HC Deb 23 October 1956 vol 558 c12W
Mr. de Freitas

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling based on the Interim Index of Retail Prices in September, 1956, 1955, 1954, 1953, and 1952, taking the value in October, 1951, at 20 shillings.

Mr. H. Macmillan

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ as 20s. in October, 1951, the corresponding figures for the dates referred to in the Question are as follows :

s. d.
September, 1952 18 10
September, 1953 18 5
September, 1954 18 0
September, 1955 17 2
September, 1956 16 5

This estimate is based on the Interim Index of Retail Prices for the first four dates, and on the new Retail Price Index (which was introduced in January, 1956), for the last.