§ Mr. Ogdenasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) what is the average mark up or gross profit margin for (a) producers, (b) wholesalers and (c) retailers of potatoes, cabbages, carrots, onions and sprouts;
(2) what is the average gross profit margin or mark up for (a) manufacturers, (b) wholesalers and (c) retailers of domestic pottery and glassware, respectively;
(3) what is the average gross profit margin or mark up for (a) manufacturers, (b) wholesalers and (c) retailers of household furniture and carpets;
(4) what is the average mark up or gross profit margin for (a) producers, (b) wholesalers and (c) retailers of biscuits, bread and cakes;
(5) what is the average gross profit margin or mark up for (a) manufacturers, (b) wholesalers and (c) retailers of children's, ladies' and men's knitwear, children's and ladies' coats, dresses and rainwear, ladies' stockings or tights, and men's overcoats, raincoats, shirts and ties, socks, suits and sportswear, respectively;
(6) what is the average gross profit margin or mark up for (a) manufacturers, (b) wholesalers and (c) retailers of clocks and watches, and engagement and wedding rings, respectively;
(7) what is the average gross profit margin or mark up for (a) manufacturers, (b) wholesalers and (c) retailers of children's toys and games;
(8) what is the average gross profit margin or mark up for (a) producers, (b) wholesalers and (c) retailers of apples, oranges, bananas, pears and grapes;
(9) what is the average gross profit margin or mark up for (a) manufacturers, 632W (b) wholesalers and (c) retailers of perfumes, personal toiletries, and cosmetics, respectively;
(10) what is the average mark up or gross profit margin for (a) producers (b) wholesalers and (c) retailers of British and imported lamb, British and imported beef, British and imported pigs, and chickens and turkeys, respectively;
(11) what is the average mark up or gross profit margin for (a) producers (b) wholesalers and (c) retailers of natural Christmas trees, holly and mistletoe, Christmas decorations and wrapping paper, and greetings cards, respectively;
(12) what is the average gross profit margin or mark up for (a) producers (b) wholesalers and (c) retailers of whisky, gin, rum, brandy, vodka, beer, lager, cider and popular table wines, respectively;
(13) what is the average gross profit margin or mark up for (a) manufacturers (b) wholesalers and (c) retailers of fruit juices for domestic consumption and soft drinks, respectively;
(14) what is the average gross profit margin or mark up for (a) manufacturers (b) wholesalers and (c) retailers of electrical domestic equipment, radios, recorders, gramophones, and for music centres respectively;
(15) what is the average gross profit margin or mark up for (a) manufacturers (b) wholesalers and (c) retailers of bicycles, motor cycles and motor vehicles, respectively;
(16) what is the average gross profit margin or mark up for (a) manufacturers (b) wholesalers and (c) retailers of cameras and films.
§ Mr. MaclennanNo comprehensive information is available on the mark ups applied to individual goods, but the Price Commission collects information on net profit margins and gross margins obtained by enterprises. In the latest period, 1st June to 31st August 1976, the figures for the largest enterprises were:—
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Food and Drink per cent Other per cent Retailers' gross margins 19.0 33.1 Retailers' net margins 2.3 7.2 Wholesalers' gross margins 10.8 19.8 Wholesalers' net margins 1.2 3.6 Manufacturers' net margins 5.7 5.5 In previous years there has been no indication of any increase in gross margins during the Christmas quarter.
However, the Price Commission has collected figures from time to time, in
Goods Gross Retail margin per cent Gross Wholesale margin per cent Period Comments Food Red meat 19.2–21.6 5.25–6.92 1971–74 Average margins of independent butchers. Frozen chickens 17.9–18.5 8.7–9.1 1971–74 — Frozen turkey 17.1–18.3 8.2–8.7 1971–74 — Apples 24.0–35.0 N/A 1972–74 Cover multiple grocers and green-grocers and independent green-grocers. Carrots 24.0–44.0 N/A — Onions 26.0–39.0 N/A 1972–74 Potatoes 32.0–36.0 30th August 1976–15th October 1976 Combined average for wholesale and retail. Chocolate biscuits 18.7–23.7 1972–75 Bananas 2.9p–3.25p lb. 2.7p–2.75p lb. 1973–74 — Non-Food Womens' jumpers and cardigans. 30.5–32.9 1972–75 Combined average for wholesale and retail. Small electric appliances. 15.6–0.2 11.9–16.0 1973–75 Covers regional and national wholesalers and mailorder, electricity board, multiple, independent department store, co-operative and discount retailers. Large electric appliances. 14.4–36.5 11.1–12.1 1973–75 Electronic equipment. 16.2–38.7 12.9–13.4 1973–75 For both manufacturers and distributors, average net profit margins have now recovered somewhat from the levels recorded last year, but are still well below the levels prevailing in the period before price controls were introduced in 1973.