asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the latest rate of inflation in manufacturing output prices based on (a) year on year and (b) quarter on quarter bases.

The wholesale price index for the home sales of all manufactured products rose by 20½ per cent. on provisional figures in the 12 months to April 1977 and by 4¼ per cent. in three months since January 1977. Earlier three-month increases were 4 per cent. to July 1976, 4¾ per cent. to October 1976 and 6½ per cent. to January 1977.