Vol. 544 No. 3
158 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there is evidence to suggest that food and other prices are being increased significantly above the level of inflation pre-empting the introduction of the euro; and if she will make a statement on the need for closer scrutiny to be given to this issue. [28685/01]
I am not aware of any evidence to suggest that there is an upward movement of prices that can be attributable to the introduction of the euro. The latest available information from the Central Statistics Office indicates that consumer prices increased by 0.3% in October. This is lower than the 0.7% increase that was recorded in October 2000. As a result annual inflation in the 12 months to October fell to 4.3%. Food prices fell by 0.1% in October decreasing the annual rate of food inflation to 6.8% from 7.0% in September.
