asked the Taoiseach the price of the following articles (a) in 1956 and (b) at the latest available date: 1 lb butter, 2 lb bread, 1 lb sugar, 1 lb tea, 1 pt. stout, 1 pt. ale, 1 glass whiskey, 20 cigarettes, 1 gal. petrol, postage stamp for letter, 1 lb steak and 1 lb bacon.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Commodity Prices.
6.
In introducing the present consumer price index in November, 1968, changes were made in the list of items priced and in the set of retail outlets from which price quotations are collected. As a consequence it is not possible to give comparable average retail prices for individual items for the period specified. Percentage changes for certain items can be derived by linking the two series. With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the percentage change in the price of the items specified between February, 1956 and February, 1972, in so far as they are available. The charge for a postage stamp for an inland letter (first 2 ozs.) was 1.25p in February, 1956 and 4p in February, 1972.
Following is the statement:
PERCENTAGE change in the price of certain items entering into the Consumer Price Index between mid-February 1956 and mid-February 1972
|
Commodity |
Percentage increase (+) or decrease (–) |
|
Butter |
+49.6 |
|
Bread |
+245.6 |
|
Sugar |
+74.9 |
|
Tea |
–0.3 |
|
Stout |
+168.4 |
|
Ale |
+139.5 |
|
Whiskey |
+112.4 |
|
Cigarettes |
+139.7 |
|
Petrol |
+85.4 |
|
Beef |
+140.6 |
|
Bacon |
+51.1 |