HC Deb 17 April 1972 vol 835 c30W
68. Mr. William Hannan

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the purchasing value of the £ sterling has decreased since October, 1958.

Mr. Higgins

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling as 100p in October, 1958, its value in February, 1972, the latest date for which information is available, is estimated at 60½p This is a fall of 39½p.

This estimate is based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for calendar years adjusted by movements in the General Index of Retail Prices for the months at the beginning and end of the period.