As a test of the reliability of the budget returns several sets were taken at random and were arranged in two groups having a common factor of approximately equal numbers of persons and equal total income. It was found on addition that the proportion of total expenditure spent on each description of food, clothing, etc., was approximately the same in each family and income group. Thus we treated the first 30 budgets from households with small and large incomes in this manner, dividing them so that each lot of 15 would have about the same number of persons and the same income. The selection was made without any reference whatever to expenditure, and the following were the results:--
1st Lot 2nd Lot of 15. of 15. Food 54.3 53.2 Clothing 20.9 20.3 Rent 6.6 6.7 Fuel and Light 6.7 6.7 Sundries 11.5 13.1
Under 4 8 3 4 to 13 30 31 14 and over 57 59 -- -- Total, 95 93
_The Household Budgets in the "S" Group were separately tested and the following results were obtained:--_
------------------------------+------------------------------------- | INCOME OF HOUSEHOLD. |-------+------+------+------+-------- Proportion of Expenditure | Under | £3 | £4 | £5 | £6 under each of the following | £3 | | | | upwards sub-divisions:-- | | | | | |-------+------+------+------+-------- Food | 61·1 | 60·4 | 56·3 | 48·0 | 41·4 Clothing | 15·7 | 13·7 | 19·3 | 19·4 | 17·7 Rent | 5·3 | 6·6 | 5·0 | 8·8 | 12·4 Fuel and Light | 8·7 | 7·6 | 7·3 | 8·1 | 9·0 Sundries | 9·2 | 11·7 | 12·1 | 15·7 | 19·5 |-------+------+------+------+-------- Total | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | | | | | ------------------------------+-------+------+------+------+--------
This test showed that the budgets we used conformed with common experience, and is, therefore, evidence of their reliability.
(_b_) _Comparison of English and Irish Weights._
The weights used in England in compiling the British index figure were compiled from budgets collected as long ago as 1904. These show a pre-war standard of living and the final index figure shows the percentage increase in expenditure necessary to maintain that precise standard of living absolutely unchanged at the present day.
We were not in possession of any Irish figures by which the pre-war standard of living could be accurately measured, and it was accordingly necessary for us to obtain budgets showing the present standard of living. Our final index figure therefore shows the percentage increase in expenditure which would have been necessary to maintain the present standard of living absolutely unchanged from July, 1914, to the present day.