HC Deb 31 October 1989 vol 159 cc151-2W
Mr. McLeish

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were(a) the ratio of inflation and (b) the levels of interest rates in each of the EEC countries, Japan and the United States of America for the most recent dates for which figures are available.

Mr. Ryder

[holding answer 26 October 1989]: Following is the information requested:

Inflation and short-term interest rates.

in the EC, United States and Japan
Short-term interest rates1 12 month inflation rates excluding estimates of home-owners costs2
United Kingdom 15.1 5.8
United States 8.5 4.7
Japan 6.4 3.0
Germany 8.2 2.8
France 10.1 3.4
Italy 13.0 6.6
Spain 15.0 7.4
Netherlands 8.2 0.8
Belgium 9.7 3.2
Portugal 12.9 13.7
Greece 20.0 13.6
Denmark 11.4 3.2
Ireland 11.6 3.7
Luxembourg 9.7 3.4
1 Figures refer to close 24 October, except for Portugal (September), Spain, Greece, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg (open 25 October).
2 Figures refer to August, except for Italy and the United Kingdom (September), Netherlands and Spain (July) and Ireland (Q2).

Sourceinflation rates estimated from OECD and national sources, interest rates from national sources.