asked the Taoiseach if he will give details of the rise in the cost of living since March, 1957, to date in the form of a reply of 30th June, 1959.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rise in Cost of Living.
1.
I propose, with the permission of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, to circulate in the Official Report, a statement showing (a) the national average retail prices of certain items of food in mid-February 1957 (the date nearest to March 1957 for which the Consumer Price Index was computed) and mid-February 1960 (the latest available date) and the difference between them, and (b) the percentage change in prices of all items entering into the Consumer Price Index between the two periods. In the case of items, other than certain food items, no attempt is made to obtain quotations for an identical quality of the different articles in all areas and, therefore, any average prices computed would not be meaningful. The correctness of the relative price changes is ensured by the fact that at each source the identical article is priced at successive enquiries. Price quotations in respect of some items of food are not available from all centres at each enquiry and the figures for the percentage changes in these prices as given in (b), computed in such a way as to eliminate the effect of differences in coverage, may differ slightly from the percentages calculated from (a).
Following is the statement:—
(a) National Average Retail Prices of Food at mid-February 1957 and mid-February 1960 and the difference between them.
|
Article |
Per |
Average price to nearest ¼d. |
Increase (+) or decrease (-) between mid-Feb. 1957 and mid-Feb. 1960 |
||||
|
Mid-Feb. 1957 |
Mid-Feb. 1960 |
||||||
|
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
d. |
|||
|
Beef: |
|||||||
|
Round steak |
lb. |
3 |
2 |
3 |
8½ |
+ |
6½ |
|
Sirloin |
,, |
3 |
5¼ |
4 |
1¾ |
+ |
8½ |
|
Rib |
,, |
2 |
9 |
3 |
1¼ |
+ |
4¼ |
|
Shoulder |
,, |
2 |
5¼ |
2 |
9¼ |
+ |
4 |
|
Neck |
,, |
2 |
3 |
2 |
6½ |
+ |
3½ |
|
Corned brisket |
,, |
1 |
10 |
2 |
0¼ |
+ |
2¼ |
|
Liver |
,, |
2 |
5 |
2 |
6¾ |
+ |
1¾ |
|
Mutton: |
|||||||
|
Leg |
,, |
3 |
1¾ |
3 |
1¾ |
— |
|
|
Loin chops |
,, |
3 |
8 |
3 |
9 |
+ |
1 |
|
Neck |
,, |
2 |
0 |
1 |
11 |
– |
1 |
|
Shoulder |
,, |
2 |
7¼ |
2 |
6¾ |
– |
½ |
|
Fillet |
,, |
3 |
3½ |
3 |
4½ |
+ |
1 |
|
Bacon: |
|||||||
|
Irish, streaky |
,, |
3 |
11 |
4 |
0½ |
+ |
1½ |
|
Irish, shoulder |
,, |
2 |
9½ |
2 |
8 |
– |
1½ |
|
Pigs' heads |
,, |
1 |
1 |
11½ |
– |
1½ |
|
|
Ham, uncooked |
lb. |
4 |
0¼ |
4 |
1½ |
+ |
1¼ |
|
Ham, cooked |
,, |
6 |
8¾ |
6 |
9 |
+ |
¼ |
|
Rashers, streaky |
,, |
4 |
0 |
4 |
1¾ |
+ |
1¾ |
|
Fresh pork, shoulder |
,, |
3 |
5 |
3 |
5½ |
+ |
½ |
|
Pork sausages |
,, |
2 |
9¼ |
2 |
9¾ |
+ |
½ |
|
Boiling Fowl |
,, |
2 |
4¾ |
2 |
2¼ |
– |
2½ |
|
Kippered herring |
doz. |
4 |
4½ |
4 |
4¼ |
– |
¼ |
|
Fresh herring |
lb. |
10¾ |
11¼ |
+ |
½ |
||
|
Fish—Whiting |
,, |
1 |
10½ |
1 |
10 |
– |
½ |
|
Cod steak |
,, |
2 |
11¼ |
3 |
0 |
+ |
¾ |
|
Eggs |
doz. |
2 |
8½ |
3 |
5 |
+ |
8½ |
|
Butter—Irish Creamery |
lb. |
3 |
8¾ |
4 |
3½ |
+ |
6¾ |
|
,, Farmers' |
,, |
3 |
4¾ |
3 |
8½ |
+ |
3¾ |
|
Margarine |
,, |
1 |
7¾ |
1 |
7¾ |
— |
|
|
Cheese |
,, |
2 |
10½ |
2 |
10½ |
— |
|
|
Lard |
,, |
1 |
8 |
1 |
6 |
– |
2 |
|
Fresh milk |
quart |
11¾ |
1 |
0 |
+ |
¼ |
|
|
Bread |
2 lb. loaf |
9 |
1 |
2½ |
+ |
5½ |
|
|
Flour—household |
3½ lbs. |
1 |
0¾* |
1 |
11¼ |
+ |
10½ |
|
Oatmeal |
14 lbs. |
8 |
9 |
8 |
5¾ |
– |
3¼ |
|
Rice |
lb. |
11¼ |
11½ |
+ |
¼ |
||
|
Semolina |
,, |
1 |
0½ |
1 |
0¾ |
+ |
¼ |
|
Potatoes |
14 lbs. |
2 |
0¼ |
1 |
11 |
– |
1¼ |
|
Cabbage |
head |
5½ |
5¼ |
– |
¼ |
||
|
Onions |
lb. |
8½ |
6¾ |
– |
1¾ |
||
|
Carrots |
,, |
6 |
6¼ |
+ |
¼ |
||
|
Dried Peas |
,, |
1 |
3¾ |
1 |
3½ |
– |
¼ |
|
Cooking apples |
,, |
7½ |
8 |
+ |
½ |
||
|
Oranges |
,, |
1 |
6¼ |
1 |
2¼ |
– |
4 |
|
Tomatoes |
,, |
2 |
0¼ |
1 |
11 |
– |
1¼ |
|
Sultanas |
,, |
1 |
10¾ |
1 |
7¾ |
– |
3 |
|
Tinned beans in tomato sauce |
1 lb. tin |
1 |
2¼ |
1 |
1 |
– |
1¼ |
|
Tea—best |
lb. |
8 |
3 |
7 |
5 |
– |
10 |
|
as used by wage-earning classes |
,, |
7 |
1¼ |
6 |
1¾ |
– |
11½ |
|
Coffee |
,, |
6 |
4¾ |
6 |
1¼ |
– |
3½ |
|
Cornflour |
½ lb. pkt. |
11¾ |
11½ |
– |
¼ |
||
|
Custard powder |
,, |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
— |
|
|
Sugar |
lb. |
7 |
7½ |
+ |
½ |
||
|
Jam—Strawberry |
,, |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
+ |
1 |
|
Mixed Fruit |
,, |
1 |
4¼ |
1 |
4¾ |
+ |
½ |
|
Marmalade |
,, |
1 |
8¼ |
1 |
9 |
+ |
¾ |
|
Jellies |
pkt. |
9¼ |
9¼ |
— |
* One fourth of the price of a stone of flour.
(b) Percentage change in prices of items entering into the Consumer Price Index between February, 1957 and February, 1960.
|
Commodity |
Percentage increase (+) or decrease (-) |
|
|
Food:— |
||
|
Beef |
+ |
12.41 |
|
Mutton |
+ |
1.49 |
|
Bacon and Pigs' heads |
+ |
1.23 |
|
Ham, uncooked |
+ |
2.86 |
|
,,cooked |
+ |
0.27 |
|
Rashers, streaky |
+ |
3.82 |
|
Fresh pork, shoulder |
+ |
1.93 |
|
Pork sausages |
+ |
2.00 |
|
Boiling Fowl |
– |
9.65 |
|
Kippered herring |
+ |
0.16 |
|
Fresh herring |
– |
5.36 |
|
Whiting |
+ |
0.32 |
|
Cod steak |
+ |
3.28 |
|
Tinned salmon |
+ |
8.37 |
|
Eggs, 1st grade, hen |
+ |
26.03 |
|
Butter, Irish creamery |
+ |
14.81 |
|
,, farmers' |
+ |
9.71 |
|
Margarine |
+ |
0.25 |
|
Cheese |
+ |
0.20 |
|
Lard |
– |
9.82 |
|
Fresh milk |
+ |
1.35 |
|
Condensed milk |
+ |
1.19 |
|
Bread |
+ |
60.50 |
|
Household flour |
+ |
79.37 |
|
Cake |
+ |
1.60 |
|
Oatmeal |
– |
3.73 |
|
Breakfast cereals |
+ |
1.12 |
|
Rice |
– |
0.38 |
|
Semolina |
– |
2.11 |
|
Potatoes |
– |
5.40 |
|
Cabbage |
– |
3.70 |
|
Onions |
– |
19.36 |
|
Carrots |
+ |
5.09 |
|
Dried peas |
– |
1.27 |
|
Cooking apples |
+ |
7.38 |
|
Oranges |
– |
22.01 |
|
Tomatoes |
– |
5.00 |
|
Sultanas |
– |
13.26 |
|
Tinned pears |
– |
6.28 |
|
Tinned beans in tomato sauce |
– |
7.89 |
|
Tea, best quality |
– |
11.69 |
|
Tea, as used by wage-earning classes |
– |
12.74 |
|
Coffee |
– |
4.70 |
|
Cocoa |
+ |
12.73 |
|
Cornflour |
+ |
0.08 |
|
Custard powder |
– |
0.67 |
|
Sugar—white granulated |
+ |
7.43 |
|
Salt, table |
– |
0.42 |
|
Mustard |
+ |
5.56 |
|
Jam—strawberry |
+ |
3.66 |
|
,, —mixed fruit |
+ |
5.05 |
|
,, —marmalade |
+ |
3.72 |
|
Sauce |
+ |
2.35 |
|
Boiled sweets |
+ |
0.20 |
|
Bar of chocolate |
+ |
1.27 |
|
Biscuits |
+ |
10.24 |
|
Jellies |
+ |
0.98 |
|
Soft drinks |
– |
0.25 |
|
Other groceries |
+ |
11.84 |
|
Drink and Tobacco:— |
||
|
Beer and ale |
+ |
7.65 |
|
Stout—bottled |
+ |
12.51 |
|
,, —draught |
+ |
9.83 |
|
Whiskey (Irish) |
+ |
7.75 |
|
Cigarettes |
+ |
8.31 |
|
Tobacco |
+ |
9.76 |
|
Clothing:— |
||
|
Men's:— |
||
|
Suit—readymade |
+ |
2.72 |
|
,, —tailormade |
+ |
0.95 |
|
Overcoat—readymade |
+ |
1.11 |
|
Cotton raincoat, rubber-proof |
+ |
2.92 |
|
Wool gaberdine raincoat |
+ |
0.49 |
|
Sports coat |
+ |
1.85 |
|
Flannel trousers |
+ |
0.57 |
|
Hat |
+ |
2.76 |
|
Overalls |
+ |
2.60 |
|
Pullover (wool, sleeveless) |
+ |
1.93 |
|
Cotton singlet |
+ |
2.07 |
|
Woollen vest (short sleeves) |
+ |
2.00 |
|
Underpants |
+ |
3.42 |
|
Shirt (collar attached) |
+ |
1.71 |
|
,,(tunic 2 collars) |
+ |
1.88 |
|
Pyjamas |
+ |
0.60 |
|
Socks |
+ |
1.83 |
|
Boys' (Aged about 12 years):— |
||
|
Suit |
+ |
1.62 |
|
Overcoat |
+ |
2.26 |
|
Raincoat |
+ |
0.14 |
|
Woollen jersey (long sleeves) |
+ |
4.29 |
|
Shirt |
+ |
1.85 |
|
Woollen stockings |
+ |
1.21 |
|
Women's:— |
||
|
Light coat |
+ |
0.29 |
|
Heavy coat |
– |
0.29 |
|
Costume |
– |
0.07 |
|
Blouse |
– |
0.41 |
|
Skirt |
+ |
0.93 |
|
Woollen dress |
+ |
0.37 |
|
Silk or art silk dress |
– |
1.08 |
|
Cotton dress |
+ |
1.53 |
|
Hat |
+ |
0.53 |
|
Gloves |
+ |
1.27 |
|
Cardigan |
+ |
1.30 |
|
Slip |
+ |
1.60 |
|
Brassiere |
+ |
1.39 |
|
Corset |
+ |
2.06 |
|
Knickers |
+ |
0.27 |
|
Vest |
– |
0.17 |
|
Nightdress |
+ |
0.85 |
|
Stockings—nylon—fully fashioned |
– |
1.81 |
|
Stockings—lisle |
– |
4.12 |
|
Girls' (Aged about 12 years):— |
||
|
Overcoat |
+ |
0.89 |
|
Cotton frock |
+ |
3.21 |
|
Woollen frock |
+ |
0.29 |
|
Stockings |
0.00 |
|
|
Other Clothing Items:— |
||
|
Cotton piece goods |
+ |
0.79 |
|
Woollen piece goods |
– |
2.81 |
|
Knitting wool |
– |
3.94 |
|
Footwear:— |
||
|
Men's boots |
+ |
9.05 |
|
,, shoes (leather sole) |
+ |
9.87 |
|
Boys' boots (for boy of 12) |
+ |
7.94 |
|
Boys' shoes (for boy of 12) |
+ |
9.46 |
|
Wellington boots (for boy of 12) |
+ |
5.57 |
|
Women's shoes |
+ |
6.74 |
|
Girls' shoes (for girl of 12) |
+ |
10.08 |
|
Child's sandals |
+ |
4.70 |
|
Men's rubber boots |
+ |
0.62 |
|
Other Clothing |
+ |
2.65 |
|
Fuel and Light:— |
||
|
Candles |
+ |
9.97 |
|
Paraffin |
– |
2.73 |
|
Coal |
– |
21.63 |
|
Gas |
– |
2.53 |
|
Turf |
||
|
(other than briquettes) |
+ |
3.28 |
|
Firewood blocks |
+ |
1.86 |
|
Electricity |
0.00 |
|
|
Durable Household Goods:— |
||
|
Wire mattress |
+ |
5.34 |
|
Spring interior mattress |
+ |
1.69 |
|
Fibre mattress |
+ |
2.74 |
|
Kitchen chair |
+ |
2.49 |
|
Kitchen table, white deal |
+ |
1.86 |
|
Three-piece suite, up-holstered |
+ |
1.54 |
|
Bedroom suite |
+ |
1.44 |
|
Wireless receiving set |
+ |
0.08 |
|
Carpet |
– |
0.06 |
|
Linoleum |
+ |
6.82 |
|
Doormat |
+ |
0.13 |
|
Blankets, woollen |
+ |
0.40 |
|
Sheets |
– |
0.38 |
|
Curtain material |
– |
0.36 |
|
Hand towel (terry) |
+ |
2.30 |
|
Dishcloth |
+ |
3.26 |
|
Table knives |
+ |
0.71 |
|
Forks |
+ |
5.99 |
|
Cup and saucer, un-decorated whitewear |
+ |
12.26 |
|
Tumbler |
– |
8.01 |
|
Saucepan, aluminium |
+ |
6.04 |
|
Galvanised bucket |
+ |
4.85 |
|
Sweeping brush |
+ |
1.62 |
|
Scrubbing brush |
+ |
0.74 |
|
Electric iron |
– |
0.11 |
|
Electric lamp bulb, 60 watt |
+ |
16.49 |
|
Non-electrical appliances |
– |
5.57 |
|
Motor cars and motor cycles |
+ |
3.70 |
|
Other Goods and Services:— |
||
|
Soap—household |
+ |
0.81 |
|
,, —toilet |
+ |
5.45 |
|
,, —powder |
+ |
2.99 |
|
Scouring powder |
+ |
8.39 |
|
Boot polish |
+ |
1.49 |
|
Floor polish |
+ |
2.01 |
|
Toothpaste |
+ |
4.58 |
|
Toilet paper |
0.00 |
|
|
Razor blades |
+ |
1.65 |
|
Face powder |
+ |
1.22 |
|
Lipstick |
+ |
1.11 |
|
Aspirin |
0.00 |
|
|
Quinine |
+ |
0.79 |
|
Matches |
+ |
1.01 |
|
Writing pad |
+ |
0.74 |
|
Packet of envelopes |
+ |
1.47 |
|
Bicycle |
+ |
6.77 |
|
Cycle tyre |
+ |
2.93 |
|
Papers and magazines |
+ |
1.99 |
|
Petrol and oil |
+ |
7.44 |
|
Admission to cinema |
+ |
5.97 |
|
Admission to football match |
+ |
3.26 |
|
Admission to dance |
+ |
1.25 |
|
Shoe repairs, men's sole and heel, leather |
+ |
6.33 |
|
Men's haircut |
+ |
14.56 |
|
Women's trim, shampoo and set |
+ |
6.07 |
|
Dry cleaning of men's 3 piece suit |
– |
1.37 |
|
Dry cleaning of women's costume |
– |
0.84 |
|
Travel—train |
+ |
12.88 |
|
,, —bus |
+ |
14.19 |
|
,, —other travelling |
+ |
8.95 |
|
Post |
+ |
0.36 |
|
Phone |
– |
3.24 |
|
Education |
+ |
17.06 |
|
Domestic service |
+ |
14.99 |
|
Hotel expenses |
+ |
11.51 |
|
Housing:— |
||
|
Rent and Rates of rented dwellings |
+ |
9.17 |
|
Rates of owner-occupied dwellings |
+ |
3.65 |
|
Repairs and decoration of all dwellings |
– |
1.58 |