§ Lord Jacobsasked Her Majesty's Government:
(a) which three car models achieved the highest sales volume in 1999; and what were the recommended retail prices for these cars (i) in May 1990 and (ii) in May 2000; and (b) what is the individual percentage increase or decrease in the recommended retail price for each of the three car models; and what is the average percentage increase or decrease in the recommended retail price for these cars. [HL2896]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleAccording to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the three car models which achieved the highest sales volume in 1999 were: the Ford Focus 1.6; Ford Fiesta 1.25; and Vauxhall Astra 1.6.
The recommended retail prices in May 1999 were obtained by the European Commission in its regular car price survey, and were as follows:
- Ford Focus 1.6: £10,664 (inclusive of taxes);
- Ford Fiesta 1.25: £7,844 (inclusive of taxes); and
- Vauxhall Astra 1.6: £11,700 (inclusive of taxes).
The recommended retail prices for these cars in May 2000 are not available, as the Ford models have now been updated and repriced.
However, official ONS data on the index of motor vehicle purchasing costs indicates that prices for the sector as a whole fell by 5.1 per cent between May 1999 and April 2000 (which is equivalent to an annual rate of -5.5 per cent).