UK inflation price holds regular at 6.7%

Shopper value inflation remained regular in September regardless of one other drop in meals value development, as increased petrol costs helped maintain pressures in a slowing financial system.

Official figures confirmed that the UK’s headline price rose by 6.7 per cent final month, in contrast with the identical interval final 12 months. It was unchanged from August and simply above economists’ forecasts of a dip to six.6 per cent.

Inflation has been steadily declining this 12 months after a peak of 11.1 per cent final October, and is on the lowest for the reason that outbreak of the battle in Ukraine in February 2022. Nonetheless, a current upswing in international oil and fuel costs has helped to arrest the decline.

A intently watched measure of core inflation, which strips out risky meals and power prices, declined from 6.2 per cent to six.1 per cent, increased than the 6 per cent forecast by economists.

The Workplace for Nationwide Statistics stated that petrol prices helped to maintain inflationary momentum excessive final month, with common pump costs rising by 5.1p a litre between August and September.

The largest drivers of disinflation final month had been food and drinks costs, the place inflation fell from 13.6 per cent to 12.2 per cent, and inflation in furnishings and family items, which dropped from 5.1 to three.7 per cent on an annual foundation.

Final month the Financial institution of England stored borrowing prices regular for the primary time since November 2021, citing falling inflation and a slowing labour market as causes to not elevate rates of interest once more. The Financial institution’s ratesetters have stated they’re nonetheless intently watching developments in wage development to guage whether or not extra financial tightening is required. The financial coverage committee meets once more on November 2.

Monetary markets predict a minimum of yet one more price rise this 12 months, inflicting the bottom price to peak at 5.5 per cent from 5.25 per cent at current.

One of many Financial institution’s most well-liked measures of inflation within the providers sector remained excessive final month, rising barely from 6.8 per cent to six.9 per cent, the ONS stated.

Responding to the inflation figures, Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, stated: “As we’ve seen throughout different G7 nations, inflation hardly ever falls in a straight line, but when we persist with our plan then we nonetheless anticipate it to maintain falling this 12 months. In the present day’s information simply reveals that is much more essential so we will ease the strain on households and companies.”

Paul Dales, chief UK economist at Capital Economics, stated: “The failure of CPI inflation to fall in September from August’s 6.7 per cent will probably be a little bit of a disappointment to most. [But] it’s nonetheless under the 6.9 per cent price the Financial institution of England projected in August.”

Dales stated he didn’t anticipate the Financial institution to lift rates of interest once more. He stated inflation nonetheless remained on observe to fall under 5.1 per cent by December because the chancellor pledged. “The brand new danger, although, is that occasions within the Center East restrain how far inflation falls subsequent 12 months,” he added.