U.Ok. inflation got here in at 6.7% in August, beneath expectations and down barely from the earlier month.
On a month-to-month foundation, the headline client worth index (CPI) rose by 0.3%.
Economists polled by Reuters anticipated the headline determine to return in at 7% yearly and up 0.7% month-on-month amid a slight uptick in costs on the pump. July noticed a 6.8% annual rise and a 0.4% month-on-month decline.
“The biggest downward contributions to the month-to-month change in each CPIH and CPI annual charges got here from meals, the place costs rose by much less in August 2023 than a yr in the past, and lodging providers, the place costs will be risky and fell in August 2023,” the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics mentioned.
“Rising costs for motor gas led to the biggest upward contribution to the change within the annual charges.”
Core CPI — which excludes risky meals, power, alcohol and tobacco costs — got here in at 6.2% within the 12 months to the top of August, down from 6.8% in July. The products charge rose barely from 6.1% to six.3% however was greater than offset by the providers charge slowing considerably from 7.4% to six.8%.
The Financial institution of England will announce its subsequent financial coverage determination on Thursday as policymakers proceed efforts to drag inflation again down in the direction of the Financial institution’s 2% goal.
The market has broadly priced in one other 25-basis-point hike to rates of interest, which might take the primary financial institution charge to five.5% — its highest stage since December 2007.