§ Mr. Lawsonasked 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 SheldonThe 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