The Consumer Price Index is calculated only in respect of mid-February, mid-May, mid-August and mid-November each year. With your permission, Sir, I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together and to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the list of items entering into the calculation of the index together with the percentage change in the price of each item between mid-February and mid-May, 1964. The overall increase was 3.9 per cent in this period.
Following is the statement:—
PERCENTAGE change in prices of items entering into the Consumer Price Index between mid-February, 1964 and mid-May, 1964.
Commodity
|
Percentage increase (+) or decrease (-)
|
FOOD:
|
|
Beef
|
+12.81
|
Mutton
|
+9.34
|
Bacon and Pigs' heads
|
+1.53
|
Ham, uncooked
|
+1.93
|
,, cooked
|
+1.52
|
Rashers, streaky
|
+1.38
|
Fresh pork, shoulder
|
+2.53
|
Pork sausages
|
+1.47
|
Boiling fowl
|
+1.16
|
Kippered herring
|
+0.43
|
Fresh herring
|
+1.03
|
Whiting
|
+1.75
|
Cod steak
|
–1.53
|
Tinned salmon
|
+0.06
|
Eggs, 1st grade, hen
|
–21.23
|
Butter, Irish creamery
|
+0.36
|
,, farmers
|
–0.75
|
Margarine
|
+0.09
|
Cheese
|
+0.94
|
Lard
|
+1.09
|
Fresh milk
|
+4.02
|
Condensed milk
|
+1.55
|
Bread
|
+4.37
|
Household flour
|
+5.71
|
Cake
|
+1.29
|
Oatmeal
|
+0.15
|
Breakfast cereals
|
+1.51
|
Rice
|
+1.14
|
Semolina
|
+0.82
|
Potatoes
|
+7.19
|
Cabbage
|
–1.37
|
Onions
|
+0.92
|
Carrots
|
+0.54
|
Dried peas
|
+3.04
|
Cooking Apples
|
+8.91
|
Oranges
|
–2.04
|
Tomatoes
|
+33.74
|
Sultanas
|
+6.04
|
Tinned pears
|
+0.18
|
Tinned beans in tomato sauce
|
+2.79
|
Tea, best quality
|
+0.13
|
Tea, as used by wage-earning classes
|
+0.14
|
Coffee
|
+1.44
|
Cocoa
|
+2.61
|
Cornflour
|
+0.56
|
Custard powder
|
+2.28
|
Sugar—white granulated
|
+9.38
|
Salt, table
|
+0.14
|
Mustard
|
+0.33
|
Jam—strawberry
|
+2.11
|
,, mixed fruit
|
+3.03
|
,, marmalade
|
+3.22
|
Sauce
|
+1.01
|
Boiled sweets
|
+1.26
|
Bar of chocolate
|
+0.49
|
Biscuits
|
+0.56
|
Jellies
|
+3.12
|
Soft drinks
|
+3.47
|
Other groceries
|
+4.84
|
DRINK AND TOBACCO:
|
|
Beer and ale
|
+5.81
|
Stout—bottled
|
+6.72
|
,,—draught
|
+7.09
|
Whiskey (Irish)
|
+3.56
|
Cigarettes
|
+6.67
|
Tobacco
|
+0.36
|
CLOTHING:
|
|
MEN'S:
|
|
Suit—readymade
|
+3.90
|
,, —tailormade
|
+3.02
|
Overcoat—readymade
|
+1.79
|
Cotton raincoat, rubber-proofed
|
+2.31
|
Wool gaberdine raincoat
|
+1.47
|
Sports coat
|
+3.09
|
Flannel trousers
|
+2.38
|
Hat
|
+1.56
|
Overalls
|
+2.38
|
Pullover (wool,sleeveless)
|
+2.80
|
Cotton singlet
|
+2.73
|
Woollen vest (short sleeves)
|
+2.65
|
Underpants
|
+1.98
|
Shirt (collar attached)
|
+1.68
|
,, (tunic 2 collars)
|
+1.45
|
Pyjamas
|
+0.85
|
Socks
|
+2.77
|
BOYS' (AGED ABOUT 12 YEARS):
|
|
Suit
|
+3.42
|
Overcoat
|
+2.63
|
Raincoat
|
+2.00
|
Woollen jersey (long sleeves)
|
+4.09
|
Shirt
|
+1.91
|
Woollen stockings
|
+1.26
|
WOMEN'S:
|
|
Light coat
|
+2.40
|
Heavy coat
|
+2.00
|
Costume
|
+2.14
|
Blouse
|
+3.60
|
Skirt
|
+2.35
|
Woollen dress
|
+1.92
|
Silk or art silk dress
|
+2.23
|
Cotton dress
|
+2.92
|
Hat
|
+2.75
|
Gloves
|
+2.45
|
Cardigan
|
+2.31
|
Slip
|
+1.42
|
Brassiere
|
+2.53
|
Corset
|
+2.04
|
Knickers
|
+0.54
|
Vest
|
+3.18
|
Nightdress
|
+2.37
|
Stockings—nylon—fully fashioned
|
–0.98
|
Stockings—lisle
|
–0.93
|
GIRLS' (AGED ABOUT 12 YEARS)
|
|
Overcoat
|
+2.65
|
Cotton frock
|
+3.90
|
Woollen frock
|
+3.04
|
Stockings
|
+1.65
|
OTHER CLOTHING ITEMS:
|
|
Cotton piece goods
|
+2.86
|
Woollen piece goods
|
+2.19
|
Knitting wool
|
+1.51
|
FOOTWEAR:
|
|
Men's boots
|
+1.17
|
,, Shoes (leather sole)
|
+1.69
|
Boys' boots (for boy of 12)
|
+2.16
|
,, shoes (for boy of 12)
|
+1.76
|
Wellington boots (for boy of 12)
|
+0.09
|
Women's shoes
|
+1.34
|
Girls' shoes (for girl of 12)
|
+1.69
|
Child's sandals
|
+2.20
|
Men's rubber boots
|
+0.31
|
OTHER CLOTHING
|
+2.11
|
FUEL AND LIGHT:
|
|
Candles
|
+0.47
|
Paraffin
|
+0.15
|
Coal
|
+0.20
|
Gas
|
+0.06
|
Turf (other than briquettes)
|
+0.20
|
Firewood blocks
|
+1.43
|
Electricity
|
No change
|
DURABLE HOUSEHOLD GOODS:
|
|
Wire mattress
|
+2.73
|
Spring interior mattress
|
+3.32
|
Fibre mattress
|
+2.23
|
Kitchen chair
|
+2.93
|
Kitchen table, white deal
|
+1.62
|
Three-piece suite, upholstered
|
+2.62
|
Bedroom suite
|
+2.34
|
Wireless receiving set
|
+0.24
|
Carpet
|
+1.91
|
Linoleum
|
+1.10
|
Door mat
|
+2.36
|
Blankets, woollen
|
+1.24
|
Sheets
|
+1.79
|
Curtain material
|
+5.01
|
Hand towel (terry)
|
+0.64
|
Dishcloth
|
+2.44
|
Table knives
|
+1.65
|
Forks
|
+0.93
|
Cup and saucer, undecorated whiteware
|
+2.75
|
Tumbler
|
+0.85
|
Saucepan, aluminium
|
+1.43
|
Galvanised bucket
|
+1.31
|
Sweeping brush
|
+1.25
|
Scrubbing brush
|
+2.00
|
Electric iron
|
+0.85
|
Electric lamp bulb, 60 watt
|
+0.54
|
Non-electrical appliances
|
+1.49
|
Motor cars and motor cycles
|
+1.40
|
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES:
|
|
Soap—household
|
No change
|
,, —toilet
|
+1.22
|
,, —powder
|
+2.04
|
Scouring powder
|
+2.34
|
Boot polish
|
No change
|
Floor polish
|
+0.61
|
Toothpaste
|
+1.13
|
Toilet paper
|
No change
|
Razor blades
|
+0.23
|
Face powder
|
+0.29
|
Lipstick
|
+0.26
|
Aspirin
|
+1.35
|
Quinine
|
+0.72
|
Matches
|
No change
|
Writing pad
|
No change
|
Package of envelopes
|
+3.95
|
Bicycle
|
+1.54
|
Cycle tyre
|
+0.50
|
Papers and magazines
|
+12.58
|
Petrol and oil
|
+4.99
|
Admission to cinema
|
+5.76
|
,, to football match
|
+0.57
|
,, to dance
|
+2.53
|
Shoe repairs, men's sole and heel, leather
|
+1.18
|
Men's haircut
|
+8.04
|
Women's trim, shampoo and set
|
+5.64
|
Dry cleaning of men's 3 piece suit
|
+0.89
|
Dry cleaning of women's costume
|
+0.77
|
Travel—train
|
+10.00
|
,, —bus
|
+14.07
|
,, —other travelling
|
+0.38
|
Post
|
No change
|
Phone
|
No change
|
Education
|
No change
|
Domestic service
|
+10.32
|
Hotel expenses
|
No change
|
HOUSING:
|
|
Rent and rates of rented dwellings
|
No change
|
Rates of owner occupied dwellings
|
No change
|
Repairs and decorations of all dwellings
|
+2.40
|