HC Deb 27 March 1929 vol 226 c2445W
Mr. DAY

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any information that will indicate the average level of real wages in Great Britain, Germany, and the United States of America in 1913 and 1928?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

The International Labour Office compiles and publishes in the "International Labour Review," index numbers, which have for their object a comparison of the purchasing power, in terms of food, of the hourly time rate of wages in a limited number of occupations in London and certain cities abroad. These index numbers are regularly reproduced in "The Ministry of Labour Gazette." A copy of the February issue, giving on page 50 the numbers for October, 1928, is being sent to the hon. Member. It will be seen that figures are given for London, Berlin and Philadelphia. Corresponding index numbers are not available for the year 1913, but some information as to the relative levels of wages and cost

Month of 1928. Germany. France (Paris). Italy (Milan). Poland (War-saw).† Belgium. Austria (Vienna).‡ Czechoslovakia (Prague). Hungary.§ Bulgaria. Greece (Athens).§
January … 151 507 532 120 813 107 734 112 2,735 155
February … 151 533 118 811 107 732 112 2,777 154
March … 151 531 119 806 107 730 114 2,791 153
April … 151 519 531 121 807 107 734 114 2,841 153
May … 151 526 121 805 107 736 117 2,857 153
June … 151 530 122 811 109 734 118 2,818 152
July … 153 519 526 123 811 108 746 118 2,861 148
August … 154 522 122 819 108 754 120 2,742 146
September … 152 526 122 825 109 749 121 2,757 145
October … 152 531 528 123 834 109 726 119 2,796 148
November … 152 534 125 845 109 721 118 2,826 148
December … 153 538 125 852 109 725 118 — 146
* The basic date of the index numbers in each case is as follows:—Germany, 1913–14; France (Paris), 1914; Italy (Milan), January-June, 1914; Poland (Warsaw), January, 1914; Belgium, April, 1914; Austria (Vienna), July, 1914; Czechoslovakia (Prague), July, 1914; Hungary, 1913; Bulgaria, 1914; and Greece (Athens), 1914.
† Poland (Warsaw): Index numbers based as from October, 1926, on the new parity of the Zloty.
‡ Austria (Vienna); Gold index numbers, 10,000 paper kronen equalling one schilling and 14,400 paper kronen one gold kronen. The average index for 1928 for Vienna, based on paper kronen, is 1,554,800 (July, 1914=100).
§ Gold index numbers.