§ 14. Mr. Wakehamasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what was the latest recorded percentage increase in the year-on-year wholesale prices index.
§ Mr. HattersleyThe wholesale prices index of the output of manufacturing industry rose by 20.9 per cent. in the year ending June 1977, but the index for inputs of materials and fuel rose by 15..2 per cent.—about half of the January figure.
§ Mr. WakehamCan the right hon. Gentleman say when the year-on-year increase was last in single figures?
§ Mr. HattersleyNot without notice, but I can repeat the last part of my original reply. There has been a substantial improvement in the index, and we hope and believe that it will soon be reflected in prices in the shops.