§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish a table showing the rate of inflation for the previous three months, expressed as an annual rate, for each month of the years 1974 to 1977 inclusive;
(2) what is the current rate of inflation, as defined by the percentage rise in the retail price index over the three 87W months to May, expressed as an annual rate.
RETAIL PRICES INDEX (ALL ITEMS) Three-monthly percentage increases expressed as an annual rate 1974 1975 1976 1977 Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Three months to: January … … 14.5 25.9 16.0 21.8 February … … 17.5 23.4 15.2 21.6 March … … 18.1 25.6 12.2 19.9 April … … 24.6 34.4 16.0 19.6 May … … 25.3 53.1 15.2 18.6 June … … 26.0 48.0 15.1 — July … … 15.5 32.5 7.5 — August … … 8.4 15.1 8.8 — September … … 8.7 10.3 12.3 — October … … 13.4 12.1 19.7 — November … … 23.2 14.8 19.7 — December … … 25.1 18.1 19.7 —