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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Consumer inflation rises to 4.7% | Consumer inflation rises to 4.7% |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The annual rate of UK inflation rose to 4.7% in August from 4.4% the month before, a higher-than-expected jump. | The annual rate of UK inflation rose to 4.7% in August from 4.4% the month before, a higher-than-expected jump. |
| In a letter to the chancellor, Bank of England governor Mervyn King warned that inflation could reach a rate of 5% before falling back. | In a letter to the chancellor, Bank of England governor Mervyn King warned that inflation could reach a rate of 5% before falling back. |
| Mr King blamed food and energy price rises for inflation rising beyond the government's 2% target. | Mr King blamed food and energy price rises for inflation rising beyond the government's 2% target. |
| Inflation as measured by the Retail Prices Index (RPI) - often used in pay negotiations - fell to 4.8% from 5%. | Inflation as measured by the Retail Prices Index (RPI) - often used in pay negotiations - fell to 4.8% from 5%. |
| Food and fuel costs rise | Food and fuel costs rise |
| The largest contributor to August's rise in inflation was higher gas and electricity bills, with a number of energy firms raising their prices last month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. | The largest contributor to August's rise in inflation was higher gas and electricity bills, with a number of energy firms raising their prices last month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. |
| This outweighed the fall in the price of heating oil and petrol, which fell by 5.5 pence per litre between July and August to stand at 113.3p. This followed sharp falls in the price of oil since July. | This outweighed the fall in the price of heating oil and petrol, which fell by 5.5 pence per litre between July and August to stand at 113.3p. This followed sharp falls in the price of oil since July. |
| DEAR CHANCELLOR... The expected peak in inflation later this year is now likely to be significantly higher than anticipated Bank of England governor Mervyn King Mervyn King's letter to the chancellorChancellor Alistair Darling's reply Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | DEAR CHANCELLOR... The expected peak in inflation later this year is now likely to be significantly higher than anticipated Bank of England governor Mervyn King Mervyn King's letter to the chancellorChancellor Alistair Darling's reply Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| The rising price of food and non-alcoholic drinks was also a factor behind the pick-up in inflation, mainly as a result of the increasing cost of meat, fruit and pizzas. | The rising price of food and non-alcoholic drinks was also a factor behind the pick-up in inflation, mainly as a result of the increasing cost of meat, fruit and pizzas. |
| The fall in the RPI inflation measure was attributed to bank mortgage interest payments remaining static, compared with last year when banks passed on a Bank of England rate rise to home owners. | The fall in the RPI inflation measure was attributed to bank mortgage interest payments remaining static, compared with last year when banks passed on a Bank of England rate rise to home owners. |
| Global phenomenon | Global phenomenon |
| If inflation hits a rate more than one percentage point above or below the government's 2% target, the Bank of England governor must write a letter to the government to explain what action it is taking to control consumer prices. | If inflation hits a rate more than one percentage point above or below the government's 2% target, the Bank of England governor must write a letter to the government to explain what action it is taking to control consumer prices. |
| The governor must write to the chancellor again every three months if inflation stays out of the target band. | The governor must write to the chancellor again every three months if inflation stays out of the target band. |
| Mr King last wrote to the chancellor in June. In his latest letter, Mr King blamed "sharp, largely unanticipated" increases in food and energy prices for pushing inflation well above the government's target. | Mr King last wrote to the chancellor in June. In his latest letter, Mr King blamed "sharp, largely unanticipated" increases in food and energy prices for pushing inflation well above the government's target. |
| He said that these pressures were pushing up consumer prices around the world, with eurozone inflation at 4% and US CPI inflation at 5.6%. | He said that these pressures were pushing up consumer prices around the world, with eurozone inflation at 4% and US CPI inflation at 5.6%. |
| Adding to this was a steep pick up in import prices, with the value of the pound falling by 15% against other currencies since sterling's peak in July last year. | Adding to this was a steep pick up in import prices, with the value of the pound falling by 15% against other currencies since sterling's peak in July last year. |
| Slowdown needed | Slowdown needed |
| Mr King hinted that he may have to write more letters to Alistair Darling as he predicted that CPI inflation was likely to remain stubbornly above the government's target until "well into 2009". | Mr King hinted that he may have to write more letters to Alistair Darling as he predicted that CPI inflation was likely to remain stubbornly above the government's target until "well into 2009". |
| In order to prevent inflation expectations from becoming entrenched, he said that the Bank of England has "become firmer in its belief that a period of muted economic growth is necessary to dampen pressures on prices and wages". | In order to prevent inflation expectations from becoming entrenched, he said that the Bank of England has "become firmer in its belief that a period of muted economic growth is necessary to dampen pressures on prices and wages". |
| The chancellor agreed with Mr King's assessment of inflationary risks and outlook, which analysts said suggested that an interest rate cut may still be some way off. | The chancellor agreed with Mr King's assessment of inflationary risks and outlook, which analysts said suggested that an interest rate cut may still be some way off. |