asked the Taoiseach the annual rates of inflation in each of the member States of the European Community in the years 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974.
3.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Inflation Rates.
2.
asked the Taoiseach the current annual rates of inflation at the latest available date in each of the member States of the European Community.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together and to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the information requested by the Deputy.
Following is the statement:
PERCENTAGE increase in index of consumer prices
|
Member State |
1971 compared with 1970 |
1972 compared with 1971 |
1973 compared with 1972 |
1974 compared with 1973 |
Rate for latest current period ending April 1975 |
|
Germany |
5.1 |
5.8 |
6.9 |
7.0 |
6.1 |
|
France |
5.3 |
6.0 |
7.3 |
13.4 |
12.7 |
|
Italy |
4.9 |
5.6 |
10.8 |
19.1 |
20.4 |
|
Netherlands |
7.6 |
8.0 |
7.9 |
9.8 |
9.8 |
|
Belgium |
4.8 |
5.7 |
7.0 |
12.7 |
14.4 |
|
Luxembourg |
4.6 |
5.2 |
6.1 |
9.6 |
10.1* |
|
United Kingdom |
9.4 |
7.1 |
9.2 |
16.1 |
21.7 |
|
Ireland |
8.9 |
8.7 |
11.4 |
17.0 |
24.5* |
|
Denmark |
5.8 |
6.6 |
9.3 |
15.4 |
11.9 |
*Year ending May 1975.
I presume that the figure, for instance, for 1974 will disclose that the current rate of inflation in Ireland is the highest rate of inflation within the European Community.
As we wait for the latest current series ending in April, 1975, it is the highest, but there are two others nudging us very closely.
I presume that in 1970 or 1971 we were far from the highest and were not nudging anyone very closely at that stage.
In 1971 we were second highest.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary accept that the actual cost-of-living index from 1970 to 1975 has risen in this country by a total of about 80 per cent whereas in Germany it has risen in the same period by only 20 per cent?
These are calculations I will not do on my feet.
Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary, in view of the fact that many of the other countries within the Community have had a much higher rate of inflation than we had at the beginning of this decade and they have succeeded in decelerating this rate of inflation——
The Deputy is dealing with policy.
No.
Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if we could get some indications from the other Member States as to how they effectively dealt with this problem when we have succeeded only in accelerating the problem?
This is a statistical question. Question No. 4 please.