HC Deb 21 March 1963 vol 674 cc100-1W
Sir Richard Glyn

asked the Minister of Labour what was the percentage increase in the cost of living of wage earners and of small and medium salary earners, respectively, between April, 1953, and the last convenient date; what were the corresponding increases between April, 1953, and April, 1955, April, 1957, April, 1958, and April, 1962; and what was the average industrial wage on each of these dates.

Mr. Hare

Separate retail prices indices for wage earners and for small and medium salary earners are not available. Only one retail prices index is calculated and that is based on the average pattern of expenditure of the great majority of households in the United Kingdom, including practically all wage earners and most small and medium salary earners. The percentage increases in the retail prices index between April, 1953, and January, 1963, the latest date for which the index has been calculated, and between April, 1953, and April in each of the years 1955, 1957, 1958 and 1962 are given below.

AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS OF MANUAL WORKERS
Percentage change in earnings since April, 1953 Percentage increase in the retail prices index
Men Women working Full Time Men Women
s. d. s. d.
April, 1953 185 11 100 2 — — —
April, 1955 217 5 112 6 17 12 4
April, 1957 241 6 126 0 30 26 14
April, 1958 253 2 131 4 36 31 19
April, 1962 312 10 157 2 68 57 30
October, 1962 (the latest available) 317 3 160 10 70 61 30
January, 1963 — — — — 31