§ Mr. Sheldonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the current annual rate of increase in retail prices; and what was the annual rate of increase in retail prices in October 1972.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkThe General Index of Retail Prices, excluding the effect of seasonal food price increases, rose at an annual rate of 7.8 per cent. in the six months ended mid-February 1973. The corresponding rate for the six months ended mid-October 1972 was 8.7 per cent.