§ 14. Mr. GrocottTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to start publishing the rate of inflation excluding mortgage interest rates and the poll tax in the retail prices index press release.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardMy right hon. Friend has no plans to do so. Data for the retail prices index excluding mortgage interest payments and the community charge are available upon request from the Central Statistical Office press office.
§ 19. Mr. CorbynTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current level of inflation; and what are the predictions for the next 12 months.
205W
§ Mr. MaplesThe all-items retail prices index inflation rate was 10.9 per cent. in October. The autumn statement forecast is for a sharp fall to 5½ per cent. by the fourth quarter of next year.
§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average rate of inflation from 1979 to the latest convenient date; and what was the comparable figure for the preceding five years.
§ Mr. MaplesBetween October 1979 and October 1990, the latest available date, the retail prices index increased by an average of 7.3 per cent. per annum. The corresponding average annual increase between October 1974 and October 1979 was 15.8 per cent.