§ Mr. Ron Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he can estimate the percentage increase in the retail price index between April 1974 and April 1976 in terms of the basket of goods and services and weights which were used as the basis for the Retail Price Index in April 1974;
(2) if he will estimate the percentage increase in the retail price index between April 1974 and April 1976 in terms of the basket of goods and services and weights 655W which were used as the basis for the Retail Price Index in April 1976.
§ Mr. GoldingThe increase in retail prices between April 1974 and April 1976 as measured by an index using the basket of goods and services which formed the weighting basis of the Retail Price Index in 1974 would have been 45.0 per cent.
An index based on the goods and services used to form the weights of the Retail Price Index in 1976 would have shown an increase in retail prices of 43.6 per cent.
The published Retail Price Index, which changes its weighting basis each year, showed an increase of 44.7 per cent. over the same period.