§ 78. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Labour what percentage increase has taken place in the price of the food index since 1946.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThere is no single index which measures the average percentage change in the level of food prices over the period 1946 to 1953. Up to June, 1947, the "cost of living" index based on 1914 consumption standards was in use. In June, 1947, this was replaced by the more up-to-date "interim index of retail prices," the basis of which was itself revised in January, 1952. The index figures in these three series are therefore not directly comparable.