Expenditures of the Russo-Japanese war / by Gotaro Ogawa.

EFFECTS ON THE NATIONAL LIFE

245

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS, 1901-I907
Item 1 01 1902 1903 1904 I905 1906 1907
Foodstuff:
Rice and other grains... 91 IOO 125 132 128 118 128
Salt, sugar, etc.......... 99 98 IOI 120 147 145 142
Beverages.............. IOI IO9 io6 123 130 I24 131
Average............ 98 102 III 124 135 129 135
Clothing............ 99 98 I00 l09 120 122 129
Oil, fuel and charcoal..... 97 93 90 98 104 113 16
Raw materials.......... 95 92 92 95 IOO IOI 100
General average..... 97 97 IOO io8 116 114 122

This table points to the fact that prices suddenly advanced
during the war. That this sudden rise had close connection
with the war may be seen from the following:
ADVANCE OF PRICES, 1903-1905a
I903 Per cent
January............................................. 13.35
June............................................ Io6.03
December......................................... 29
1904
January............................................. 111.68
March...................................... 113.45
June..........................05.7I
September.......................................... 110.35
December.......................................... III.97
1905
January............................................ 111.42
March...................................... 112.32
June.........................117.00
September.. 119.48
a This table, compiled by the Bank of Japan, contains the average index numbers of 34 commodities chiefly consumed at home, inclusive of rice, barley, rye, wheat, miso, sake, soy, oils, charcoal,
tiles, paper, flax, silk, etc., with the quotations for October, 900o, as ioo.
Certainly there were some commodities which fell in price
after the outbreak of the war, but almost all of these were
luxuries. (See table at the top of page 246.)
But all the daily necessaries, especially foodstuffs, went up in
price. On the other hand, the movements of wages may be
seen from the table on page 246 (with the wages in I9OI as Ioo).