First six months, 1922 1923 Millions. 585 623 -that is, an average increase, with no notable change. The pledges taken by the pawnshops, however, continued to increase : January, 1921 '' 1922 ,, 1923 Sep tern ber, 1923 75, 2 35 152,306 179;568 20 4,437 5. Prices, bankruptcies, share capital. In 1923, the prices of commodities increased on the average. It is not desired to hold the Fascist party responsible for this; but the fact may serve to disillusion those who threw all the blame for the rising prices of former years upon the workers. Wholesale prices (Bachi index) averaged 696 in 1922 and 726 in 1923. Owing to the decrees removing restrictions upon rents, the rents of dwellings, an important part of the cost of living, increased on the average 40 to 50 per cent., and will continue to increase, while reduced consumption may perhaps bring reductions of prices. There has been a great increase in the average monthly number of bankruptcies: Monthly average 1920 . . . 52 1921 149 1922 297 1923 (nine months' average) 443 The share capital investments have increased : Monthly average 1920 1921 Million lire 423 288 1922 232 1923 (nine months' average) 383 6 Biblioteca Gino Bianco
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