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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 Nov 1961

Vol. 192 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Living Increase.

22.

asked the Taoiseach the details of the increase in the cost of living since March 1957 in the form of the reply of 16th March, 1960.

I propose, with the permission of the Ceann 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 and mid-August, 1961 (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). In comparing prices at mid-February and mid-August, it must be remembered that prices of certain food items fluctuate seasonally and that allowance must be made for this factor.

Following is the statement:—

(a) National Average Retail Prices of Food at mid-February, 1957 and mid-August, 1961 and the difference between them.

Article

Per

Average price to nearest ¼d.

Increase (+) or decrease (-) between mid-February, 1957 and mid-August, 1961

Mid-Feb., 1957

Mid-Aug., 1961

s.

d.

s.

d.

d.

Beef—

Round steak

lb.

3

2

3

+

Sirloin

,,

3

4

+

Rib

,,

2

9

3

0

+

3

Shoulder

,,

2

2

+

Neck

,,

2

3

2

+

Corned brisket

,,

1

10

1

10¾

+

¾

Liver

,,

2

5

2

+

Mutton—

Leg

,,

3

3

+

Loin chops

,,

3

8

3

10½

+

Neck

,,

2

0

1

10

-

2

Shoulder

,,

2

2

-

¾

Fillet

,,

3

3

+

Bacon—

Irish, streaky

,,

3

11

4

1

+

2

Irish, shoulder

,,

2

2

-

Pigs' heads

,,

1

1

-

Ham, uncooked

,,

4

4

3

+

Ham, cooked

,,

6

7

5

+

Rashers, streaky

,,

4

0

4

+

Fresh pork, shoulder

,,

3

5

3

7

+

2

Pork sausages

,,

2

2

10½

+

Boiling Fowl

,,

2

2

-

Kippered herring

doz.

4

4

-

¾

Fresh herring

lb.

10¾

10¾

No change

Fish—Whiting

,,

1

10½

1

11¾

+

Cod steak

,,

2

11¼

3

+

Eggs

doz.

2

4

+

19¾

Butter—Irish Creamery

lb.

3

4

+

,,Farmers'

,,

3

3

+

5

Margarine

,,

1

1

No change

Cheese

,,

2

10½

3

+

4

Lard

,,

1

8

1

5

-

3

Fresh milk

quart

11¾

11¾

No change

Bread

2 lb. loaf

9

1

+

Flour—household

3½ lbs.

1

0¾*

2

+

11¾

Oatmeal

14 lbs.

8

9

8

-

Rice

lb.

11¼

11¼

No change

Semolina

,,

1

1

+

¼

Potatoes

14 lbs.

2

3

+

17½

Cabbage

head

+

¾

Onions

lb.

-

¼

Carrots

,,

6

+

Dried Peas

,,

1

1

-

½

Cooking apples

,,

10¼

+

Oranges

,,

1

1

-

Tomatoes

,,

2

1

7

-

Sultanas

,,

1

10¾

1

-

Tinned beans in tomato sauce

1 lb. tin

1

1

-

Tea—bestas used by wage-earning classes

lb.,,

87

3 1¼

76

5½2¼

-

9½11

Coffee

6

6

-

3

Cornflour

½ lb. pkt.

11¾

11¾

No change

Custard powder

,,

1

0

11¾

-

¼

Sugar

lb.

7

+

½

Jam—Strawberry

,,

2

0

2

1

+

1

Mixed fruit

,,

1

1

5

+

¾

Marmalade

,,

1

1

+

1

Jellies

pkt.

+

¼

*One fourth of the price of a stone of flour.

(b) Percentage change in prices of items entering into the Consumer Price Index between mid-February, 1957 and mid-August, 1961.

Commodity

Percentage increase (+) or decrease (-)

FOOD:

Beef

+

9.60

Mutton

+

3.84

Bacon and pigs' heads

+

1.79

Ham, uncooked

+

6.08

,, cooked

+

10.18

Rashers, streaky

+

4.42

Fresh pork, shoulder

+

5.22

Pork sausages

+

3.08

Boiling fowl

-

5.89

Kippered herring

+

0.85

Fresh herring

-

5.49

Whiting

+

6.08

Cod steak

+

14.68

Tinned salmon

+

17.76

Eggs, 1st grade, hen

+

60.36

Butter, Irish creamery

+

21.87

,,farmers'

+

13.00

Margarine

+

0.86

Cheese

+

12.02

Lard

-

13.45

Fresh milk

-

0.68

Condensed milk

+

4.38

Bread

+

69.08

Household flour

+

89.78

Cake

+

1.97

Oatmeal

-

2.87

Breakfast cereals

+

2.03

Rice

-

1.08

Semolina

-

0.40

Potatoes

+

72.22

Cabbage

+

11.60

Onions

-

1.55

Carrots

+

44.59

Dried peas

-

2.61

Cooking apples

+

40.20

Oranges

-

26.01

Tomatoes

-

21.55

Sultanas

-

10.31

Tinned pears

-

11.19

Tinned beans in tomato sauce

-

8.88

Tea, best quality

-

11.61

Tea, as used by wage-earning classes

-

12.90

Coffee

-

4.68

Cocoa

+

12.73

Cornflour

+

0.42

Custard powder

-

1.42

Sugar—white granulated

+

7.43

Salt, table

-

0.84

Mustard

+

10.53

Jam—strawberry

+

3.70

,,—mixed fruit

+

6.30

,,—marmalade

+

5.00

Sauce

+

3.35

Boiled sweets

+

0.07

Bar of chocolate

+

1.27

Biscuits

+

9.63

Jellies

+

3.25

Soft drinks

-

0.12

Other groceries

+

17.81

DRINK AND TOBACCO:

Beer and ale

+

8.32

Stout—bottled

+

12.84

,,—draught

+

13.24

Whiskey (Irish)

+

17.75

Cigarettes

+

17.31

Tobacco

+

20.05

CLOTHING:

MEN'S:

Suit—readymade

+

6.60

,,—tailormade

+

4.14

Overcoat—readymade

+

3.38

Cotton raincoat, rubber-proofed

+

6.14

Wool gaberdine raincoat

+

1.53

Sportscoat

+

5.38

Flannel trousers

+

4.06

Hat

+

5.09

Overalls

+

3.86

Pullover (wool, sleeve-less)

+

3.75

Cotton singlet

+

4.40

Woollen vest (short sleeves)

+

2.99

Underpants

+

5.24

Shirt (collar attached)

+

2.07

,, (tunic 2 collars)

+

2.14

Pyjamas

+

0.67

Socks

+

2.16

BOYS' (AGED ABOUT 12 YEARS):

Suit

+

5.54

Overcoat

+

4.19

Raincoat

+

1.27

Woollen jersey (long sleeves)

+

6.18

Shirt

+

2.29

Woollen stockings

+

2.43

WOMEN'S:

Light coat

+

1.26

Heavy coat

+

0.23

Costume

+

0.57

Blouse

+

0.96

Skirt

+

2.22

Woollen dress

+

0.62

Silk or art silk dress

-

0.80

Cotton dress

+

2.58

Hat

+

1.01

Gloves

+

1.04

Cardigan

+

1.38

Slip

+

2.19

Brassiere

+

5.22

Corset

+

2.79

Knickers

+

0.56

Vest

+

1.02

Nightdress

+

1.96

Stockings—nylon—fully fashioned

-

2.24

Stockings—lisle

-

4.12

GIRLS' (AGED ABOUT 12 YEARS):

Overcoat

+

1.27

Cotton frock

+

4.97

Woollen frock

-

1.42

Stockings

+

0.39

OTHER CLOTHING ITEMS:

Cotton piece goods

+

4.75

Woollen piece goods

-

2.70

Knitting wool

-

2.37

FOOTWEAR:

Men's boots

+

10.82

,, Shoes (leathersole)

+

10.80

Boys' boots (for boy of 12)

+

9.50

Boys' shoes (for boy of 12)

+

10.41

Wellington boots (for boy of 12)

+

8.32

Women's shoes

+

7.55

Girls' shoes (for girl of 12)

+

10.98

Child's sandals

+

6.17

Men's rubber boots

+

4.30

OTHER CLOTHING

+

4.13

FUEL AND LIGHT:

Candles

+

12.03

Paraffin

-

5.14

Coal

-

13.14

Gas

-

1.18

Turf (other than briquettes)

+

2.43

Firewood blocks

+

1.39

Electricity

+

5.00

DURABLE HOUSEHOLD GOODS:

Wire mattress

+

7.26

Spring interior mattress

+

2.31

Fibre mattress

+

5.03

Kitchen chair

+

4.74

Kitchen table, white deal

+

2.90

Three-piece suite, up-holstered

+

2.23

Bedroom suite

+

1.58

Wireless receiving set

+

0.30

Carpet

+

0.10

Linoleum

+

10.76

Doormat

+

0.27

Blankets, woollen

+

1.34

Sheets

-

0.18

Curtain material

-

0.36

Hand towel (terry)

+

2.52

Dishcloth

+

3.26

Table knives

+

1.59

Forks

+

6.89

Cup and saucer, undecorated whiteware

+

14.92

Tumbler

-

8.01

Saucepan, aluminium

+

7.07

Galvanised bucket

+

4.85

Sweeping brush

+

2.08

Scrubbing brush

+

2.23

Electric iron

+

0.21

Electric lamp bulb, 60 watt

+

19.31

Non-electrical appliances

+

0.54

Motor cars and motor cycles

+

4.13

OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES:

Soap—household

+

0.81

,,—toilet

+

5.45

,,—powder

+

2.99

Scouring powder

+

9.32

Boot polish

+

11.94

Floor polish

+

2.01

Toothpaste

+

5.23

Toilet paper

+

0.96

Razor blades

-

1.12

Face powder

+

0.31

Lipstick

+

1.38

Aspirin

+

0.79

Quinine

+

2.36

Matches

+

1.01

Writing pad

+

1.50

Packet of envelopes

+

1.47

Bicycle

+

8.05

Cycle tyre

+

4.43

Papers and magazines

+

16.09

Petrol and oil

+

5.17

Admission to cinema

+

7.99

,, to football match

+

7.26

,, to dance

+

2.01

Shoe repairs, men's sole and heel, leather

+

8.20

Men's haircut

+

21.36

Women's trim, shampoo and set

+

10.84

Dry cleaning of men's 3 piece suit

-

2.18

Dry cleaning of women's costume

-

1.26

Travel—train

+

12.88

,,—bus

+

14.19

,,—other travelling

+

15.38

Post

+

3.77

Phone

-

3.24

Education

+

23.52

Domestic service

+

22.12

Hotel expenses

+

17.66

HOUSING:

Rent and Rates of rented dwellings

+

13.31

Rates of owner-occupied dwellings

+

9.44

Repairs and decoration of all dwellings

+

1.24

Since he is speaking of an increase in the cost of living, would the Parliamentary Secretary enlighten us in regard to all the goods that are less in quantity and lower in quality? That is a "sleveen" way of putting up the cost of living.

In so far as possible, these figures relate to goods of the same quality.

It is a sleveen way of increasing the cost of living—having to purchase things more often.

Like reducing the size of the loaf, for example.

That does not affect the cost of living figure because, as the Taoiseach well knows, bread is sold by weight.

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