HC Deb 05 December 1977 vol 940 c571W
Mr. Lawson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing the percentage change in (a) world commodity prices between June 1970 and February 1974, (b) world commodity prices between February 1974 and the most recent month for which a figure is available, (c) United Kingdom retail prices between June 1970 and February 1974, and (d) United Kingdom retail prices between February 1974 and the most recent month for which a figure is available.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

The table below gives the figures

a) World commodity prices: percentage changes
2nd quarter 1970 to 1st quarter 1974 1st quarter 1974 to 2nd quarter 1977
Food 113 5
Agricultural non food 132 10
Minerals (excluding fuels) 67 8
Non-ferrous base metals 82 14

World commodity prices are available only on a month basis.

Source: United Nations Monthly Bulletin of Statistics.

(b) United Kingdom retail prices: percentage changes
June 1970 to February 1974 39.5
February 1974 to October 1977 83.4