Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 22 May 1990

Vol. 398 No. 10

Written Answers. - Price Increase Statistics.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

124 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will outline for the years 1975-88 inclusive:- (1) the percentage increase in the consumer price index giving 1975 as the base year; (2) the percentage increase of (a) stout (b) beer (c) lager and (d) spirits and (3) if he will indicate in respect of those increased, the breakdown between the increase in the price for each year 1975-88 between customs and excise duty, VAT and price increases sanctioned by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Industry and Commerce (Mr. O'Malley)

The information requested by the Deputy is very detailed and, in the absence of detailed price control measures and price monitoring arrangements, is not readily available in my Department. My Department, however, has been in touch with both the Central Statistics Office and the Department of Finance for information on the consumer price index and VAT and excise duty rates, respectively. The information, as supplied, is set out in the tabular statements which are being circulated in the Official Report.

The Deputy may wish to note that when the National Prices Commission was in operation, it produced monthly reports, which,inter alia, included information on specific drink price increases. These reports were presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas.

In general, however, it can be said that increases in prices from 1975 to 1985 inclusive would have been sanctioned.

Annual Average Increase in Consumer Price Index

[1975 Base Year]

Year	% increase
1976	+	18.0
1977	+	13.6
1978	+	7.6
1979	+	13.2
1980	+	18.2
1981	+	20.4
1982	+	17.1
1983	+	10.4
1984	+	8.6
1985	+	5.4
1986	+	3.9
1987	+	3.2
1988	+	2.1

Source: Central Statistics Office

Estimated Annual Percentage Increases in certain components of the Consumer Price Index

	Stout	Ale/Beer	Lager	Spirits
	%	%	%	%
1976	+	35.5	+	30.5	+	30.5	+	19.4
1977	+	6.4	+	6.5	+	7.0	+	6.1
1978	+	6.6	+	7.1	+	6.7	+	5.6
1979	+	13.9	+	14.1	+	13.3	+	14.0
1980	+	22.1	+	21.7	+	19.6	+	25.7
1981	+	28.5	+	27.2	+	24.9	+	26.7
1982	+	24.1	+	22.8	+	21.8	+	22.2
1983	+	15.0	+	16.9	+	14.7	+	13.6
1984	+	6.2	+	6.4	+	6.3	+	1.8
1985	+	3.4	+	3.3	+	3.3	-	4.4
1986	+	8.2	+	9.6	+	8.7	+	8.3
1987	+	4.9	+	6.2	+	5.4	+	4.6
1988	+	4.2	+	5.0	+	6.0	+	1.9

Source: Central Statistics Office

Rate on 1 January, 1975	6.75%
1 March, 1976	10%
1 September, 1981	15%
1 May, 1982	18%
1 March, 1983	23%
1 March, 1986	25%

Source: Department of Finance. Beer

Excise Duty Increases 1975-1988

Date	Increase/Decrease per pint (incl. VAT)
January, 1975	+	3.0p
8 January, 1976	+	5.0p
8 February, 1979	+	2.0p
28 February, 1980	+	6.0p
29 January, 1981	+	6.0p
22 July, 1981	+	2.0p
13 March, 1982	+	4.0p
8 January, 1983	+	6.0p
22 February, 1983	-	3.7p
	(Offset by VAT increases)
26 January, 1984	+	2.0p
30 January, 1986	+	1.0p

Source: Department of Finance.

Spirits

Excise Duty Increases/Decreases 1975-1988

Date	Increase/Decrease per glass (incl. VAT)
January, 1975	+	5.0p
18 January, 1976	+	5.0p
8 February, 1979	+	6.0p
28 February, 1980	+	16.0p
29 January, 1981	+	12.0p
22 July, 1981	+	2.0p
13 March, 1982	+	6.0p
8 January, 1983	+	8.0p
22 February, 1983	-	6.8p
	(Offset by VAT increases)
20 October, 1984	-	16.4p
30 January, 1986	+	3.0p

Source: Department of Finance.