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| Petrol prices push up inflation | Petrol prices push up inflation |
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| UK inflation picked up pace in November, driven largely by higher petrol prices, official figures show. | UK inflation picked up pace in November, driven largely by higher petrol prices, official figures show. |
| The consumer prices index (CPI) rose faster than expected to an annual rate of 1.9%, compared with 1.5% in October. | The consumer prices index (CPI) rose faster than expected to an annual rate of 1.9%, compared with 1.5% in October. |
| November's rate was the highest since May this year. The inflation rate is forecast to rise further next year when the VAT discount ends. | November's rate was the highest since May this year. The inflation rate is forecast to rise further next year when the VAT discount ends. |
| The retail prices index (RPI), which includes housing costs, rose to 0.3% from a rate of -0.8% in October. | The retail prices index (RPI), which includes housing costs, rose to 0.3% from a rate of -0.8% in October. |
| It is the first time the RPI index has been positive since January this year. | It is the first time the RPI index has been positive since January this year. |
| Cheaper oil | Cheaper oil |
| "By far the largest upward pressure affecting the change in the CPI annual rate came from transport," said the Office for National Statistics (ONS). | "By far the largest upward pressure affecting the change in the CPI annual rate came from transport," said the Office for National Statistics (ONS). |
| "Within the transport category the largest upward effect came from fuels and lubricants," it added. | "Within the transport category the largest upward effect came from fuels and lubricants," it added. |
| INFLATION CALCULATOR Check your personal inflation rate | INFLATION CALCULATOR Check your personal inflation rate |
| "The large fall in 2008 was due to sharp falls in petrol and diesel prices, reflecting the falling price of crude oil in the latter half of 2008." | "The large fall in 2008 was due to sharp falls in petrol and diesel prices, reflecting the falling price of crude oil in the latter half of 2008." |
| Average petrol prices rose by 2.9p to 108.3p a litre in November - compared with a record fall of 9.3p this time last year. | Average petrol prices rose by 2.9p to 108.3p a litre in November - compared with a record fall of 9.3p this time last year. |
| Petrol prices are dictated by the price of crude oil. This time last year prices were tumbling after reaching a record high in July 2008, and they eventually reached a low in December. | Petrol prices are dictated by the price of crude oil. This time last year prices were tumbling after reaching a record high in July 2008, and they eventually reached a low in December. |
| The Bank of England has a CPI target of 2%. The Bank expects the index to rise above that in the new year after VAT reverts to 17.5%. | The Bank of England has a CPI target of 2%. The Bank expects the index to rise above that in the new year after VAT reverts to 17.5%. |
| If CPI inflation rises above 3% the Bank's governor, Mervyn King, must write to the chancellor to explain why. However, the Bank expects the inflation rate to slow later in the year. | If CPI inflation rises above 3% the Bank's governor, Mervyn King, must write to the chancellor to explain why. However, the Bank expects the inflation rate to slow later in the year. |
| "November's consumer price figures will do little to ease recent concerns over the near-term inflation outlook" said Jonathan Loynes, economist at Capital Economics. | "November's consumer price figures will do little to ease recent concerns over the near-term inflation outlook" said Jonathan Loynes, economist at Capital Economics. |
| "But we remain convinced that price pressures will remain subdued over the medium term." | "But we remain convinced that price pressures will remain subdued over the medium term." |
| The ONS said that price rises in second-hand cars and clothes also pushed up inflation. | The ONS said that price rises in second-hand cars and clothes also pushed up inflation. |