§ Mr. F. Harrisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, taking the index figure of January as a basis, was the percentage increase in the cost of living at the latest available date; what was the percentage increase during the corresponding period of 1951; and what is the amount in shillings and pence of the fall in the purchasing power of the £ represented by these percentages.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerBetween January and September, 1952, the cost of living, as measured by the Interim Index of Retail Prices, rose by 3 per cent. This is equivalent to a fall of about 7d. in the internal purchasing power of the £.
The figures for the corresponding period of 1951 were a rise of 9 per cent. and a fall of 1s. 8d. respectively.