Retail Price Index

HC Deb 22 October 1979 vol 972 c46W

30. Mr. Mike Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Trade by how much the retail price index has increased since May.

35. Mr. Weetch

asked the Secretary of State for Trade by how much retail prices have increased since May.

39. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the latest figures available for the annual rate of inflation; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Sally Oppenheim

I refer the hon. Members to the answer which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Farnworth (Mr. Roper).

Mr. Sever

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what effect he expects the increase in mortgage lending rates will have on the reail price index in the current financial year.

Mr. Eyre

Each 1 per cent. increase in mortgage interest rates increases the retail price index by ¼ per cent.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the current retail price index; and by how much it has risen since he assumed office.

Mrs. Sally Oppenheim

The retail price index for September is 233.2—January 1974 = 100. The index has risen by 8 per cent. since May 1979.