Fudge It

For once I agree completely with a trade unionist, specifically about how bad an idea it is to remove the price of cigarettes from the CPI, as reported in the Times(subscription) today. This idea's been promoted by Ash for a while so as to allow large tax increases on a pack of cigarettes. People need to be saved from themselves after all. Oh and other European countries have done it so it must be a good idea. Anyway Cowen's apparently(1) in favour, which is slightly worrying seeing as how removing something from the CPI doesn't remove its influence on the actual inflation rate, just on reported inflation and you'd think the Minister for Finance might know that(2). Inflation goes on whether it's reported or not or whether it's ignored, so all this big idea would do is fudge the numbers. But it's in such a good cause what harm could it do?

(1)Forgive the cynic in me but it's equally likely that he just spotted some kudos in supporting something that'll probably go nowhere but will allow him to look concerned.

(2)Maybe it's the same thing as in (1), he does but doesn't care, or possibly maybe he's just a fool.