LUXURY GOODS: RISE IN COST

HL Deb 26 April 1984 vol 451 cc251-2WA

Lord Stallard

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the rise in the cost of luxury goods in the last year for which figures are available and what impact this rise has had on the retail prices index.

The Earl of Gowrie

There is no generally agreed definition of "luxury goods". The retail prices index covers the whole range of goods and services on which consumers spend money and it is a matter of indivi-dual judgment which of these should be regarded as luxuries. The noble Lord may wish to refer to Table 6.2 of the latest issue ofEmployment Gazette, a copy of which is available in the Library. This shows the percentage increase in prices over the year for each category of expenditure covered by the retail prices index.