§ 64. Mr. Horobinasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the percentage increase in wholesale prices over the average of 1947, 1948 and 1949; and what is the corresponding increase in the cost of capital equipment.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe latest figures of the increase in wholesale prices are given in Table 152 of the Monthly Digest of Statistics for March, 1952. In the fourth quarter of 1951 wholesale prices were 54 per cent. higher than the average16W of the three years 1947–49. Comprehensive figures of prices of capital equipment are not available but for a selection of items of plant, machinery, vehicles, building and civil engineering work, for which figures are collected, there was an increase of about 30 per cent. over the same period.