asked the Taoiseach what was the percentage real increase in national income, allowing for variations caused by favourable trading import and export prices; and whether it is possible to estimate the fall in the cost-of-living index which would have resulted had the favourable terms of trade, in particular in regard to import prices, been passed on to the consumer in 1959-60.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Income: Cost of Living Index.
4.
The Deputy has not indicated the period of time to which the first part of his question is intended to refer. Data for 1959 are not yet available.
As regards the second part of the question, it is not possible to relate changes in the terms of external trade directly to changes in the consumer price index. It should be noted, however, that in the year 1959 it is provisionally estimated that import prices were about 1 per cent. lower than in 1958, while the average of the 4 quarterly consumer price index numbers was the same in both years.