Dun's Index

Commodity prices, according to Dun's index numbers, rose slightly during the month of August. The general index for over 300 wholesale commodities was 156.0 on Sept. 1, compared with 155.6 on Aug. 1, and 152.1 on June 1--the low point so far this year.

Of the seven groups among which, according to the Dun system, commodities are divided, two rose, three declined, and two remained unchanged. Meat advanced from 135 on Aug. 1 to 142 on Sept. 1, while dairy and garden products moved up from 115 to 118. Other foodstuffs fell from 188 to 185, clothing from 188 to 185, and miscellaneous commodities from 157 to 156. Breadstuffs remained unchanged at 170 and metals at 133.

The Dun index is based upon a percentage scale, the average prices for the year 1913 being taken as 100. As between the seven groups above enumerated, dairy and garden products at 118 are nearest pre-War prices, while clothing at 187 is farthest above the pre-War price level.