HC Deb 15 March 1990 vol 169 cc371-2W
27. Mr. Amess

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current rate of inflation.

Mr. Ryder

The all-items RPI annual inflation rate in January was 7.7 per cent. The underlying inflation rate, as measured by the RPI excluding mortgage interest payments, was 6.1 per cent.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many European countries have a higher inflation rate than the United Kingdom.

Mr. Ryder

Four EC countries have higher inflation rates than the United Kingdom when estimates of home owners' costs are excluded so as to bring the published figures on to a more comparable basis.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department has undertaken any study into the effect of the change in arrangements for local taxation on the rate of inflation.

Mr. Norman Lamont

The change in the arrangements for local taxation is one among many factors which will affect the rate of inflation. A forecast for RPI inflation will be published in the forthcoming "Financial Statement and Budget Report".

Mr. Amess

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing the overall inflation rate, based on the retail prices index, in each month from January 1986 to the latest available date.

Mr. Ryder

The information may be obtained from the latest issue ofEmployment Gazette and the latest annual supplement to Economic Trends (1989 edition).

Dr. Kim Howells

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to have zero inflation.

Mr. Ryder

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for City of Durham (Mr. Steinberg).

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