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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Oct 1958

Vol. 171 No. 2

Written Answers. - Cost of Living Index.

asked the Taoiseach if he will state what items taken into account for the computation of the cost of living index have risen since mid-February, 1957, and the amount by which each has risen expressed in terms of money and as a percentage.

The following statements show (a) the national average retail prices of certain items of food in mid-February, 1957, and mid-August, 1958, and the difference between them and (b) the percentage change in prices of all items entering into the consumer price index between the two periods. In the case 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 prices computed would not be meaningful. The correctness of the relative price changes is ensured by the fact that at each source the identical article is priced at successive inquiries. 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 as given in (b), computed in such a way as to eliminate the effect of differences in coverage, may differ slightly from the percentages calculated from (a).

(a) NATIONAL Average Retail Prices of Food at mid-February, 1957, and mid-August, 1958 and the difference between them.

Article

Per

Average price to nearest ¼d.

Increase (+) or decrease (–) between mid-Feb., 1957, and mid-August, 1958

Mid-Feb. 1957

Mid-August 1958

s.

d.

s.

d.

d.

Beef:

Round steak

lb.

3

2

3

6 ¾

+

4 ¾

Sirloin

,,

3

5 ¼

3

11

+

5 3/1

Rib

,,

2

9

3

0 ¼

+

3 ¼

Shoulder

,,

2

5 ¼

2

8 ¼

+

3

Neck

,,

2

3

2

5 ½

+

2 ½

Corned brisket

,,

1

10

2

0 ½

+

2 ½

Liver

,,

2

5

2

6 ½

+

1 ½

Mutton:

Leg

,,

3

1 ¾

3

4

+

2 ¼

Loin chops

,,

3

8

3

11 ¼

+

3 ¼

Neck

,,

2

0

2

1 ½

+

1 ½

Shoulder

,,

2

7 ¼

2

8 ½

+

1 ¼

Fillet

,,

3

3 ½

3

6

+

2 ½

Bacon:

Irish, streaky

,,

3

11

3

11

Irish, shoulder

,,

2

9 ½

2

9 ¾

+

¼

Pigs' heads

,,

1

1

1

0 ½

½

Ham, uncooked

,,

4

0 ¼

4

1 ½

+

1 ¼

Ham, cooked

,,

6

8 3/5

7

0 ½

+

3 ¾

Rashers, streaky

lb.

4

0

4

0 ½

+

½

Fresh pork, shoulder

,,

3

5

3

5 ¾

+

¾

Pork sausages

,,

2

9 ¼

2

9

¼

Boiling Fowl

,,

2

4 ¾

2

5 ½

+

¾

Kippered herring

doz.

4

4 ½

4

2 ¾

1 ¾

Fresh herring

lb.

10 ¾

11

+

¼

Fish—Whiting

,,

1

10 ½

1

10 ¼

¼

Cod steak

,,

2

11 ¼

3

0 ¼

+

1

Eggs

doz.

2

8 ½

4

4 ¼

+

19 ¾

Butter—Irish Creamery

lb.

3

8 ¾

4

3 ¾

+

7

,,Farmers'

,,

3

4 ¾

3

7 ½

+

2 ¾

Margarine

,,

1

7 ¾

1

7 ¾

Cheese

,,

2

10 ½

2

10 ½

Lard

,,

1

8

1

6

2

Fresh milk

quart

11 ¾

11

¾

Bread

2 lb. loaf

9

1

2 ½

+

5 ½

Flour—household

14 lbs.

4

2 ½

7

6 ½

+

40

Oatmeal

,,

8

9

8

7 ¾

1 ¼

Rice

lb.

11 ¼

11

¼

Semolina

,,

1

0 ½

1

0 ¼

¼

Potatoes

14 lbs.

2

0 ¼

4

1

+

24 ¾

Cabbage

head

5 ½

6 ½

+

1

Onions

lb.

8 ½

9 ¾

+

1 ¼

Carrots

,,

6

7 ½

+

1 ½

Dried Peas

,,

1

3 ¾

1

3 ¼

½

Cooking apples

,,

7 ½

9 ¾

+

2 ¼

Oranges

,,

1

6 ¼

1

5 ½

¾

Tomatoes

,,

2

0 ¼

1

11

1 ¼

Sultanas

,,

1

10 ¾

1

10 ½

¼

Tinned beans in tomato sauce

1 lb. tin

1

2 ¼

1

2 ¼

Tea—best as used by wage-earning classes

lb.

8

3

7

5 ¼

9 ¾

,,

7

1 ¼

6

3 ¼

10

Coffee

,,

6

4 ¾

6

4

¾

Cornflour

½lb. pkt.

11 ¾

11 ¾

Custard powder

,,

1

0

1

0 ¼

+

¼

Sugar

lb.

7

7 ½

+

½

Jam—Strawberry

,,

2

0

2

1

+

1

Mixed Fruit

,,

1

4 ¼

1

5

+

¾

Marmalade

,,

1

8 ¼

1

9

+

¾

Jellies

pkt.

9 ¼

9 ¼

(b) PERCENTAGE change in prices of items entering into the Consumer Price Index between February, 1957 and August, 1958.

Commodity

Percentage increase (+) or decrease (-)

FOOD:

Beef

+

11.23

Mutton

+

6.68

Bacon and Pigs' heads

0.07

Ham, uncooked

+

2.50

,,cooked

+

4.89

Rashers, streaky

+

1.19

Fresh pork, shoulder

+

2.25

Pork sausages

0.45

Boiling Fowl

+

1.18

Kippered herring

3.32

Fresh herring

+

4.54

Whiting

+

0.08

Cod steak

+

2.87

Tinned salmon

+

2.37

Eggs, 1st grade, hen

+

60.58

Butter, Irish creamery

+

15.69

,,farmers'

+

7.42

Margarine

+

0.81

Cheese

+

0.29

Lard

10.33

Fresh milk

7.20

Condensed milk

+

1.00

Bread

+

58.53

Household flour

+

79.06

Cake

+

1.94

Oatmeal

1.26

Breakfast cereals

+

0.98

Rice

3.27

Semolina

1.94

Potatoes

+

102.14

Cabbage

+

15.49

Onions

+

14.73

Carrots

+

23.73

Dried peas

3.05

Cooking apples

+

29.50

Oranges

3.41

Tomatoes

5.34

Sultanas

1.49

Tinned pears

0.10

Tinned beans in tomato sauce

0.35

Tea, best quality

10.05

Tea as used by wage-earning classes

11.92

Coffee

1.13

Cocoa

+

12.39

Cornflour

+

0.69

Custard powder

+

1.92

Sugar—white granulated

+

7.14

Salt, table

0.14

Mustard

+

4.37

Jam—strawberry

+

3.70

,,—mixed fruit

+

4.06

,,—marmalade

+

3.77

Sauce

+

3.29

Boiled sweets

+

0.23

Bar of chocolate

+

1.35

Biscuits

+

5.40

Jellies

+

0.76

Soft drinks

+

0.90

Other groceries

+

16.77

DRINK AND TOBACCO:

Beer and ale

+

3.61

Stout—bottled

+

7.66

,, —draught

+

9.63

Whiskey (Irish)

+

5.78

Cigarettes

+

9.02

Tobacco

+

9.70

CLOTHING:

MEN'S:

Suit—readymade

+

2.26

,,—tailormade

+

0.31

Overcoat—readymade

+

0.38

Cotton raincoat, rubber-proofed

+

0.70

Wool gaberdine raincoat

+

0.41

Sports coat

+

0.56

Flannel trousers

+

0.04

Hat

+

1.21

Overalls

+

1.90

Pullover (wool, sleeveless)

+

1.25

Cotton singlet

+

1.63

Woollen vest (short sleeves)

+

2.19

Underpants

+

3.64

Shirt (collar attached)

+

0.50

,,(tunic 2 collars)

+

0.46

Pyjamas

+

0.04

Socks

+

1.49

BOYS' (AGED ABOUT 12 YEARS):

Suit

+

1.30

Overcoat

+

0.52

Raincoat

+

0.75

Woollen jersey (long sleeves)

+

2.19

Shirt

+

1.50

Woollen stockings

+

1.21

WOMEN'S:

Light coat

+

0.40

Heavy coat

+

0.60

Costume

0.06

Blouse

+

0.12

Skirt

0.23

Woollen dress

0.02

Silk or art silk dress

0.82

Cotton dress

+

1.80

Hat

+

0.23

Gloves

+

0.85

Cardigan

+

1.05

Slip

+

0.76

Brassiere

+

0.64

Corset

+

1.48

Knickers

+

0.28

Vest

+

0.50

Nightdress

+

0.60

Stockings—nylon—fully fashioned

+

0.00

,,—lisle

+

0.36

GIRLS' (AGED ABOUT 12 YEARS):

Overcoat

+

0.56

Cotton frock

+

1.17

Woollen frock

+

0.63

Stockings

+

0.39

OTHER CLOTHING ITEMS:

Cotton piece goods

+

0.53

Woollen piece goods

2.89

Knitting wool

0.79

FOOTWEAR:

Men's boots

+

0.47

,,shoes (leather sole)

+

1.06

Boys' boots (for boy of 12)

+

0.87

Boys' shoes (for boy of 12)

+

0.96

Wellington boots (for boy of 12)

+

0.66

Women's shoes

+

0.36

Girls' shoes (for girl of 12)

+

1.65

Child's sandals

+

1.46

Men's rubber boots

1.19

OTHER CLOTHING

+

0.62

FUEL AND LIGHT:

Candles

+

5.80

Paraffin

6.15

Coal

1.65

Gas

1.06

Turf (other than briquettes)

+

0.43

Firewood blocks

+

1.19

Electricity

0.00

DURABLE HOUSEHOLD GOODS:

Wire mattress

+

0.28

Spring interior mattress

+

1.41

Fibre mattress

+

0.11

Kitchen chair

+

0.65

Kitchen table, white deal

+

0.41

Three-piece suite upholstered

0.13

Bedroom suite

0.00

Wireless receiving set

+

0.01

Carpet

+

0.03

Linoleum

+

3.77

Doormat

+

0.41

Blankets, woollen

+

0.35

Sheets

+

0.40

Curtain material

0.91

Hand towel (terry)

+

2.98

Dishcloth

+

3.91

Table knives

0.79

Forks

+

5.09

Cup and saucer, undecorated whitewear

+

12.90

Tumbler

5.56

Saucepan, aluminium

+

4.98

Galvanised bucket

+

3.07

Sweeping brush

+

0.47

Scrubbing brush

1.49

Electric iron

+

0.65

Electric lamp bulb, 60 watt

+

10.77

Non-electrical appliances

11.75

Motor cars and motor cycles

+

2.85

OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES:

Soap —household

+

0.81

,,—toilet

0.00

,,—powder

0.00

Scouring powder

0.00

Boot polish

0.00

Floor polish

+

1.34

Toothpaste

+

1.96

Toilet paper

0.00

Razor blades

+

0.72

Face powder

+

1.22

Lipstick

+

0.28

Aspirin

0.00

Quinine

0.00

Matches

+

1.01

Writing pad

+

0.74

Package of envelopes

+

1.47

Bicycle

+

3.23

Cycle tyre

+

0.95

Papers and magazines

+

1.99

Petrol and oil

+

7.12

Admission to cinema

+

4.64

,,to football match

+

3.25

,,to dance

+

0.75

Shoe repairs, men's sole and heel, leather

+

1.54

Men's haircut

+

10.19

Women's trim, shampoo and set

+

1.73

Dry cleaning of men's 3 piece suit

1.64

Dry cleaning of women's costume

1.67

Travel—train

+

5.00

,,—bus

+

4.38

,,—other travelling

+

4.40

Post

0.00

Phone

0.00

Education

+

12.73

Domestic service

+

9.90

Hotel expenses

+

2.02

HOUSING:

Rent and Rates of rented dwellings

+

2.25

Rates of owner occupied dwellings

+

0.74

Repairs and decoration of all dwellings

+

3.36

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