Sharp falls also were seen in the metals and mining, chemicals, industrial goods and technology equipment industries.

So just as you probably lease your office or warehouse space, look seriously now at leasing your technology equipment.

Meanwhile, home technology equipment, which comprises a greater proportion of better-off households' outgoings, has fallen in value, helping to depress their bespoke inflation rate.

He was also a constructive critic of the emerging industries manufacturing soft technology equipment like wind turbines.

This meant that over 2 million was to be spent on computer technology equipment.