§ Mr. A. Lewisasked 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. GreenThe information is given in the following table. The figures for 145W each item are shown in index form taking October, 1951 (or the year 1951
146W
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.