Deirdre Clune
Question:36 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Finance his projection for the consumer price index for the next two months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27973/00]
Vol. 527 No. 2
36 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Finance his projection for the consumer price index for the next two months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27973/00]
51 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Finance if he will give the projected level of inflation for the current year, having regard to the most recent figures showing a continuing year on year increase of 6.8%; the way in which this com pares with the EU average; if he will give the estimated figure for inflation by the Department at the time of the December 1999 budget; the way in which this compares to the actual figure; his Department's estimate for inflation during 2001; the steps he will take to deal with the inflation rate in view of the serious implications for social partnership and economic development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27989/00]
97 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the way in which inflation levels here compare to those in other European countries; if Ireland is in danger of becoming uncompetitive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28127/00]
98 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the measures he has put in place to reverse inflationary trends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28128/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 51, 97 and 98 together.
Inflation, as measured by the CPI, was 6.8% in the year to October 2000. On the basis of the harmonised index of consumer prices, inflation was 6% in October compared with the EU average of 2.4%. The inflation rates for other EU countries are set out in the following table.
Table 1: Inflation in EU countries in October 2000
Country |
Inflation Rate as measured by HICP |
Austria |
2.1% |
Belgium |
3.7% |
Denmark |
2.8% |
Finland |
3.7% |
France |
2.1% |
Germany |
2.4% |
Greece |
3.8% |
Italy |
2.7% |
Luxembourg |
4.3% |
Netherlands |
3.2% |
Portugal |
3.4% |
Spain |
4.0% |
Sweden |
1.3% |
United Kingdom |
1.0% |
EU 15 |
2.4% |
Euro zone |
2.7% |