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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Mar 1996

Vol. 462 No. 6

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers - Food Retail Prices.

Dan Wallace

Question:

2 Mr. D. Wallace asked the Taoiseach the estimated range of unit retail prices for the five main consumer food products; and the comparative estimates for other EU countries. [4658/96]

The Central Statistics Office, CSO, publishes the national average price for a limited number of food items for which identical varieties and quantities are priced throughout the country for the compilation of the Consumer Price Index, CPI. The average national prices for five principal food products in mid-November 1955 were:

Food Product

Average Price Mid-Nov 1995

£

Milk, fresh pasteurised

0.61 per litre

Bread, white sliced

0.71 per 800g

Butter

1.49 per lb

Potatoes

0.82 per 3.5 lb

Beef, round steak

3.10 per lb

Equivalent prices are not directly available for all other EU member states. However, purchasing power parities, PPPs, which estimate the relative price levels in the different countries, are compiled by the Statistical Office of the EU, Eurostat. The latest detailed results relate to 1993 and show that, at that time, the average price of food in Ireland was estimated to be 93 per cent of the EU average.

Does the Minister of State push the trolley?

Does the Minister of State agree that the 1993 figures are not of much use to consumers? For the man or woman purchasing in the supermarket they are history, if they want to make a comparison.

As the Deputy will be well aware, monitoring prices of a range of items in the 15 member states is a complex operation——

The Minister of State has a trolley and someone to push it.

——even allowing for computerisation, modern technology and a degree of liaison between the member states. The figures for 1994 will be available in the not too distant future.

All the items seem to be very dear.

The galloping gourmet.

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