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Show COST OF LIVING IS BIG PROBLEM WASHINGTON, Nm 12 That the whole world Is struggling with the in u reascd cost of living, is indicated in r. ports to the state department. The ; increases in Europe are particularly .hlKh although in Latin America the governments are anxious over the situation sit-uation and are trying to find means of combatting the difficulties presented bv the high prices of commodities de med essenl lal. In Portugal the covcrnment, in an attempt to lower the cost of living has placed, through the minister of finance a part of its gold reserve in the banks of Lisbon. In England, Ihe cost of liinc above pre war level Is figured at 115 per cent for September and 120 per cent for October, as to actual necessities of life and based upon averace livine condi tion of wage earners. A more dis tlncl rise has occurred in the cost f. commodities so far as the other elements ele-ments of population In England are concerned, being unofficially estimated estimat-ed by some at approximately 135 per i cent with n stead y upward trend. In Sweden, figures furnished by the . S wedish government Indicate that the I cost of living has increased 157 per 'cent over the cost In June. 1914. In the riii. s the inccaae Ii.m- been very much -t iter than the averace for the COUH try Thp Argentine government has sug-gested sug-gested to other South .American coun trie! and discussed with ihem an inter national arrangement with a view to doing away with import duties on un manufactured food ptoducts as one mr.nnv: r.f miftincr rtnn n I Vi hi evil trn?t oi living Information which has reached the state department regarding regard-ing this plan Is to the effect that a ; suggestion has been made that a con jference be called by the Argentine minister for foreign affairs to discuss i this question of exchange of real ne ' ressities of life free of customs charges. In Brazil the tariff is being revised iwith a view to reducing the cost of Hying Hy-ing in that country. In Uruguay the i" n -ntage of increase of present cost of living over the cost in June, 1914, 1 3 estimated by Ihe Uruguyan go.rn-ment go.rn-ment at: food 52 per cent; fuel 48 per : cent, light 75 per cent; rent no increase. |