asked the Taoieach the percentage increase in the consumer price index between (a) February, 1969, and February, 1970 and (b) February, 1970, and February, 1971.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Consumer Price Index.
2.
Between February, 1969 and February, 1970 the consumer price index rose by 5.9 per cent. The percentage increase between February, 1970 and February, 1971 was 10.0.
Would not the Taoiseach agree that to describe a change from 5.9 per cent to 10 per cent as a flattening out of the curve, as was done here last week by the Minister for Finance, is a little misleading?
It depends on the way in which you look at it. If the Deputy would take other figures, say quarterly figures from February, 1970, he would see that not only is there a flattening out of the curve but that there is a trend in the other way. Also, if the Deputy would refer to paragraph 9 of the recent publication—"Present Policies Against Inflation"—published by a working party of the Economic Policy Committee of the OECD, he will find such a statement made.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the statement made by the Minister for Finance was precisely that if one compares the 12 months ended February, 1970, with the latest period, there is a flattening out of the curve? This was not my choice of phrase. Will the Taoiseach agree that that statement is misleading?
I have not consulted the exact statement made by the Minister for Finance. I am quoting the figures as I have them here, giving the reference and the source.
Would the Taoiseach——
I am calling Question No. 3.
——like to comment on the statement?
It is a separate question.
(Interruptions.)
——which owing to some feature of the rules of the House, was deleted. I am sorry that it did not reach him in that form.
The Deputy might have written to me then.