HC Deb 24 October 1978 vol 955 cc890-1W
Mr. Lawson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the annualised six-monthly rate of increase in the general index of retail prices, excluding seasonal foods, for each month over the period March-October 1978 inclusive.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

The figure for the annualised six-monthly rate of increase in the general index of retail prices, excluding seasonal foods, for October is not yet available. With that exception the figures are as follows:

Month Annualised 6-monthly rate of increase in general retail price index, excluding seasonal foods
March 1978 6.8 per cent
April 1978 8.4 per cent
May 1978 8.6 per cent
June 1978 8.9 per cent
July 1978 9.1 per cent
August 1978 9.6 per cent
September 1978 9.6 per cent

Wages and salaries* General index of retail prices Percentage increases United Kingdom company dividends (gross of tax)†‡
All items Total food
1966 Quarter 1–1978 Quarter 2 309 228 291 38
1974 Quarter 1–1978 Quarter 2 103 93 102 50
* Excludes forces' pay.
† Excludes payments of dividends to other companies.
‡ Dividend payments were high in Quarter 1 1966 because companies brought forward payments in order to avoid payment of income tax under Schedule F, to which they would have been liable on dividends paid after 5th April 1966. Between the first half of 1966 and the second quarter of 1978 the quarterly rate of dividend payments rose by 95 per cent.