Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which he has examined the impact of invisible inflation on the economy here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11323/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The director general of the Central Statistics Office, CSO, has sole responsibility for and is independent in deciding the statistical methodology and professional standards to be used in compiling the consumer price index, CPI. The CPI is designed to measure the change in the average level of the prices paid by consumers for goods and services. It measures in index form the monthly changes in the cost of purchasing a representative basket of consumer goods and services. Maintaining a moderate rate of inflation remains a key priority of economic policy because of its importance in restoring competitiveness. I made no changes to indirect taxes in the budget and this will help to keep a competitive inflation environment in 2006.