
96.8
77.4
73.2
67.6
70. e
72.0
195
COST OF LIVING
T
able
5 .—C H A N G E S IN C O ST O F L IV IN G IN 19 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1914, TO JU N E
1931—Continued
Per cent of increase over December, 1914, in expenditure for—
C ity and date
Food
B a ltim o re , M d .—C ontinued.
December, 1923_________________
June, 1924_____________________
December, 1924_________________
June, 1925.........................................
December, 1925_________________
June, 1926_____ ____ ____________
December, 1926_______________
June, 1927_______________ ______
December, 1927__________ _____
June, 1928..___________________
December, 1928_________________
June, 1929_____________ _____ _
December, 1929............. ................ .
June, 1930___________ .
December, 1930_________________
June, 1931................ ..................... .......
B o sto n , M a ss.:
D ecember, 1915________________
December, 1916_________________
D ecember, 1917_________________
December, 1918_________________
June, 1919._____ ___ ____________
D ecember, 1919_________________
June, 1920______________________
December, 1920________________
M ay, 1921______________________
December, 1921_________________
June, 1922______________ _______
December, 1922_________________
June, 1923__ __________
D ecember, 1923______ _________
June, 1924__________
_____
D ecember, 1924_________________
June, 1925__________ ______ ____
December, 1925__________ ______
June, 1926______ _______________
December, 1926________ ______
June, 1927.____ _________________
D ecember, 1927__________ _______
June, 1928..................... ......... ............
December, 1928___________ ______
June, 1929______________________
December, 1929_________________
June, 1930______________________
December, 1930_________________
June, 1931__________ _______ _
B u ffa lo , N .
December, 1915_________________
December ,1916... ______________
December, 1917_________________
December, 1918. _ . . . __________
June, 1919______________________
December, 1919. _______________
June, 1920______________________
December, 1920_________________
M ay, 1921______________________
December, 1921__________________
June, 1922____ _____ _____ _______
December, 1922_________________
June, 1923______________________
December, 1923_________________
June, 1924____ __________________
December, 1924_________ _____ _
June, 1925______________________
December, 1925_________________
June, 1926______________________
December, 1926_________________
June, 1927_____________ _________
December, 1927..._______________
June, 1928______________________
December, 1928_________________
June, 1929______________________
December, 1929_________________
June 1930_______________________
December, 1930_________________
June, 1931
___________________
1 Decrease.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Clothing
R ent
House- Miscel
Fuel and furnish
light ing goods laneous
All
items
50.6
44.0
53.0
57.7
66.2
62.2
63.0
56.7
56.7
52.9
51.9
53.8
56.7
47.2
36.9
18.7
81.8
78.3
76.2
76.0
76.2
73.0
72.5
71.3
68.4
68.1
68.3
67.5
67.2
65.9
58.1
51.6
71.9
72.4
72.2
72.0
72.2
71.3
70.6
69.9
68.0
66.7
65.7
65.2
63.4
62.4
61.3
59.8
93.5
84.8
88.7
85.3
90.9
89.8
87.3
82.2
85.5
82.0
87.3
80.7
86.1
80.9
85.6
78.7
130.2
129.4
125.7
122.8
122.1
112.8
110.5
106.9
104.8
103.2
102.0
100.4
99.4
95.6
86.0
72.1
105.2
109.9
107.1
111.0
111.6
111.2
112.3
112.9
112.3
118.7
120.9
119.8
120.2
127.0
126.5
125.6
74.8
71.9
74.8
77.3
81.2
78.4
78.6
75.3
74.5
73.7
73.9
73.8
75.1
71.6
65.8
55.8
1.3
18.0
45.8
74.9
67.9
80.8
105.0
74.4
41.9
50.4
32.5
44.9
39.7
48.8
37.9
47.8
44.5
60.6
51.5
56.6
50.5
54.4
45.0
50.5
47.1
53.2
43.7
36.7
14.6
6.6
21.9
47.5
117.5
137.9
192.4
211.1
192.7
150.3
106.3
96.7
92.0
93.0
92.6
91.2
89.1
88.9
87.8
85.9
85.3
82.9
80.2
80.2
80.4
79.0
79.0
78.3
72.6
66.7
l.l
.1
l.l
2.8
5.1
12.2
16.2
25.8
29.8
33.8
34.4
36.7
40.2
47.0
50.7
52.4
52.9
54.0
53.2
53.5
53.2
52.4
52.2
51.6
50.7
49.2
47.1
44.7
41.8
1.1
10.5
29.2
56.6
55.0
63.2
83.6
106.0
97.8
98.5
92.5
99.9
88.8
97.0
90.7
93.7
90.4
107.2
94.4
98.7
92.5
96.5
90.4
96.7
87.7
94.3
88.7
95.7
85.3
8.4
26.3
58.4
137.6
153.7
198.7
233.7
226.4
171.2
136.9
124.2
133.6
150.5
148.2
136.9
138.1
136.9
136.7
133.1
129.6
125.5
124.4
123.1
118.4
118.4
118.0
113.6
107.6
97.4
1.6
15.7
38.1
62.0
64.8
81.1
91.8
96.6
96.2
93.0
89.5
87.8
89.2
93.0
88.0
85.9
86.3
91.0
91.0
92.3
91.5
91.3
90.2
94.4
92.1
92.9
92.5
92.3
92.3
1.6
15.7
38.1
70.6
72.8
92.3
110.7
97.4
74.4
70.2
59.6
65.1
63.5
69.4
63.2
67.3
65.8
74.7
69.4
71.9
68.1
69.5
64.8
68.2
65.4
68.4
63.1
59.2
47.1
2.4
30.1
64.1
87.8
82.9
94.7
115.7
78.5
37.7
50.8
38.5
48.8
41.6
51.9
39.5
51.6
52.0
66.5
60.9
63.6
56.7
55.9
51.6
54.9
54.6
57.9
47.2
35.8
16.0
8.9
29.6
58.5
123.1
140.7
190.8
210.6
168.7
131.6
96.5
83.6
81.4
83.4
83.9
81.7
79.9
80.3
79.8
76.7
74.6
72.2
71.2
71.7
72.4
71.2
71.0
70.0
62.0
52.3
1.2
4.7
9.4
20.7
28.0
29.0
46.6
48.5
61.1
61.7
64.7
64.9
70.0
71.8
76.3
76.8
79.1
79.5
78.1
77.4
75.8
73.7
72.7
69.4
67.0
06.5
65.0
62.5
56.6
3.2
9.3
23.5
49.3
51.9
55.7
69.8
74.9
73.9
79.7
78.8
115.7
119.1
120.4
116.6
117.9
115.5
117.9
127.3
127.1
126.9
128.5
126.7
128. 5
123.2
127.0
122.9
126.7
121.3
7.1
24.1
50.2
106.3
118.1
165.4
199.7
189.2
151.3
124.7
108.0
112.8
127.9
127.5
121.0
121.0
119.5
118.2
113.6
110.2
106.2
106.0
105.4
104.2
104.4
104.2
105.0
96.4
84.0
3.5
24.4
51.1
76.0
78.7
90.3
101. 9
107.4
107.8
103.0
97.9
97.5
100.5
102.5
101.9
100.9
107.7
107.9
110.6
112.5
111.4
116.3
117.8
117.8
118.9
119.1
120.4
118.4
116.4
3.5
24.4
51.1
80.9
84.2
102.7
121.5
101.7
80.3
76.8
68.6
73.9
74.1
78.6
73.9
77.8
79.7
84.8
82.8
83.6
79.8
80.2
78.7
79.6
78.8
80.0
76.0
69.4
58.3
[455]
196
T
able
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
5 .—C H A N G E S I N CO ST O F L IV IN G IN 19 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1914, TO J U N E , 1931—
C ontinued
Per cent of increase over December, 1914, in expenditure for—
C ity an d date
Food
C h ic ag o , IU.:
December, 1915_________________
December, 1916_________________
December, 1917_______________ _
December] 1918______ _________
June, 1919__________________ ____
D ecember, 1919_________________
June, 1920__ ____________ _______
D ecember, 1920________________
M ay, 1921._____________________
D ecember, 1921_________________
June, 1922__ __________________
December, 1922_________________
June, 1923__ _________________
D ecember, 1923_____________ ____
. . . ___ ___
June, 1924__ . . .
December, 1924____________ . . .
June, 1925______________________
December, 1925_____________ ____
June, 1926______________________
December, 1926_________________
June, 19271______________ ______
December, 1927...____ __________
June, 1928______________________
December, 1928_________________
June, 1929______________________
D ecember, 1929.________________
June, 19301-, __________________
December, 1930 _________________
June, 193ll_____ ___________ . . . .
C lev elan d , O h io :
December, 1915_________________
December, 1 9 1 6 .____ _ _______
December] 1917________________
December] 1918. ______
____
....
June, 1919.__ . _ _
D ecember, 1919_________________
June, 1920.__________ _______ . . .
December, 1920_________________
. ____
M ay, 1921______ _
D ecember, 1921_________ ________
June, 19221_________ . _________
D ecember, 1922_________________
June, 19231_____ ________________
D ecember, 1923___ ______ ____
June, 19241__ ______ ____ ______
December, 1924_____ __________
June, 1925.___
__________ _____
December, 1925_________________
June, 1926..
- - _____ ______
D ecember, 1926_________ ____ . . .
June, 19271_________ ____________
D ecember, 1927_________ _ ____
June, 1928--. ____
December, 1928_________________
June, 1929.__________ . . .
December, 1929_________________
June, 19301-. ______
December, 1930_________ . ____
June, 19311.
____ .
D etroit," M ic h .:
December, 1915. ______________
December] 1916_____________ ____
December] 1917__________ _______
December] 1918______ ______ ____
June, 1919__ ____ .
_________
D ecember, 1919________________ .
June, 1920___ __________ . _____
D ecember, 1920_____ _ ____ __
M ay, 1921______________________
D ecember, 1 9 2 1 ._____________ . .
June, 1922_________________ _____
December, 1922__________ _______
June, 1923_______________ . . . .
D ecember, 1923________________
June, 19241 . . . . . . . . . . ---- . . .
l Decrease.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Clothing
R ent
House- Miscel
Fuel and furnish
light ing goods laneous
All
items
2.7
25. 2
53.4
78. 7
73.3
93.1
120.0
70.5
41.9
48.3
41.6
44.8
45.1
52. 5
47.9
56.2
61.4
69.4
67.2
69.6
68.2
62.4
59.4
62.4
63.0
67.3
56.9
45.6
26.7
7.5
24.2
50.6
138.9
157.1
224.0
205.3
158.6
122.7
74.3
63.0
67.5
72.2
76.0
72.6
67.8
65.8
65.3
62.7
61.9
58.7
53.8
53.3
52.1
51.5
49.2
47.7
37.2
30.3
10.1
.7
1.4
2.6
8.0
14.0
35.1
48.9
78.2
83.9
87.4
88.9
92.1
95.4
104.4
105.8
105.6
104.4
99.5
96.7
93.9
90.0
86 8
83.6
80.3
77.2
75.1
71.1
64.4
i 0.9
6.6
19.3
37.1
35.7
40.1
62.4
83.5
65.3
69.4
55.4
65.6
54.9
59.3
53.0
56.1
53.9
65.8
55.4
64.4
57.2
59.2
51.2
56.5
50.7
56.7
51.5
54.8
49.5
5.9
20.0
47.5
108.9
126.9
176.0
215.9
205.8
162.4
133.7
108.5
120.4
133.1
132.9
122.2
121.9
118.1
118.5
112.4
109.2
105.2
104.4
96.0
97.2
97.4
97.0
92.1
82.7
67.7
3.0
19.5
41.8
58.7
61.7
84.3
87.5
96.5
98.5
94.5
87.9
86.7
87.7
88.1
90.7
90.7
93.9
93.9
94.3
95.7
96.7
99.7
98.5
101.7
101. 7
102.9
104.7
104.5
103.3
3.0
19.5
41.8
72.2
74.5
100.6
114.6
93. 3
78.4
72.3
65.0
68.0
69.6
73.7
72.6
75.3
77.1
80.6
77.8
79.0
77.1
74.3
71.5
73.1
72.3
73.7
69.1
62.2
51.8
1.4
26.4
54.3
79.4
79.7
92.9
118.7
71.7
37.4
40.9
34.6
41.1
42.1
43. 6
37.2
46.2
53.8
58.3
60.0
58.7
56.6
55.1
50. 6
48.5
50.6
47.0
42.0
29.5
9.6
2.0
18.0
43.7
102.6
125. 2
171.2
185.1
156.0
124.0
85.8
72.4
70.9
77.6
79.6
78.4
72.9
71.9
71.9
70.7
68.3
68.5
66.0
65.7
63.9
63.9
63.2
61.6
52.1
41.8
.1
.9
11.3
16.5
21.8
39.9
47.3
80.0
88.1
81.2
69.6
74.0
73.8
78.7
77.7
78.6
76.8
75.6
71.6
71.8
. 67.5
66.3
61.8
60.5
59.5
58.9
56.4
55.3
48.6
.3
10.0
26.8
51.9
47.9
62.9
90.3
94.5
89.6
103.8
102.2
116.3
151.6
147.0
142.6
144.1
143.9
168.8
162.3
170.7
163.9
164.2
161.3
163.7
160.5
163.1
160.2
162.5
158.0
4.7
19.7
47.8
102.4
117.0
165.5
186. 5
176.8
133.6
100.8
87.8
104. 8
129.6
129.3
118.0
113.4
111.9
113.4
106.1
105.3
103.2
97.9
90.2
89.2
89.4
88.8
87.7
75.5
64.4
1.4
19.1
42.9
67.1
74.7
85.9
117.9
134.0
129.6
123.2
110.7
109.4
108.1
113.1
112.7
112.1
112.3
111.5
111.9
112.7
115.9
115.9
118.1
119.0
117.9
118.3
125.3
124.2
118.6
1.4
19.1
42.9
71.4
77.2
98.2
120.3
107.3
87.5
78.8
68.9
72.9
77.1
79.6
75.9
78.1
80.4
82.7
81.9
81.5
80.2
79.0
76.3
75.4
75.7
74.3
73.3
• 66.2
54.4
4.1
26.5
59.7
82.5
86.4
99.5
132.0
75.6
41.1
47.3
43.1
44.8
46.7
47.5
45.5
2.3
18.9
46.7
113.8
125.2
181.8
208.8
176.1
134.1
92.5
81.4
79.9
84.0
85.3
82.3
2.1
17.5
32.6
39.0
45. 2
60.2
68.8
108.1
101.4
91.1
86.9
92.1
96.9
107.5
105.6
1.6
9.9
30.2
47.6
47.6
57.9
74.9
104.5
83.6
77.5
75.2
95.5
87.3
84.9
81.8
8.7
24.5
50.4
107.3
129.3
172.6
206.7
184.0
134.0
96.8
76.0
81.1
105.7
105.3
103.4
3.5
22.3
49.9
72.6
80.3
100.1
141.3
144.0
140.1
130. 7
121.3
121.5
124.2
128.4
127.2
3.5
22.3
49.9
78.0
84.4
107.9
136.0
118.6
93.3
82.4
75.3
78.2
81.7
84.7
82.8
[456]
197
COST OF LIVING
T a b l e 5 .— C H A N G E S IN C O ST O F L IV IN G IN 19 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1914, TO JU N E , 1931—
C ontinued
Per cent of increase over December, 1914, in expenditure for—
C ity and d ate
Food
D etroit, M ich.—Continued;
December, 1924_________ ______
June, 1925__ ________ _______
December, 1925_________________
June, 1926___ _______
December, 1926_________________
June, 1927______________________
D ecember, 1927_________________
June, 1928__ ______________ _____
December, 1928_________________
June, 1929___ ________
D ecember, 1929________________ _
June, 1930______________________
December, 1930___________ ______
June, 1931___ _____
H o u sto n , Tex.:
December, 1915_______________ ..
December] 1916-______________ .
D ecember, 1917_________________
D ecember, 1918________________
June, 1919._________
___ ____
D ecember, 1919_____
June, 1920__ _________________
December, 1920________________
M ay, 1921'-_____________________
D ecember, 1921—
June, 1922____ __________________
December, 1922________________
June, 19231_____________________
December, 1923_______________ June, 1924.__ ___________ _____
December, 1924. ___
_______
June, 1925________
December, 1925______ ________
June, 19261.. - ________________
December, 1926____ __ ________
June, 1927______________________
December, 1927________________
June, 1928____________
D ecember, 1928_________________
June, 1929__ ___________________
December, 1929________________
June, 1930_____________________
December, 1930_________________
June, 193ll
_________________
Jacksonville, Fla.:
December, 1915_________________
December, 1916_________________
December, 1917________ _______
December, 1918_____________ — June, 1919______________________
December, 1919_______________ „
June, 1920. ___________________
December, 1920_________________
M ay, 1921. . . ________________
December, 1 9 2 1 ..-_____ ____ .
June, 1922______________________
December, 1922______ __________
June, 1923______________________
December, 1923_________________
June, 1924______________________
D ecember, 1924_________________
June, 19251_____________________
D ecember, 1925_________________
June, 1926_________ ___________
December, 1926_________________
June, 1927______________________
December, 1927__________ _______
June, 1928______________________
December, 1928_________________
June, 1929_____________________
December, 1929.................................
June, 1930______________________
December, 1930__________ _______
June, 1931_____ _________________
1 Decrease.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Clothing
House- Miscel
Fuel and furnish
light ing goods laneous
R ent
All
item s
49.7
60.6
68.1
65.7
63.8
65.2
57.6
53.5
55.7
59.2
57.9
47.6
32.6
14.7
76.1
75.2
74.8
73.4
71.0
68.3
64.1
64. 3
62.5
62.5
61.7
59.6
50. 2
44.0
103.8
98.7
97.7
95. 5
95. 5
89.6
84.1
79.1
78.2
77.3
77.8
73.2
60.0
45.4
82.7
78.9
101.1
76.4
86.8
73.4
76.9
73.2
77.0
72.8
77.5
67. 2
71.0
61.4
98.1
94.1
93. 7
91.8
88.7
86.8
84. 7
81.4
81.2
81.2
79.4
76.7
66.5
58.8
125.4
124. 7
122. 5
122. 5
121. 6
125.1
128.3
128.8
131.1
130.4
130.6
131.1
125.1
123.7
82.2
84.5
87.8
84.7
84.1
82.7
79.0
76.4
77.4
78.1
77.8
72. 3
61.6
50.4
i 1.0
19.9
57.3
86.1
85.7
97.5
107.5
83.2
45.6
50.1
38.9
45.0
41. 2
46.4
37.3
54.4
57.3
65.8
55.0
59.8
50.4
52.5
45.6
51.4
51.1
55.8
43.0
32.8
11.2
2.7
25.0
51. 5
117.3
134.8
192.0
211.3
187.0
143.4
104.9
98.4
98. 2
100.4
102.6
100.8
95.6
95.6
92. 5
91. 2
88.9
86.8
86.2
85.8
86.4
84.7
84.1
82.8
65. 6
63.8
12.3
i 7.3
17.7
i 1.7
1.9
13.4
25.3
35.1
39.4
39.8
38. 5
37.3
36. 7
36.4
34.9
34. 7
34.3
33.0
32.9
32.6
32.2
31.8
30.4
30.1
27.5
27.1
25.7
23.8
20.0
1.9
8.3
22.7
47.5
37.6
60.0
55.1
74.2
46.0
39.4
32.9
39.2
36.5
55.8
45. 0
44.3
38.7
45. 2
38. 2
43.7
32.8
34.3
29. 2
33.6
29.1
31.8
25. 3
24.0
18.9
6.1
29.6
62.3
119.9
144.5
181.8
213.9
208.2
173.7
148.2
133.7
140.4
150. 2
148. 2
143.7
143.0
142.5
143.2
138.6
137.9
136. 7
134.1
132. 0
131. 1
129.0
129.5
127.2
113.8
110.0
1.3
16.4
44.9
67.6
72.3
88.2
90.4
103.9
100.8
99.0
94.0
93.0
91. 5
93. 2
89.5
88.0
87.8
88.0
87.4
86.8
86.6
91.8
89. 7
89.3
92.1
92.5
92.5
92.3
92.1
1.3
16.4
44.9
75.7
80. 2
101. 7
112. 2
104.0
79.7
73. 6
65.9
68. 4
67. 2
70. 6
65.0
70.5
71.1
74.3
69. 2
70. 6
66.3
67.9
64.1
66. 4
66.1
68.0
62.3
54.7
45.2
1.3
17.6
50. 8
76.2
74.2
80. 9
90.1
65. 0
32.0
40.6
30.6
34.8
32.0
39.9
30.2
40.0
41.8
58.3
53. 4
53.5
45.0
41.3
36.4
40.0
37.4
40.8
31.9
28.4
8.4
10.5
33.7
71.9
130.5
139.8
217.2
234.0
209.3
167.5
117.9
99.9
99. 3
101. 1
104. 5
102. 7
94. 6
94.0
93.6
93.4
90.9
88.0
85.4
85.0
84.6
83.9
82.4
80.4
71.9
65.4
i 6.9
i 18. 2
i 18. 7
5.9
9.7
22.0
28.9
34.1
36. 5
38.3
35.3
35.1
34.3
33.4
33.3
33. 5
33. 5
55.3
66.6
69. 9
57.2
51.2
32.3
27.4
19.8
13.2
3.2
i 1.5
i 5.9
0
15.1
43.4
73. 7
126. 5
140. 0
186. 2
224. 2
222.3
182. 7
134.9
115.3
127.1
137. 9
139.4
132. 9
132. 4
134.0
135.6
134. 7
128. 1
126.0
124. 6
119.2
119.6
117.8
113. 9
110. 5
103.3
89.9
1.3
14. 7
41. 6
60. 5
65. 9
80. 9
102. 8
105. 6
107. 5
99.3
95. 5
94. 7
95.3
96. 6
95. 0
99. 1
99.3
105.3
105.5
105. 7
104. 5
104.5
105. 1
105. 1
105. 1
101. 0
102.4
101. 0
100.2
1.3
14.7
41.6
71. 5
77.5
101. 5
116. 5
106. 2
85. 8
75. 1
65. 7
67. 8
G7. 7
71.9
67.3
70.4
70.9
81. 7
81.8
81.3
75.7
73.0
68.3
69.1
66.9
65.8
61.0
56.9
47.4
2.3
15.1
55. 2
49.2
64.1
72.6
92. 6
80. 7
68. 9
58.9
65. 7
63. 6
75.1
72.1
72.9
69. 3
87.1
95.3
91. 2
87.8
84.0
74.4
78.9
77.1
75.0
70.6
66.3
64.0
1 No change.
[457]
198
T
able
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
5 —C H A N G E S IN CO ST O F L IV IN G IN 19 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1914, TO J U N E , 1931Con tinued
Per cent of increase over D ecember, 1914, in expenditure for—
C ity and d ate
Food
L os A ngeles, C alif.:
D ecember, 1915________________
D ecember, 1916_________________
December, 1917_________________
D ecember, 1918_________________
June, 1919______________________
December, 1919_________________
June, 1920____________________ December, 1920______________ __
M ay, 1921._________ ___________
December, 1921_________________
June, 1922______________________
D ecember, 1922 ________ ________
June, 1923___________ ______ ____
D ecember, 1923_________________
June, 1924_____________ . . . . . .
December, 1924 _________________
June, 1925______________________
D ecember, 1925_____________ ____
June, 1926_________ ___________
December, 1926 _____ _________
June, 1927______________________
D ecember, 1927 ________________
June, 1928.. ___ _______________
D ecember, 1928__________ _______
Ju n e, 1929.____ _________________
D ecember, 1929 ________________
June, 1930______________________
D ecember, 1930 ___________ __
June, 19311____ _________________
M obile, A la.:
D ecember, 1915_________________
December! 1916 ________________
December! 1917_________________
December! 1918_________________
June, 1919______________________
December, 1919_________________
June, 1920______________________
D ecember, 1920 _________________
M ay, 19211_____________________
December, 1921_________________
June, 19221_____________________
December, 1922 _________________
June, 19231_____________________
December, 1923_________________
June, 19241_____________________
December, 1924.. ______ _________
June, 19251____ _____ ___________
D ecember, 1925_____________ ____
June, 1926._____________________
December, 1926___ ______________
June, 19271_____ ________________
D ecember, 1927_________ ____ ___
June, 19281.......... .............. ..................
December, 1928________ _____ ___
June, 1929._____________________
D ecember, 1929_________________
June, 1930_________ ____________
D ecember, 1930.. ____________ . .
June, 193ll_____________________
N ew Y o rk , N . Y .:
December, 1915_________________
D ecember, 1916_________________
D ecember, 1917_________________
December! 1918_________________
June, 1919______ ________________
December, 1919_____________ ___
June, 19201_____________________
December, 1920 _____________ ___
M ay, 19211.................... .............'___
December, 1921_________ _ _____
June, 1922______________________
December, 1922______________ . . .
Clothing
R ent
House- Miscel
Fuel and furnishlight
ng goods laneous
All
item s
i 4.1
.4
33.4
61.8
60.7
71.0
90.8
62.7
33.2
38.4
30.6
39.4
36.2
42.1
35.2
38.8
44.1
48.7
39.9
44.7
40.4
40.4
34.9
44. 7
41.2
40.9
30.9
21.0
3.1
2.8
14.3
45.0
109.1
123.3
167.6
184.5
166.6
127.4
94.3
81.3
78.0
82. 5
83.0
81.4
80.4
79.0
77.7
75.7
75.2
74.0
71.6
71.4
70.5
69.3
69.3
68.1
60.2
50.7
» 2.7
i 2.5
1.6
4.4
8.7
26.8
42.6
71.4
85.3
90.1
95.6
94.8
97.7
100.9
99.4
93.3
83.6
73.7
67.4
61.7
59.9
57.7
54. 1
49.8
45.2
43. 7
39.8
36.9
31.3
0.4
2.3
10.4
18.3
18.6
35.3
53.5
53.5
52.7
52. 7
39.1
35.6
33.7
34.1
33.6
34.4
34.0
34.4
34. 1
34.8
61.0
56.8
56.5
51.5
50.6
51.4
45.6
47.6
47.0
6.3
23.1
56.4
118.5
134.2
175. 5
202.2
202.2
156. 6
143.2
128. 8
138. 1
153.6
152. 0
136. 1
137.7
133.9
133.7
126.7
123.8
120.4
118.6
110.7
108.4
106.5
105. 9
103.6
93.0
77.8
i 1.9
7.7
28.9
52.0
59.1
76.9
86.6
100.6
96.8
99.6
103. 8
101.2
100.8
104.2
105. 4
104.2
108.9
110.6
104.7
105. 7
108.2
108.0
107. 2
110.9
111. 1
111. 7
110.2
110.2
107.7
1 1.9
7.7
28.9
58.0
65.1
85.3
101.7
96.7
78.7
76.4
72. 5
74. 5
75. 1
78.8
75. 1
75.4
76.9
77.4
71.2
72.2
71.5
70.6
67.4
71.0
68.9
68.7
63.7
58.1
48.2
i 1.0
19.9
57.3
80.6
83.6
98.4
110.5
73.5
39.1
42.4
33.2
39.1
37.7
44. 7
33.4
49. 7
50.3
59.0
53.1
58.0
52.0
51.1
45.4
49.6
47.5
49.0
39. 6
33.0
12.1
2.0
9.0
38.8
86.0
94.0
123.7
137.4
122.2
90.6
57.7
49.7
50.8
51.8
55.4
54.3
53.4
52.0
49.4
49.5
48.8
47.6
47.6
47.5
48.1
47.2
47.2
46.8
40.0
34.1
1 1.9
i 4.3
i 3.6
11.2
11.9
29.6
34.6
53.6
53.3
49.9
47.7
43.8
42.5
42. 6
41.4
40.9
40.1
40.4
39. 7
40.5
40.4
41. 9
41.0
41.6
41.0
40.6
38.9
36.3
32.5
(2)
8.8
27.1
57.1
66.6
75.6
86.3
122.3
102.1
98.2
84.4
96.4
93.3
98.1
91.4
90.2
85.6
89.1
94.6
97.7
90.4
92.1
90.0
92.1
84.0
85.8
81.2
3 58. 6
49.6
4.1
15.3
42.8
108.3
113.9
153.3
177. 9
175.4
140.7
116.9
97.8
97.9
114.0
114.8
109.3
107.2
104.3
103.7
100.8
98.4
97.2
97. 2
93.3
92.3
87.9
87.3
85.6
73.5
57.5
1.4
13.8
43.2
72.4
75.3
87.0
100.3
100.7
96.9
94.3
87.5
91.0
89.8
91.3
93.7
94.3
95.5
102.0
102.2
102.2
102.4
104.0
107.3
108.3
108.1
108.3
108.1
107.5
105.4
i .4
13.8
43.2
71.4
76.6
94. 5
107.0
93.3
70.8
63.6
55.3
58.8
58.6
62.6
58. 0
63. 9
63.9
68.5
66.2
68. 1
65. 2
65. 5
63. 5
65. 7
64.0
64.8
60.3
54.4
43.0
1.3
16.3
55.3
82.6
75.3
91.0
105.3
73.5
42.5
51.8
40.0
49.5
4.8
22.3
54.2
131.3
151. 6
219.7
241.4
201.8
159. 5
117.8
103.0
98.3
1.1
1.1
2.6
6.5
13.4
23.4
32.4
38.1
42.2
53.7
55.7
56.7
i.l
11.0
19.9
45.5
45.4
50.6
60.1
87.5
95.9
90.7
89.0
95.7
8.4
27.6
56.5
126.5
136.6
172.9
205.1
185.9
156. 5
132.0
118.3
121.6
2.0
14.9
44.7
70.0
75.1
95.8
111.9
116.3
117.6
116.9
112.8
111.6
2.0
14.9
44.7
77.3
79.2
103.8
119.2
101 4
81. 7
79 3
70 7
74 2
1 Decrease.
3 N o change.
3
T h e decrease is due prim arily to th e change in consum ption and price accompanying the change from
m anufactured to natural gas.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[458]
199
COST OF LIVING
T a b l e 5 .—C H A N G E S IN C O ST O F L IV IN G IN 19 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1914, TO JU N E , 1931—
Continued
Per cent of increase over December, 1914, in expenditure for—
C ity and date
Food
N ew Y o rk , N . Y .—C ontinued.
June, 1923___ ___________________
December, 1923_____ ___________
June, 1924______________________
December, 1924________________
June, 1925______________________
December, 1925_________________
June, 1926___ ___________________
December, 1926— __ - .
June, 1927______________________
December, 1927________________
June, 1928__ _______ _ _ _______
December, 1928— __ _ . _ ______
June, 1929______________________
December, 1929 _______ _____ ___
June, 1930_________ __________
December, 1930_________________
June, 1931______________________
N o rfo lk , V a .:
December, 1915_________________
D ecember, 1916_____________ __ _
D ecember, 1917________ _____ _
D ecember, 1918_________________
June, 1919____________ ________
December, 1919__ _
June, 1920______ _____ - ___
December, 1920______
M ay, 192ll___________________
December, 1921._ ______________
June, 1922___________ _______
December, 1922____________
June, 1923 ____ _
December, 1923____ _
______
June, 1924___________ ______ _
December, 1924_____ ______ ___ _
June, 1925__________ __________
December, 1925_________________
June, 1926__ _____ ___ ___ _______
December, 1926_____
_ _ ___
June, 1927__ ______________ - __
D ecember, 1927_____ ___ ________
June, 1928____ _______ _______ ___
D ecember, 1928_____ ___________
June, 1929________ _____________
D ecember, 1929____ _ __ ______
June, 1930___________________ __
D ecember, 1930______ _ _______
June, 1931_____________ _________
P h ila d e lp h ia , P a .:
December, 1915____ -- _____ __
December, 1916_____ _________
December, 1917____ _____
____
D ecember, 1918____________ _
June, 1919___ ____ ___ _______ D ecember, 1919. ___ - __ ___
June, 1920________
___- _____
D ecember, 1920 - _____ ____ _
M ay, 1921_____________________
D ecember, 1921 __ __ ____
June, 1922__________________ __
D ecember, 1922 __________ _____
June, 1923________________ - ___
D ecember, 1923 _______ _______
June, 1924__ _________ __ ______
D ecember, 1924______ __________
June, 1925_______ ___ ___________
Decem ber, 1925_________________
June, 1926_______ _______________
D ecember, 1926 ____ _____
____
June, 19271_____________________
D ecem ber, 1927 ________________
June, 1928___ _________ - ______
D ecem ber, 1 9 2 8 .________________
June, 1929 _ ___________ ______
Decem ber, 1929 ________________
June, 1030
Decem ber, 1930 _________ _____ _
Ju n e, 1931_____________ _______
i Decrease.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Clothing
House- Miscel
Fuel and furnishlight mg goods laneous
R ent
All
items
44.4
52.0
41.1
50. 0
48.9
62.6
56.0
59.1
54.0
57.5
47.5
53.0
50. 6
54.9
43. 7
35.9
19.6
100.7
102.7
100. 7
97.7
97.5
95.9
94.7
93.7
92.9
91.4
90.3
88.4
87.8
85.9
85. 5
82.2
67.6
59.4
62.4
64.5
67.1
67.8
69.5
69.5
70.2
70.2
70.2
69.3
68.6
67.6
66.1
65.1
63.1
61.5
89.1
94.2
88.8
93.3
91.0
126.0
95.9
96.1
92.2
96.0
94.4
96.3
92.0
95.1
85.7
90.9
86.3
130.3
131.5
121.4
119.4
110.6
110.4
106.6
106.0
102.5
102.9
97.8
96.4
96.2
95.4
90.5
85.5
62.5
110.8
113.5
115.0
116.7
116.9
118.2
117.3
117.5
119.0
118.8
118.6
118.8
121.4
122.9
123.3
123. 7
123.5
72.6
77.3
72.5
76.5
75.8
83.2
78.6
80.0
77.8
79.1
74.4
76.3
75.5
77.1
71.7
67.5
57.1
.8
22.4
63.9
86.2
89.8
91. 5
107.6
76. 3
45.4
43.4
33.5
38.6
36.9
40. 7
33.1
46.0
47.9
60.8
56.0
58.7
54.7
55.5
50.2
55.0
51.9
55.8
43.3
36.7
15.0
.8
6.0
31.6
94.6
104.8
158.4
176.5
153.6
121.6
90.2
77.6
73.2
79.1
80.8
78.6
75.4
74.7
74.0
73.0
72.8
71.1
70.9
71.6
71.8
71.3
70.4
68.7
66.2
57.7
.1
i 1.7
i 1.7
39.0
46.5
63.3
70.8
90.8
94.6
93.4
88.1
77.2
73.0
67.0
64.2
59.4
58.4
53.0
52.1
49.2
45.9
« .6
41.7
29.6
38.8
37.1
36.0
33.3
32.6
(2)
17.0
33.3
74.6
69.7
89.9
110.6
128.9
97.3
91.6
87.7
106.5
102.1
96.9
94.4
99.1
96.7
107.9
102.1
109.6
96.8
98.2
95.6
100.3
94.3
92.7
87.3
97.0
83.6
.6
8.7
39.0
105.5
110.7
143.6
165.0
160.5
129.0
106.1
88.4
89.1
101.0
103.8
100.1
102.1
96.0
96.8
93.7
90.4
88.9
88.5
85.7
86.1
85.2
83.0
80.4
73.5
63.8
.6
14.7
45.2
76.8
83.7
97.5
108.4
106.3
106.3
109.3
100.8
99.6
102.2
104.4
103.0
103.4
103.4
103.8
100.5
103.7
114.9
112.5
114.6
118.2
118.0
119.3
118.6
119.0
119.0
.6
14.7
45.2
80.7
87.1
107.0
122.2
109.0
88.1
79.2
69.5
69.9
7.1
72.4
68.4
72.1
71.9
76.4
73.1
74.6
73.9
73.4
71.5
74.1
72.3
73.5
67.9
64.8
54.0
.3
18.9
54.4
80.7
75.5
87.2
101.7
68.1
37.8
43.9
38.1
43.4
42.7
45.1
39.3
46.4
51.3
62.0
56. 6
61.2
53.8
55.9
51.3
51.7
50.0
56.1
42.6
34.4
20.8
3.6
16.0
51.3
116.2
135.9
190.3
219.6
183.5
144.7
104.6
89.5
87.6
87.6
88.2
85.5
84.4
83.8
83.6
82.5
80.3
79.2
77.4
76.5
74.0
72.6
71.2
69.7
64.9
57.6
1.3
1.7
2.6
8.0
11.3
16.7
28.6
38.0
44.2
48.1
49.6
52.9
58.1
66.9
72.4
75.3
76.0
77.1
77.1
77.3
75.3
72.1
67.1
63.8
59.9
56. 5
54.0
51.2
45.8
6.9
19.9
49.8
107.7
117.8
162.8
187.4
183.4
135.5
101.6
90.0
96.9
110.8
111.6
102.3
100.5
98.9
97.9
93.7
92.3
88.6
87.7
85.4
83.9
84. 1
84. 7
83.2
75.3
63.2
1.2
14.7
43.8
67.5
71.2
88.6
102.8
122.3
119.2
118.2
112.3
110.7
112.4
112.0
110.7
117.6
117.6
117.6
120.6
121.5
120.8
121.2
121.4
120.3
121.2
121.2
121.4
120.7
118.5
1.2
14.7
43.8
73.9
76.2
96.5
113.5
100.7
79.8
74.3
68.2
70.7
72.1
74.7
71.5
76.1
77.6
82.6
80.6
82.3
78.0
78.3
75.3
74.5
73.1
75.0
69.0
64.5
55.3
[459]
1.8
5.4
21.5
47.9
43.3
51.3
66.8
96.0
85.6
92.0
85.7
93.0
89.9
102.2
91.7
94.8
87.0
100.5
98.3
98.5
89.4
90.5
81.5
87.3
85.4
86.3
86.5
95.8
80.5
2 No change.
200
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T a b l e 5 .—C H A N G E S I N C O S T O F L I V I N G I N 19 C IT I E S , D E C E M B E R , 1914, T O J U N E , 1931—
C ontinu ed
Per cent of increase over December, 1914, in expenditure for—
C ity a n d date
Food
P o r tla n d , M e.;
December, 1915_________________
December, 1916_________________
December, 1917_________________
December, 1918_________________
June, 1919______________________
December, 1919- __ - __ ____
June, 1920______________________
December, 1920_________________
M ay, 1921'._____________ ________
December, 1921 _ _____________ _
June, 1922__ ____________________
December, 1922_________________
June, 1923______________________
December, 1923 _________________
June, 1924______________________
December, 1924 _________________
June, 1925__ ____________________
D ecember, 1925 _______________
June, 1926__ ____________________
December, 1926 _________________
June, 1927_____ ____ ____________
December, j927_________________
Ju n e, 1928______________________
D ecember, 1928 _________________
June, 1929______________________
December, 1929 _________________
June, 1930______________________
December, 1930 ________________
June, 1931_______________________
P o r tla n d , O re g .:
D ecember, 1915________________
D ecember, 1916_________________
D ecember, 1917____________ - __
December, 1918_______________ June, 1919____________________ December, 1919____________ _____
Ju n e, 1920.. ____________ ______
December, 1920 ______________
M ay, 1921' ____________________
December, 1921_________________
June, 1922__ ____________________
December, 1922 _________ _ ____
June, 1923____________________ D ecember, 1923 _____________ ___
Ju n e, 1924_____________________
D ecember, 1924 _________ ___ ___
June, 1925__________________
December, 1925_________________
June, 1926______________________
D ecember, 1926 _______________
June, 1927 ____________________
D ecember, 1927_________________
June, 1928___________________ _ _
December, 1928 _________________
June, 1929___ _________ . .
D ecember, 1929 _________________
June, 1930______________ ___
December, 1930 _________________
June, 1931____ _ _________
__
S a n F ra n c is c o a n d O a k la n d , C alif.:
D ecem ber, 1 9 1 5 __________________
D ecem ber, 1 9 1 6 __________________
D ecem ber, 1917___________________
D ecem ber, 1 9 1 8 ________________ _
June, 19191..........................................
D ecem ber, ± 919 __________________
June, 1920________________________
D ecem ber, 1920 ______________ ___
M ay, 1 9 2 1 '.. ___________ ______
D ecem ber, 1921___ _ ____________
June, 1922________________________
D ecem ber, 1922 __________________
June, 1923___ ____________________
D ecem ber, 1923___________________
June, 19241_________ ______________
i Decrease.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Clothing
R ent
House- Miscel
Fuel and fur
nishlight mg goods laneous
All
items
i 2.0
18.6
49.8
86.8
80.6
91.9
114.5
78.7
46.7
54.8
39.9
49.1
45.3
52.3
44.1
52.4
52.2
64. 5
58.7
63.3
59.4
60.0
54.2
57.0
54.3
55. 7
45.9
38.5
20. 5
2.1
9.7
32.8
85.8
103.8
148.5
165.9
147.8
116.3
88.1
76.7
74.8
77.3
78.7
75.4
75.0
75.0
74.0
71.7
70.3
67.6
66.8
66.5
64.8
65.8
65.6
65.4
60.4
55.7
0.2
.6
2.4
2.5
5.7
10.7
14. 5
20.0
23.1
26.6
24. 8
30. 7
27.3
31.7
27.4
28.8
25.5
24.4
23.7
23.8
23.6
23.0
21.5
20.9
19.8
19.8
19.9
19.3
17.9
0.4
11.4
28.9
67.7
58.4
69.8
83.9
113.5
96.8
99.5
96.1
94.7
94.9
100.0
96.2
99.6
95.8
100.3
100.5
102.9
98.6
102.2
98.4
102.4
94.1
101.9
96.9
99.9
95.3
6.2
20.9
43.5
110.8
126.4
163.7
190.3
191.2
152.2
123.6
108.1
114.2
129.7
130.2
126.7
126.0
126.0
126.9
121.7
120.8
118.8
118.4
112.5
112.3
112.3
112.1
111.9
105.8
99.2
i 0.4
13.8
38.0
65.6
72.1
83.2
89.4
94.3
94.1
91.2
88.2
88.0
88.0
89.3
87.9
87.2
87.8
87.6
88.4
88.6
88.6
89.0
88.8
97.3
97.3
97.1
97.1
95.9
95.9
i 0.4
13.8
38.0
72.2
74.3
91.6
107.6
93.1
72.1
69.6
59.7
64.1
63.3
66.9
62.4
66.0
65.3
70.3
67.3
69.2
66.8
67.0
63.8
66.6
64.8
65.8
61.5
57.2
48.2
i 3.8
9.8
42.2
70. 6
67.1
81.6
107.1
60.9
26. 0
33.1
26. 5
34.3
29. 5
35.1
28. 5
36.1
40. 6
43.2
38.6
40. 6
39.2
37. 5
36. 6
41.8
41.4
43.7
34.2
17.8
8.2
3.0
15.8
44.4
96.6
115. 5
142.1
158.6
122.1
91.2
65.3
53.2
54.9
61.3
61.8
61.1
59.2
57. 6
57.0
56.5
54.0
53.2
51.1
50.8
49.4
48.4
47.8
44.8
38.4
32.9
i 10.9
i 19.6
i 22.2
12.3
20.2
27.7
33.2
36.9
42.9
43.3
43.3
43.6
42.5
42.7
43.3
42.9
40.9
40.1
37.9
33.5
30.3
26.9
20.9
16.4
11.0
8.2
5.4
2.4
i 1.0
3.4
20.2
30.9
31.3
42.3
46.9
65.9
67.1
59.4
50.3
65.7
61.3
67.1
55.5
62.4
52.2
60.0
50.9
61.9
56.9
65.7
51. 6
63.0
51.4
61.8
49.7
55.5
2.9
18.0
54.5
109.0
122.0
145.1
183.9
179.9
148.0
121.9
101.9
102.9
109.8
109.0
102.2
102.2
98.6
100.6
95.2
90.7
87.8
86.1
80.5
80.1
79.7
81.0
78.6
69.7
i 3.1
6.1
31.2
57.9
62.3
71.6
79.7
81.1
81.1
80.0
78.5
79.4
75.8
79.6
73.0
74.4
73.0
73.0
74.2
76.6
76.4
77.1
76.4
78.0
77.3
77.7
86.6
85.1
i 3. 1
6.1
31.2
64.2
69.2
83.7
100.4
80.3
62.2
58.3
52.1
56.1
54.6
57.8
52.8
55.8
55.8
56.9
54.6
55.1
53.7
52.8
50.5
52.4
50.7
51.6
49.1
41.5
i 1.3
36.4
65.8
83.6
35.2
i 4.3
9. 6
35.9
66.2
63.3
74.2
93.9
64.9
33.3
40.4
31.1
38.8
34.2
42.3
35.0
2.5
14.5
43.6
109.0
134.6
170.4
191.0
175.9
140.9
106.3
90.7
85.4
92.1
94.4
91.5
i. 7
12. 5
14.0
1 3.9
i 3.5
4.7
9.4
15.0
21.7
25.8
29.4
30.0
33.4
36.0
38.0
i.l
4.6
14.4
30.1
28.9
41.3
47.2
66.3
63.3
65.3
59.5
52.5
42.6
48.8
49.9
6.0
21.7
48.2
103.4
116.6
143.8
180.1
175.6
143.9
113.9
104.4
105.4
116.7
116.9
113.4
1 1.7
8.3
28.6
50.5
61.0
74.7
79.6
84.8
84.4
86 8
83.7
84.2
79.4
81.2
73.2
i 1.7
8.3
28.6
57.8
65.6
87.8
96.0
85.1
66.7
63.6
56.8
58.8
57.6
62.1
57.3
[460]
201
COST OF LIVING
T a b l e 5 .— C H A N G E S IN C O ST O F L IV IN G IN 19 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1914, TO J U N E , 1931—
C ontinued
Per cent of increase over D ecem ber , 1914, in expenditure for—
C ity and date
Food
San
F r a n c is c o a n d
O a k la n d ,
C a lif.—C ontinued.
D ecem ber, 1 9 2 4 ...____ ______ ____
June, 1925......... ............... ............... .......
D ecem ber, 1925____ ______________
June, 1926.................................................
D ecem ber, 1926_______ ____ ____ _
June, 1927____ __________ ________
D ecem ber, 1927.....................................
June, 1928_______ ____________ ___
D ecem ber, 1928___________________
June, 1929.. _____________________
D ecem ber, 1929___________ ______ _
June, 1930_________ ____ _________
December, 1930___________________
June, 1931............... ......... ................... ..
S a v a n n a h , G a .:
D ecem ber, 1915.................... .................
D ecem ber, 1916___________________
D ecem ber, 1917.............................. .......
D ecem ber, 1918___________________
June, 1919__ _________ _________
D ecem ber, 1919___________________
June, 1920____ ___________________
December, 1920_________________
M ay, 1921______________________
December, 1921_________________
June, 1922__ ___________________
December, 1922_________________
June, 1923______________ ______ _
D ecember, 1923_________________
June, 1924._____________________
December, 1924_____ ________. . .
June, 1925.._________ __________
December, 1925________ _____ ___
June, 1926____________________ .
December, 1926...... ........................ .
June, 1927.. ___________________
December, 1927_________________
June, 1928______________________
December, 1928_________________
June, 1929___________ ____ ______
D ecember, 1929____________ _____
June, 1930 _____________________
D ecember, 1930 ________________
June, 1931_____________________
S e a t t le , W a s h .:
42.1
47.6
53.3
44.3
48.3
45.4
46.1
41.5
48.0
45.1
48. 7
40.4
32.0
15.8
Clothing
.
>.3
17.6
50.8
76.2
74. 2
80.9
91. 7
63.5
28. 7
33. 7
22. 7
27. 6
22. 0
25. 0
17.5
25.1
31.5
44.9
39. 1
39. 7
35.4
35.3
31. 1
35. 0
33.9
35. 1
25. 2
17.7
1.5
December, 1915_______ ________ _
i 2.8
December, 1916_________________
8.5
December, 1917_________________
38.7
December, 1918.. _______________
72. 5
June, 1919______ ________________
69.3
December, 1919.. _______________
80.9
June, 1920__ _________________
102.3
December, 1920______ _________
54.1
M ay, 1921 ____________________
27.1
December, 1921_________________
30.5
June, 1922______________________
30.0
D ecember, 1922.. ...............
33.9
June, 1923_______ ______ _________
31.0
December, 1923______________ . . .
35.8
June, 1924___________________
33.1
December, 1924________ . .
35. 8
June, 1925........................................ .
43. 7
December, 1925........ .............. . . .
47.3
June, 1920. .............................
42.3
December, 1926_________ _______
41.6
June, 1927._ ________ _______
43.0
December, 1927_________________
37.9
June, 1928___ ______
36.9
December, 1928______________ .
40.8
June, 1929______ _____
43. 7
December, 1929......... .........
45.9
June, 1930______ _____ _________
38. 1
December, 1930______________
22. 5
June, 1931_____ ____________
12. 2
1 Decrease.
3
T he decrease is due prim arily to th e change
m anufactured to n a tu ra l gas.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
R en t
Fuel and H ouse M iscel
furnish
light
ing goods laneous
A ll
item s
90.5
90.5
89. 7
88.4
85.6
83.7
82.4
82.9
83.4
82.8
81.5
77.9
72.0
66.3
39.4
40.1
40.0
39.6
39.5
38.7
37.3
35. 7
33.5
31.9
30.4
28.1
26.1
24.2
53.5
54.3
50.8
48.5
51.0
47.1
48.6
45.9
47.5
43.7
40.3
2 28.7
32.0
28.8
114.7
115.1
115.7
105. 6
104.6
103.8
103.4
102.0
99.0
97.8
97.4
100.6
91.6
79.3
72. 7
72.9
74. 6
75.3
75.3
77.8
79.2
79.6
83.2
83.4
82. 5
80.9
82.0
79.1
60.1
62.2
64.7
60.7
61.7
60. 5
60. 7
58.8
61.7
60.1
60.8
55.9
51.5
42.8
.8
24.1
56.6
133. 6
146.3
195.9
i 1.4
! 3. 0
14.3
5.9
10.2
22.0
i 1.3
i 1.7
21.1
37.5
35.5
52.2
1.8
12.8
50.7
128.6
136. 5
182. 1
212.1
171.5
133.2
84.2
71. 7
76. 2
81.3
80.9
79.1
75.8
75.1
73. 7
73. 7
72.0
69.8
68.6
68.8
69.0
68.2
67.7
68. 0
61.4
58.0
1.2
14.6
42. 5
67.3
71.2
82. 0
33.5
58.6
61.9
60.9
57.8
52.7
49.5
47.5
45.3
41.0
39.7
38. 6
38. 0
38.1
37.7
37. 1
35.9
33.9
32.7
28.3
27.0
19.6
15.8
65. 3
94.4
74.2
66.1
55.2
68.3
61.9
64.1
59.7
62.2
59.1
62.9
61.9
68.4
58.3
59.9
56.9
59. 6
55.8
56. 1
54.2
56.2
50.7
207. 2
206. 6
175.9
133. 7
120.1
123. 8
135. 9
133.4
130. 6
128.7
128.2
128. 9
126. 6
123.9
121. 7
121.9
120.8
118.8
117.9
117. 2
113. 7
110. 1
98.5
i. 2
14. 6
42. 5
75.0
79. 8
98. 7
83.8
91.5
93.0
87.4
81.1
79.5
77.4
76. 7
77.5
77. 5
77.5
79.1
79.5
79.0
80.6
80.8
81.9
87.0
83.8
84. 5
84. 7
83. 8
83.8
109. 4
98.7
77.6
66. 2
56. 8
59. 2
57.9
58.2
54.8
56. 3
57. 9
62.9
60. 6
60.5
58.3
58. 1
56. 6
59.1
57. 2
57. 2
53.1
48.3
40.7
1.2
11.3
36.4
88. 0
110. 2
154. 5
173.9
160. 5
128. 7
88.7
78.0
74. 2
76.7
77.6
76.2
74.4
74.6
74.8
74.8
73.1
71.9
69. 5
68.8
68.3
66.6
66. 6
64. 6
59. 7
55. 7
i 2.4
5.4
1.6
44.3
51.5
71.5
74.8
76.7
74.8
69.2
64.7
63.1
62.3
62.9
64. 0
63.7
64.7
63. 7
62.6
60.3
59.0
56.9
55.5
54. 1
52.4
52. 1
50. 1
47.8
44.4
1 .2
2.9
23.9
51.8
51.8
03.8
65.8
78.7
78. 7
69.0
64.0
59.6
58.0
59.1
56.8
59. 6
57.8
58.1
49.4
61.2
59.3
59.8
57. 1
62.9
62. 1
65. 8
65.5
64. 0
54.0
8. 5
27.4
52.3
141. 5
154. 4
201. 0
221. 2
216. 4
177. 2
149.9
137.3
136. 1
143.9
144.2
140. 7
141. 1
141. 6
142.1
139.4
137. 5
136. 8
134. 7
133. 5
132.6
131.7
132. 6
132. 4
128. 0
114. 5
i 1. 0
7.4
31. 1
58.5
71. 4
86.8
90.4
95. 5
105. 5
102. 0
97. 6
96.4
96. 6
96. 6
94. 6
96.4
96.4
97.0
97. 0
97. 6
98.4
98. 2
97.4
97.4
98. 8
98. 8
98. 6
97. 6
96. 6
"i 1. 0
7.4
31.1
69.9
76. 9
97. 7
110. 5
94.1
80. 2
71. 5
67. 0
66. 7
66. 4
68.5
66. 7
67.8
70.5
71.7
69. 4
69. 1
69.4
66.9
65. 8
67. 1
67. 7
68. 7
65. 4
58.4
52.3
in consum ption and price accom panying the change from
[461]
202
T
able
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
5 .—C H A N G E S IN CO ST O F L IV IN G IN 19 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1914, TO JU N E , 1931—
C ontinued
Per cent of increase over D ecember, 1914, in expenditure for—
C ity and date
Food
W a s h in g to n , D . C .:
Decem ber, 1915.........._.......................
D ecember, 1916.................................
D ecember, 1917............................ .......
D ecember, 1918_______ ____ ___
A pril, 1919________ _____ _____
Novem ber, 1919. ______________
June, 1920................ ........................
December, 1920........... ....................
M ay, 1921____________________
December, 1921________________
June, 1922_______________ .
D ecember, 1922..................................
June, 1923_____________ .
D ecember, 1923__________ _____
June, 1924____________________
D ecember, 1924_________________
June, 1925................ .................. .........
December, 1925....................................
June, 1926.......... ................................
D ecember, 1926___________ _____ _
June, 1927____ _________________
December, 1927_________________
June, 1928______________________
December, 1928............................ .
June, 1929..........................................
December, 1929_________________
June, 1930. __________ _
December, 1930_______________
June, 1931 ______________
0.6
15. 7
61. 1
90.9
84. 0
93. 3
108. 4
79. 0
47. 4
51. 1
44. 3
49. 2
48.8
52.3
43. 7
53. 0
57. 2
65. 6
63.3
66.3
55.0
57. 9
55. 5
58. 2
58.4
57. 4
49.1
41.3
22.8
Clothing
3. 7
23. 2
60. 1
112. 6
109. 5
165. 9
184. 0
151. 1
115.9
87. 1
77. 5
74. 8
78. 9
81. 2
78.9
75.8
75.4
73.5
73. 3
70. 9
69. 2
67. 0
67. 0
65. 2
64. 4
62. 3
60. 5
55. 4
49. 7
R ent
1 1.5
i 3. 7
13.4
1 1.5
i 1.4
5.4
15.6
24.7
28.8
30.4
31.4
32. 6
33.9
34.3
35. 7
36.7
37. 7
40.3
38. 6
37.4
36.4
33.8
32.7
31.0
30. 5
30.0
29. 7
28. 7
28. 2
1 Decrease.
nouse- M iscel
Fuel and furnish
light ing goods laneous
6)
7.3
24.9
40.9
41. 8
42. 8
53. 7
68.0
57. 1
49.9
44. 5
55. 1
51. 2
47. 0
42.9
44. 9
39.8
48. 7
41.7
45.7
39.3
40.3
38.8
41. 0
38.0
39. 7
36.2
36. 6
32. 5
6.3
30. 5
72. 1
127. 4
126. 0
159. 3
196.4
194. 0
149. 0
122.4
108. 1
112. 6
129.0
128.8
124. 5
125. 2
119.8
115.0
112. 6
107. 5
104.4
103.2
102. 2
99.4
100.0
100.2
100.4
93.0
86.6
0. 4
15. 3
44. 3
55. 9
57. 4
62. 7
68. 2
73.9
72. 0
75. 8
73. 7
72.0
72. 5
74.9
75. 0
76. 5
76.5
75.4
75.0
75.0
73. 6
73.8
73.6
73.8
74.0
74.3
73. 8
76. 8
75.7
All
items
1. 0
14. 6
47. 3
73.8
71. 2
87. 6
101.3
87.8
67.1
63.0
57. 6
59. 5
60. 9
63.2
59. 2
63.1
64.0
67.3
65. 5
66.0
60. 5
60. 8
59. 7
60.2
60.0
59. 2
55. 5
51. 8
43.0
2 N o change.
Table 6 shows the changes in the cost of living from December,
1917, to June, 1931, for 13 cities. The table is constructed in the
same manner as the preceding one and differs from it only in the
base period and in the length of time covered.
T
able
6 .—C H A N G E S IN C O ST O F L IV IN G IN 13 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1917, TO J U N E , 1931
Per cent of increase over D ecem ber 1917, in expenditure for—
C ity and date
Food
A tla n ta , G a .:
D ecem b er, 1918_________ __
June, 1919___________________
D ecem ber, 1919— ____________
June, 1920___________________
D ecem ber, 1920_____ ____ _
M ay, 1921.. ____
D ecem ber, 1921_________
June, 1922....... ...................
D ecem b er, 1922_______________
June, 1923_______ ______
D ecem ber, 1923...............................
June, 1924______________ ______
D ecem ber, 1924...................
June, 1925........... ..................
D ecem ber, 1925_________
June, 1926_____ ...
D ecem ber, 1926_________
June, 1927...............................
D ecem ber, 1927............
June, 1928......... ................... .............
19.0
18.0
27.9
34.0
12.8
1 8.9
1 7. 2
> 10. 5
>8.9
i 10.3
>6.3
>10.2
>5.5
> 1.2
6. 5
4.5
4.3
4.1
1.3
>1.0
C lothing
29.1
40. 7
66.9
80. 5
56.5
35.2
8.3
.4
2.8
5.9
6.9
5.7
4.9
4.5
4.3
3.9
2.9
2.1
.2
.2
1 Decrease.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[462]
R en t
14.0
14.5
32.6
40.4
73.1
78.8
75.4
68.1
62.7
61.4
62.2
60. 1
56.9
55. 5
49.3
44.4
42.1
41.5
39.5
38.9
F u el and n o u se- M iscel
furnish
light
ing goods laneous
17.0
17.9
30.8
61.0
66.8
56.1
43.7
39.1
57.6
42.7
39.3
32.0
33.1
26.2
34.7
36.6
46.0
31.7
38.0
31.8
24.9
30.1
49.9
65.0
58.4
38.0
23.0
15. 2
17.4
23.9
23.5
20.4
20.4
19.9
18.8
17.4
15.5
14.6
15.9
15.2
14. 8
21. 5
31. 7
34. 6
39. 7
40. 5
39.7
34. 5
34. 1
32. 8
33.3
33.8
33. 7
34.9
35.6
34.0
33.9
33.9
31. 5
35.6
A ll
item s
19.7
23. 3
37. 9
46 7
38. 5
25 2
18.7
13 7
15.1
14. 2
16. 0
13. 6
14.9
16. 2
19. 0
17 3
17.4
16. 2
14.3
13.9
203
COST OF LIVING
T
able
6 .— C H A N G E S IN C O ST O F L IV IN G IN 13 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1917, TO JU N E ,
1931—C ontinued
Per cent of increase over D ecem ber , 1917, in expenditure for—
C ity and date
Food
A t la n t a , G a .— Continued.
D ecem ber, 1928._ . . ___________
June, 1929____ ___________________
D ecem ber, 1929_______ . ________
June, 1930_________ ____________
D ecem ber, 1930________ __
_____
June, 1931________________________
B ir m in g h a m , A la .:
D ecem ber, 1918___________________
June, 1919__________ ____ . . . ____
D ecem ber, 1919__________________
June, 1920______________
_ __ _
D ecem ber, 1920______
__ _ _
M a y , 1921-----------------------------------D ecem ber, 1921... ______________
June, 1922________________________
D ecem ber, 1922___________________
________
June, 1923__________
D ecem ber, 1923____ _ . _________
June, 1924_______________________
D ecem ber, 1924___________________
. . . . . .
June, 1925___ _______
D ecem ber, 1925... _______________
June, 1926__________________
D ecem ber, 1926_____
. . . . ___
June, 1 9 2 7 ... ___________________
D ecem ber, 1927___________________
June, 1928_______________ . _____
D ecem ber, 1928... ___ . . . ______
June, 1929___ _ _______ ________
D ecem ber, 1929_____ ____ ______
June, 1930_____ _____ _ . ______
D ecem ber, 1930____ ,_______ ______
June, 1931__________
. . . . . .
Clothing
R ent
Fuel anc House- M iscel
furnish
light
laneous
ing goods
2.9
.3
.1
1 7.9
1 13.1
124.2
0.4
.3
1 .6
i 2.8
i 6.4
18.5
38.2
37.5
35.9
32.8
30.8
28.3
17.7
18.3
26.5
36.4
11.9
19.1
18.5
i 13.1
19.9
19.9
i 6.6
i 12.6
13.1
1. 9
4.5
1.5
1.8
i 3.1
i 1.3
14. 7
i 2. 2
1 3.9
i 2.8
i 8.9
i 14.0
23.9
29.8
57.6
66.4
45.1
24.8
1 .4
>6.1
i 1. 7
1.8
3.8
3.2
1.6
1.5
1 .3
1 .9
i 1.9
>3. 1
M .l
14. 3
14. 2
14. 3
i 5.0
15. 9
i 9.1
8.1
12.8
34.9
40.3
68.5
77.4
70.9
67.0
62.3
63.1
67.9
68.6
68.6
68.3
68.0
66.5
65.8
64.5
61.7
59.4
54.8
50.8
40.8
35.9
23. 5
i 30.6
i 13.1
15.1
25.3
15.3
IS. 1
22.9
38.7
10.3
i 7.4
18.3
i 8.9
i 10.4
i 9.3
16.7
i 10.2
18.3
1.9
3.9
2. 7
3.1
3.9
i 1.0
1.5
.4
2.5
4.5
i 1.2
i 8.0
i 20.4
33.8
48.3
84.2
96.7
73.5
49.0
13.9
4.9
5.5
8.8
9.2
6.4
1.5
1.2
i 1. 1
i 1. 2
i 1.7
i 2.3
13.9
i 3.9
15.5
15.8
16.4
1 7.1
18.7
1 17.5
.2
.8
12.8
13.6
25.0
27.6
28.5
31.0
35. 2 .
40.7
45.6
49.3
50.1
51.2
51.8
54.8
55.9
56.8
57.9
57.1
57.1
56.9
56.7
54. 5
52.8
49.3
20.0
20.7
26.0
41.5
7.9
i 13.1
i 8.8
i 14.2
i 9.0
i 11. 5
>8.7
i 13.5
i 7.8
40.1
53.2
82.1
96.8
78.3
53.9
27.7
15.3
16.6
16.9
17.9
16.1
15.1
12.8
21.8
33.5
51.9
69.8
76.9
82.6
84.8
86.9
85.4
88.9
84.4
81.0
2
36.3
28.4
31.6
11.6
11.6
3.6
24.9
14.6
14.1
11.2
8.0
1.7
35.3
33.0
34.2
31.8
30.5
28.2
15.6
13.6
13.5
7.9
4.5
1 1.7
22.8
31.9
39.8
55.3
74.2
54.3
44.1
25.0
49.9
40.7
50.2
40.5
45.7
33.8
41.4
41.0
51.3
39.6
45.9
37.1
43.4
35.5
38.8
33.2
38.5
19.4
20. 2
45.1
55.6
48.1
32.0
12.0
3.3
8.9
17.8
19.7
14.3
14.9
15.5
15.5
13.5
12.4
11.2
14.1
13.9
12.3
10.6
10.5
9.3
2.7
13.8
16.3
26.8
28.7
30.4
33.8
35.5
30.4
29.6
28.5
27.2
27.2
27.3
27.2
27.8
26.9
26.9
26.4
28.5
28.2
27. 2
26.1
27.2
26.4
25.1
17.0
19.8
34.3
41.9
33.3
22.1
16.2
10.7
13.2
13.6
16.0
13.1
16.8
16.9
19.2
17.5
17.8
14.8
15.7
13.7
14.2
12.3
11.8
8. 2
1 5.4
24.2
1 5. 6
10.0
5.6
11.0
26.9
34.1
15.7
42.4
35.2
61.0
51.9
53.0
39.3
44.5
61.1
70.4
62.2
83.6
66.7
66.9
61.1
61.6
60.8
70.9
63.6
69.7
59.2
25.7
30.5
51.1
75.5
66.7
39.7
22.3
15.8
17.2
24.3
26.2
23.2
23. 2
23.4
21.3
17.7
16.9
16.1
16.6
15.4
14.7
13.6
13.1
11.6
8.7
1.4
20.4
21.8
40.3
47.6
53.4
52.3
47.3
44.0
42.7
42.8
43.3
46.9
52.3
55.0
49.9
50.5
50.5
50. 0
50.0
49.7
49.6
49.7
51. 2
51.5
49.4
51.5
17.3
21. 1
35. 2
47.1
34.7
21.7
15.3
12.7
13.8
15.5
17.7
16.3
17.6
22.1
23.0
22.6
23.8
23.3
21.3
21.0
21.2
21.8
23.1
20.1
16.6
9.1
8.1
8.4
19.6
22.3
47.1
37.5
39.7
32.8
40.7
30.4
37.2
19.7
25.4
22.6
31.3
46.3
60.2
58.9
42.5
27.9
20.4
21.2
26.1
27.0
23.8
24.2
14.8
17.7
32.3
35.4
38.8
42.8
43.1
38.1
37.6
37.1
36.8
35.1
35.6
20.7
25.3
38.2
50.3
38.7
26.9
24.5
18.8
21.6
19.9
22.1
17.8
20.2
C in c in n a t i, O h io :
D ecember, 1918____________ . . .
June, 1919________________ . . . . .
December, 1919______________
June, 1920___________________ ..
D ecember, 1920_________________
M ay, 1921______________________
December, 1921_____ ________ . _
June, 1922__________ . _____
December, 1922__________ . . . . . . .
June, 1923__________________ _ .
December, 1923__________
. . .
June, 1924________________ ._
December, 1924_____ . . .
June, 1925__________
.
. .
December, 1925____________ ___
June, 1926___________ _________
December, 1926.. .
_ ______
June, 1927____________ _______
_____ _
December, 1927______
June, 1928___ _________ . . _ _ . .
D ecember, 1928_______________ __
June, 1929______________________
December, 1929___
___________
June, 1930........ ...... .....................
December, 1930________ .
June, 1931_______ ______________
D e n v e r , C o lo .:
December, 1918_________________
June, 1919______________________
December, 1919______________ . . .
June, 1920___________ __________
December, 1920—_______________
M ay, 1921______________________
December, 1921_________________
June, 1922______________________
December, 1922_________________
June, 1923______________________
December, 1923_________________
June, 1924___________ . _______
December, 1924_________________
A ll
item s
3.8
1 Decrease.
2 T he decrease is due prim arily to tho change in consum ption and price accom panying the change from
m anufactured to n a tu ra l gas.
67999°—31
11
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[463]
204
T
able
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
6 .—
C H A N G E S IN C O ST O F L IV IN G IN 13 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1917, TO JU N E ,
1931—C ontinued
Per cent of increase over December, 1917, in expenditure for—
C ity and date
Food
D en v er, C olo.—C ontinued.
June, 1925______________________
December, 1925________________ June, 1926_________ - _______
D ecember, 1926 _
_______
June, 1927__ ____________________
December, 1927 ______ _____
June, 1928_________________ _____
D ecember, 1928_________ ________
June, 1929____________ _ ___ ____
D ecember, 1929 _______
_____
June, 1930. - _______________
D ecember, 1930_________________
June, 1931
__________________
I n d ia n a p o lis , I n d . :
December, 1918
______
June, 1919 _ __________________
December, 1919 _ _ _____________
June, 1920 _____________
____
D ecember, 1920_ _ _________
M ay, 1921............................................
D ecember, 1921
_____
June, 1922 ____________________
D ecember, 1922 _
_________
June, 1923
__________________
D ecember, 1923
___ ___
June, 1924 _- __________________
December, 1924
____
June, 1925______________________
D ecember, 1925 _________________
June, 1926______________________
D ecember, 1926
___
June, 1927______________________
___
December, 1927
June, 1928
__________________
D ecember, 1923 _________________
June, 1929.
__________________
December, 1929 _________________
June, 1930______________________
December, 1930 _____________ ___
June, 1931______________________
K a n s a s C ity , M o .:
D ecem ber, 1918______ ____ ____
_______ __________
Ju n e, 1919'
D ecem ber, 1919________________
J u n e , 1920______________________
D ecem ber, 1920 ________________
M ay , 1921 ’
_______ ________
D ecem ber, 1921________________
June, 1922______________________
Decem ber, 1922 ________________
June, 1923'________ ____________
Decem ber, 1923_ __- ___________
June, 19241_____________________
D ecem b er, 1924
________
June, 1925
__________ _______
D ecember, 1925 ________________
June, 1926_____ - ________________
December, 1926 ________________
June, 1927 _______________________
D ecem b er, 1927 _________________
June, 1928_______________________
D ecern her, 1928 __ ______________
June, 1929_______________________
D ecem b er, 1929 __ ____________
June, 1930_______________________
December, 1930 _________________
June. 1931_______________________
Olothing
R ent
Fuel and
light
Housefurnish- Miscel
ing goods laneous
All
item s
24.8
25.2
24.2
23.5
22.9
21.2
20.5
19.8
17.4
16.0
15.3
12.4
8.1
35.6
35.6
35.1
36.6
36.1
34.2
33.4
33.8
38.8
38.7
38.0
37.6
36.9
21.1
22.5
19.7
20.4
18.4
16. 6
14.9
16.3
15. 6
16.1
13.0
9.7
3.8
19.8
16.7
27.3
45.6
60.3
49.4
42.5
44.9
73.4
54.9
41.5
38.2
41.5
33.9
44.9
33.9
47.8
34.6
34.2
29.2
32.3
26.1
31.0
24.8
30.2
23.8
18.9
24.8
48.4
67.5
63.0
35.3
22.5
13.7
16.7
23.2
24.0
21.4
21.5
20.6
21.8
20.6
19.9
18.0
17.5
13.7
12.6
12.7
11.7
9.0
5.6
»4.7
21.9
26.8
38.2
50.4
47.5
47.4
46.2
45.4
46.7
46.1
49.2
51.5
53.3
53.8
54.1
51.6
51.8
52.3
52.6
52.3
52.0
52.3
52.0
51.8
50.4
49.5
19.1
21.1
36. 5
50.2
37.6
23.9
19.3
16.4
18.8
19.4
20.6
19.3
21.4
21.5
24.2
21.9
22.3
21.4
19.2
18.2
18.5
17.7
18.8
16.1
10.8
2.9
5.4
6.7
26.0
29.4
63.9
65.0
69.7
59.4
61.4
53.7
56.8
49.5
46.2
40.6
39.5
35.9
34.1
18.0
9.6
27.5
35.2
55.1
43.3
42.6
36.3
40.2
36.1
36.7
34.5
32.9
32.8
32.3
29.4
33.5
31.1
37.9
61.8
73.0
68.7
50.0
26.2
11.6
12.1
22.5
22.6
16.8
16.1
15.6
14.1
12.8
10.8
15.6
20.8
31.5
37.1
40.3
40.4
37.6
32.3
33.3
33.8
36.2
35.3
34.3
36.4
36.3
36.3
36.3
19.6
20.6
38.2
51.0
39.5
27.3
22.5
15.0
16.2
15.3
17.2
14.3
15.3
16.3
18.0
16.6
15.2
29.1
28.3
24.8
23.8
21.1
20.1
19.4
19.8
17.4
29.8
29.0
28.7
26.8
26.3
23.9
24.0
22.0
19.7
8.6
7.7
6.8
5.6
5.1
3.4
2.1
» 1.1
» 6.2
36.6
36.5
35.0
37.8
37.0
36.9
36.9
44.3
44.0
14.0
11.9
11.2
11.3
11.0
11.7
9.0
7.7
2.9
1 5.3
: 1.3
1 3.8
i 3.0
1 2.8
1 6.9
1 8.6
» 6.3
17.4
1 6.8
1 11. 9
1 19.9
1 28.7
14.5
13.1
12.4
11.8
10.1
8.9
8.4
8.2
8.0
7.9
7.0
5.5
2.3
82.5
78.5
71.9
65.5
61.2
58.3
55.8
54.1
52.3
51.1
49.4
47.8
43.1
17.8
16.4
28.2
49.0
11.0
1 10.1
1 8.4
1 9.9
1 11.1
1 8.0
1 6.5
1 10.0
1 4.9
12.3
4.4
2.6
2.9
3.5
1 1.5
1 1.8
1.3
1.8
2.0
1 2.7
1 14.2
1 26.5
32.4
40.1
73.8
87.9
72.3
45.8
16.2
7.9
8.6
11.6
13.4
11.9
10.4
9.8
7.5
7.4
5.4
5.9
4.3
4.3
3.2
3.0
2.4
1.2
1 1.6
1 10.4
1.6
2.6
11.6
18.9
32.9
37.4
43.8
41.3
44.1
44.6
47.1
46.5
46.7
44.1
41.7
38.3
36.5
34.6
33.4
31.3
30.4
28.4
27.9
25.9
23.9
16.8
17.3
15.1
24.5
44.9
10.2
18.3
1 6.6
1 13.5
1 12.0
1 12.5
1 10.2
1 12.7
1 7.7
1 3.9
2.0
.5
1 1.7
40.7
44.7
89.9
104.5
76.3
52.3
24.1
15.9
14.6
14.5
15.2
13.3
12.0
11.4
9.2
8.7
6.3
1 2.2
1 6.8
1 5.4
1 6.0
1 5.3
12.2
1 8.6
1 15. 8
1 24.9
5.4
3.7
2.7
2.9
2.4
1.8
1.5
1.0
» 1.7
27.0
37.4
25.3
38.1
20.8
32.9
26.9
39.3
2 19.0
29.2
22.6
27.4
7.9
: T h e decrease is due prim arily to th e change in consum ption and price accom panying th e change from
m anufactured to n atu ral gas.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[4 6 4 ]
205
COST OF LIVING
T able 6.—C H A N G E S IN C O ST O F L IV IN G IN 13 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1917, T O JU N E ,
1931—C ontinued
P e r cent of increase over D ecem ber, 1917, in expenditure for—
C ity and date
M e m p h is , T e n n .:
D ecem ber, 1918________________
June, 1919_____________________
D ecem ber, 1919------ -----------------June, 1920....... ...................................
D ecem ber, 1920------------------------M ay, 1 9 2 1 ......................................
D ecem ber, 1921------------------------June, 1922_____________________
D ecem b er, 1922________________
June, 1923--------------------------------D ecem ber, 1923________________
June, 1924...........................................
D ecem ber, 1924________ _____ —
June, 1925_____________________
D ecem ber, 1925________________
June, 1926_____________________
D ecem b er, 1926________________
June, 1927-------- ----------------------D ecem ber, 1927___________ ____
June, 1928------- ------------------------D ecem ber, 1928_____ __________
June, 1 9 2 9 .......................................
D ecem ber, 1929..____ _________
June, 1930_____________________
D ecem ber, 1930__________ _____
June, 1931------- —---------- ----------M in n e a p o lis , M in n .:
D ecem ber, 1918----- ------------------June, 1919---------------------- ---------D ecem ber, 1919.—..........................
June, 1920....... ............. - ...................
D ecem b er, 1920-----------------------M ay, 1 9 2 1 .......................................
D ecem ber, 1921._______________
June, 1922---------- ------- -------------D ecem ber, 1 9 2 2 ....____________
June, 1923________ ____ _______
D ecem ber, 1923________________
June, 1924..........................................
D ecem ber, 1924-----------------------June, 1925_____________________
D ecem ber, 1925-----------------------June, 1926......................................... .
D ecem ber, 1926-----------------------June, 1927-------------------------------D ecem ber, 1927-----------------------June, 1928........... ................... ..........
D ecem ber, 1928-----------------------June, 1929------------------------------D ecem ber, 1929----------------------June, 1930____________________
D ecem ber, 1930----------------------June, 1931.........................................
N e w O r le a n s , L a .:
D ecem ber, 1918_______________
June, 1919------------------------------D ecem ber, 1919----------------------June, 1920------------------------------D ecem ber, 1920-------- -------------M ay, 1921.........................................
D ecem ber, 1921_______________
June, 1922------------------------------D ecem ber, 1922_______________
June, 1923------------------------------D ecem ber, 1923----------------------June, 1924------- -----------------------D ecem ber, 1924______________ June, 1925---------- --------------------D ecem ber, 1925_______________
June, 1926___ ________________
D ecem ber, 1926_______________
June, 1927................... ........... .........
D ecem ber, 1927_______________
June, 1928.........................................
i Decrease.
a T h e decrease is due prim arily to the
m anufactured to n atural gas.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Clothing
Food
20.3
22.7
28.4
38.8
7.0
1 14.2
i 11.2
1 15.1
i 14.9
1 13.9
i 11.2
1 17.1
19.2
17.1
12.0
14.1
15.7
17.2
18.0
18.1
27.7
38.3
66.2
77. 5
59.0
36.1
15.3
7.3
6.7
9.8
11.0
9.5
6.4
5.9
4.7
4.0
3.9
1.9
1.6
1.5
14.9
.2
16.0
15 .1
1.1
1 10.6
1 .6
1 2.4
1 4.8
1 19.2
131.3
17.7
21.4
34.1
50.0
13.0
1 7.9
14.9
16.0
15.3
16.4
14.7
17.9
14.3
1.8
6.9
5.8
2.3
4.1
(3)
1.6
.7
1.8
3.9
1 1.0
19.4
121.2
16.6
17.4
21. 1
28.6
10.7
110.7
19.3
1 12.8
1 10. 5
1 13. 2
18.7
1 14.6
15.7
15.7
.9
1 5 .2
1 1.6
1 3 .9
14. 9
16.8
1.1
33.5
40.1
67.0
76.7
63.6
41.0
14.3
7.9
6.5
9.2
9.3
7.4
5.6
4.9
4.4
3.4
2.5
1.1
1 1.4
1 1.1
1 1.5
1 1.8
12.8
1 3.5
14.4
18.8
36.8
48.8
83.2
94.9
69.4
45.0
24.9
15.6
16.2
17.8
19.5
18.6
17.2
17.0
15.9
15.7
15.6
13.4
13.4
13.
HouseFuel and furnish M iscel
light ing goods laneous
R ent
(3)
8.2
23.1
35.9
66.2
79.7
77.3
74.8
72.5
72.3
72.5
72.4
68.6
26.8
23.4
34.1
49.7
105.4
64.5
67.1
56.3
68.5
62.8
65.0
66.2
66.2
55.7
71.4
63.3
80.1
79.4
76.0
60.0
66.4
60.4
57.0
53.9
50.2
47.3
46.3
43.7
42.6
40.6
39.6
35.8
29.8
2 63.6
55.3
58.9
57.9
48.3
1.1
12.0
8.0
10.7
36.8
39.0
46.7
44.6
46.8
42.5
47.4
44.7
44.9
40.7
41.0
36.8
36.1
30.2
29.9
27.2
27.5
25.6
25.2
23.6
23.5
21.4
14.7
13.4
22.4
36.9
60.3
52.8
50.2
43.7
47.0
44.9
45.6
42.2
43.2
40.9
42.6
45.9
46.6
44.3
45.6
45.2
44.6
41.9
44.3
46.2
39.9
41.6
( 3)
68.8
19.7
.1
20.8
10.8
24.7
36.3
41. 5
29.2
40.4
33.4
38.5
32.9
37.1
32.9
36.2
33.7
34.2
39.6
43.8
38.5
38.5
34.5
12. 9
39.7
46.7
57.9
58.5
54.7
55.5
57.4
57. 1
57.2
57.0
56.8
57.0
56.2
56.0
56.2
55.9
25.4
30.7
53.2
67.1
53.9
29.9
14.7
6.8
12.2
23.2
23.4
18.6
20.1
20. 1
20.1
18.2
17.1
16.0
16.0
16.0
14.8
13.8
13.9
13.3
10.7
6.2
18.1
23.6
45.6
65.5
65.8
43.3
27.9
21.4
22.5
29.7
28.2
22.8
23.3
23.2
22. 1
19.9
17.0
15. 1
14.9
12.3
10.5
10.5
10.9
10.6
7.8
3.7
23.8
30.0
57. 7
75.9
63.9
47.7
28.5
17.9
26.2
34.8
33.6
29.2
30.0
27.0
27.5
26.6
25.0
21.8
21.8
17.9
All
item s
16.1
20.9
28.3
38.8
43.2
42.9
42.3
37.8
37.4
38.1
37.3
36.3
37.4
38.5
37.8
36.7
37.7
36.6
36.6
36.9
37. 7
38.5
38.6
39.6
38.8
35.5
18.3
23.3
35.2
46.4
39.3
26.7
23.2
18.2
18 6
19 9
12.3
15.9
25.4
31.3
37.6
37.9
37.4
32.6
32.6
32.8
32.0
31.3
31.2
31.1
30.6
32.8
33.5
32.6
33.0
34.6
34.5
36.7
36.6
36.3
37.0
35.4
15.8
18.8
32.7
43.4
35.7
23.7
20.7
17.3
18.0
17.4
18.8
16.2
17.3
17.6
20.3
19.6
18.2
17.2
15.4
15.8
15.2
15.4
16.2
14.1
15.9
17.5
35.1
42.8
57.1
58. 2
60.2
58.6
51.9
50.1
50.3
48.7
48.7
48.3
47.9
46.7
47.4
48.6
48.5
I 46.1
17.9
20.7
33.9
41.9
36.7
23.8
22.7
18.9
18.6
17.7
21.0
38. 2
20.4
20.5
22.0
19.9
19.9
18.1
17.3
16.4
17.5
16.8
16.5
14.7
10.4
3.4
10.6
5.0
20.2
16.8
20.6
202
22 7
20.1
21.7
20.3
19.9
18.2
change in consumption and price accompanying th e channe from
3 N o change.
[465]
206
T
able
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
6 . —C H A N G E S
IN C O ST O F L IV IN G IN 13 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1917, TO J U N E
1931—C ontinued
P er cent of increase over December, 1917, in expenditure for—
C ity and date
Food
N ew O rle a n s , L a .—C ontinued.
December, 1928____________
June, 1929______ ____ _____
December, 1929...... ..................
June, 1930_________________
D ecember, 1930____________
June, 1931_________________
P it ts b u r g h , P a .:
December, 1918_________ _
June, 1919..................................
D ecember, 1919.........................
June, 1920_________________
D ecember, 1920.........................
M ay, 1921........ ..........................
December, 1921...... .............. ..
June, 1922_________________
D ecember, 1922____________
June, 1923_________________
December, 1923____________
June, 1924.......... ........................
December, 1924 .....................
June, 1925...................................
December, 1925...... .................
June, 1926..................................
D ecember, 1920 .....................
June, 1927..................................
D ecember, 1927 ...................
June, 1 9 2 8 ................................
D ecember, 1928....................... .
June, 1929...................................
D ecember, 1929 ..................
June, 1930..................................
December, 1930 .....................
June, 1931.............. ... ...........
R ic h m o n d , V a :
D ecember, 1918.........................
June, 1919......................... ..........
D ecember, 1919.........................
June, 1920..................................
December, 1920 ____
M ay, 1921....................................
D ecember, 1921....................... .
June, 1922.________________
D ecember, 1922 . 1 ................
June, 1 9 2 3 ...............................
December, 1923 ...................
June, 1924......................... ..........
D ecember, 1924
............
June, 1925....................................
December, 1925 ......................
June, 1926....................................
December, 1926........................
June, 1927.............................
D ecember, 1927 ' ..............
June, 1928.................................
D ecember, 1928 ............
June, 1929......................... .......
Decem ber, 1929 .......... .............
June, 1 9 3 0 .................................
D ecember, 1930 .......................
June, 1931.. .
S t. L o u is, M o .:
D ecember, 1918...........................
June, 1919.............. .....................
December, 1919...........................
June, 1920................................. .
D ecember, 1920 .......................
M ay, 1921....................................
December, 1921.........................
June, 1922...................................
December, 1922.1................... 1.
June, 1923.............. .....................
December, 1923...........................
Clothing
R en t
13.2
14.3
i 1.8
i 9.8
1 15. 0
i 30. 3
13.1
12. 6
12.6
12. 0
.1
1 2. 7
54.8
53. 6
51.3
49. 2
45.3
43.0
18.8
16.2
25.1
36.5
14.3
18.8
i 5. 6
i 12.2
1 5. 4
15.4
12. 1
17.5
12.4
1.2
6.2
2.6
5. 6
35.9
45.3
82.8
91.3
75.4
50.7
23.6
17.3
13.1
14.8
14.9
13. 7
11.2
11.1
10.5
7.8
5.5
5.2
3.8
4.2
3.5
2.9
2.1
1.5
>3.9
>9.4
House- M iscel
Fuel anc furnish
light ing goods laneous
28.4
All
item s
18. 1
12.4
14.4
>6.5
17.9
15. 9
15. 7
14.8
10.2
5.9
46.8
45.9
45.8
46.5
46.5
43.1
19.5
17.8
18.8
14.8
10. 2
1.2
7.6
13.5
15.5
34.9
35.0
55.5
55.3
56. 7
56. 7
60.4
60.7
71.8
72. 1
75.2
75.2
75.4
75.0
74.7
74.4
72.8
71.6
68.3
67.1
64.9
63. 7
56.8
9.2
9.4
9.8
31.7
64.4
59.8
66.2
66.0
72.8
68.4
76.9
74.8
92. 2
91.2
89.9
88.0
91.9
88.8
88.0
85.6
86.0
85.6
86.0
85.1
84.4
83.1
26.3
34.1
63.1
77.4
78. 1
58.2
31.6
20.1
25. 1
29.4
29.0
29.0
29.8
27.7
28.0
25.3
24.3
22.6
21.9
15.9
16.4
15. 1
14.6
13.5
6.6
.4
16.3
16.7
28.3
41.2
46.3
48.6
48.0
43.4
42.8
44.1
43.1
45.3
46.6
46.7
46.8
46.1
46.4
46.3
46.2
46.9
46.9
48.1
47.5
47.9
47.5
46.9
19.8
21.8
36.2
49.1
39.3
27.7
22.8
17.8
20. 1
21.3
22.9
22.4
24.9
26.0
28.5
26.2
27.2
25.4
24.8
22.3
24. 4
23.2
23.2
19. 9
15. 2
8.4
*6.3
17.2
1 4. 8
1 11. 3
13.3
1 2. 4
4. 8
1. 6
.9
1 1. 2
12.9
13.8
1 3.1
1 5. 0
13.4
1 8. 0
114. 9
27.2
33.8
42. 3
78.6
93.6
69.0
43.8
21.2
12.9
10.6
12.5
12.9
11.9
8.9
8.6
8.4
8.1
7.0
5.8
5.3
5.0
5.4
4.2
4.2
3.3
2.0
>2.4
1.0
3.6
9.8
12.5
25.9
29.4
34.1
34.5
35.3
35.7
39. 4
39.5
41.3
41.4
40.4
39.6
36.0
34.0
31. 1
30. 6
28.9
28. 3
27.0
26. 5
25.5
24.4
11.8
11.4
18.7
36. 1
62.2
47.1
46.8
33. 4
54.2
52.7
61.2
49. 1
47.9
44. 2
53.0
51.0
61.4
51.9
54.2
43.9
47.5
42.0
44.7
38.5
42.0
33.1
26.3
28. 6
55.9
75.4
70.0
48.8
33.0
27.6
29.4
40.0
40.5
37.8
38.5
38.2
39.2
38. 1
36.7
35.6
35.3
33.8
32. 7
32.4
31.3
30.0
26.6
18.6
9.0
13.5
24.0
32.4
36.0
38.7
38.4
34.7
33.5
33.9
35.4
35.8
35.7
36.0
39.1
40.8
40.8
40.9
40.9
41.0
40.9
40.2
41.0
40.4
41.0
40.6
17.9
20. 6
32.0
43.8
33.3
20.2
18.3
13.2
14.4
14.9
17.1
13.5
16.5
16.7
20.8
19.7
19.3
17.4
16.4
15.3
15.7
14.2
14.9
12.5
9.3
2.4
18.0
16.1
26.2
46. 2
8. 8
1 10.1
1 11. 6
1 12. 1
1 9. 5
1 11. 5
1 7.5
32. 4
39. 3
78.1
89. 7
70.0
43.8
17.2
7.9
6.3
9.0
9.6
2.7
3.8
16.8
29.8
42.4
52.5
63.8
65.7
68.0
74. 6
79.5
4.8
3.7
8.2
19.6
42.0
30.9
33.4
32.3
48.9
30.8
32.1
21.8
32.5
52.9
73.1
70.2
43.5
19.2
12.8
14. 9
29.8
30.5
14.5
15.7
30.3
37.6
43.2
42.1
40.6
33.2
33.4
33.4
35.8
16.7
17.9
34.2
48.9
35. 4
23.1
18.5
15.1
17.0
17.7
20.6
2.2
1. 4
1 3. 8
2.1
.6
1. 2
1 5. 6
1 13. 4
124.2
20.5
20.6
23.1
36.1
11.9
1 7. 4
12.9
17.8
2 14. 9
1 Decrease.
8 The decrease is due primarily to the change in consumption and price accompanying the change from
manufactured to natural gas.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[466j
207
COST OF LIVING
T
able
6 . —C H A N G E S
IN C O ST O F L IV IN G IN 13 C IT IE S , D E C E M B E R , 1917, TO J U N E ,
1931—Continued
Per cent of increase over D ecember 1917, in expenditure for—
C ity and date
Food
S i. L o u is, M o .—Continued.
June, 1924
__________
__
December, 1924 __ __ ______
June, 1925.
_______ . . ______
December, 1925 ________________
June, 1926
_______ __________
December, 1926 .
___________
__________________
June, 1927
December, 1927 ______ ______
June, 1928..
______ _________
D ecember, 1928 ___ _________
June, 1929.. ________
. ___ _
D ecember, 1929
. . . ___
June, 1930. ____________ _______
December, 1930 .
_______
June, 1931______________________
S c r a n to n , P a .:
D ecember, 1918_________________
June, 1919_______
________
D ecember, 1919. _ . _____ _____
June, 1920. ____________________
December, 1920______ . _______
M ay, 192ll________________ _____
D ecember, 1921_________________
June, 1922___ ___________________
December, 1922. ________________
June, 1923______________________
December, 1923_____ ___________
June, 1924_________ ___________
D ecember, 1924_________ ________
June, 1925______________________
D ecember, 1925_________________
June, 1926____ _____ _ _______
D ecember, 1926________ ________
June, 1927.______ ______________
D ecember, 1927— _______________
June, 1928______________________
D ecember, 1928_________________
June, 1929________ ______________
D ecember, 1929_____ ___________
June, 1930________ ____________
D ecember, 1930_______ _______
June, 1931___ . . .
. _________ . .
Clothing
R ent
House- M iscel
Fuel and furnish
light ing goods laneous
All
item s
i 11.4
i 6.5
3 2.5
3.4
2.8
2.0
1.2
3 2.3
3 3.5
3 2. 2
3.4
1.5
3 6.7
3 14.9
3 24.9
8.6
7.9
7.4
6.9
6.8
7.0
4.4
3.4
3.1
2.5
1.7
.8
(3)
3 1.4
3 10.7
83.4
83.4
85.2
85.4
84.7
83.2
81.0
78.3
76.3
74.2
71.8
69.2
66.0
59.5
53.0
21.6
24.6
19.5
26.9
18.3
38.9
34.0
34.3
18.9
23.1
22.5
33.4
21.8
29.1
12.4
26.2
27.4
28.0
27.9
27.1
22.7
22.3
23.3
21.6
19.5
17.8
16.2
16.9
15.4
5.9
35.7
35.8
36.6
37.0
36.6
36.6
36.5
36.9
37.2
38.7
38.4
44.2
44.6
42.1
41.5
18.8
20.7
22. 4
25.0
24.1
24.5
23.2
21.4
19.9
20.4
20.5
21.7
18.3
13.9
6.2
21.3
18.1
26.9
41.4
17.8
3 4.0
4.1
3 6.7
32.1
3 5.1
.2
3 8.7
3 1.6
1.4
9.6
4.7
6.7
4.2
5.0
2.4
4.3
2.9
6.5
3.8
3 8.1
120.3
34.4
49.6
82.1
97.7
76.5
54.3
29. 1
24.2
20.7
21.7
23.2
22.2
21.1
20.3
20.2
19.5
18.3
17.2
16.3
16.2
15.3
15.2
13.7
13.5
10.7
3.9
.5
6.2
2.4
17.2
18.5
41.5
44.6
52.8
53.6
59.0
60.8
67.6
68.6
71.0
70.5
71.4
72.4
73.1
73.4
71.7
71.7
68.1
63.9
60.5
59.1
53.2
24.7
25.7
31.5
43.5
67.3
62.8
67.1
68.0
68.6
65.2
75.3
68.9
75.7
70.3
99.8
77.8
78.5
71.4
75.3
69.0
72.2
65.0
67.6
60.2
66.1
61.3
27.0
35.6
48.9
62.8
62.0
48.6
30.7
24.2
28.5
34.7
34.9
31.6
34.6
33.9
33.9
34.4
33.7
32.4
32.1
30.1
29.3
26.5
26.0
26.0
22.9
18.2
21.4
24.9
34.7
47.9
50.4
54.6
52.4
49.9
49.3
51.4
51.7
53.7
53.7
54.8
55.4
55.9
65.9
55.7
55.9
56.2
57.8
57.5
57.3
57.3
56.8
55.2
21.9
25.0
37.1
51.5
39.1
28.2
26.3
20.9
22.4
22.4
25.8
22.4
25.8
27.0
32.0
29.0
29.8
28.2
28.5
26.9
27.8
26.3
27.3
23.5
19.5
11.8
3 No change.
i Decrease.
C ost of L iving in th e U n ited S ta te s and in F oreign C ou n tries 1
HE trend of cost of living in the United States and in various
foreign countries since 1913 is shown by the index numbers in the
following tables. Table 1 contains general cost of living index num
bers, while Tables 2, 3, 4, and 5, show changes in the cost of food,
clothing, fuel and light, and rent, respectively.
Caution should be observed in the use of these figures, since not
only are there differences in the base periods and in the number and
kind of articles included, and the number of markets represented, but
also there are radical differences of method in the construction of the
index numbers. The number of countries included in the five tables
varies according to the information available. Several countries
publish a general index and an index number for food only, while
others omit clothing and in some instances also rent.
T
3
Preceding articles on th is subject appeared in th e L abor Review for December, 1922, Ju ly , 1923, J a n
uary and Ju ly , 1924, Jan u ary and July, 1925, Jan u ary , 1920, February, 1927, August, 1928, F ebruary and
August, 1929, February and A ugust, 1930, and F ebruary, 1931.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[467]
208
T
able
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
1.—IN D E X N U M B E R S OF C O ST O F L IV IN G IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S A N D IN
F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S , 1913 TO J U N E , 1931
nited
C o u n try .. UStates
N um ber of
localities-
C anada Belgium Czecho
slovakia
32
60
59
Prague
D en
m ark
Finland
France
Ger
m any
Ireland
Ita ly
200
21
Paris
71
200
M ilan
Food,
Food,
clothing, Pood,
Food,
Food,
Food,
Food,
Food,
Food,
Food,
and clothing, clothing, clothing, clothing, clothing, clothing, clothing, clothing, clothing,
Commod fuel
fuel and
light,
fuel
and
fuel
and
fuel
and
fuel,
fuel
and
fuel
and
fuel
and
fuel
and
ities in
light,
rent,
light,
light,
light,
rent,
light,
light,
light,
light,
cluded . . houserent,
rent,
rent,
rent,
taxes,
rent,
rent,
rent,
rent,
furnish sundries sundries sundries taxes,
sundries sundries sundries sundries
etc.
etc.
ings, etc.
Com
D epart
M in
Bureau D ep art istry
ep art Central mission Federal m ent of M unici
C o m p u t of
of Office of D
Labor
m
en
t
of
Statis
for
Statis
pal
In
d u stry
ing agen Statis m en t of Labor
Statis Statis
tical
S tudy of tical
and
A dm in
cy—
Labor
tics
and
tics
tics
Cost
of
Com
Office
B
ureau
istration
In d u stry
Living
merce
Base pe
riod____
1913______
1914______
1915______
1916______
1917______
1918______
1919______
1920______
1921______
1922______
1923______
1924______
D e c ...
1925______
D e c ...
1926______
D e c ...
1927______
D e c ...
1928;
M a r. .
J u n e ..
S e p t..
D e c ...
1929;
M ar. .
J u n e ..
Sept _
D e c ...
1930:
Jan .
F e b ...
M a r ..
A p r ...
M a y ..
J u n e ..
J u l y ..
A u g ...
Sept.
O c t...
N o v ..
D e c ...
1931:
J a n __
F e b ...
M ar. .
A p r ...
M a y ..
J u n e ..
1913
100
1 103
* 105
> 118
i 142
i 174
1 199
1200
i 174
i 170
1173
100
i 103
i 107
1 124
1 143
1 162
3 176
J 190
1 161
i 157
1 159
1921
July,
1914
3 100
July,
1914
3 100
3 116
3 136
3 155
3 182
3 211
3 262
3 237
3 199
3 204
3 214
January- JanuaryJune,
1913-14
June,
1914
1914
3 100
July,
1914
3 100
* 100
3 100
3 238
3 341
3 307
fi 302
3 334
3 142
2 185
3 180
3 183
JanuaryJune,
1914
3 100
114
146
197
285
327
442
541
501
494
527
573
fill
649
654
657
176
157
172
157
100
3 90
3 109
3 125
137
3 133
143
3 174
199
3 204
207
170
156
155
157
158
203
204
209
216
730
734
749
725
1214
1219
1249
1260
3 507
3 519
3 519
3 531
151
151
152
153
531
530
526
538
157
156
159
160
216
213
225
228
736
726
717
7 105
1229
1215
1230
1207
3 547
3 556
6 555
3 565
157
153
154
153
561
544
540
549
160
160
159
157
157
157
156
155
152
152
152
226
238
232
226
224
224
227
229
230
229
228
223
3 106
7 106
7 104
7 103
7 103
7 105
7 106
7 105
7 103
7 102
7 101
219
212
209
7 99
7 98
7 98
173
156
178
160
171
170
171
167
161
150
146
145
142
141
150
i December.
1 July.
1913
3 January-June.
690
692
707
721
703
710
735
739
734
3 219
3 184
3 176
170
167
165
162
159
157
1 1172
1 1157
1147
1170
1217
1212
1197
1183
1197
1207
1243
3 545
144
3 182
3 498
151
3 171
1181
1165
1154
1134
1115
1108
1128
1144
1130
1109
1101
1083
1071
1061
1057
1050
* October, 1913; January, April, and Ju n e, 1914.
» A pril-June.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[468]
« 377
135
3 421
141
3 565
3 572
3 592
3 597
3 590
152
150
149
147
147
148
149
149
147
145
144
142
140
139
128
137
3 188
179
168
168
168
166
3 Q uarter ending w ith m onth.
7 I n gold.
531
549
542
528
534
529
531
531
527
522,
525
522
508
488
494
496
496
489
209
COST OF LIVING
T
able
1 .—IN D E X N U M B E R S O F C O S T O F L IV IN G IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S A N D IN
F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S , 1913, TO J U N E , 1931—C ontinued
eth er N orw ay Poland
C o u n try .. Nlands
N um ber of A m ster
localities. dam
30
W arsaw
Sw it
Sweden zerland
49
33
U nited
K ing
dom
South
Africa
India
630
9
Bom bay
Food,
Food,
Food,
Food,
Food,
Food,
clothing, clothing, clothing, Food,
clothing,
Commod All com clothing, clothing,
fuel
fuel,
fuel,
fuel,
fuel,
fuel,
fuel,
light,
ities in modities
light,
light,
light,
light,
light,
light,
cluded . .
rent,
rent,
rent,
rent,
rent, sundries
rent,
rent
sundries sundries sundries sundries sundries
C o m p u t B ureau
of
ing agen Statis
cy—
tics
Base period____
1913..........
1914______
1915............
1916..........
1917..........
1918
1919_____
1920 _____
1921_____
1922_____
1923______
1924_____
Dec__
1925_____
Dec__
1926 ___
D e c ...
1927
D e c ...
1928:
M a r ..
J u n e ..
S e p t..
Dec__
1929:
M ar
J u n e ..
S e p t..
Dec__
1930:
J a n __
Feb
M ar
Apr
M ay .
Jnrm
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
1931:
Jan
Feb
M ar
Apr
M ay .
J u n e ..
19111913
2 142
i 117
i 205
l 222
i 190
i 176
i 178
C entral C entral Board Federal
Statis Statis of Social Labor
tical
tical
Office Welfare Office
Office
July,
1914
January,
1914
157
154
145
146
145
148
8 175
8 175
« 173
• 173
161
161
163
162
166
160
164
167
132
132
131
129
149
147
149
150
8 180
8 180
• 180
8 180
161
160
159
158
158
158
159
159
159
158
157
155
166
164
161
157
155
154
155
157
157
156
157
155
129
129
129
129
129
129
128
128
126
126
126
126
147
145
142
141
141
141
140
137
137
132
128
122
152
150
147
147
153
152
150
147
147
' l - 145
126
125
124
124
119
114
112
113
179
179
177
177
176
177
176
177
176
175
175
173
121
118
117
117
116
116
119
117
117
117
119
118
172
171
170
169
168
110
109
109
109
1 December.
9 July.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
204
222
224
200
164
164
169
167
165
164
163
161
160
July,
1914
132
132
131
131
125
123
123
126
169
169
167
167
July,
1914
164
165
165
168
182
181
182
180
169
170
169
168
B ureau Census
of
Census a nd Sta
and Sta tistics
Office
tistics
156
i 139
» 166
8 219
2 257
2 270
2 236
2 190
2 174
2 171
2 169
Food,
clothing,
fuel,
light,
rent,
sundries
151
160
161
161
162
115
197
Food,
gro
ceries,
rent
132
119
122
122
125
216
170
2 100
2 176
25
129
196
195
187
184
168
8 100
2 172
L abor
Office
30
108
111
126
130
129
134
148
175
167
157
168
166
8 165
170
8 172
176
* 174
174
8 177
121
267
236
162
July,
1914
168
167
162
161
160
162
100
177
162
June,
1914
2 100
2 125
2148
2 180
2 203
2 208
2 252
2 219
2 184
2 169
2 170
181
2 173
177
2 170
179
2 166
169
8 100
8 117
8 146
8 190
8 253
8 275
8 302
8 302
8 255
8 239
181
163
July,
1914
of
M inis Office
try of Census
and
Sta
Labor
tistics
A ustra New
lia
Zealand
6 Q uarter ending w ith m onth.
8 June.
[469]
100
105
112
122
131
145
179
162
135
131
133
133
133
131
8 100
154
175
183
173
164
154
157
160
155
155
2 100
107
116
129
143
157
178
177
160
158
160
162
164
163
163
162
161
8 173
159
8 171
158
165
157
157
155
9 September.
150
210
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
T a b l e 2 —IN D E X N U M B E R S O F COST O F FO O D IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S A N D IN
F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S , 1913 TO J U N E , 1931
nited
C o u n try .. UStates
Czecho
C anada Belgium slovakia
N um ber of
localities.
Prague
59
60
B ureau
D ep art
of
C o m p u t
ing agen Labor m ent of
cy.......... Statis Labor
tics
F in
land
France
Ger
m any
Ireland
Italy
200
21
Paris
71
200
M ilan
Com
D ep art
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mission Federal m ent
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ipal
for
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m ent of Statis S tu d y
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and
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of
try
merce
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July,
1914
Base pe
riod___
1913..
1914..
1915.—
1916—
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921..
1922
1923
1924..
D ec—
1925............
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1926..
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1927...........
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Ju n e.
Sept_.
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J u n e ..
S e p t..
Dec—
1930:
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1931:
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100
. . 100
1 108
. . » 105
1 111
1105
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1126
1 167
1 157
___________
1 187
......................
11 186
> 201
1 197
......................
1 202
1 178
___________
1 150
1 150
......................
1 142
1 147
......................
1 146
1 150
___________
146
......................
144
152
157
157
166
161
......................
162
152
155
156
100
2 87
2 105
2 124
140
2 134
147
2 185
208
2 210
211
151
153
158
156
149
146
152
154
153
155
161
158
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2 100
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1914
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1914
2 100
1Q12-14
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1914
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1914
2 100
116
149
205
320
359
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559
522
500
528
579
622
660
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224
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212
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206
208
210
209
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7 117
7 116
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7 113
7 112
7 115
7 117
7 114
7 110
7 109
7 109
145
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127
126
124
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129
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195
187
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105
104
102
127
121
769
787
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2 188
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2 159
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156
156
156
116
118
7 December.
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< October, 1913; Jan u ary , A pril, and June, 1914.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[470]
* A pril-June.
6 Q uarter ending w ith m onth.
1 In gold.
546
537
527
520
519
523
519
511
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512
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467
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211
COST OF LIVING
T
able
2 —IN D E X N U M B E R S OF COST O F FO OD IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S A N D IN
F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S , 1013 TO JU N E , 1931—Continued
eth er N orw ay Poland
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localities
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30
49
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Statis Statis
of
Labor
Social
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Office W elfare Office
Base period____
1914______
1915______
1916...........
1917______
1918______
1919_____
1920...........
1921............
1922_____
1923______
1924______
D e c ...
1925-........
D e c ...
1926_____
D e c ...
1927______
D e c ...
1928:
M a r ..
J u n e ..
S e p t..
D e c ...
1929:
M a r ..
J u n e ..
S e p t..
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1S30:
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F e b ...
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F e b ...
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A pr__
M ay .
J u n e ..
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saw
U nited
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lan d
dom
July,
1914
2 148
i 181
1 215
i 240
1 201
i 171
i 179
8 100
«123
8 153
«203
8 271
8 290
«319
8 295
8 231
8 217
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100
July,
1914
2 100
June,
1914
South
Africa
India
A ustra
lia
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Zea
land
630
9
Bom
bay
30
25
M inis
try of
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Office
of
Census
and
Statis
tics
Labor
Office
B ureau
of
Census
and
Statis
tics
Census
and
Statis
tics
Office
July,
1914
July,
1914
July,
1914
July,
1914
2 258
2 318
2 287
2 231
2 178
2 158
2 155
151
117
154
119
149
118
118
115
115
142
142
141
145
153
154
150
152
145
147
147
152
157
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117
118
114
112
146
144
146
148
160
161
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147
147
147
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154
153
152
150
151
152
152
152
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154
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140
138
141
144
144
143
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141
112
111
111
113
113
112
109
108
107
108
108
108
145
143
139
138
137
137
136
133
134
127
123
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153
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151
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147
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141
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148
146
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129
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106
103
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2 220
2 180
2 162
2 162
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2 167
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2 161
169
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122
121
119
120
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122
122
145
143
142
141
110
110
109
2 156
148
152
152
153
145
140
*
1 D ecember.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
145
140
138
137
123
2 Ju ly ,
133
132
130
100
107
111
124
125
136
178
« 128
i 118
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168
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142
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151
154
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2 100
213
163
165
172
175
169
167
160
159
158
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2 131
2 130
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2 148
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2 148
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2 156
155
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158
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1 152
107
107
* Q uarter ending w ith m onth.
[471]
2 June.
212
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T a b l e 3 —IN D E X N U M B E R S O F C O S T O F C L O T H IN G IN T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S A N D
IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S , 1913 TO JU N E , 1931
C o u n try ...
N um ber of
localities
U nited
States
32
B ureau
Computing of
Labor
agency— Statistics
C anada
Belgium
Czecho
slovakia
D en
m ark
Finland
France
G erm any
Italy
60
59
Prague
100+
21
Paris
71
M ilan
inistry
ep art
D ep art M
Labor Office of D
m ent of
m en t of of
and
In Statistics Statistics
Labor
d u stry
July,
1914
Base period____
1913
1914 .
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921___
1922 . . .
1923............
1924... .
D e c .. .
1925
D e c ...
1926
D e c ..
1927
D ec-.
1928:
M ar
J u n e ...
Sept
D e c ..
1929:
M ar
J u n e ...
Sept
D ec. .
1930:
Jan
Feb
M ar
A pr
M ay
J u n e ...
Ju ly
Aug
Sept .
Oct
N ov
Dec
1931:
Jan
Feb
M ar —
A pr
M ay
Ju n e..
100
1 101
1 105
1 120
1 149
1 205
1 269
1 259
1 184
7 172
i 176
100
i 103
7 115
i 136
i 158
i 185
l 210
i 232
i 177
i 162
1 164
171
159
169
159
167
157
163
163
162
161
160
159
153
July,
1914
3 100
155
100
2 99
2 113
2 133
140
2 142
144
2 166
199
2 217
234
963
964
1006
996
995
988
982
987
1013
155
157
157
157
240
242
246
250
1020
1033
1032
1023
157
157
156
156
253
256
259
262
1018
998
1006
7 147
156
155
155
155
155
155
155
155
148
148
148
148
263
263
263
263
262
262
262
263
264
262
261
260
7 147
7 146
7 145
7 145
7 145
7 145
7 145
7 145
7 145
7 142
7 137
148
142
141
137
137
255
253
252
7 135
7 135
7 135
2 100
2 110
2 160
2 190
2 260
2 310
2 355
2 248
2 217
2 239
2 267
2 272
2 210
2 192
187
C entral
Statis
tical
Office
Commis Federal
sion for
S tu d y of Statis
tical
Cost of Bureau
Living
Jan u ary - Jan u a ry June, 1914 June, 1914
3 100
i 1107
i 1090
1065
1039
1046
1043
1043
1042
1035
1036
1038
3 100
3 296
8 485
8 353
8 315
8 365
M unici
pal Ad
m inis
tration
Jan u a ry June, 1914
* 100
3 100
i 194
2 284
7 221
2 692
2 512
610
615
611
667
655
702
699
709
8 440
173
8 510
173
8 616
158
8 581
166
591
1043
1048
1052
1055
8 581
8 581
8 591
8 591
169
170
171
173
591
559
561
555
1055
1055
1055
1051
8 594
8 604
8 604
8 604
173
172
171
170
555
555
555
549
8 610
170
169
169
168
167
167
166
163
161
159
155
150
549
549
549
549
509
509
509
509
509
480
476
448
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146
145
143
448
448
448
448
1051
1051
1050
1046
1046
1046
1045
1045
1042
1039
1035
1034
1024
1023
1019
1016
8 626
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8 626
146
1 December.
2 July.
3 January-June.
1 October, 1913; Jan u ary , April, and June, 1914.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
5 A pril-June.
8 Q uarter ending w ith m onth.
7 In gold.
COST
T
able
213
OF LIVING
3 —IN D E X N U M B E R S O F COST O F C L O TH IN G IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S A N D
IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S , 1913 TO J U N E , 1931—Continued
C o u n try ..................... . N orw ay
Poland
Sweden
Switzer
land
U nited
K ing
dom
India
A ustralia
New
Zealand
N um ber of localities. _
30
W arsaw
49
33
100
B om bay
6
4
C om puting ag en cy .. .
Central
Statis
tical
Office
C entral
Statis
tical
Office
Board
of Social
Welfare
Federal
Labor
Office
M inis
try of
Labor
Labor
Office
Bureau
of Cen
sus and
Statis
tics
Census
and
Statis
tics
Office
July,
1914
January,
1914
July,
1914
June,
1914
July,
1914
July,
1914
November, 1914
July,
1914
1914________________
1915..........
1916...........................
1917....................
1918_____
1919.....................
1920...........
1921...............
1922..............
1923............................
1924..............................
D ecember
1925_____
December.............
1926_____________
December...........
1927_____
December_____
1928:
M arch_____ ____
Ju n e _________
Septem ber_____
D ecember______
1929:
M arch_________
June.......................
Septem ber_____
December____
1930:
January
February _______
M a rc h .." .............
A p ril........... .........
M ay .......................
June___________
July____________
August
Septem ber___ . .
October________
N ovem ber. .
D ecember .
1931:
J a n u a ry .. _____
F eb ru ary ______
M arch_________
April__________
M ay __ ________
June______
8 100
100
1 160
is 210
*285
a 310
9 390
9 270
*210
9 196
9 192
8 312
8 388
8 336
8 292
8 247
«230
* 246
«257
«225
9 100
9 191
154
9 187
« 191
148
« 172
169
« 169
« 169
« 168
« 166
169
169
169
169
« 164
« 164
«163
«161
169
169
169
171
160
159
156
171
171
171
171
171
171
171
171
171
171
9 180
183
181
180
178
154
1 December.
9 July.
6 Q uarter ending w ith m o n th .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[4731
9 100
232
186
176
179
181
181
179
172
166
162
162
9 100
9 125
9 155
9 200
9 310
9 360
9 430
9 290
239
222
226
9 100
215
9 263
247
214
226
214
9 192
176
9 160
148
9 149
154
162
166
166
169
218
220
220
220
151
156
157
160
169
167
167
165
220
218
218
215
159
159
159
151
165
165
165
160
160
160
160
160
160
155
155
155
215
215
215
213
213
213
213
210
210
208
208
205
150
138
136
137
138
138
137
135
132
129
126
125
155
155
155
145
145
205
203
200
200
198
195
123
124
124
123
225
218
9 100
9 105
9 117
9 132
9 145
9 164
9 181
9 165
9 140
9 136
8 June.
9November.
10Septem ber.
9 100
109
127
156
179
216
245
226
188
176
168
164
155
149
141
139
138
135
131
214
M ONTH LY
LABOR
R E V IE W
T \ ble 4 .—IN D E X N U M B E R S O F C O S T O F F U E L A N D L IG H T IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S
A N D IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S , 1913 TO J U N E , 1931
C ountry___________
U nited
States
C anada
Bel
gium
Czecho
slovakia
D en
m ark
Finland
France
Ger
m any
N um ber of localities. .
32
60
59
Prague
110+
21
Paris
71
M inis
try of
Labor
and
Indus
try
Office
of S ta
tistics
D epart
m ent
of Sta
tistics
C entral
Statis
tical
Office
1921
July,
1914
July,
Jan u
aryJune,
1914
Bureau D ep art
L abor m ent
C om puting ag en cy .. . ofStatis
of Labor
tics
Base p e rio d .. ______
1Q13
1914
1Q15
191fi
1Q17
1Q1R
1Q1Q
|Q90
1Q21
1Q9.2
1923........................... .
1994
TlftPAmbpr
lQ9i>
T)A(*(Vmbftr
1Q9fi
T^Apftmbftr
1927
TTp^ombp/y
1913
1913
100
100
1 101
1 98
1 96
1 101
1 108
1 124
1 148
1 157
1 195
1 125
1 146
1 148
1 181
1 186
1 184
1 200
1 172
1 177
1 172
181
162
187
166
188
162
183
158
177
177
159
158
157
157
181
1929:
Marfth
.Tiirift
Sft.pt.ft.mbft.r
DftftP.mbftr
175
179
1930:
Jan u ary
Fftbrnary
Marfth
April
May
.TunA
July
Angnsffiftpt.Ambftr
Optnbp.r
7\Tnyfimhfir
TlftpprriTip.f
100
8 92
8 120
8 127
127
2 113
114
2 144
206
173
*
175
1931:
Marph
8 100
1 1249
1 1340
1913-14
100
< 100
8 164
8 296
«308
8 287
8 317
1 177
•368
137
«402
142
«577
144
819
«555
146
168
170
170
175
819
819
842
842
1438
1436
1429
1452
«547
« 504
« 510
« 515
146
158
157
156
157
184
194
206
213
842
842
842
2 125
1456
1456
1450
1455
«535
«539
«569
»602
153
149
151
153
157
157
157
157
156
156
156
156
156
156
156
156
214
215
2 125
2 125
2 125
2 126
156
156
156
155
154
198
193
189
211
207
206
205
205
204
198
203
197
198
2 252
2215
814
2201
2 126
2 126
2 126
2 126
2 126
2 126
2 126
2 126
2 124
2 124
2 124
185
1452
1447
1433
1423
1416
1407
1398
1397
1375
1354
1327
1290
«633
«633
150
150
150
«607
«615
1244
1166
1135
1107
[474]
144
147
151
153
154
154
152
150
149
150
150
152
154
152
151
«633
1
1 December.
2 Ju ly .
8 Jan u ary -Ju n e.
October, 1913; January, A p ril,a n d June, 1914
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
8 100
2 130
2 175
2 220
2 275
2 292
2 563
2401
2 301
2 282
2 298
1914
1477
1473
1439
1362
1288
1271
1389
1405
1449
165
J uhp
1041
881
837
829
807
2 186
1928:
Mareh
.TilTift
Sflptftmbftr
Dpoftrnbftr
2 100
1 109
Commis
sion for Federal
Statis
S tudy
of Cost
tical
of L iv B ureau
ing
5 A pril-June.
« Q uarter ending w ith m onth.
7 In gold.
215
COST OF LIVING
T
able
4 .—IN D E X N U M B E R S O F C O S T O F F U E L A N D E IG H T IN T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S
A N D IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S , 1913 TO J U N E , 1931—Continued
C ou n try _________ -..
Ita ly
N orw ay
Poland
Sweden
Switzer
land
U nited
K ing
dom
India
N um ber of localities.
M ilan
30
W arsaw
49
33
26-30
Bom bay
C entral
Statis
tical
Office
C entral
Statis
tical
Office
Board
of Social
Welfare
Federal
Labor
Office
M inis
try of
Labor
Labor
Office
M uniciAd
C om puting agency__ pal
minis
tration
u ary Base period________ JJan
une, 1914 J u ly ,1914
1914________________
1915________________
1916________________
1917________________
1918________________
1919________________
1920________________
1921.______________
1922................................
1923._______________
1924________________
Decem ber______
1925.______________
D e c e m b e r..____
1926.__________ ____
D ecem ber. . . .
1927................... ............
D ecember _____
1928:
M arch___ ____
J u n e .. . _____
Septem ber______
D ecember........... .
1929:
M arch_________
Ju n e __ _______ _
Septem ber______
December
1930:
Jan u a ry ________
F eb ru ary ............
M arch _________
A pril______ ____
M a y ___________
Ju n e ___________
J u ly ____ _______
August
S e p te m b e r ..___
October________
N ovem ber______
December______
1931:
Jan u a ry ________
F ebruary _______
M arch_________
A pril___________
M a y ___________
Ju n e ___________
1 D ecember.
3 100
8 100
1914
New
Zealand
Census
and
Statistics
Office
J u ly ,1914 June, 1914 July, 1914 J u ly ,1914 July, 1914
100
2 100
2 100
2 100
2 100
a 100
101
2 220
2 220
2 611
2 899
524
529
519
515
520
533
523
565
1 168
8 240
2 286
2 326
2 372
2 264
2 188
2 185
2 182
301
282
307
2 177
232
106
2 168
279
108
2 176
213
181
173
165
161
153
150
146
146
142
141
2 230
8 260
202
183
2 183
185
2 180
180
2 195
250
2 170
170
2 176
168
163
167
_ 174
165
166
422
177
113
407
407
407
408
176
171
166
163
115
124
123
137
139
136
135
136
170
168
168
170
144
158
151
143
425
425
434
453
166
162
162
161
140
141
143
151
135
134
134
135
173
170
170
175
143
143
143
143
453
453
453
460
473
473
474
477
477
477
477
457
161
161
160
159
160
159
158
158
157
155
153
152
146
146
146
146
147
148
148
148
150
135
134
134
133
132
132
132
131
132
131
131
131
175
175
175
175
170
170
170
170
170
173
173
175
143
143
143
143
143
143
143
143
143
141
141
141
131
130
130
129
128
175
175
175
175
175
170
141
141
144
144
160
160
159
156
440
424
424
424
2 July.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3 Jan u ary -Ju n e.
1475]
8June.
110
126
136
149
178
199
183
176
174
156
* September.
177
177
175
175
175
"l75
216
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T a b l e 5 —IN D E X N U M B E R S O F COST O F B E N T IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S A N D IN
F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S , 1913 TO J U N E , 1931
C o u n try ...
U nited
States
C anada
Belgium
N u m b er of
localities.
32
60
59
C o m p u t
ing agen
c y ............
B ureau
of
Labor
Statis
tics
Base pe
rio d .........
1913
1913
___
___
1914
1915
1916 _
1917
1918
1919
1920 _____
1 9 2 1 _____
1922
1923...........
1924
D e c ...
1925______
D ec__
1926
D e c . ..
1927
D e c ...
1928:
M ar . .
J u n e ...
Sept D ec__
1929:
M ar __
J u n e ...
Sept .
D ec__
1930:
Jan . .
Feb
M ar -.
A pr . .
M ay
J u n e ...
J u ly ...
A ug.
Sept__
Oct .N ov .
D e c . ..
1931:
Jan . .
F e b ...
M ar__
A p r__
M a y ..
June
100
1 100
1102
i 102
1 100
1109
1 125
i 151
i 161
i 162
1 167
inis
D e p art M
try of
m ent
Labor
of
Labor In dand
u stry
1913
1 142
‘ 150
i 155
1 158
158
158
164
156
156
154
152
150
146
100+
21
Office
of S ta
tistics
D e p art
m en t
of
Statis
tics
C entral
Statis
tical
Office
July,
1914
July,
1914
Jan u ary June,
1914
2 100
1 102
i 111
1 122
168
158
Prague
France
Germany
Ita ly
Paris
71
M ilan
Commis Federal
sion for
tatis
S tudy of Stical
Cost of B ureau
Living
1914
1913-14
Jan u ary June,
1914
156
100
2 99
2 134
2 140
140
2 152
152
2 158
167
2 183
184
2 105
2 108
2 113
2 130
2 141
2 155
2 160
2 170
3 100
1 603
1 795
100
4 100
3 100
2 100
2 100
3 100
3 100
3 110
2 108
2 139
202
3160
8 200
69
«220
89
8 250
105
234
328
393
414
477
517
638
8 275
125
400
261
901
1088
1165
1224
1266
1306
1334
1379
1411
261
261
278
278
1411
1430
1430
1430
« 275
«275
« 300
« 300
126
126
126
126
400
400
401
408
306
306
317
1430
1476
1476
1476
« 300
«300
« 350
«350
126
126
126
127
408
408
408
410
410
410
410
410
410
410
422
422
422
422
422
422
422
475
475
471
206
213
222
236
244
256
156
157
157
157
209
209
157
158
158
158
223
224
224
227
747
158
158
158
158
160
160
160
160
160
160
160
160
227
405
405
406
406
406
406
406
406
405
405
405
7 50
7 50
7 50
7 50
7 50
7 50
7 53
7 53
7 53
7 53
7 53
7 53
160
160
160
160
160
405
404
404
7 54
7 54
7 54
210
211
2 100
2 100
2 102
2 178
2 185
2 189
196
»200
122
1476
1476
1476
1476
1476
1467
1467
1467
1467
1467
1467
1467
«350
«350
127
127
127
128
128
130
130
130
131
131
131
131
1448
1448
1448
1448
«350
132
132
132
«350
6 350
142
1 D ecember.
2 Ju ly .
3 January-June.
4 October, 1913; Jan u ary , April, and June, 1914.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M unicipal
A dm in
istra
tion
100
i 97
1 94
1 95'
167
160
1921
Czecho
slovakia D enm ark Finland
[476]
5 April-June.
9 Q uarter ending w ith m onth.
7 In gold.
217
COST OF LIVING
T
able
1
5 . — IN D E X
N U M B E R S OF COST O F R E N T IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S A N D IN
F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S , 1913 TO JU N E , 1931—Continued
Switzer U nited
K ingdom
land
A ustralia
India
N orw ay
Poland
Sweden
N um ber of localities..
30
W arsaw
49
27
20-30
Bom bay
C om puting agency...
C entral
Statis
tical
Office
C entral
Statis
tical
Office
Board of
Social
Welfare
Federal
Labor
Office
M inistry
of Labor
Labor
Office
July,
January,
July,
July,
1914
Ju ly ,
1914
June,
1914
1914
1914
1914
C ountry -
Base period.
100
1914.
1915.
19161917.
1918.
1919.
1920.
1921.
1922.
19231924-
s 111
8123
8 147
8 161
8 171
8 173
8 176
176
ID ecem ber.
186
1925-
179
D
I ecem ber.
2 188
1926-
179
D
I ecem ber.
2 198
1927.
D e c e m b e r-
1928-........................
M arch____
Ju n e .......... .
Septem ber..
D e c e m b e r-
1929;
M arch........
Ju n e ______
Septem ber.
D ecem ber..
181
Jan u ary ___
F e b ru a ry . .
M arch........
A pril...........
M a y ..........
J u n e ...........
J u ly ...........
A ugust........
Septem ber.
October---N ovem ber.
D ecem ber-
138
146
150
155
158
162
163
166
167
172
174
3 118
2 145
2 153
2 148
a 147
2 147
2 147
148
2 150
150
2 151
151
2 165
2 165
2 165
2 165
172
2 172
172
a 172
172
> 172
172
141
149
155
162
a 100
101
101
102
105
108
114
126
136
148
160
165
169
58
58
58
58
177
181
181
181
152
153
153
152
172
172
172
172
181
181
181
181
185
185
185
185
185
185
185
185
152
152
152
152
153
153
153
153
153
153
153
154
172
172
172
172
172
172
172
172
172
172
172
172
185
185
185
185
187
154
154
154
154
154
154
172
172
172
172
58
58
58
58
58
58
58
58
58
58
174
1931:
J a n u a ry __
F e b ru a ry ..
M arch-----A pril-------Ma”y _____
Ju n e _____
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
180
168
"187
"m
175
175
175
175
1 D ecember.
”l68
’’ ’ Î 72"
*151
151
151
150
174
1914
108
’ Ï74"
177
177
177
174
July,
a 100
53
56
58
58
174
Bureau of Census
and
Census
Statistics
and
Office
Statistics
1911
179
179
179
179
1930:
25
100
a 100
1108
» 112
a 112
a 120
2 130
a 155
2 163
a 163
2 178
New
Zealand
* Ju ly .
200
205
’ 2Ö5
*June.
172
172
172
» September.
190
189
189
187
185
IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION
S ta tistic s of Im m ig r a tio n for M ay, 1931
B y J. J. K u n n a , C h ie f S t a t is t ic ia n U n it e d S t a t e s B u r e a u
of
I m m ig r a t io n
May, 1931, immigrant aliens admitted to the United
. States numbered 3,799—less than one-fifth of the number
D URING
admitted in the same month last year. The admissions of immigrants
(19,414) in May, 1930, exceeded those of the last five months (Janu
ary 1 to May 31, 1931) by 1,330.
Over seven-eighths (87.6 per cent) of the May immigrants were
women and children. The total males for the month numbered 1,325
and females 2,474. Of the males, 877 were single, 411 were married,
and 37 were widowed or divorced; 424 were under 16 years of age,
while 204 ranged in age from 16 to 21 years, 241 from 22 to 29 years,
184 from 30 to 37 years, 79 from 38 to 44 years, and 193 from"45 to
60 years and over. Of the females, 855 were single, 1,402 were married,
and 217 were widowed or divorced; 431 were children under 16 years,
362 were from 16 to 21 years of age, 664 from 22 to 29 years, 426 from
30 to 37 years, 172 from 38 to 44 years, and 419 were 45 years of age
and over.
Nearly two-thirds of the immigrants arriving in May (2,501) came
from Europe.^ Italy (with 925) sent the largest number, the major
portion entering at New York as husbands, wives, and unmarried
children of United States citizens. During May, 647 natives of Italy
were admitted at that port as immigrants of this class under the im
migration act of 1924. Great Britain (with 303) was second in the
list, followed closely by Germany (with 291), while Poland sent 123
and the other European countries less than 100 each. Canada sup
plied 612 immigrants and Mexico 195. During May, 1930, Europe
contributed 13,317 immigrants, Canada 4,216, and Mexico 476.
There were 14,062 nonimmigrant aliens admitted in May, of whom
5,897 were returning residents of the United States, 5,440 were visit
ors to this country for business or pleasure, and 2,438 were persons
going through to some foreign country. Of these nonimmigrants,
8,391 were males and 5,671 females; 9,374 entered at New York and
2,651 at other seaports, while 2,037 came in over the northern and
southern land borders. Over two-fifths of the returning residents
make their home in New York, 2,459 giving that State as their per
manent residence, while 460 went to California, 528 to New Jersey,
337 to Massachusetts, 330 to Pennsylvania, 256 to Illinois, and 248
to Michigan. The remaining home-coming aliens scattered among
the other States.
During May last 5,616 emigrants, or alien residents of this country,
departed for intended future permanent residence in foreign lands.
Mexico was the destination of 1,920, practically all leaving via the
southern land border, while 2,867 went to European countries, prin218
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[478]
219
IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION
cipally Great Britain, Germany, Scandinavia, Yugoslavia, France,
and Italy; 120 departed to Canada, 311 to Asia, and 398 to the
West Indies and other regions.
The nonemigrant aliens leaving in May for a temporary sojourn
abroad or after a short stay in this country numbered 15,602 (8,881
male and 6,721 female), nearly two-thirds (10,236) of whom embarked
at the port of New York destined mainly to European countries.
Deportations in May, 1931, totaled 1,767, as compared with 1,574
for the corresponding month a year ago. In April and May last, 331
(249 males and 82 females) indigent aliens were at their own request
returned to their native land. Practically all were born in Europe.
Of the 331 aliens thus removed, 147 went to Great Britain, 52 to
Germany, 26 to Netherlands, 23 each to Ireland and Scandinavia, 17
to Italy, and 27 to Other Europe; 6 departed for Cuba, 5 for Mexico,
4 to the Dominican Republic, and 1 to Costa Rica.
IN W A R D A N D O U T W A R D P A S S E N G E R M O V E M E N T F R O M JU L Y 1, 1930, TO M A Y
31, 1931
O utw ard
Aliens
Aliens
de
de
United
Aliens departed
Aliens adm itted
ported
barred
States
U nited
after
from
citi
States
n te r
ter
zens T otal eing
N on
citizens Total en
N on
2
in g 1 E m i em i T otal
Im m i im
de
m i Total arrived
grant grant
grant grant
p a rte d
Inw ard
Period
1930
J u ly ______
August,___
Septem ber.
O ctober___
Novem ber .
D ecem ber..
1931
Jan u a ry ___
F e b ru a ry ..
M arch ____
A pril_____
M a y ..........
Total
16,
19, 724
29, 359
23, 304
13,032
9,939
29, 789
34, 540
47,151
37, 246
22, 241
16, 378
38, 822 68, 611
69,957 104,497
80,900 128,051
40, 702 77, 948
22, 381 44,622
28, 535 44,913
881
837
929
854
734
806
4, 818
5,245
5,100
5, 352
4,951
5,450
22, 588
29,166
24, 604
22, 938
19,285
17, 603
27,406
34, 411
29, 704
28, 290
24, 236
23, 053
55, 366 82, 772
88, 372 122, 783
56, 526 86, 230
o o ----61, 278
24’ 420 48, 656
21,140 44,193
1,440
1,208
1, 552
1,526
1,405
1,377
4,091 8,724
3,147 9,065
3, 577 12, 767
3,470 14,289
3, 799 14, 062
12,815
19,844
27, 508
34, 861
28,281
22, 518
32, 659
39, 720
51, 205
46. 040
40, 379
597
809
4, 397
4,720
4,693
5, 647
5,616
17.169
16.170
12, 751
14, 346
15,602
21, 566
20, 890
17,444
19, 993
21,218
24,885
33,172
32,278
24,418
23,242
46,451
54, 062
49, 722
44,411
44,460
1, 726
1,897
1,767
13, 323
14, 816
17, 792
13,942
9, 209
6,439
12, 212
16,344
17, 759
17,861
93, 605 170, 731 264, 336 414,309 678,645
1,001
1, 517
1,210
8,830 55,989 212, 222 268, 211 416,807 685,018 16, 625
1These aliens are n o t included among arrivals, as th ey were not perm itted to enter th e U nited States.
2 These aliens are included among aliens departed, th e y having entered the U nited States, legally or
illegally, and later being deported.
67999°—31-
15
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[479]
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
O fficia l— U n ite d S t a t e s
C o lo r a d o .— B u reau of M ines.
A nnual report for the year 1930. Denver, 1931.
64 pp.
Includes d a ta on fa ta l a n d n o n fa ta l accid en ts in m e ta l m in in g a n d q u a rry in g ,
an d p ro d u ctio n of m etals, also a list of o p e ra tin g m ines, sm elters, a n d q u arries.
C o n n e c t ic u t .— B o ard of C om p en satio n C om m issioners. Tenth report, covering
years 1 9 2 8 -1 9 2 9 .
Hartford, 1 9 3 0 . 14 PPR eview ed in th is issue.
K a n s a s .— C om m ission of L ab o r a n d In d u s try . C oal-M ine a n d M etal-M ine
In sp ectio n a n d M ine R escue D ep a rtm e n ts. Annual report, 1929. Topeka,
1930. 127 pp.
C ontains d a ta on in sp ectio n of m ines, fa ta l a n d n o n fa ta l accid en ts, em ploy
m en t, an d p ro d u c tio n ; coal m ine a n d m e ta l m ine d irectories, a n d a record of
activ ities of th e m ine rescue d e p a rtm e n t.
L o s A n g e l e s (C a l if o r n ia ). — B oard of E d u c a tio n . Teachers’ salaries in the Los
Angeles C ity elementary and high school districts. Report on a survey of salary
■schedules for the teaching, supervisory, and school administrative personnel.
Los Angeles, March, 1 9 3 1 . 1 7 8 p p.; charts.
S alary d a ta from th is re p o rt are p u blished in th is issue.
M a r y l a n d .— B oard of L ab o r a n d S ta tistic s. Thirty-ninth annual report, 1 9 3 0 .
Baltimore, 1 9 3 1 . 1 4 1 PPIncludes d a ta re la tin g to in d u s tria l disputes, w om en a n d children in in d u stry ,
em ploym ent an d u n em p lo y m en t, a n d hom e w orkers.
M o n t a n a .— In d u s tria l A ccident B oard. Fifteenth annual report, for the 12
months ending June 30, 1930. Helena, 1930. 4® PPR eview ed in th is issue.
N e w Y o r k .— D e p a rtm e n t of L abor. B u reau of In d u s tria l H ygiene. Splinters,
a cause of injuries; precautionary measures. New York, 1930. 22 pp.
R eview ed in th is issue.
N o r th D a k o t a .—C o al M ine In sp ectio n D e p a rtm e n t.
Twelfth annual report,
1930. Bismarck, (1931?). 31 pp.
C ontains d a ta on inspection of m ines, fa ta l a n d n o n fa ta l accidents, em ploy
m ent, a n d p ro d u ctio n ; a n d a d irecto ry of coal m ines.
P orto R ic o .— L egislature. Committee to investigate the industrial and agricul
tural uneasiness and restlessness causing unemployment in Porto Rico. Sec
ond report. San Juan, 1 9 3 1 . 7 3 9 pp.
T his volum e co n tain s re p o rts in b o th E nglish an d Spanish. L egislation is
recom m ended as well as a p p ro p ria te use of th e pow ers v ested in th e in su la r p a r
liam ent.
W y o m in g .— In sp e c to r of C oal M ines. Annual report, year ending December 31,
1930. Cheyenne, 1931. 80 pp., illus.
C ontains d a ta on fa ta l a n d n o n fa ta l accidents, em ploym ent, pro d u ctio n , an d
safety w ork.
220
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[480]
PUBLIC ATIO NS KELATING TO LABOR
221
U n it e d S t a t e s .— Congress.
H ouse of R ep resen tativ es. C o m m ittee on W ays
an d M eans. Prohibition of importation of goods produced by convict, forced,
or indentured labor. Hearings, 71st Cong., 3d sess., on H. R. 15597, H. R.
15927, and H. R. 16517, January 27 and 28, 1931. Washington, 1931. 176
pp.
_____ Senate. C om m ittee on M anufactures. Wages of laborers and mechan
ics on public buildings. Hearing, 71st Cong., 3d sess., on S. 5904, February o,
1931. Washington, 1931. 25 pp.
------ D e p a rtm e n t of Commerce." B ureau of Mines. Bulletin 279: Lim its of in
flamm ability of gases and vapors, by H. F. Coward and G. W. Jones. Wash
ington, 1931. 114 pp., charts.
A com prehensive survey of all available results, to assist in th e p rex en tio n of
explosions an d fires in th e m etallurgical, petroleum , gas m an u factu rin g , an d
re la te d industries.
_________ _____ Bulletin 326: Explosives accidents in the anthracite mines of Penn
sylvania, 1923-1927. Washington, 1931. 93 pp.
A technical sta tistic a l stu d y of fa ta l a n d serious explosives accidents, p rep ared
for prom otion of accident p revention.
______________ Technical Paper 489; Coal-mine safety organizations in Alabama,
by R. D. Currie. Washington, 1931. 48 PP-, charts.
D escribes th e activ ities of th e safety organizations in th e coal m ines of th e
S ta te , w ith th e m ethods used by th em in p rev en tio n of accidents, a n d results.
------ D e p a rtm e n t of L abor. B ureau of L ab o r S tatistics. Bulletin No. 536.
Proceedings of the seventeenth annual meeting of the International Association
of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions, held at Wilmington, Del.,
September 22-26, 1930. Washington, 1931. 353 pp.
____ _____. ______ Bulletin No. 537. Wages and hours of labor in the dyeing and
finishing of textiles, 1930. Washington, 1931. 30 pp.
S um m ary figures from th is stu d y w ere published in th e L abor R eview for
N ovem ber, 1930 (pp. 169-176).
------ D e p a rtm e n t of th e In te rio r. B ureau of Pensions. Annual report for fiscal
year ended June 30, 1930. Washington, 1930. 33 pp.
Review ed in th is issue.
------ E m ployees’ C om pensation Comm ission. Accident Prevention Series, Bul
letin 1: A comparison of safety codes for stevedoring operations, various ports
and districts in the United States. Washington, 1930. 40 PP------ F ederal B oard for V ocational E d u catio n . Bulletin No. 153: Training
objectives in vocational education in agriculture, with suggestions as to ways and
means of attaining these objectives. Washington, 1931. 28 pp.
A re p o rt of th e n atio n al co m m ittee of th e A m erican V ocational G uidance
A ssociation.
------ P ersonnel Classification B oard. Closing report of wage and personnel survey.
Washington, 1931. 404 PPR eview ed in th is issue.
O ffic ia l— F o r e ig n C o u n tr ie s
A u s t r a l i a .— [B ureau of Census a n d S tatistics.
T asm an ia B ranch.] The pocket
year book of Tasmania, 1931. Hobart, 1931. 146 PPA handy-reference book, co n tain in g su m m ary d a ta on prices, cost of living,
occupations, wages, etc.
B e l g i u m .— M inistère de l’In d u strie, du T ra v a il e t de la P révoyance Sociale.
Inspection d u T ravail. Rapports annuels de l inspection du travail, 1929.
Brussels, 1930. 305 pp.
.
.
,
T his re p o rt covers th e w ork of th e lab o r inspection service in th e d itteren t
P rovinces of Belgium for th e y ear 1929.
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MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
C h in a .— M inistry of In d u stry , Com m erce a n d L abor.
B ureau of In d u s tria l a n d
C om m ercial In fo rm atio n . M ining labor in China, by Boris P. Torgasheff.
Shanghai, 1930. 165 pp.
D a ta from th is rep o rt, w hich were previously published in th e A ugust, 1930,
num ber of th e C hinese E conom ic Jo u rn al, ap p eared in th e D ecem ber, 1930, issue
of th e M onthly L ab o r Review.
C ze c h o s l o v a k ia .— Office de S tatistiq u e.
Aperçu statistique. Prague, 1930. 322
pp.; map, charts.
C ontains sta tistic a l in fo rm atio n for th e R epublic of C zechoslovakia, in cluding
th e resu lts of th e census of occupations, housing, cooperation, w holesale a n d
re ta il prices, public h ealth , social in surance, unem p lo y m en t, em plo y m en t service,
in d u s tria l disputes, lab o r o rganizations, wages, etc.
D e n m a r k .— D irek to ren for Svgekassevæsenet.
Beretning i aaret 1929. Copen
hagen, 1931. 94- pp- {Reprinted from Socialt Tidsskrift, March, 1931.)
R ep o rt on th e activ ities a n d financial tra n sa c tio n s of th e pub lic h e a lth an d
in v alid ity insurance system in o peration in D enm ark, for th e y ear of 1929,
including legislation on th e sam e subject.
F r a n c e .— M inistère du T ra v a il e t de la P révoyance Sociale.
D irection du
T ravail. Statistique des grèves survenues pendant les années 1927 et 1928.
P aris, 1931. 233 pp.
A re p o rt of th e strikes occurring in F ran ce in 1927 a n d 1928, classified according
to in d u stry , an d d u ratio n , causes, a n d re su lt of each strike.
G e r m a n y .— G utach terk o m m issio n zur A rbeitslosenfrage.
Gutachten)zur Arbeitslosenfrage. Erster Teil. Berlin, 1931. 16 pp.
T his prelim inary re p o rt of th e G erm an F ed eral com m ission to s tu d y unem ploy
m en t in th a t co u n try is review ed briefly in th is issue.
G r e a t B r it a in .— D e p a rtm e n t of O verseas T rade.
Economic conditions in Bel
gium in 1930, by N . S. Reyntiens. London, 1931. 155 pp.
T his re p o rt con tain s a sh o rt section on social q uestions, covering fam ily allow
ances, technical education, foreign labor, housing, strikes, u n em p lo y m en t, a n d
cost of living. T h ere is also a brief discussion of th e econom ic situ a tio n in th e
G ran d D uchy of L uxem burg.
------ ------- Economic conditions in the United States of America, March, 1931, by
J . Joyce Broderick and A rthur J . Pack. London, 1931. I l l pp.
------ M ines D ep artm e n t. S afety in M ines R esearch B oard. Paper No. 68: A
routine test of the inflam m ability of mine dusts, by A . L. Godbert. London,
1931. 9 pp., illus.
T his p ap er describes a la b o ra to ry m eth o d of m easuring th e inflam m ab ility of
coal dusts. T h e d eterm in atio n is m ad e from th e a m o u n t of incom bustible d u st
w hich has to be m ixed w ith th e coal d u st in order to suppress flam e w hen th e
m ix tu re is blow n th ro u g h a re d -h o t tu b e.
— — -------------- Paper No. 66: Haulage accidents in coal mines. London, 1931.
20 pp., chart.
T his re p o rt w as p rep ared by a com m ittee ap p o in te d to in v e stig a te possible
m ethods of reducing th e n u m b er of h aulage accidents in B ritish coal m ines. T he
re p o rt co n tain s sta tistic s of accid en ts in th e different coal m ining d istricts, a n
analysis of causes, a n d suggestions for stu d y of th e various aspects of th e haulageaccident problem .
------ M in istry of L ab o r. Report for the year 1930. London, 1931.
( Cmd. 3859.)
159 pp.
D a ta from th is rep o rt, relatin g to gov ern m en tal tra in in g a n d placem en t of th
unem ployed in E ngland, a re given in th is issue.
------ R egistry of F rien d ly Societies. Report for the year 1929. Part 3: Industria
and provident societies; Section I, Proceedings and statistical notes. London
1931. 39 pp.
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PUBLICATIO NS RELATING TO LABOR
223
G r e a t B r i t a i n — R oyal C om m ission on U n em ploym ent Insurance.
First report,
London, 1931. (Cmd. 3872.) 74 PPR eview ed in th is issue.
.------ -------■ Minutes of evidence. London, 1931.
D a ta from th e m in u tes of th e fifth day, Ja n u a ry 9, 1931, showing th e finances
of th e unem ploym ent insurance system of G reat B ritain, b y industries, are given
in th is issue.
G r e e c e — M inistère de l’Économ ie N ationale. D irection du Service des M ines.
Statistique de l'industrie minière de la Grèce pendant l’année 1929. Athens,
1930. J+8 pp.
T h e an n u al re p o rt of th e G reek m ine inspection service. D a ta on average
d aily wages of m ining em ployees, ta k e n from th e rep o rt, are given in th is issue.
H e s s e (G e r m a n y ). — M inisterium des Innern. Jahresbericht der hessischen
Gewerbeaufsichtsamter fu r das Jahr 1930. Darmstadt, 1931. 116 pp.
A nnual re p o rt on facto ry inspection in Hesse, G erm any, for th e y ear 1930,
including tra d e agreem ents, in d u strial disputes, em ploym ent service, wages, labor
hours, Sunday a n d n ig h t w ork, hom e labor, apprentices, in d u stria l accidents and
th e ir p revention, public h ealth , food, cost of living, welfare w ork, etc.
I n t e r n a t io n a l L a b o r O f f ic e . — Report of the Director to the International Labor
Conference, fifteenth session, Geneva, 1931. Geneva, 1931. 92 and 374- PPT h e first volum e contains th e re p o rt of th e director, w hich deals m ainly w ith
th e economic depression an d unem ploym ent, a n d th e second volum e contains
th e an n u al rep o rts of th e countries w hich are m em bers of th e In te rn a tio n a l L abor
O rganization.
J a p a n .— B ureau of Social Affairs. Labor protection laws in Japan. Tokyo, 1930.
98 pp.
N e t h e r l a n d s .— D ep artem en t van Arbeid, H andel en N ijverheid. Leidraad voor
veiligheidsmaatregelen in het bouwbedrijf. The Hague, 1931. 103 pp., charts,
Ulus.
C ontains a rep o rt of th e Com m ission on Safety M easures in B uilding T rades
in th e N eth erlan d s from D ecem ber 28, 1928, to M ay 3, 1930. In th e supplem ents
are given d a ta on accidents, th e ir num ber, causes, severity, d u ratio n , an d m eas
ures u n d ertak en for th e ir p rev en tio n in th e building trades.
N e w S o u t h W a l e s (A u st r a l ia ). — B u reau of S tatistics. Official year book of
New South Wales, 1929-30. Sydney, 1931. 787 pp.
C ontains d a ta on old-age a n d in v alid ity pensions, fam ily allowances, prices,
ren ts, cost of living, em ploym ent, in d u stria l a rb itra tio n , wages, etc.
O n t a r io ( C a n a d a ) .— D e p a rtm e n t of Public W elfare.
M o th ers’ Allowances
Commission. Tenth annual report, for the year 1929-30. Toronto, 1931.
29 pp.
Review ed in th is issue.
____ M inim um W age B oard. Tenth annual report, 1930. Toronto, 1931. JO pp.
S c o tla n d .— D e p a rtm e n t of H ealth . Second annual report, 1930. Edinburgh,
1931. xvi, 214 PP- (Cmd. 3860).
T his re p o rt covers th e su b jects of housing a n d to w n p lanning, general sa n ita
tio n , m o rb id ity an d m o rta lity statistics, social insurance, a n d p oor relief.
T u r k e y .— Office C en tral de S tatistiq u e. Compte-rendu du recensement industriel
de 1927. Angora, 1928. 140 PPAn in d u strial census in T u rk ey m ade in 1927-a n d covering th e n u m b er of
estab lish m en ts a n d persons em ployed, a classification of estab lish m en ts by ty p e
of m otive pow er, an d sta tistic s of th e value of th e raw m aterials used in th e
different classes of in d u stria l estab lish m en ts in 1927, a n d th e value of th e an im al
production.
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
U ruguay .— D irección G eneral de E stad ística. Anuario estadístico, 1928. Tomo
X X X V I I , parte 6. Montevideo, 1931. 69 pp.
C om parative financial a n d in d u stria l sta tistic s are given in th is section of th e
yearbook of U ruguay, covering specified years ending w ith 1928. In d u stria l,
accident statistics are sum m arized in th is issue of th e Review.
U n official
C o m it é C e n t r a l
des
H o u il l è r e s
de
Rapport présenté à l ’assemblée
Paris, 35 rue Saint-Dominique 1931
F ra nce.
générale ordinaire du 27 mars 1931.
18 pp., chart.
C o u n t s , G e o r g e S.
The Soviet challenge to America. New York, John D ay
Co., 1931. 372 pp.
J
C ontains a description a n d a n ev alu a tio n of th e R ussian 5 -y ear p lan a n d its
significance in relatio n to w estern n atio n s, p a rtic u la rly A m erica. T h e a u th o r,
who is associate d ire c to r of th e In te rn a tio n a l In s titu te of T eachers College*
C olum bia U niversity, a n d professor of ed u catio n in th e college, g ath ered th e m a
terial for th e p rese n t volum e on tw o p ersonal visits to R ussia, one of which
included a m o to r trip of 6,000 m iles th ro u g h th e E u ro p ean p a rt of th a t c o u n try .
The care of the aged. Edited by I. M.
Rubmow. Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1931. xiii, I f f pp.'
Proceedings of th e conference held in M arch, 1930, w ith an ap p en d ix co ntaining
a note on th e care of th e aged in Illinois a n d a digest of S ta te law s on old-age
security.
D e u t s c h F o u n d a t io n C o n f e r e n c e .
and D ir e c t o r , A a r o n .
The problem of unemployment.
New York, M acm illan Co., 1931. 505 pp.
A re p o rt m ade to th e a u th o ritie s of S w arthm ore College a n d accep ted as a
program for ad d itio n a l research. T h e six p a rts of th e volum e d eal, respectively,
w ith th e follow ing su b jects: T h e e x te n t a n d costs of unem ploym ent, seasonal
unem ploym ent, technological un em p lo y m en t a n d th e fear of th e lim ite d m a rk e t,,
cyclical unem ploym en t, th e p lace m en t of lab o r, a n d u n em p lo y m en t insurance.
E l IOJ u T hOMAS D - A f r i c a n standards and planes of living. Boston, Ginn & Co
1931. 931 pp.
A com pilation of previously p ublished w orks on sta n d a rd s a n d planes of living,,
offered for use as a textb o o k .
D o u g la s , P a u l H .,
Unemployment insurance in Great B ritain
N ew
York, Industrial Relations Counselors (Inc.), 1931. 560 pp., charts and
G il s o n , M ary B a r n e t t .
CCIOCCS •
T his is th e second of a series of stu d ies of un em p lo y m en t insurance, th e first,
which d e a lt w ith u n em p lo y m en t benefits in th e U n ited S tates, h av in g been
published in 1930. An a c co u n t is given of th e origin a n d d ev elo p m en t of th e
B ritish schem e, w ith a discussion of its p re se n t sta tu s, in cluding its a d m in istra tio n
an d finance. P lans ou tsid e of th e schem e, estab lish ed b y som e em ployers and
trade-unions, are also described, a n d th e ir im p o rtan ce, as d istin c t from th e ir
extent, is stressed. T h e pro b lem s w hich h a v e developed in connection w ith th e
schem e, an d th e m ore serious charges b ro u g h t ag a in st it, are carefully considered.
M uch of th e criticism d irected a g a in st th e p lan , i t is p o in te d o u t, is negativeit m akes no constructiv e suggestion, an d fails to give c re d it fo r w h at th e schem e
has accom plished.
World ivorker-s educational movements: Their social siqniH—
cance. New York, Columbia University Press, 1931. 5 9 f pp. (Columbia
University studies in history, economics and public law No. 338.)
In describing p rese n t-d a y w o rk ers’ e d u c a tio n a l in stitu tio n s, th e a u th o r classi
fies th e m as follows, d ev o tin g a se p a ra te c h a p te r to each class: In s titu tio n s w ith
(1) a cooperative em phasis, (2) a tra d e -u n io n em phasis, (3) a p o litical em phasis,
(4) a c u ltu ra l em phasis, a n d (5) a n in te g ra tiv e em phasis.
H a n s o m e , M a r iu s .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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PUBLICATIONS RELA TING TO LABOR
225
H e in r ic h , and O t h e r s . Jahrbuch des Arbeitsrechts, 1930. Band X I .
Berlin, J . Bensheimer, 1931. 44-8 pp.
C o n tain s a review of lab o r legislation in G erm any, in cluding law s re la te d to
■organizations in connection w ith th e G erm an c o n stitu tio n a l law , tra d e agree
m en ts, w orks councils, conciliation a n d a rb itra tio n , lab o r courts, lab o r hours,
wages, an d in te rn a tio n a l lab o r legislation.
H
o e n ig e r ,
I n s t it u t f ü r A u s l ä n d is c h e s Ö f f e n t l ic h e s R e c h t u n d V ö l k e r r e c h t in
B e r l i n . Beitrage, Heft 12: Der deutsche und der französische Reichswirt
schaftsrat, von Friedrich Glum. Berlin, 1929. 188 pp.
T he m onograph contain s a descrip tio n a n d analysis of th e econom ic councils in
G erm any an d F rance.
L in c o l n , L e r o y A. Practicability of unemployment insurance. [New 1 ork, Meh opolitan Life Insuarnce Co., 1931.] 16 pp.
A p ap er b y th e vice p re sid e n t of th e M etro p o lita n Life In su ran ce Go., read a t
th e ro u n d -tab le conference of th e in su ran ce d e p a rtm e n t of th e C h am b er of C om
m erce of th e U n ited S tates, held a t A tla n tic C ity , A pril 29, 1931.
M a n s o n , G ra c e E . Occupational interests and personality requirements of women
in business and the professions. A nn Arbor, University of Michigan, 1931.
iv, 129 pp. (Michigan Business Studies, Vol. I l l , No. 3.)
An a tte m p t “ first, to develop devices w hich will analyze q u a n tita tiv e ly c ertain
asp ects of th e w ork situ a tio n — th e ch arac te ristic o ccu p atio n al in te re sts a n d p e r
so n ality req u irem en ts of w om en in v arious occu p atio n s; second, to a d a p t th ese
sam e devices for use in m easu rin g th e o ccu p atio n al in te re sts a n d p erso n ality
a ttrib u te s of w om en activ e in th ese o ccu p atio n s.” B ased on a stu d y of th e a t t i
tu d e s of 13,752 w om en, m a tu re a n d experienced, on th e h ig h er o ccu p atio n al levels
th ro u g h o u t th e co u n try . T h eir a ttitu d e s a n d p erso n ality a ttrib u te s are analyzed
in g re a t d e ta il an d set o u t in ta b u la r form .
M a r t in , P . W . The problem of maintaining purchasing power: A study of indus
trial depression and recovery. London, P . S. K ing & Son (Ltd.), 1931. 314
pp., diagrams.
AI e t r o p o l it a n L if e I n s u r a n c e C o . Health insurance. New York, 1931.
22 pp., charts.
T his m onograph contain s a n an aly sis of th e th re e p rin c ip a l sickness in su ran ce
p la n s in E u ro p e re p resen ta tiv e of th e com pulsory a n d v o lu n ta ry ty p e s of in su r
ance system s, nam ely th o se of G erm an y , G re a t B rita in , a n d D e n m a ik . T he
c h a rts show th e scope, benefits, conditions fo r benefit, c o n trib u tio n s, a n d a d m in
is tra tio n of v o lu n ta ry p lan s in five co u n tries a n d com pulsory p lan s in 10 countries.
------ Old age dependency: Some existing governmental plans for its relief or pre
vention. [New York City], 1931. 23 pp., charts.
C o n tain s brief descrip tio n s of th e p lan s of G erm any, G re a t B ritain , an d
C a n a d a , a su m m ary of th e situ a tio n in th e U n ite d S tates, a n d c h a rts p resen tin g
a com parison of th e old-age plan s in o p eratio n in a n u m b er of foreign countries.
N a t io n a l A s s o c ia t io n o f C o tto n M a n u f a c t u r e r s . Yearbook, 1930. Bos
ton, 80 Federal Street, 1930. 245 pp.
Includes d a ta on w ages in E n g lan d , Ja p a n , a n d New B edford an d F all R iver.
Also contains a section on legal w orking h o u rs for w om en.
N a t io n a l F e d e r a t io n o f F e d e r a l E m p l o y e e s . T he F ederal N ews, Vol. I,
No. 1. W ashington, D. C., J u n e 20, 1931. 4 PPT he first issue of a w eekly new spaper, p u b lish ed b y th e N a tio n a l F ed eratio n
o f F ederal E m ployees in cooperation w ith th e D istric t of C olum bia F ed eratio n
of F ed eral E m ployees. I ts aim , as s ta te d in th is first n u m b er, w ill be “ to cover,
fro m week to week, th e chief h a p p en in g s of p a rtic u la r in te re st to G overn m en t
em ploy ees.”
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
M ary T h e r e s a . Arbitration principles and the industrial court. Lon
don, P . S. K ing & Son (Ltd.), 1931. 178 pp.
Tlic a u th o r presen ts a n an aly sis of th e decisions of th e in d u stria l c o u rt fo r th e
period 1919 to 1929, in o rd er “ to ex h ib it th e n a tu re of th e p rinciples ap p lied b y
th e co u rt in th e d e te rm in a tio n of w ages a n d to th ro w som e lig h t on th e gen eral
question of a rb itra tio n principles in th is co n n ectio n .”
R
a n k in ,
d e s P a y sa n s S u is s e s .
Publication No. 98: Les salaires et les
conditions. du travail dans Vagriculture suisse, enquete de 1929-30
Bruaa
1930. 182 pp.
yy’
R eview ed in th is issue.
S e c r e t a r ia t
Women workers at the Bryn M awr Summer
School. New York City, Affiliated Summer Schools for Women Workers in
Industry and American Association for A dult Education [n. d.). 346 pp.
C ontains a description of th e g eneral p lan of th e su m m er school, its p urpose,
th e curriculum , th e ex tra-cu rricu lu m a c tiv itie s a n d th e relatio n of th e B ry n
M aw r S um m er School to w orkers’ education.
S m it h , H ild a W o r t h in g t o n .
T aylor, G eo rg e W .
The full-fashioned hosiery worker: His changing economic
status. Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1931. 237 pp.
( Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, industrial research department
research studies X I I I .)
R eview ed in th is issue.
T odd , J o h n A.
The fa ll of prices: A brief account of the facts, the probable causes,
and possible cures. London, Oxford University Press, 1931. 68 pp., charts.
V e il ig h e id s m u s e u m . Jaarverslag, 1930. Amsterdam [1931?]. 66 pp., illus.
A nnual re p o rt of th e safety m useum in A m sterdam , fo r th e y e a r of 1930.
V e r b a n d d e r M a l e r , L a c k ie r e r , A n s t r e ic h e r , T u n c h e r tjnd W e is s b in d e r
D e it t s c h l a n d s . 50 Jahre K a m p f urn das Bleiweissverbot, von Otto Streine.
Hamburg, 1931. 43 pp.
C ontains a review of th e 50-year stru g g le for th e p ro h ib itio n of w hite le a d ,
presented a t a m eeting of th e G erm an U nion of P ain ters, V arnishers, H ouse
P ain ters, an d W h ite w a sh e s, held in D resden, G erm any, S ep tem b er 2, 1930.
V o r s e , M ary H e a t o n .
Strike.
New York, Horace Liveright, 1930.
Z e n t r a l VERB AND D e u t s c h e r K o n s u m v e r e in e .
Jahrbuch, 1931.
376 pp.
Erster Teil
Hamburg, 1931. 496 p p.; charts.
D a ta on th e developm ent of th e consum ers’ cooperative m ov em en t in G erm an y
in 1930, ta k e n from th is yearbook of th e C e n tra l U nion of G erm an C onsum ers’
Societies, are given in th is issue of th e L ab o r Review.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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@FedFRASER