§ 20. Mr. CashTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he expects the forecasts for inflation made at the time of the Budget to be fulfilled.
§ Mr. MaplesRetail prices index inflation has fallen in line with expectations since the Budget forecast was made, from 8.9 per cent. in February to 4.1 per cent. in September. A new forecast will be published with the autumn statement.
§ 24. Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the ranking of the United Kingdom in the G7 countries in their rate of inflation.
§ Mr. MaplesIn August the United Kingdom had the third highest inflation rate of the G7 countries.
§ 23. Mr. CranTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest estimates for the rate of inflation in the last quarter of 1991 and in the first quarter of 1992.
§ Mr. MaplesThe Budget forecast was for RPI inflation to fall to 4 per cent. in the fourth quarter of 1991, and the September figure of 4.1 per cent. is in line with that. The forecast for the second quarter of 1992 was 3¾ per cent. No212W forecast was published for the first quarter of 1992. New forecasts will be published with the autumn statement as usual.