asked the Taoiseach when a decision was last taken on the items which are included in the compilation of the cost of living index; whether a review is contemplated; and, if so, what items, goods or services will be included in the index in the future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Living Index.
6.
A new series of consumer price index numbers was recently inaugurated by the Central Statistics Office. The new series replaces the series complied from August, 1953 to November, 1968. The base of the new series is mid-November, 1968=100 and the index for mid-February was issued on 3rd April.
The items included and the weighting basis of the new series are derived from the expenditure pattern revealed by the 1965-66 Household Budget Inquiry which covered towns and villages in the State. A full description of the new index will be given in the March, 1969 issue of the Irish Statistical Bulletin. I propose, with your permission, Sir, to circulate, in the Official Report a statement showing the items included in the new index.
Following is the statement:
FOOD
Beef:
Round steak
Sirloin steak
Sirloin roast
Rib steak (or chuck)
Leg of beef (boneless)
Brisket corned beef
Mutton (excluding Spring Lamb):
Leg (whole)
Loin chops
Cutlets (rib chops)
Gigot chops
Neck
Liver
Pork:
Leg (whole)
Loin chops
Shoulder (whole)
Steak
Bacon:
Best back rashers
Streaky rashers
Ham, uncooked (whole)
Shoulder (whole)
Poultry and other meat:
Broiler, uncooked, oven ready (medium size)
Chicken, cooked (medium size)
Ham, cooked
Sausages, pork
Black pudding
Fresh fish:
Whiting, fillets
Cod, cutlets
Plaice, fillets
Herrings (whole)
Fish fingers
Dried and cured fish:
Fillets, smoked
Kippers, smoked
Tinned fish:
Salmon
Sardines
Fresh vegetables:
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Onions
Carrots
Turnips (medium size)
Cabbage (medium size)
Cauliflower (medium size)
Dried peas
Tinned vegetables:
Peas
Beans
Frozen vegetables:
Peas
Beans
Bread:
White, sliced
White, unsliced
Brown
Flour:
White, plain
White, self-raising
Brown, wholemeal
Biscuits:
Cream crackers
Plain
Sweet
Cake:
Fruit
Sponge sandwich
Swiss roll
Milk:
Fresh milk, pasteurised
Condensed milk
Fresh cream
Cheese:
Processed
Natural, cheddar or cheshire
Eggs:
Large size
Standard size
Butter and other fats:
Butter, creamery
Margarine
Cooking fat
Fresh fruit:
Apples, cooking
Apples, eating
Oranges
Bananas
Tinned fruit:
Pears
Peaches
Dried fruit:
Raisins, seedless
Sultanas
Prunes
Beverages:
Tea, best quality
Tea, medium quality
Coffee beans, ground or roasted
Coffee extract, powder
Cocoa
Sugar:
White granulated
Castor
Cereal products:
Cornflakes
Wheatflakes
Oatmeal, packet
Cornflour
Rice
Semolina
Jelly and custard:
Jelly, Birds
Jelly, Chivers
Custard powder
Sauces and meat extracts:
Sauce
Bovril
Soups:
Tinned
Dried
Jams and syrup:
Jam
Marmalade
Golden syrup
Sweets and ice cream:
Sweets
Chocolate, bars
Ice cream, block
Soft drinks:
Minerals, orange
Minerals, lemon
Orange squash (concentrated)
Miscellaneous items:
Salt
Pepper
Mustard
Potato crisps
Meals away from home
ALCOHOLIC DRINK
Sherry:
Glass
Bottle
Table wine
Stout:
Draught
Bottle
Ale, bottle
Lager, bottle
Whiskey:
Glass
Bottle
Gin:
Glass
Bottle
Brandy:
Glass
Bottle
TOBACCO
Cigarettes:
Plain
Filter tipped
Cigars
Tobacco:
Plug
Flake
CLOTHING
Men's outer-clothing:
Heavy overcoats, woollen lined—low priced
Heavy overcoats, woollen lined—medium priced
Cotton/terylene raincoats, proofed
Two-piece suits, worsted, ready-made— low priced
Two-piece suits, worsted, ready-made— medium priced
Two-piece suits, worsted, tailormade—low priced
Two-piece suits, worsted, tailormade— medium priced
Sports coats, tweed
Trousers, terylene or cotton
Cardigans
Heavy pullovers
Men's under-clothing:
Shirts, collar attached—low priced
Shirts, collar attached—medium priced
Vests, woollen
Underpants, cotton
Pyjamas
Women's outer-clothing:
Coats, woollen lined—low priced
Coats, woollen lined—medium priced
Showerproof, lined
Two-piece suits—low priced
Two-piece suits—medium priced
Skirts, woollen
Dresses, cotton
Dresses, other material
Blouses
Cardigans—low priced
Cardigans—medium priced
Women's under-clothing:
Vests, cotton
Panties
Slips, nylon
Corsets (with fastenings)
Girdles
Brassieres
Nighdresses
Pyjamas
Children's outer-clothing:
Boys' heavy overcoats, lined
Boys' two-piece suits, worsted, ready-made
Boys' trousers, short
Boys' heavy pullovers, woollen
Girls' coats, lined
Girls' skirts
Girls' dresses, cotton
Girls' blouses
Children's underwear:
Boys' shirts, cotton
Boys' vests
Boys' pyjamas
Girls' vests, cotton
Girls' panties, cotton
Girls' nightdresses
Hose:
Men's socks
Boys' stockings, three-quarters length
Women's nylons, seamless—low priced
Women's nylons, seamless—medium priced
Girls' ankle socks, cotton
Other clothing:
Men's handkerchiefs, white cotton
Men's ties, terylene
Men's leather gloves, woollen lined
Women's gloves
Women's scarves
Clothing material:
Dress material, woollen
Dress material, cotton
Wool, double-knit
Thread, spool
Footwear:
Men's leather shoes, welted
Men's leather shoes, vulcanised
Men's slippers, fabric uppers
Men's boots, heavy working
Women's casual shoes
Women's fashion shoes—low priced
Women's fashion shoes—medium priced
Women's slippers, fabric uppers
Boys' leather shoes, vulcanised
Boys' boots
Girls' leather shoes
Children's wellington boots
Children's sandals, rubber soled
FUEL AND LIGHT
Coal, delivered:
Best quality
Medium quality
Turf:
Briquettes
Other
Paraffin oil
Bottled gas
Firewood blocks
Gas
Electricity
Fuel oil
HOUSING
Rent and rates (rented dwellings)
Rates and water charges (owner occupied dwellings)
House insurance
Repairs and decorations
HOUSEHOLD DURABLES
Furniture:
Three-piece upholstered lounge suite (settee and two chairs)
Fireside chairs, upholstered
Dining-room suites, wood
Kitchen set (table and four chairs)
Bedroom suites
Single divan bed (including mattress)
Drop-side cots
Large domestic appliances:
Radios, portable transistors
Radios, mains
Television sets
Vacuum cleaners
Cookers, electric
Cookers, gas (bottled or piped)
Refrigerators
Washing machines
Record players
Small domestic appliances:
Fires, electric
Irons, electric
Kettles, electric
Razors, electric
Electric bulbs
Oil heaters
Tools and garden equipment:
Hammers
Garden spades
Lawnmowers, manual
Wheelbarrows, metal
Watering cans, plastic
Dust bins, galvanised
Floor coverings:
Linoleum, inlaid
Carpeting
Hearth rugs
Doormats
Soft furnishings:
Curtain material—low priced
Curtain material—medium priced
Sheets, cotton, single size
Blankets, all wool, single size
Towels, turkish
Tea towels
Tablecloths
China and glassware:
Cups and saucers, ordinary ware
Half-tea service, china (21 piece)
Tumblers, pressed glass, no handle
Casserole dishes, oven glassware
Domestic utensils:
Table knives, stainless steel blade
Table forks
Saucepans, aluminium
Household scissors
Scrubbing brushes
Household sweeping brushes
Polish brushes
Wash-up basins, plastic
Household buckets, plastic
OTHER GOODS
Domestic non-durables:
Household soaps
Soap or detergent powders
Soap or detergent liquids
Starch
Polish, floor
Polish, shoe
Toilet paper
Matches
Toilet requisites:
Toilet soaps
Tooth paste
Haircream
Shampoo
Cold cream
Lipstick
Paper tissues
Razor blades
Tooth brushes
Personal goods:
Brief cases, leather
Suitcases, fibre, large
Ladies' handbags, leather
School bags
Umbrellas, women's
Wrist watches, men's
Alarm clocks, mechanical
Sporting goods and toys:
Golf balls
Tennis balls
Footballs, leather
Tennis rackets
Fishing-rods
Toy table-tennis sets
Tricycles
Set of draughts
Packs of playing cards
Stationery:
Envelopes
Writing pads
Picture postcards
Ink
Pencils, black lead
Fountain pens
Ball-point pens
Records and camera films:
Records, L.P. 33? r.p.m.
Records, single, 45 r.p.m.
Camera films, black and white
Developing charge for film, black and white
Newspapers and periodicals
TRANSPORT
Vehicles:
Motor cars
Motor cycles
Bicycles (without extras)
Perambulators
Go-cars
Motor tax:
Cars
Cycles
Motor insurance:
Cars
Cycles
Maintenance and running costs:
Petrol, high grade
Petrol, low grade
Motor oil
Motor car tyre, new
Motor car battery
Charges for mending punctures
Standard maintenance charges
Bicycle tyre
Travelling:
Bus
Train
Other services
SERVICES AND RELATED EXPENDITURE
Entertainment:
Cinema, evening film, highest price
Cinema, evening film, lowest price
Dance, regular admission, no special attraction
Sports fixture, cheapest adult admission charge (excluding championship or cup matches)
Hairdressing:
Men's haircuts
Women's shampoo and set (excluding trim)
Shoe repairs:
Men's shoes, soling and heeling
Women's shoes, heeling
Laundry:
Charges for men's shirts
Charges for sheets (single size)
Charges for table cloths
Launderette:
Washing, basic charge
Drying, basic charge
Dry cleaning:
Charge for cleaning man's two-piece suit
Charge for cleaning woman's coat
Medical supplies and services:
Anadins
Aspirins
Andrews Liver Salts
Milk of Magnesia
Vaseline ointment
Adhesive dressings
Proprietary cough mixtures
Medicines and drugs
Doctor's dentist's and optician's fees
Hospital charges
Education
Domestic service
Television rentals
Hotel accommodation
Expenditure abroad
Postage
Telephone and telegrams
Subscriptions to sports clubs
Trade union subscriptions
Licences
Other expenditure
Am I correct in saying that where the new index shows the cost of living to be 100, the correct procedure for the purpose of comparison with the old index is to multiply that figure by 2.3?
By 2.03.
That, I think, is very important for the public to bear in mind.
7.
asked the Taoiseach if he has identified the increases in the cost of living attributable to changes in the gross national product in the year ended 31st March, 1968 and in the year ended 31st March, 1969.
It is not possible to identify changes in the consumer price index which are attributable to changes in the gross national product.