§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is currently(a) the underlying rate of inflation, (b) the rate of inflation if the costs of mortgages are excluded, (c) the rate of inflation if the costs of gas, water and electricity charges are excluded and (d) the rate of inflation if both the costs of mortgages and the costs of gas, water and electricity charges are excluded.
§ Mr. Nelson[holding answer 30 June 1992]: There is no official measure of the underlying rate of inflation in the United Kingdom. In May this year, the annual inflation rates, as measured by the retail prices index, for the other series were:
Per cent. All-items excluding mortgage interest payments 5.3 All-items excluding water, gas and electricity charges 4.3 All-items excluding mortgage interest payments, water, gas and electricity 5.3