Inflation (Hansard, 13 March 1990)

HC Deb 13 March 1990 vol 169 cc163-4W 163W

§ Sir Trevor Skeet
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the current rate of inflation if mortgage interest payments were excluded from the calculation of the retail price index.

§ Mr. Ryder
It would be 6.1 per cent. in the year to January.

§ Sir Trevor Skeet
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which European Community countries(a) include and (b) exclude mortgage interest payments in the assessment of consumer inflation.
164W

§ Mr. Ryder
Of EC countries, only the United Kingdom and Ireland include mortgage interest payments in their calculation of the consumer price index. Three other countries, Germany, Netherlands and Spain include some other indicator of owner-occupiers' costs. The remaining seven make no such allowance.