asked the Taoiseach if he will state what items taken into account for the computation of the cost of living index have risen since mid-February, 1957, and the amount by which each has risen expressed in terms of money and as a percentage.

The following statements show (a) the national average retail prices of certain items of food in mid-February, 1957, and mid-August, 1958, and the difference between them and (b) the percentage change in prices of all items entering into the consumer price index between the two periods. In the case of items, other than certain food items, no attempt is made to obtain quotations for an identical quality of the different articles in all areas and, therefore, any average prices computed would not be meaningful. The correctness of the relative price changes is ensured by the fact that at each source the identical article is priced at successive inquiries. Price quotations in respect of some items of food are not available from all centres at each inquiry and the figures for the percentage changes in these prices as given in (b), computed in such a way as to eliminate the effect of differences in coverage, may differ slightly from the percentages calculated from (a).

(a) NATIONAL Average Retail Prices of Food at mid-February, 1957, and mid-August, 1958 and the difference between them.

(b) PERCENTAGE change in prices of items entering into the Consumer Price Index between February, 1957 and August, 1958.