Unit Labour Costs

HC Deb 07 July 1988 vol 136 c717W

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of increase in unit labour costs.

Mr. Major

The latest figures show that in the fourth quarter of 1987 unit labour costs for the whole economy rose by 3.9 per cent. over the previous year. In the three months ending April 1988, manufacturing unit wage and salary costs rose by 3.2 per cent. over the previous year.