§ 8. Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Trade during which periods over the last two years the inflation rate has been below 10 per cent. per annum.
§ Mr. ParkinsonInflation fell from 27 per cent. in August 1975 and was in single figures from January 1978, but by the autumn of 1978 it was again rising and returned to double figures in April 1979.
§ 25. Mr. Radiceasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the present rate of price inflation.
§ Mr. ParkinsonI refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Aberdare (Mr. Evans).
§ 33. Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the present annual rate of price inflation.
§ Mr. TebbitThe retail prices index increased by 17.2 per cent. over the past 12 months.
§ 35. Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the present six-monthly rate of price inflation; and what is its yearly equivalent.
Mr. TebbittThe retail prices index has increased by 9 per cent in the past six months. The yearly equivalent of this figure would be 18.8 per cent., but this annualised rate double-counts all the factors which have affected the RPI in the past six months—including the Budget increases in indirect taxes.
§ 38. Mr. Hefferasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his forecast for price inflation at the end of 1980.