asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether, in calculating the national average prices of tea, sugar, bread, flour and butter for the purposes of compiling the cost-of-living index number it is the practice to have regard only to the controlled prices of official rations, or whether the higher prices permitted for quantities purchased in excess of the prescribed rations, in accordance with official authorisations of such excess purchases are taken into account.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Computation of Cost-of-Living Index Number.
In computing the national average prices of tea, sugar, bread, flour and creamery butter for the purposes of compiling the cost-of-living index number it is the practice to have regard only to the controlled prices for the ordinary rations of these commodities since these represent the predominant prices ruling.