The General Level of Prices.

THE Director-General of Statistics has prepared a detailed list showing the general level of prices prevailing in Calcutta at the end of September 1917. In some cases the Calcutta market is cheaper than others in the interior of the country; and in others it is dearer. But the market rates prevailing in Calcutta give us some idea of the variation of prices, owing to the war and other conditions. The September price level was one per cent. higher than that of August but 43 per cent. higher than at the outbreak of the war. The prices of imported articles have increased, as compared with the pre-war prices as follows:-Salt 292 per cent., metals 176 per cent., cotton manufactures 134 per cent. The price of tea is said to have fallen by 15 per cent. Food grains (cereals and pulses) showed a fall of 7 per cent. but wheat alone rose by 10 per cent.-these are wholesale prices.