HC Deb 22 November 1978 vol 958 c641W
Mr. Gould

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the reduction in the

Percentage change over previous year (appreciation +;depreciation -)
1976 per cent. 1977 per cent. 1978 per cent.
Relative normal unit labour costs§ … … … … …
United Kingdom … … … … … -8.8 -4.4 +7.4*
France … … … … … +0.4 -4.1 -3.1*
Italy … … … … … -12.1 -6.3 -2.7*
Relative wholesale prices§
United Kingdom … … … … … -6.9 +6.3 +12.8*
France … … … … … -4.1 -5.9 -1.6*
Italy … … … … … -7.3 +2.4 -1.1*
Real national disposable income║
United Kingdom … … … … … +2.8 +1.0 +3.9†
Volume of exports of manufactures
United Kingdom … … … … … +9.0 +8.0 +2.0‡
France¶ … … … … … +10.0 +6.0 ║
Italy¶ … … … … … +14.0 +8.0 ║
Volume of imports of manufactures ║
United Kingdom … … … … … +9.0 +11.0 +14.0‡
* Percentage change between the first quarters of 1977 and 1978.
† Percentage change between the average of the first two quarters of 1977 and the average of the first two quarters of 1978.
‡ Percentage change between the average of the first three quarters of 1977 and the average of the first three quarters of 1978.
§ Source: International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics, November 1978.
║ Figures for France and Italy are not available.
Source: Trade and Industry, 8th September 1978.