HC Deb 21 November 1963 vol 684 cc144-6W
Mr. A. Lewis

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table of figures giving the percentage rise or fall since October, 1951, to the latest convenient stated date, of the cost of living, wages, prices, profits, purchasing value of the £ sterling, rents and rates, unemployment and terms of trade, taking 1951 as representing 100 per cent.

Mr. Green

The information is given in the following table. The figures for each item are shown in index form taking October, 1951 (or the year 1951

Base (taken as 100) Latest figure
Retail price index* October, 1951 October, 1963 145
Total wages. 1951 1962 186
Gross trading profits of companies† 1951 1962 138
Purchasing power of £ ‡ October, 1951 October, 1963 74
Income from rent§ 1951 1962 273
Rates║ 1951 1962 251
Unemployment October, 1951 October, 1963 162
Terms of trade * October, 1951 September, 1963 127
* For each of these items it has been necessary to link series with different base dates and different weighting systems. The movements over the whole period are therefore only approximate.
† All companies except those nationalised during some part of the period.
‡ Based on the consumer price index for the years 1951 to 1962, adjusted by the movements of the retail price index for the months at the beginning and end of the period.
§ Rental income from all types of property, after deducting the cost of repairs and other expenses. The imputed rent of owner-occupied property is included.
║ Total receipts of rates by local authorities.
¶ Export unit value index as a percentage of the import unit value index.

where figures for October are not available) as equal to 100.