Guide - G.C. - Shopping
COST OF LIVING
(as at 1st January, 1953)
The prices of most commodities are controlled. The effectiveness of price control in Northern Rhodesia is exemplified by the fact that the rise in cost of living since 1949 has been relatively lower than in adjacent territories. For comparative purposes the cost-of-living index figure for Northern Rhodesia is lower than that for the United Kingdom. Below is a list of the more essential goods at their current prices. Any changes are likely to be upward:
Groceries, Provisions, etc.
Flour, white ... 2s. 9d. per 5 lb. bag
Sugar, white ... 8 1/2d. per lb.
Tea ... 4s. to 7s. per lb.
Milk, fresh ... ... 7d. per pint
Potatoes ... ... 4 1/2d. per lb.
Green vegetables ... from 4d. to 1s. per lb.
Bacon ... ... 3s. 8d. per lb.
Brown bread ... 1s. per 2 lb. loaf
White bread ... 1s. 2d. per 2 lb. loaf
Eggs ... ... 3s. 6d. to 4s. 6d. per dozen
Butter ... ... 4s. 3d. per lb.
Margarine ... 2s. 3d. per lb.
Beef ... 1s. 8d. per lb.
Pork ... 2s. 8d. per lb.
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Cheese, Cheddar ... ... 3s. 4d. per lb.
Soap, household ... ... 1s. 9d. per 2 lb. bar
Soap, toilet ... ... 8d. to 2s. per tablet
Soap flakes ... ... 1s. per packet
Soap powder ... ... 10d. per packet
Toothpaste ... ... 2s. to 2s. 6d. per tube
Beer ... ... ... 1s. 1d. per pint bottle
Whisky ...... ... ... 21s. per bottle
Brandy, local ... ... 13s. per bottle
Brandy, imported ... ... 37s. 6d. per bottle
Gin, local... ... ... 13s. per bottle
Gin, imported, English ... ... 18s. per bottle
Cigarettes, Rhodesian ... 2s. to 2s. 3d. per 50
Cigarettes, English ... ... 4s. 3d. per tin of 50
Face Powders
Pond's ... ... ... 4s. per large box
Coty... ... ... ... 4s. 9d. per large box
Max Factor ... ... 7s. 6d. per large box
Yardley's ...... ... ... 7s. 6d. per large box
Other Chemists' Lines
Lipsticks ...... ... ... 1s. 3d. to 15s. 6d.
Aspirin tablets ... ... from 2s. 6d. per 100
Eno's Fruit Salts ... ... 6s. per large bottle
Cow and Gate Food ... 12s. 6d. per 2 lb. tin
Lactogen ... ... ... 21s. 9d. per 5 lb. tin
Men's Clothing
Lounge suits ... ... £8 10s. to £25
Sports coats ... ... £4 to £12
Flannel trousers ... ... ... £3 10s. to £7.
Hats ... ... ... £1 7s. 6d. to £4 10s.
Socks, wool ... ... 4s. 9d. to 11s.
Ties ... ... ... 2s. 9d. to 17s. 6d.
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Pyjamas ... ... ... £1 12s. 6d. to £3 6s.
Shirts ... ... ... £1 12s. 6d. to £3 12s. 6d,
Shorts ... ... ... 17s. 6d. to £1 17s. 6d.
Shoes ... ... ... £1 7s. 6d. to £6.
Women's Clothing
Cotton frocks ... ... from £2 2s.
Silk frocks ... ... from £5 10s.
Underwear, celanese, per set from £3 11s.
Underwear, nylon, per set ... from £4 4s.
Shoes ... ... ... from £2 10s.
Stockings, nylon ... ... from 9s. 6d. per pair
Hats ... ... ... from £2 15s.
Tennis frocks ... ... from £3
Tennis shorts ... ... from £1 12s. 6d.
Tennis shirts ... ... from £1 12s. 6d.
Tennis shoes ... ... from £1 7s.
Costume (suit) ... ... from £10 10s.
Cardigans ... ... from £2 2s.
Furniture, etc.
Dining-room suite ... ... £40 upwards
Bedroom suite ... ... £50 upwards
Lounge suite ... ... £25 upwards
Carpet 12 ft. by 9 ft. ... £19 upwards
Curtaining, per yd. ... ... from 6s. 6d. to 27s. 6d.
Crockery
Tea set ... ... ... .£1 2s. 6d. to £7.
Dinner service ... ... £5 to £22
Coffee service ... ... £1 5s. to £8 8s.
Canteen of cutlery ... ... from £5
Bed Linen
Blankets, all wool ... ... from £2 5s.
Sheets ... ... ... from £1 15s. per pair
A typical Store in Northern Rhodesia
