Answer:
The correct answer is:
5.0 percent deflation between the first and second years, and 3.0 percent deflation between the second and third years. (a)
Explanation:
to calculate the percentage deflation, we will simply calculate the percentage change in price between the years stated. This is calculated as follows:
% change = [tex]\%\ change = \frac{P_2 - P_1}{P_1} \times 100\\where:\\P_1 = initial\ price\ index\\P_2 = New\ price\ index\\for\ first\ and\ second\ years\\\therefore \%\ change = \frac{142.5 - 150}{150} = \frac{-7.5}{150}= -0.05 \times 100 = -5\%\\[/tex]
Note that the negative sign shows a deflation.
if you use the same method for years two and three, you should get -3%, using P₁ as 142.5 and p₂ as 138.2. Hence option 'a' is correct.