asked the Taoiseach if he will state in the form of the reply of 26 April 1977 in respect of the years 1968, 1977, 1978, 1979 and to the latest available date in 1980, (a) the cost-of-living index number with base mid-November, 1968 as 100; and (b) the reason for the increase.
Written Answers. - Cost of Living Increase.
The Consumer Price Indices (to base mid-November 1968 as 100) for mid-May 1968, 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980 are given in the following table together with the contribution of each of the main commodity groups to annual percentage changes at each of these dates.
Consumer Price Index (mid-Nov. 1968=100) |
Contribution of Main Commodity Groups to Annual % Change. |
|||||||||||
Date |
Annual % Change |
Food |
Alcoholic Drink |
Tobacco |
Clothing and Footwear |
Fuel and Light |
Housing |
Durable Household Goods |
Other Goods |
Transport |
Services & Related Expenditure |
|
Mid-May |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
1968 |
98.4 |
+4.4 |
+2.5 |
+0.2 |
+0.3 |
+0.2 |
+0.2 |
+0.4 |
+0.04 |
<- |
+0.7* |
-> |
1977 |
285.7 |
+13.9 |
+4.9 |
+0.4 |
+0.3 |
+1.4 |
+1.3 |
+0.5 |
+0.6 |
+0.8 |
+2.2 |
+1.4 |
1978 |
303.2 |
+6.2 |
+2.5 |
+0.6 |
+0.2 |
+1.2 |
+0.1 |
–0.9 |
+0.5 |
+0.5 |
+0.4 |
+1.1 |
1979 |
340.8 |
+12.4 |
+5.1 |
+1.7 |
+0.6 |
+0.9 |
+0.4 |
+0.6 |
+0.4 |
+0.4 |
+1.3 |
+1.0 |
1980 |
409.7 |
+20.2 |
+3.3 |
+3.1 |
+1.1 |
+1.6 |
+2.9 |
+0.9 |
+0.7 |
+0.8 |
+4.0 |
+1.7 |
*These commodity groups were not distinguished prior to mid-November 1968.