§ Sir C. Osborneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much costs and prices have risen since July, 1966, both in actual amounts and in percentage terms.
§ Mr. Harold LeverI am not sure which costs and prices the hon. Member has in mind. The cost of basic materials 51W and fuels used in manufacturing industry as measured by the index of wholesale prices has risen from 109.5 in July, 1966, to a provisional figure of 120.1 in February, 1969—an increase of 9.7 per cent. In the same period the index of retail prices has risen from 116.6 to 129.8, an increase of 11.3 per cent.