§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of prices of goods and services which were in operation on or about 1st May 1974 and similar details for 1st May 1977.
§ Mr. MaclennanVolumes LXXXI1 No. 5 (May 1974) and 85 No. 5 (May 1977) of theDepartment of Employment Gazette give average retail prices for about 80 important items of food on 23rd April 1974 and 19th April 1977 respectively. Average prices for other goods and services in the retail price index are not separately published. A full list of the headings under which price information is collected for the retail price index 137W is given in the March issue of the Department of Employment Gazette each year.
The index numbers for the main groups of the retail price index on the dates already mentioned were as follows:
January 1974=100 23-4-74 19-4-77 Food 103.2 189.6 Alcoholic drink 109.5 181.2 Tobacco 114.6 206.5 Housing 107.2 166.3 Fuel and light 103.2 202.9 Durable household goods 105.1 163.7 Clothing and footwear 106.7 153.8 Transport and vehicles 108.6 189.1 Miscellaneous goods 106.6 185.9 Services 102.5 170.0 Meals out 104.8 178.8 Retail Price Index— All items 106.1 180.3