asked the Taoiseach if he will state the value of the pound sterling in terms of retail prices, taking mid-August, 1938, as the base period, on the following dates (or the nearest convenient dates):— mid-August, 1949; mid-August, 1950; mid-August, 1951; mid-August, 1952; and January, 1953.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Value of Pound Sterling.
It is estimated that the sums which in mid-August, 1938, would have purchased the same quanta of essential goods (including rent) at retail as £1 at each of the dates specified were as follows:— mid-August, 1949, 10s. 10d.; mid-August, 1950, 10s. 10d.; mid-August, 1951, 9s. 9d.; mid-August, 1952, 8s. 11d. The data needed to make the computation for January, 1953, are not available, and the latest corresponding figure is that of 8s. 10d. relating to mid-November, 1952.