79. Mr. Handingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes have taken place in retail grocery prices since October, 1964; and how these relate to changes in import and wholesale prices.
§ Mr. John MackieThere is no separate index of retail grocery prices but the official index of retail food prices generally showed an increase of 4.9 per cent. between October, 1964 and December, 1965. This figure was, however, affected by normal seasonal variations in price; the increase between October, 1964 and October, 1965, was only 3.1 per cent. The index of average unit value of all imported food and feed fell by 1½ per cent. between October, 1964 and December 1965, mainly because of lower sugar and cocoa prices. The wholesale index for the food manufacturing industries (including the animal feed industry) rose by 1.3 per cent. over this period. The coverage and method of calculating these indices differ, however, from those for the retail food index.