Prices

Retail prices index* Annual increases RPI RPI excluding mortgage payments

January 05 188.9 3.2% 2.1%

February 189.6 3.2% 2.1%

March 190.5 3.2% 2.4%

April 191.6 3.2% 2.3%

May 192.0 2.9% 2.1%

June 192.2 2.9% 2.2%

July 192.2 2.9% 2.4%

August 192.6 2.8% 2.3%

September 193.1 2.7% 2.5%

October 193.3 2.5% 2.4%

November 193.6 2.4% 2.3%

December 194.1 2.2% 2.0%

January 06 193.4 2.4% 2.3%

February 194.2 2.4% 2.3%

* January 1987=100

Inflation forecasts

Fourth quarter 2006

RPI RPI excluding mortgage payments

Average 2.3% 2.2%

Oxford Economic Forecasting 2.5% 2.3%

NIESR 2.8% 2.6%

Source: HM Treasury, Forecasts for the UK Economy, March 2006