HC Deb 24 June 1948 vol 452 cc154-5W
54. Sir W. Smithers

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the purchasing power of the pound, taking the year 1900 as 100, for 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, 1945 and at the latest available date, also the figures calculated over the whole field of personal expenditure and also figures disregarding the cost of food subsidies.

Mr. Jay

On a cost-of-living basis the figures for the purchasing power of the pound are approximately as follow:

1900, 100; 1910, 95; 1920, 37; 1930, 58; 1940, 49; 1945, 45; 17th June. 1947, 45.

Over the whole field of personal expenditure the only available figures are:

1940, 49; 1945, 38; April, 1948, 33 (provisional).

With regard to the last part of the Question, it has been explained on previous occasions that figures which ignored the cost-of-living subsidies would have no real meaning.