asked the Taoiseach to what extent the cost of living has increased since 1st October, 1963; if he will state the prices of the following commodities on the 1st October 1963 and their prices on 1st January 1964: (1) bread per loaf, (2) flour per stone, (3) sugar per lb., (4) butter per lb., (5) bacon per lb., (6) meat per lb., (7) coal per cwt., (8) briquettes per bale, (9) milk per pint, (10) cigarettes per packet of twenty, (11) tobacco per ounce, (12) whiskey per glass, (13) brandy per glass, (14) stout per bottle, (15) margarine per lb. and (16) petrol per gallon; and if he will give these increases as payable by the consumer or purchaser.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Living Increase.
10.
The Consumer Price Index is calculated at four quarterly intervals each year, mid-February, mid-May, mid-August and mid-November. The most recent data available relate to mid-November, 1963. The index (base mid-August, 1947 = 100) rose from 159 at mid-August, 1963, to 164 at mid-November, 1963, or by 3.1 per cent.
The only data on retail prices available to the Central Statistics Office are those obtained for the Consumer Price inquiries and with your permission, Sir, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving (a) the national average retail prices of the food items specified at mid-August and mid-November, 1963, and (b) the percentage change between the dates in question in the other items requested, so far as they are available. In the case of items, other than certain food items, no attempt is made to obtain quotations for the 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 inquiries. Quotations for briquettes and brandy are not obtained at the quarterly inquiries.
Following is the statement:
NATIONAL Average Retail Prices of certain commodities at mid-August, 1963 and mid-November, 1963, and the actual change in each case.
|
Commodity |
Unit |
Average Price to nearest ¼d. |
Increase (+) or decrease (-) between mid-August, 1963 and mid-November, 1963 |
|||
|
Mid-August, 1963 |
Mid-November 1963 |
|||||
|
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
d. |
||
|
Bread |
2 lb. loaf |
1 |
4 |
1 |
4¾ |
+ ¾ |
|
Flour—household |
3½lbs. |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
+ 1 |
|
Sugar |
lb. |
8¼ |
8¾ |
+ ½ |
||
|
Butter—Irish |
||||||
|
Creamery |
,, |
4 |
6½ |
4 |
8¼ |
+1¾ |
|
Bacon— |
||||||
|
Irish streaky |
,, |
4 |
0½ |
4 |
2¼ |
+1¾ |
|
Irish shoulder |
,, |
2 |
9 |
2 |
11 |
+2 |
|
Pigs' heads |
,, |
8¾ |
9½ |
+¾ |
||
|
Beef— |
||||||
|
Round steak |
,, |
3 |
9¾ |
3 |
11¾ |
+2 |
|
Sirloin |
,, |
4 |
4¼ |
4 |
7¼ |
+3 |
|
Rib |
,, |
3 |
1½ |
3 |
3¼ |
+1¾ |
|
Shoulder |
,, |
2 |
9¾ |
2 |
10¼ |
+½ |
|
Neck |
,, |
2 |
6½ |
2 |
7 |
+½ |
|
Corned brisket |
,, |
1 |
10¾ |
1 |
11½ |
+¾ |
|
Liver |
,, |
2 |
7½ |
2 |
8¼ |
+¾ |
|
Mutton— |
||||||
|
Leg |
,, |
3 |
4½ |
3 |
5½ |
+1 |
|
Loin chops |
,, |
4 |
1½ |
4 |
3¼ |
+1¾ |
|
Neck |
,, |
1 |
10¾ |
1 |
10¾ |
No change |
|
Shoulder |
,, |
2 |
7¾ |
2 |
8 |
+¼ |
|
Fillet |
,, |
3 |
7¾ |
3 |
8¾ |
+1 |
|
Fresh milk |
quart |
1 |
0¾ |
1 |
1¼ |
+½ |
|
Margarine |
lb. |
1 |
8½ |
1 |
9¼ |
+¾ |
PERCENTAGE change in the prices of certain commodities between mid-August, 1963 and mid-November, 1963.
|
Commodity |
Percentage increase mid-August, 1963 to mid-November, 1963 |
|
% |
|
|
Coal |
9.54 |
|
Cigarettes |
4.66 |
|
Tobacco |
3.30 |
|
Whiskey |
3.85 |
|
Stout, bottled |
7.07 |
|
Petrol |
2.64 |