HC Deb 12 July 1956 vol 556 cc572-3
27. Mr. McKay

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the yearly changes in the Treasury's general consumers' index, indicating the drop in the value of the £ sterling on the basis of the year 1945 being 100, to the year 1956; and if he will also show the yearly changes in the general retail prices corresponding with the variations in the value of the £ sterling for the same dates.

The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Sir Edward Boyle)

As the reply contains a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the reply:

— (1) (2) (3) (4)
Consumer Price Index Purchasing power of the £ derived from col. (1) (a) Retail Price Index Corresponding value of the £ derived from col. (3) (a)
s. d. s. d.
1945 (b) … … 85 23 8 — —
1946 … … 87 23 0 — —
1947 … … 93 21 6 — —
1948 … … 100 20 0 100 20 0
1949 … … 102 19 6 103 19 5
1950 … … 106 18 11 106 18 11
1951 … … 114 17 6 116 17 4
1952 … … 121 16 6 126 15 10
1953 … … 123 16 3 130 15 4
1954 … … 126 15 11 132 15 1
1955 … … 130 15 5 138 14 5
May. 1956 (c) … 137 14 7 146 13 8
(a) The figures in cols. (2) and (4) have been calculated from the series given in cols. (1) and (3) before rounding.
(b) The Consumer Price Index has been revised for the years from 1946 onwards, so that the figures for 1945 are not strictly comparable with the rest of the series.
(c) The figures for May, 1956, in cols. (1) and (2) are provisional and have been obtained by linking the Consumer Price Index with the Retail Price Index since 1955.