§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current annual rate of inflation; and in which year inflation was last lower.
§ Mr. Nelson[holding answer 31 March 1994]: In February the RPI excluding mortgage interest payments was 2.8 per cent. higher than a year earlier. Other than in November and December 1993 the inflation rate was last lower in January 1968, when it was 2.6 per cent.