Living Costs Up Despite Food Decline
The Labor Department reported yesterday the cost of living reached a new high in March. The consumer price index went up two-tenths of one per cent.</br></br>The index continued its 7-month climb in spite of a four-tenths of one per cent decline in food costs. Washington food prices dropped nine-tenths of one per cent, more than twice the national average. No overall Washington index figures wore available for March.</br></br>11. E. Riley, the Department's Price Division chief, said food prices could be expected to show a seasonal increase in April.</br></br>About 1.4 million workers across the country will receive automatic pay increases under escalator clauses in their union contracts because of the price index climb, Riley said.</br></br>| One million railroad workers iwill receive a 3-cent hourly raise in May. General Electric employes, numbering 200,000, are due to get a one per cent boost in their basic wage. The other 200,000 workers are in various industries.