asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of copper the price used as a base for statistical data compiled by the Central Statistics Office in February, 1955, 1956, and 1957, and at the latest date available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Copper Prices.
A number of concerns furnish to the Central Statistics Office confidential returns of the prices they charge for certain copper products (such as rods, pipes, plates, wire and boilers) included in the official monthly series of wholesale price index numbers. In view, however, of the undertakings given to preserve the confidential nature of these data it is not possible to reveal particulars of individual prices. Most of the items for which quotations are received are imported products in respect of which average prices (unit values) can readily be derived from the official trade statistics. I therefore propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate in the Official Report a statement showing the average price or unit value of certain copper products imported or exported in February, 1955, 1956 and 1957 and December, 1957, the latest month for which statistics are available.
Following is the statement:
Average prices* (unit values) of certain copper imports and exports
|
Description |
1955 February |
1956 February |
1957 February |
1957 December |
|
Average Price per cwt. |
||||
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
IMPORTS: |
||||
|
Copper: |
||||
|
Unwrought, refined and unrefined (cast in pigs, pellets, ingots, anodes, etc.) |
15.0 |
10.1 |
† |
— |
|
Wrought: |
||||
|
Bars and rods |
16.2 |
24.0 |
18.2 |
10.1 |
|
Tubes and pipes |
23.1 |
31.5 |
24.7 |
21.6 |
|
Plates, sheets and strips |
18.0 |
24.2 |
18.0 |
14.4 |
|
Wire (single strand) |
19.1 |
25.8 |
21.2 |
14.7 |
|
Copper hollows |
17.6 |
22.7 |
16.7 |
12.7 |
|
Other |
16.7 |
25.5 |
19.3 |
15.9 |
|
DOMESTIC EXPORTS: |
||||
|
Scrap copper |
13.3 |
17.0 |
14.2 |
8.6 |
*C.i.f. price for imports and f.o.b. price for domestic exports.
†Quantity insignificant.