HC Deb 30 March 1987 vol 113 cc401-2W
Mr. Meacher

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in real personal disposable income each year since 1960; and what comparable information he has regarding France, Germany, United States of America, and Japan.

Mr. MacGregor

[pursuant to the reply, 26 March 1987, c. 268–691: Information about annual percentage changes in United Kingdom real personal disposable income is published in table 3.16 of United Kingdom national accounts (the Central Statistical Office Blue Book) which is available in the Library of the House of Commons. To afford a comparison with the other countries specified the definition of real personal disposable income used in the United Kingdom national accounts has had to be slightly modified in the table that follows. Comparable information is not readily available for years before 1973.

Percentage changes in real personal disposable income over the preceding year1
United Kingdom France Federal Republic of Germany United States Japan
1973 6.4 6.4 2.4 6.2 12.2
1974 -1.4 3.0 1.4 -0.7 3.4
1975 0.8 4.9 3.9 2.5 4.1
1976 -0.4 2.9 1.6 3.6 4.4
1977 -0.7 3.4 2.9 4.0 2.4
1978 7.2 5.4 3.7 4.4 4.3
1979 5.2 1.9 4.2 2.7 3.1
1980 1.8 0.0 1.4 1.0 1.1
1981 -2.0 3.2 0.2 2.7 1.8
1982 0.5 2.9 -2.0 0.8 2.1
1983 2.3 -0.6 -0.7 3.0 2.9
1984 2.5 -0.5 1.1 .. 2.6
1985 2.7 .. .. .. ..
1 Before deducting depreciation but after deducting stock appreciation. The basis of the figures for the Federal Republic of Germany is different from that for the other four countries featured.

Source: Derived from "OECD National Accounts" Volumes I and II, 1986.