The result is that less savings are retained for investment in 
industry or other profitable undertakings. 
Kventually the temporary impulse in luxury trades ceases 
and the position in those also finds the level of trade generally. 
There is already evidence of this process. 
ARTICLES OF CONSUMPTION. 
To some extent, obviously, articles of consumption may be 
luxuries rather than, or as well as, necessities, therefore, it might 
be expected that over the whole range of articles of consumption 
the effects of the general depression would not be very evident. 
This, it might be thought, would also be the case for another 
reason, namely, that the very large total sums paid directly to 
the unemployed, or expended for them in relief by the local 
authorities, must make up to a considerable extent for what they 
would otherwise spend out of earnings. Doubtless, the statistics 
of consumption are affected in both these ways. It is therefore 
all the more striking evidence of the general impoverishment of 
the country that it is reflected in increase in unemployment in 
trades dealing with articles of personal consumption. The official 
figures appended show this increase :— 
NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES UNEMPLOYED. 
FOOD, DRINK AND TOBACCO. 
(Ministry of Labour Statistics.) 
Monthly Average. 
1927 ... 
1928 ... 25% 
929... ‘on 
1930 +—— 
January . 
February 
March - 
April _ 
May wn 
June ee 
July i o 
August  ... es 
September —- 
October ... ... 
Total Unemployed. 
38,101 
37,530 
38 381 
49,739 
51,267 
57,214 
59,146 
57,462 
52,875 
53,185 
54,865 
57,876 
£9 961 
| 
Percentage. 
7-4 
74 
7:5 
9-7 
10-0 
11-2 
11-5 
11-2 
10-1 
10-1 
10-4 
11-0 
11-4