§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now answer the hon. Member for Blaby's Questions on the rate of inflation which he was unable to answer on 14th July.
§ Mr. Joel Barnett,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19th July 1978], gave the following information:
The increase in the retail prices index over the three months to June, expressed at an annual rate, was 11.7 per cent. The increase in the index over the six months to June, excluding seasonal foods, expressed at an annual rate, was 8.9 per cent.