The Cost of Living in Various Communities, February 15, 1935, Method of Survey.

The Cost of Living in Various Communities, February 15, 1935, Method of Survey. National Industrial Conference Board, Inc. (NYC), 1935. 11"x 8.5", mimeographed on laid paper. Original wrappers, staple bound. Mimeograph. Imprinted "Confidential: Not for Publication". [++] The Board set out to find what the average blue color working family of four needed to survive in the United States in 1935. The Board first determined what the annual purchasing/replacement needs were for a family to form a baseline for computing the cost of living. That is what is covered in this work, how many times (or how much) of an item was in the budget to be replaced or supplemented x-times/yearwe don't see the actual dollars-and-cents of the issue, but we do see an outline of what was consumed and how often the goods would be replaced over the course of a year (or more in 20% of the cases). What this reveals, I think, is really how very little was spent on just about everythingfrom sugar to sweaters--here in the height of the Great Depression. For example, in the clothing category (for boys 12 years old), the Board figured for one set of the following, per year: 1 each per year of suits, pajamas, stockings, shoes, galoshes, gloves. Winter coats (multi year wear of one) Twice per year replacements of neckties, shoes, trousers. For adult male: 1 unit per year of trousers, wool work shirt, shoes, galoshes, felt hat; 2 allowed per year of neckties; 3 per year of socks; also 6 handkerchiefs. Women: coat every 3 years, 3 dresses/year; once a year for a large sweater, vest, bloomer, nightgown, pumps, slippers; twice a year for corsets and slips. Interesting to note that in the food department the family needs are reckoned in pounds/year, the heaviest yearly staples being potatoes (600 lbs), carrots (200 lbs), white cabbage (200 lbs), tomatoes (140 lbs), bananas (100 lbs), butter (78 lbs)--and of course there was sugar (156 lbs).…