CONTENTS 
Tue Cost oF Living 1x THE UNITED STATES 18 1926... 
The Total Cost of Living. .... 
Pood: voi vu vs mans 
Shelter. .......... 
Clothing. ......cooovaiaiiit 
Fuel and Light. ........ 
Sundries... coi iiiiiiiiiiiien. 
The Purchasing Value of the Dollar. .. 
Balancing the Budget. ......... 
Scope of Inquiry. ... 
Rerrospect 
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TABLES 
1. Index Numbers of the Cost of Living in Average American Communities, 
Monthly, from January to December, 1926, by Separate Budget Items 
2. Estimated Average Percentages of Increase in Rents of Wage Earners’ 
Houses, Monthly, from January to December, 1926, as Compared with 
3. Average Retail Prices of Selected Articles of Yard Goods and Wearing 
Apparel, Monthly, from January to December, 1926. ............... 
4. Index Numbers of Average Retail Prices of Selected Yard Goods and 
Wearing Apparel, Monthly, from January to December, 1926. ....... 
5. Index Numbers of the Retail Cost of Clothing, Based on Average Prices, 
Monthly, from January to December, 1926, Weighted According to 
Their Consumption Importance. .........ooviiiiiiiiiniinnan. 
6. Index Numbers of the Cost of Coal, Gas and Electricity for Household 
Use, Weighted According to Consumption, Monthly, from January to 
December, 1926... .. cov iiienannn. eens. 15 
7. Index Numbers of the Retail Price of Coal in Ton Lots for Domestic Use, 
_ in Specified Cities, January to December, 1926, Inclusive. .......... 16-17 
8. Index Numbers of the Cost of Gas and Electricity for Domestic Use in 
Specified Cities, in June, 1926... ......vivieneirennniiinnenee.. 20-21 
9. Index Numbers of the Average Cost of Itemized Sundries, Monthly, from 
January to December, 1926... ......oiiiii iii 
10. Rates and Index Numbers of Carfare in Specified Cities, July, 1914, June 
anil. December, 1926. cous viv umimss is ts amas i ss semwas 6 ves ss wine 
11. Purchasing Value of a Dollar Based on Changes in the Cost of Living, 
Monthly, from January to December, 1926. ...... PU 
12. Relative Importance of Major Items in the Family Budgets of American 
Wage Earners, on Specified Dates, Based on Changes in the Cost of 
Each Item, January to December, 1926. ...........ooviviiiuiann 
13. Number of Reports and Number of Cities Reporting for Shelter, Fuel 
and Clothing since March, 1920 ................. . 
14. Index Numbers of the Cost of Living in Average American Communities, 
1914 to 1926. Inclusive. bv Separate Budget Items. . ....  .......... 
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