New figures out today show that inflation is on the rise again.
The Consumer Price Index for December indicates a half per cent rise, bringing the official inflation rate to 4.2%.
That leaves the overall rate for 2001 at a worrying 4.9%, still significantly higher than the social partners would like.
Also, today's figure does not take into account the euro changeover and next month's report should show if retailers have been rounding up prices.