Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 May 1955

Vol. 151 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dearer Commodities.

Mrs. O'Carroll

asked the Taoiseach if he will give a list of commodities covered by the consumer price index number, which increased in price between mid-May, 1951, and mid-May, 1954, indicating the price of each such commodity at those dates.

Mr. O'Donovan

I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate in the Official Report two statements giving the desired information. The items shown on these statements are all those covered by the consumer price index for which valid comparisons in retail prices can be made between the dates specified.

Table A shows in the case of food items the average prices in mid-May, 1951, and mid-May, 1954.

Table B shows for items other than food the percentage changes in the prices at mid-May, 1954, compared with mid-May, 1951.

In the case of items other than food the average prices have in general little significance as they are based on the prices of articles (e.g., men's suits) of often widely varying quality, though, of course, the same qualities are priced at successive inquiries.

Following is the statement:—

TABLE A.—Average retail prices of certain articles of food at mid-May, 1951, and mid-May, 1954.

		Average price
Commodity	Unit	Mid-May 1951	Mid-May 1954
		s.	d.	s.	d.
Beef—
Sirloin	lb.	2	7½	3	3½
Shoulder	,,	1	9	2	4¾
Neck	,,	1	6½	2	2
Corned Brisket	,,	1	5¾	1	11½
Liver	,,	1	9	2	3
Leg	,,	2	8¾	3	2¼
Mutton—neck	,,	1	10¾	2	2¼
Bacon—
Irish streaky	,,	3	7½	3	11¾
Irish shoulder	,,	2	2	2	6
Pigs' heads	,,	1	4½	1	1½
Ham, uncooked	,,	3	10	3	11½
Fresh pork, shoulder	,,	2	3½	3	4¼
Pork sausages	,,	2	7	2	7¾
Kippered herring	doz.	4	6¼	4	4¼
Fresh herring	lb.		9		9¾
Cod steak	,,	2	2¾	2	7¼
Eggs, 1st grade, hen	doz.	3	3	2	6¾
Butter, creamery	lb.	2	10	4	2
Margarine	,,	2	0	1	7
Cheese	,,	2	1¾	2	9¾
Lard	,,	1	2	1	7½
Fresh milk	quart		7¾		9¾
Condensed milk—Irish full cream	lb.	1	2¼	1	3¼
Bread	2 lb. loaf		6½		9
Household flour	14 lb.	2	10¼	4	2½
Oatmeal (loose)—
Flake	,,	9	1½	9	0½
Pinhead	,,	8	4	7	11
Potatoes	,,	1	11	2	1
Cabbage	head		6¼		4¾
Onions	lb.		6		6¾
Dried peas	,,	1	0¾	1	3¾
Cooking apples	,,		8¾		9
Oranges	,,		10¼		11½
Tomatoes	,,	1	4	1	5¼
Tea—
Best quality	lb.	2	8	5	11¾
As used by wage-earning classes	,,	2	8	4	10
Coffee	,,	4	11¾	6	0½
Sugar, white granulated	,,		4		7
Jam—Strawberry	,,	1	9	1	9
Boiled sweets	,,	2	4¾	2	5¾
Bar of chocolate	each		11½		11¾

TABLE B.—Percentage changes in retail prices of certain commodities other than food at mid-May, 1951, and mid-May, 1954.

Commodity	Unit	Percentage increase (+) or decrease (-) at Mid-May, 1954 compared with mid-May, 1951
MEN'S CLOTHING:
Suit, ready made	each	+4
Suit, ready made	each	+4
Overcoat, ready made	each	+10
Sports coat	,,	(a)
Flannel trousers	pair	+4
Hat	each	+3
Woollen vest (short sleeves)	,,	–6
Underpants	pair	–6
Pyjamas	,,	+1
Socks	,,	(a)
BOYS' CLOTHING:
Suit	each	+1
Overcoat	,,	+2
WOMEN'S CLOTHING:
Light coat	,,	+3
Heavy coat	,,	+1
Costume	,,	+3
Blouse	,,	–4
Skirt	,,	+4
Woollen dress	,,	–4
Silk or art silk dress	,,	–7
Hat	,,	–1
Cardigan	,,	(a)
Slip	,,	–1
Brassiere	,,	–1
Corset	,,	+3
Knickers	pair	–3
GIRLS' CLOTHING:
Overcoat	each	+7
Stockings	pair	–2
Cotton piece goods	yard	–12
Woollen piece goods	,,	(a)
Knitting wool	oz.	–18
Men's boots	pair	+8
Boys' boots	,,	+9
Women's shoes	,,	+7
Girls' shoes	,,	+8
Candles	lb.	+3
Paraffin oil	gall.	+8
Coal	cwt.	–5
Gas	1,000 cu.ft.	+11
Firewood blocks	ton	+9
Household soap	lb.	–5

(a) No appreciable change in price.