§ Mr. Gouldasked the Paymaster General whether he will bring up to date the figures for the increase in average hourly earnings and unit labour costs given in the reply on 21 November 1978, Official Report, column 550; and if he will include a table showing the increase between the first half of 1979 and the latest available date.
§ Mr. LangThe figures for the periods to 1985 are set out in the following tables:
Average hourly earnings * Unit labour costs Percentage increases between 1975 and 1985 for manufacturing Great Britain †226 145 United States ‡98 52 Japan ||86 9 Federal Republic of Germany ¶65 24 Italy 457 24 Percentage increases between first half of 1979 and 1985 for manufacturing Great Britain †99 62 United States ‡45 26 Japan ||37 10 Federal Republic of Germany ¶31 15 Italy 176 15 * Wages and salaries per unit of output. † Weekly earnings. ‡All production workers. ║Monthly earnings. ¶ Also includes mining. Hourly wage rates: from 1983 covers all industries.
Source: OECD Main Economic Indicators, 1964–83 and July 1986.