You asked
The CPI manual states that "The car insurance price index is a combination of two separate indices, one for fully comprehensive insurance and the other for third party, fire and theft insurance. Each of these is split further into price indices for specific car insurance companies." Could you please make publicly available both the "fully comprehensive insurance" index and the "third party, fire and theft insurance" index for the last three years. In addition could you make available each of the "specific car insurance" indices if possible for the same time period.
We said
Thank you for your enquiry regarding the car insurance sub-indices.
The car insurance data used to compile the consumer price inflation measures is purchased from an insights partner, Consumer Intelligence Ltd (www.consumerintelligence.com). As the data received each month is commercially valuable, under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, we are unable to release this information, since its publication would prejudice Consumer Intelligence's commercial interests.
The data can be purchased from Consumer Intelligence Ltd by contacting Ms Lisa Franklin, Senior Client Manager (email Lisa.Franklin@consumerintelligence.com).
This exemption is subject to a public interest test. Whilst we recognise the desirability of information being freely available, we also acknowledge the importance of maintaining good relationships with our sources of information. The release of this data would negativelty impact Consumer Intelligence's ability to produce income, which would likely render them to be unwilling to provide us with data in the future. In turn, this would impact our ability to produce meaningful and accurate statistics, which are in the public good and are essential in the formulation of government policy. As a result, the protection of the company's commercial interests outweighs the public interest in the release of this information, in this case.