Inflation hike outpacing other EU states

INFLATION is rising faster here than in all other EU countries as a direct result of Government policies, opposition parties claimed last night.

With seven of the top 10 price increases in the past year in sectors directly influenced by Government, Fine Gael finance spokesman Richard Bruton said the Coalition was imposing more than twice the rate of price increase than other EU members on certain items.

Mr Bruton reacted as the latest Central Statistics Office figures revealed the annual rate of inflation remained at a two-year high of 3% in October.