asked the Taoiseach the present value of the pound as compared with the 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 and 1950 values.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Value of Pound.
21.
It is estimated on the basis of the retail price index numbers that £1 at mid-August, 1961 (the latest date for which the index is calculated) would purchase the same quantum of goods and services at retail prices as would 7/1 in the year 1930, 8/6 in the year 1940 and 13/5 in the year 1950. The appropriate index numbers are not available for the years 1910 and 1920 and corresponding estimates for these years cannot therefore be made. The information available suggests that retail prices rose by about 4 per cent. between 1910 and 1914 (the base year for the first series of retail price index numbers) and by about 150 per cent. between 1914 and 1920. On the assumption that these figures are correct the relevant estimates for 1910 and 1920 would be 4/- and 10/5 respectively.