§ Sir C. Osborneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the rise in the cost of living since October 1964 to the most recent convenient date; which items in the cost-of-living index have risen most; and by how much in each case.
§ Mr. TaverneThe cost of living, as measured by the index of retail prices, rose by 21.9 per cent. between October, 1964, and May, 1969, the latest date for which information is available. The percentage increases shown by each of the component groups of the index in this period are given below:
Food 21.9 Alcoholic drink 23.2 Tobacco 23.6 Housing 26.7 Fuel and light 22.9 Durable household goods 14.2 Clothing and footwear 11.0 Transport and vehicles 21.8 Miscellaneous goods 25.1 Services 30.8