asked the Taoiseach if he will indicate (a) the present index figure for the cost of living; (b) the gross increase as a result of withdrawals of subsidy and (c) the increase in prices of domestic commodities and appliances excluded from the cost of living index figure.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Living.
(a) The Interim Cost of Living Index (Essential Items) to base August, 1947 = 100, was 122 in mid-August, 1952. The mid-November figure is not yet available; (b) the increases in the retail prices of bread, household flour, butter, tea and sugar between mid-May and mid-August, 1952, were responsible for a gross rise of 7.1 points in the index.
(c) The Interim Cost of Living Index (Essential Items) covers the groups food, clothing, fuel and light, rent. If the Deputy will specify (i) the range of domestic commodities and appliances which he has in mind and which are excluded from the index, (ii) the period over which he desires the change in prices of these items to be measured, I will endeavour to procure for him the information requested.