asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the increase in the prices of tractors and farm machinery since 14th March, 1973.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Machinery Prices.
10.
Since 14th March, 1973, the retail prices of the more prominently used makes of tractors have increased by amounts ranging between £19 on a make costing £1,292, or 1.5 per cent, and £696 on a make then costing £1,805, or 38.5 per cent. The majority of increases, however, were under 20 per cent.
Because of the wide variety of equipment covered by the description "farm machinery", it is difficult to provide precise information on price changes. It would appear that the price increases in the period, calculated on a simple average basis, were about 25 per cent for imported machinery. The Deputy will appreciate however that the use of a simple average may be misleading and it is not possible to calculate a weighted average from the information available. I raised no objection to a proposal by one Irish manufacturer of farm machinery to increase prices by 20 per cent in October, 1973.