Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Consumer Price Index. – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil) – Tuesday, 4 May 1971

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Consumer Price Index.

Mr. Donegan

asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of the last 12 months the price increase of each item on the consumer price index.

asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of the period March, 1970, to March, 1971, (a) the amount of the change and (b) the percentage change in the case of all items covered by the consumer price index.

Mr. Andrews

With your permission, Sir, I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together, and to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving (a) the national average retail prices of certain items of food at mid-February, 1970, and mid-February, 1971, and the actual change in each case, and (b) the percentage change over the period in the prices of all the items entering into the consumer price index numbers.

In the cases 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 price computed would not be meaningful. The correctness of the relative price change is ensured by the fact that at each source the identical article is priced at successive inquiries.

Following is the statement:

(a) National Average Retail Prices (including turnover tax) of principal food items at mid-February 1970 and mid-February 1971 and the actual change in each case.

Commodity	Unit	Price per unit	Increase (+) or decrease (-) between Mid-Feb. 1970 and Mid-Feb. 1971
Mid-Feb. 1970	Mid-Feb. 1971
		p.	p.	p.
Beef:
Round steak	lb.	33.2	37.9	+4.7
Sirloin	,,	39.3	45.4	+6.1
Sirloin roast	,,	33.3	37.7	+4.4
Rib steak	,,	25.3	28.3	+3.0
Brisket of corned beef	,,	13.7	15.9	+2.2
Mutton:
Leg (whole)	,,	26.5	29.3	+2.8
Loin chops	,,	32.4	37.0	+4.6
Cutlets (rib chops)	,,	28.1	32.0	+3.9
Gigot chops	,,	26.9	30.5	+3.6
Neck	,,	11.1	12.0	+0.9
Liver	,,	26.0	28.7	+2.7
Pork:
Leg (whole)	,,	28.5	31.0	+2.5
Loin chops	,,	33.0	36.6	+3.6
Shoulder (whole)	,,	23.8	25.5	+1.7
Steak	,,	40.9	45.8	+4.9
Bacon:
Best back rashers	,,	34.6	37.6	+3.0
Streaky rashers	,,	26.0	28.1	+2.1
Ham, uncooked	,,	28.6	31.3	+2.7
Shoulder (whole)	,,	15.9	17.6	+1.7
Ham, cooked	,,	54.4	58.8	+4.4
Sausages, pork	,,	17.4	19.0	+1.6
Black pudding	,,	10.8	12.2	+1.4
Fish:
Whiting, fillets	,,	17.0	18.4	+1.4
Cod cutlets	,,	22.0	23.7	+1.7
Plaice, fillets	,,	33.9	35.4	+1.5
Kippers	,,	14.2	16.9	+2.7
Fresh vegetables:
Potatoes	3½ lbs.	7.3	6.4	–0.9
Tomatoes	lb.	17.7	17.3	–0.4
Onions	,,	7.2	6.6	–0.6
Carrots	,,	4.5	5.4	+0.9
Cabbage (medium size)	each	4.3	4.6	+0.3
Bread:
White, sliced	2 lb.	10.4	11.2	+0.8
White, unsliced	,,	10.2	11.0	+0.8
Flour:
White, plain	3½	15.2	15.7	+0.5
White, self-raising	,,	15.9	16.4	+0.5
Fresh milk	pint	3.5	4.2	+0.7
Cheese:
Processed	½ lb.	9.4	9.7	+0.3
Natural	lb.	19.3	20.2	+0.9
Eggs standard	doz.	21.5	23.7	+2.2
Butter (creamery)	lb.	24.3	24.8	+0.5
Margarine	½ lb.	5.0	6.3	+1.3
Tea:
Best quality	¼ lb.	10.1	10.3	+0.2
Medium	,,	8.2	8.5	+0.3
Sugar	2 lb.	8.4	8.5	+0.1
Oatmeal, packet	3½ lb.	17.0	18.3	+1.3
Cornflour	lb.	8.3	8.7	+0.4

NOTE: Price quotations in respect of some items of food are not available from all centres at each inquiry and the figures for the percentage changes in these prices, computed in such a way as to eliminate the effect of differences in coverage, may differ slightly from the percentage calculated from the actual changes shown above.

(b) Percentage change in prices of items entering into the Consumer Price Index between mid-February, 1970 and mid-February, 1971.

Commodity	Percentage increase (+) or decrease (–)
FOOD:
Beef:
Round steak	+14.52
Sirloin steak	+15.87
Sirloin roast	+13.83
Rib steak (or chuck)	+11.37
Leg of beef (boneless)	+12.39
Brisket corned beef	+16.16
Mutton (excl. Spring Lamb):
Leg (whole)	+10.02
Loin chops	+13.76
Cutlets (rib chops)	+13.13
Gigot chops	+12.40
Neck	+9.61
Liver	+12.37
Pork:
Leg (whole)	+9.56
Loin chops	+11.45
Shoulder (whole)	+8.45
Steak	+12.39
Bacon:
Best back rashers	+8.60
Streaky rashers	+8.07
Ham, uncooked (whole)	+8.27
Shoulder (whole)	+10.26
Poultry and other meat:
Broiler, uncooked, oven ready (medium size)	+7.70
Chicken, cooked (medium size)	+6.73
Ham, cooked	+8.48
Sausages, pork	+9.55
Black pudding	+11.29
Fresh Fish:
Whiting, fillets	+8.04
Cod, cutlets	+9.60
Plaice, fillets	+5.46
Herring (whole)	+10.32
Fish fingers	+18.12
Dired and cured fish:
Fillets, smoked	+19.11
Kippers, smoked	+15.38
Tinned fish:
Salmon	+6.49
Sardines	+8.83
Fresh vegetables:
Potatoes	–12.13
Tomatoes	–2.21
Onions	–8.06
Carrots	+19.00
Turnips (medium size)	+19.74
Cabbage (medium size)	+9.27
Cauliflower (medium size)	+5.20
Dried peas	+9.38
Tinned vegetables:
Peas	+11.74
Beans	+11.29
Frozen vegetables:
Peas	+10.89
Beans	+8.29
Bread:
White, sliced	+7.73
White, unsliced	+8.07
Brown	+8.49
Flour:
White, plain	+3.66
White, self-raising	+3.35
Brown, wholemeal	+4.25
Biscuits:
Cream crackers	+9.21
Plain	+9.08
Sweet	+8.52
Cake:
Fruit	+6.80
Sponge sandwich	+9.61
Swiss roll	+7.08
Milk:
Fresh milk	+17.88
Condensed milk	+4.53
Fresh cream	+7.49
Cheese:
Processed	+3.61
Natural, cheddar or ches-hire	+5.51
Eggs:
Large size	+7.87
Standard size	+9.27
Butter and other fats:
Butter, creamery	+2.24
Margarine	+24.28
Cooking fat	+15.69
Fresh fruit:
Apples, cooking	–6.83
Apples, eating	+16.64
Oranges	+15.07
Bananas	+6.40
Tinned fruit:
Pears	+8.49
Peaches	+7.93
Dried fruit:
Raisins, seedless	+6.15
Sultanas	+5.32
Prunes	+4.33
Beverages:
Tea, best quality	+1.88
Tea, medium quality	+3.73
Coffee beans, ground or roasted	+9.15
Coffee extracts, powder	+6.41
Cocoa	+11.81
Sugar:
White granulated	+1.48
Castor	+3.92
Cereal products:
Cornflakes	+6.50
Wheatflakes	+6.11
Oatmeal, packet	+6.23
Cornflour	+4.38
Rice	+3.12
Semolina	+8.29
Jelly and custard:
Jelly	+7.09
Custard powder	+4.24
Soup:
Tinned	+9.53
Dried	+5.16
Jams and syrup:
Jam	+9.58
Marmalade	+14.61
Golden syrup	+6.68
Sweets and ice cream:
Sweets	+10.58
Chocolate bars	+15.27
Ice cream, block	+8.59
Soft drinks:
Minerals, orange	+9.90
Minerals, lemon	+10.01
Orange squash (concentrated)	+6.72
Miscellaneous items:
Sauce	+7.65
Bovril	+3.42
Salt	+6.60
Pepper	+12.30
Mustard	+5.67
Potato crisps	+27.01
Meals away from home	+13.21
ALCOHOLIC DRINK:
Sherry:
Glass	+9.02
Bottle	+4.96
Table wine	+6.23
Stout:
Draught	+7.29
Bottle	+9.81
Ale, bottle	+8.63
Lager, bottle	+6.54
Whiskey:
Glass	+4.08
Bottle	+3.65
Gin:
Glass	+4.07
Bottle	+4.08
Brandy:
Glass	+6.01
Bottle	+4.70
TOBACCO:
Cigarettes:
Plain	+3.39
Filter tipped	+3.73
Cigars	+5.68
Tobacco:
Plug	+3.77
Flake	+2.92
CLOTHING:
Men's outer-clothing:
Heavy overcoats, lined—low priced	+12.03
Heavy overcoats, lined— medium priced	+11.58
Cotton/terylene raincoats, proofed	+11.66
Two-piece suits, worsted, ready-made—low priced	+16.32
Two-piece suits, worsted, ready-made—medium priced	+11.68
Two-piece suits, worsted, tailormade—low priced	+13.38
Two-piece suits, worsted, tailormade—medium priced	+9.94
Sports coats, tweed	+12.33
Trousers, terylene or cotton	+15.60
Cardigans	+9.42
Heavy pullovers	+9.86
Men's under-clothing:
Shirts, collar attached— low priced	+14.92
Shirts, collar attached— medium priced	+14.42
Vests	+6.67
Underpants, cotton	+14.92
Pyjamas	+9.63
Women's outer-clothing:
Coats, woollen lined—low priced	+16.11
Coats, woollen lined— medium priced	+10.49
Showerproofs, lined	+14.60
Two-piece suits—low priced	+14.43
Two-piece suits—medium priced	+9.68
Skirts, woollen	+10.54
Dresses, cotton	+15.62
Dresses, other material	+13.73
Blouses	+16.35
Cardigans—low priced	+9.10
Cardigans—medium priced	+6.38
Women's under-clothing:
Vests, cotton	+8.07
Panties	+16.90
Slips, nylon	+13.51
Corsets (with fastenings)	+13.22
Girdles	+12.49
Brassieres	+10.06
Nightdresses	+14.37
Pyjamas	+9.33
Children's outer-clothing:
Boys' heavy overcoats, lined	+9.54
Boys' two-piece suits, worsted, ready-made	+11.13
Boys' trousers, short	+8.25
Boys' heavy pullovers, woollen	+9.68
Girls' coats, lined	+10.19
Girls' skirts	+9.57
Girls' dresses, cotton	+11.20
Girls' blouses	+10.34
Children's underwear:
Boys' shirts	+12.26
Boys' vests	+11.94
Boys' pyjamas	+8.76
Girls' vests, cotton	+11.56
Girls' panties, cotton	+11.42
Girls' nightdresses	+10.62
Hose:
Men's socks	+8.28
Boys' stocking, three-quarters length	+8.18
Women's nylon, seamless— low priced	+10.67
Women's nylons, seamless— medium priced	+1.25
Girls' ankle socks, cotton	+11.18
Other clothing:
Men's handkerchiefs, white cotton	+8.87
Men's ties, terylene	+7.18
Men's leather gloves, woollen lined	+11.05
Women's gloves	+12.13
Women's scarves	+7.09
Clothing material:
Dress material, woollen	+8.77
Dress material, cotton	+12.22
Wool, double-knit	+3.26
Thread, spool	+12.90
Footwear:
Men's leather shoes, welted	+9.72
Men's leather shoes, vulcanised	+11.01
Men's slippers, fabric uppers	+11.35
Men's boots, heavy working	+12.31
Women's casual shoes	+9.35
Women's fashion shoes—low priced	+12.53
Women's fashion shoes— medium priced	+11.63
Women's slippers, fabric uppers	+14.08
Boys' leather shoes, vulcanised	+13.46
Boy's boots	+11.10
Girls' leather shoes	+10.11
Children's wellington boots	+11.28
Children's sandals, rubber soled	+10.08
FUEL AND LIGHT:
Coal, delivered:
Best quality	+14.97
Medium quality	+14.33
Turf:
Briquettes	+9.75
Other	+9.90
Paraffin oil	+7.19
Bottled gas	+5.69
Firewood blocks	+9.53
Gas	+12.87
Electricity	+8.65
Fuel oil	+8.77
HOUSING:
Rent and rates (rented dwellings)	+8.84
Rates and water charges (owner occupied dwellings)	+8.58
House insurance	no change
Repairs and decorations	+7.57
HOUSEHOLD DURABLES:
Furniture:
Three-piece upholstered lounge suites (settee and two chairs)	+10.47
Fireside chairs, upholstered	+13.58
Dining-room suites, wood	+10.62
Kitchen sets (table and four chairs)	+10.65
Bedroom suites	+9.14
Single divan beds (including mattress)	+12.88
Drop-side cots	+12.12
Large domestic appliances:
Radios, portable transistors	+9.90
Radios, mains	+3.03
Television sets	+7.47
Vacuum cleaners	+4.57
Cookers, electric	+7.98
Cookers, gas (bottled or piped)	+8.17
Refrigerators	–3.17
Washing machines	+2.63
Record players	+7.54
Small domestic appliances:
Fires, electric	+7.97
Irons, electric	+5.54
Kettles, electric	+5.70
Razors, electric	+3.35
Electric bulbs	+3.22
Oil heaters	+5.09
Tools and garden equipment:
Hammers	+14.14
Garden spades	+5.92
Lawnmowers, manual	+4.70
Wheelbarrows, metal	+8.34
Watering cans, plastic	+6.74
Dust bins, galvanised	+11.97
Floor coverings:
Linoleum	+7.45
Carpeting	+11.63
Hearth rugs	+6.81
Doormats	+11.05
Soft furnishings:
Curtain material—low priced	+13.37
Curtain material—medium priced	+12.52
Sheets, cotton, single size	+12.14
Blankets, all wool, single size	+4.30
Towels, turkish	+8.82
Tea towels	+11.40
Tablecloths	+7.71
China and glassware:
Cups and saucers, ordinary ware	+13.58
Half-tea service, china (21 piece)	+7.49
Tumblers, pressed glass, no handle	+8.21
Casserole dishes, oven glassware	+11.28
Domestic utensils:
Table knives, stainless steel blade	+7.15
Table forks	+11.50
Saucepans, aluminium	+13.01
Household scissors	+9.30
Scrubbing brushes	+21.20
Household sweeping brushes	+11.90
Polish brushes	+14.21
Wash-up basins, plastic	+11.48
Household buckets, plastic	+10.07
OTHER GOODS:
Domestic non-durables:
House soaps	+15.18
Soap or detergent powders	+11.66
Soap or detergent liquids	+10.16
Starch	+4.18
Polish, floor	+5.97
Polish, shoe	+6.49
Toilet paper	+6.14
Matches	+2.03
Toilet requisites:
Toilet soaps	+9.91
Toothpaste	+7.06
Hair cream	+6.67
Shampoo	+5.62
Cold cream	+6.17
Lipstick	+7.61
Paper tissues	+4.99
Razor blades	+5.03
Tooth brushes	+6.82
Personal goods:
Brief cases, leather	+10.97
Suitcases, large	+10.08
Ladies' handbags, leather	+11.84
School bags	+9.43
Umbrellas, women's	+15.63
Wristwatches, men's	+6.81
Alarm clocks, mechanical	+16.13
Sportings goods and toys:
Golf balls	+11.82
Tennis balls	+5.70
Footballs, leather	+7.31
Tennis rackets	+6.47
Fishing-rod	+4.92
Toy table-tennis sets	+2.98
Tricycles	+11.77
Set of draughts	+10.72
Pack of playing cards	+8.21
Stationery:
Envelopes	+12.07
Writing pads	+8.67
Picture postcards	+11.51
Ink	+10.16
Pencils, black lead	+9.51
Fountain pens	+6.21
Ball-point pens	+8.37
Records and camera films:
Records, L.P., 33½ r.p.m.	+10.15
Records, single, 45 r.p.m.	+21.89
Camera films, black and white	+5.05
Developing charge for film black and white	+10.63
Newspapers and periodicals	+31.30
TRANSPORT:
Vehicles:
Motor cars	+14.20
Motor cycles	+8.57
Bicycles (without extras)	+12.27
Perambulators	+7.91
Go-cars	+15.32
Motor tax:
Cars	+26.22
Cycles	+20.17
Motor insurance:
Cars	+25.38
Cycles	+20.19
Maintenance and running costs:
Petrol, high grade	+4.67
Petrol, low grade	+4.71
Motor oil	+9.09
Motor car tyre, new	+8.82
Motor car battery	+5.86
Charges for mending punctures	+10.60
Standard maintenance charges	+7.12
Bicycle tyre	+17.33
Travelling:
Bus	+35.84
Train	+24.84
Other services	+7.20
SERVICE AND RELATED EXPENDITURE:
Entertainment:
Cinema, evening film, highest price	+14.08
Cinema, evening film, lowest price	+20.33
Dance, regular admission, no special attraction	+10.76
Sports fixture, cheapest adult admission charge (excluding championship or cup matches)	+15.56
Hairdressing:
Men's haircuts	+18.96
Women's shampoo and set (excluding trim)	+17.83
Shoe repairs:
Men's shoes, soling and heeling	+9.56
Women's shoes, heeling	+14.84
Laundry:
Charges for men's shirts	+18.71
Charges for sheets (single size)	+19.63
Charges for tablecloths	+21.17
Launderette:
Washing, basic charge	+3.44
Drying, basic charge	+6.01
Dry cleaning:
Charge for cleaning men's two-piece suit	+11.46
Charge for cleaning woman's coat	+11.44
Medical supplies and services:
Anadins	+9.29
Aspirins	+5.69
Andrews Liver Salts	+7.52
Milk of Magnesia	+8.93
Vaseline ointment	+5.28
Adhesive dressings	+6.88
Proprietary cough mixtures	+5.04
Medicines and drugs	+2.49
Doctor's, dentist's and optician's fees	+18.57
Hospital charges	+4.56
Education	+11.89
Domestic service	+16.16
Television rentals	+4.20
Hotel accommodation	+6.50
Expenditure abroad	+9.72
Postage	+42.84
Telephone and telegrams	+10.63
Subscriptions to sports clubs	+8.84
Trade union subscriptions	+4.87
Licences	+14.54
Other expenditure	+13.10

Mr. Donegan

Is the parliamentary Secretary assuring me that he is circulating in the Official Report the price increase in each item on the consumer price index?

Mr. Andrews

Yes. I can give the Deputy that absolute assurance.

Mr. Donegan

That has been available for the last 16 years.

Mr. Andrews

I have a list here of some 400 or 500 statistics and I am sure that amongst those the Deputy will find the information he is seeking.

Mr. Donegan

The parliamentary Secretary is familiar with all those statistics.

Mr. Andrews

I do not pretend to be familiar with all those statistics.

Mr. Donegan

I am familiar with them.

Mr. Andrews

The fount of wisdom resides in the Fine Gael party.

Mr. L'Estrange

asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of each year since 1957 up to the latest year for which figures are available (a) the cost-of-living index number and (b) the reasons for the increases.

Mr. Andrews

The consumer price index is calculated in respect of mid-February, mid-May, mid-August and mid-November each year. With your permission, Sir, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving for each year since 1957 (a) the annual average consumer price index (base August, 1953, as 100), and (b) the points change attributable to each commodity group over the 12 month period ending at mid-November each year.

Following is the statement:

Consumer Price Index (Base August 1953 as 100)

Year	(a)	(b)
Points Change over 12 month period ending November each year
Annual Average Index	Food	Drink and Tobacco	Clothing	Fuel and Light	Housing	Durable Household Goods	Other Goods and Services	All items
1958	116.5	+2.4	+0.3	+0.1	–0.3	+0.2	+0.1	+0.4	+3.1
1959	116.5	–2.4	+0.1	+0.2	–0.5	+0.2	—	+0.3	–2.0
1960	117.0	+1.8	+0.6	+0.1	—	+0.3	+0.1	+0.4	+3.2
1961	120.2	+1.0	+0.4	+0.2	+0.5	+0.3	—	+0.6	+3.0
1962	125.3	+0.3	+1.9	+0.4	+0.3	+0.4	+0.1	+1.1	+4.5
1963	128.4	+2.0	+1.0	+0.5	+0.7	+0.4	+0.1	+0.9	+5.6
1964	137.0	+4.5	+1.2	+0.7	+0.1	+0.6	+0.2	+2.0	+9.1
1965	143.9	+0.8	+1.7	+0.3	—	+0.6	+0.1	+1.0	+4.5
1966	148.2	+1.0	+1.7	+0.2	+0.4	+0.6	+0.2	+1.4	+5.6
1967	152.9	+1.5	+0.7	+0.2	+0.1	+0.6	+0.1	+0.6	+3.9
1968	160.1	+3.0	+2.1	+0.3	+0.5	+1.0	+0.1	+1.4	+8.4
1969	172.0	+3.7	+2.5	+0.6	+0.4	+1.2	+0.6	+3.5	+12.4
1970	186.1	+4.6	+1.5	+1.6	+0.9	+1.1	+0.6	+7.1	+17.5

Mr. L'Estrange

Arising from the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, I asked for the reasons for the increases in part (b) of the question.

Mr. Andrews

This is a purely statistical answer to the question asked by the Deputy. Perhaps if he puts the question to the Minister in charge of the Department from which he requires the explicit information he will get that information.

Mr. L'Estrange

In the past I put this question to the Taoiseach and he has given the reasons, or at least tried to give the reasons, for the increase in the cost of living. Surely the Parliamentary Secretary is aware that there has been an abnormal increase in the past year, that the poor are suffering and that the increases given in the Budget will not go half way towards meeting the increase which has taken place in the cost of living in the past year?

When a question is put down is neither the Taoiseach nor the Parliamentary Secretary supposed to answer? I asked a statistical question, but in (b) I asked for the reason for the increase. In the past either the Taoiseach or the Parliamentary Secretary has tried to give the answer but on this occasion no answer has been given.

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 May 1971