Food Prices (Hansard, 15 March 1991)

§ Mr. Ralph Howell
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average price paid to producers for(a) wheat, (b) beef, (c) milk, (d) eggs and (e) pork in 1960, 1979, 1980 and 1990, respectively, in actual prices, at constant 1960 prices and at constant 1990 prices.

§ Mr. Curry
Average prices received by producers are given in the table. The prices quoted for 1960 have been derived from various sources and are not necessarily consistent with those provided for later years. These are inclusive of subsidies and exclusive of corresponding levies as shown in tables within section 5 of "Agriculture in the United Kingdom 1990". It is not meaningful to refer to prices "at constant prices" but prices "in real terms" may be derived by dividing actual prices by a general index of prices. The all-items retail prices index is provided for the specified years.
708W

1960 1979 1980 1990 (forecast)

Wheat (£ per tonne) 21.00 95.90 99.30 109.50

Beef (p per kg dcw.) 32.00 130.00 137.00 180.00

Milk (p per litre) 3.07 11.55 12.77 19.23

Eggs (p per dozen) 18.30 38.90 44.20 58.00

Pigmeat (p per kg dcw.) 25.00 78.00 84.00 108.00

Retail Price Index (1985 = 100) 13.20 59.90 70.70 133.30

§ Mr. Ralph Howell
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will show the average price to the consumer of(a) a pint of milk, (b) a 2 lb loaf of bread and (c) a pint of beer in 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1990; and if he will also show the percentage increase between 1980 and 1990 in each case.

§ Mr. Curry
The table gives the available information.

Description Price

(pence per pint)

a. Retail price of milk 1960–90

1960 milk ¹3.3

1970 milk, ordinary ²4.7

1980 milk, ordinary ²16.5

1990 milk, pasteurised ²30.5

Percentage change 1980 to 1990³ + 86

(pence per loaf)

b. Retail price of bread (unsliced) 1960–90

1960 white wheat bread 1¾ lb ¹4.8

1970 white unwrapped loaf 1¾ lb ²8.8

1980 white unwrapped loaf 800 g ²36.6

1990 white unwrapped loaf 800 g ²65.2

Percentage change 1980 to 1990³ + 70

(pence per pint)

c. Retail price of beer 1960–90

1960 beer, bottled ¹9.3

1970 beer, bottled ²14.4

1980 beer, bottled and canned ²55.1

1990 (i) draught bitter ²108.7

(ii) draught lager ²121.6

Percentage change 1980 to 1990³ + 132

¹ Price based on mid October.

² Price based on annual average.

³ The percentage change between 1980 and 1990 is based on the index for each item, rather than the average price. This takes into account the fact that the specification of the item may have changed over the period.

Source: Retail prices index.

	1960	1979	1980	1990 (forecast)
Wheat (£ per tonne)	21.00	95.90	99.30	109.50
Beef (p per kg dcw.)	32.00	130.00	137.00	180.00
Milk (p per litre)	3.07	11.55	12.77	19.23
Eggs (p per dozen)	18.30	38.90	44.20	58.00
Pigmeat (p per kg dcw.)	25.00	78.00	84.00	108.00
Retail Price Index (1985 = 100)	13.20	59.90	70.70	133.30

Description	Price
		(pence per pint)
a. Retail price of milk 1960–90
1960	milk	¹3.3
1970	milk, ordinary	²4.7
1980	milk, ordinary	²16.5
1990	milk, pasteurised	²30.5
Percentage change 1980 to 1990³	+ 86
		(pence per loaf)
b. Retail price of bread (unsliced) 1960–90
1960	white wheat bread 1¾ lb	¹4.8
1970	white unwrapped loaf 1¾ lb	²8.8
1980	white unwrapped loaf 800 g	²36.6
1990	white unwrapped loaf 800 g	²65.2
Percentage change 1980 to 1990³	+ 70
		(pence per pint)
c. Retail price of beer 1960–90
1960	beer, bottled	¹9.3
1970	beer, bottled	²14.4
1980	beer, bottled and canned	²55.1
1990	(i) draught bitter	²108.7
	(ii) draught lager	²121.6
Percentage change 1980 to 1990³	+ 132
¹ Price based on mid October.
² Price based on annual average.
³ The percentage change between 1980 and 1990 is based on the index for each item, rather than the average price. This takes into account the fact that the specification of the item may have changed over the period.