§ Lord Brabazon of Taraasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, when calculating the Retail Prices Index, account is taken of Clubcards, Airmiles or other loyalty schemes. [HL1346]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyAirmiles, clubcards and other loyalty schemes are not currently taken account of in collecting prices for the Retail Prices Index (RPI). This subject is an area of research in the current work programme to investigate methodological issues relating to the RPI. Further details of this programme are given in an article in the February 1999 edition ofEconomic Trends, copies of which are available in the House of Lords Library.