§ Sir E. Erringtonasked the Minister of Labour what has been the percentage increase in the Index of Retail Prices from 1939, 1945 and 1949, respectively, to 31st December, 1964.
§ Mr. ThorntonUp to June, 1947, the only official index of retail prices was the Cost of Living Index based on a 1914 standard of consumption. Any attempt to link these early figures with the Interim Index of Retail Prices and the Index of Retail Prices figures compiled from June, 1947, to January, 1956, and from January, 1956, onwards would not be profitable. The percentage increase in the Cost of Living Index between 1939 and mid-June, 1947, was 28½ per cent. There was no change in this index between 1945 and mid-June, 1947. The increases in the retail prices index between mid-June, 1947, and mid-December, 1964, and between 1949 and mid-December, 1964, were 97 per cent. and 78 per cent. respectively.