Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Apr 1940

Vol. 79 No. 16

Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prices of Foodstuffs.

Mr. Corish (for Mr. Norton)

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state in respect of the years 1938 and 1939, the average retail price at mid-February and mid-August and at mid-February, 1940, in (a) Dublin, (b) Cork, (c) Limerick, (d) Galway, (e) Waterford, (f) Drogheda, and (g) Tralee, of the following commodities, i.e., household flour, bakers' flour, bakers' bread, household coal, tea, sugar, milk, Irish eggs, potatoes, butter, streaky bacon, sirloin of beef, and leg of mutton.

Mr. MacEntee

Retail prices at mid-February and mid-August, 1938, for all the commodities mentioned except creamery butter, have already been supplied to the Deputy in a written answer which appears in the Parliamentary Debates, volume 74, No. 1, columns 74-76. Other particulars required will be circulated with the Official Report.

Following are the particulars:—

PREDOMINANT RETAIL PRICES IN PENCE OF CERTAIN COMMODITIES IN CERTAIN TOWNS AT MID-FEBRUARY AND MID-AUGUST, 1939 AND MID-FEBRUARY, 1940.

Town and Date	Flour Household	Bakers' Bread	Household Coal*	Tea*	Sugar, White Granulated	Fresh Milk	Eggs First Grade Hens	Potatoes	Butter Irish Creamery†	Bacon Irish Streaky	Beef Sirloin	Mutton Leg
	Price in pence per
	14 lbs.	2 lb.	cwt.	lb.	lb.	quart	doz.	14 lbs.	lb.	lb.	lb.	lb.
DUBLIN			Loaf
Mid-Feb.,1939	34		5¼		36		32		3		7		24		14		18		22		16		14
,, Aug. ,,		34		5½		36		32		3		6½		22		14		18		22		16		15
,, Feb.,1940	36		5¾		40		32		4½		7		32		14		18		24		18		17
CORK:
Mid-Feb.,1939	34		5¼		33½		36		3¼		5		18		16		19½		17		14		15
,, Aug. ,,		34		5¼		33		36		3½		4		17		12		19		18		14		14
,, Feb.,1940	36		6		39		36		4½		5		22		12		19½		20		16		16
LIMERICK:
Mid-Feb.,1939	27		5		31		32		3¼		5		16		15		18		18		12		12
,, Aug. ,,		25		5		31		32		3¼		4		16		12		18		19		12		12
,, Feb.,1940	32		5¼		40		32		4½		5		21		11		18		21		13		13
GALWAY.
Mid-Feb.,1939	29		5		32½		30		3		5		18		14		18		17		12		12
,, Aug. ,,		26		5		32		30		3		4		16		14		18		18		14		12
,, Feb.,1940	33		5¼		39		30		4½		5		18		9		18		20		14		14
WATERFORD.
Mid-Feb.,1939	28		4¾		31		30		3		5½		16		14		19		17		12		14
,, Aug. ,,		28		4¾		29		30		3		4½		18		14		19		18		12		14
,, Feb.,1940	32		5¼		34		30		4½		5½		20		12		18½		20		14		14
DROGHEDA.
Mid-Feb.,1939	30		4¾		32		28		3½		6		14		13		18		18		14		12
,, Aug. ,,		30		4¾		30		28		3½		5		18		12		19		18		15		13
,, Feb.,1940	36		5¼		36		28		5		6		24		12		19		20		16		14
TRALEE:
Mid-Feb.,1939	27		6		34		26		3		5		15		12		18		16		11½		12
,, Aug. ,,		24		6		33		26		3		4		14		10		18		17		12		12
,, Feb.,1940	31		6½		38		26		4½		5		16		10		18		18		13		14

†The prices of Irish Creamery Butter at Mid-February and Mid-August, 1938, respectively were as follows (in pence per lb.):—Dublin, 15, 17; Cork, 17, 19; Limerick, 15, 17; Galway, 15, 17; Waterford, 16, 18; Drogheda, 16, 18; Tralee, 16, 17.

*As used by the Wage-earning classes.

NOTE. It should be observed that these prices are ascertained in connection with the quarterly compilation of Cost of Living figures, for which purpose it is necessary only that the national average prices should correctly indicate the general trend. The average prices shown in the statement for Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and Tralee, which are based in all cases upon few quotations, must be regarded merely as approximations, and not necessarily for the same qualities of goods in the different towns. In cases where no predominant price was distinguishable, averages were taken.

Retail prices of bakers' flour are not available.