98 COST OF LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES 
cured on only 20 items, and these are not in all cases the 
identical articles listed in the budgets themselves. Thus 
the commission says, 
“The standard blue serge suit has been used as the basis of quota- 
tion for men’s outer garments. Overcoats have varied in weight and 
style, and it has been almost impossible to find a standard of quota- 
tion. Overcoating fabric prices of uniform weight have, however, ad- 
vanced in the same ratio as blue serge prices, and therefore the index 
of the serge suit cost, which is almost identical with the index of serge 
fabric costs, has been used as a basis for the suit, overcoat and trousers 
items. For night garments the composite of cotton fabrics has been 
used, as all cheaper cotton fabrics have advanced in nearly the same 
ratio, and the quotation will therefore cover night garments made of 
either Canton or Domet flannels or long cloth. In the list of women’s 
clothes the same index based upon blue serge has been used for the 
topcoat, suit and street dress. The items of nightgowns, underskirt, 
kimono, waists, house dresses and aprons are combined, and the aver- 
age index of cotton piece goods has been used.”! 
For the 20 items listed on the clothing questionnaire 
quotations are secured either by special agent or by mail 
from substantially the same 27 places as those in which food 
prices are secured. About 100 sources of information are 
tapped each month, by special agent, if possible. Quotations 
furnished the preceding month are entered on the question- 
naire for reference. The quotations thus secured are 
averaged for each item for the state, not for separate cities, 
and each average is expressed as a relative of its 1913 price. 
These are then given their respective weights. The sum of 
these weighted relatives divided by the sum of the weights 
shows the index number for clothing. 
Fuel and Light 
The index number for this item is based on the selling 
prices of anthracite and kerosene, and rates for gas and elec- 
tricity in Boston, Springfield, Worcester, Lowell, Lawrence, 
New Bedford and Fall River. In addition, the commission 
is empowered to collect certain basic data regarding coal 
about every two months in every city in the Commonwealth. 
Frequent comparison may be made, therefore, of prices in 
! Report of the Commission on the Necessaries of Life, 1923, 9. ¢it., p. 249,