18/01/2005

Inflation continues to rise in UK

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) has confirmed that the UK inflation rate rose last month, with the consumer price index (CPI) rising from 1.5% in November to 1.6% in December.

The ONS said the rate had been affected by several factors, including much steeper price rises for furniture and furnishings than the previous year and reduced supplies for some vegetables, which had also led to price rises. Price rises for some computer games, toys and theatre admissions had also had a large upward effect. The prices for these items had fallen the previous December.

Rising household energy costs for the third successive month also impacted upon the annual rate. Inflation in gas and electricity bills increased again in December, reflecting the ongoing impact of significant tariff increases, which were announced by a number of major suppliers in September and November.

The RPI inflation rate, which rose to 3.5% in December, was also influenced by similar factors.

However, inflation in most housing costs, which are excluded from the CPI, fell. The ONS attributed this to the effect of the interest rate rise on mortgage interest payments in November 2003, dropping out of the 12 month comparison.

The annual rate for the all-items RPI, which excludes mortgage interest payments (RPIX), was 2.5% in December, an increase from the previous month's figure of 2.2%.

(KMcA/SP)

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