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UK inflation rises to 2.7% | UK inflation rises to 2.7% |
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UK inflation rose by a sharper-than-expected 2.7% in May, driven higher by the cost of air travel, fuel and clothing. | |
The increase followed a seven-month low of 2.4% in April, according to data from the Office for National Statistics, and puts more pressure on household finances. | |
Air fares increased by 22% between April and May, compared with 1.4% over the same period in 2012. The increase was largely related to the different timing of Easter – when prices rise – this year. Petrol and diesel prices both fell, but by less than a year ago, while clothing and footwear prices rose by 1.2%. | |
Economists had forecast a smaller rise in the consumer price index (CPI) to 2.6%. Annual inflation has been running persistently above the Bank of England's 2% target for more than three years. | |
Bank policymakers have made it clear that they will take a flexible approach to inflation targeting if the broader economic picture requires it, potentially paving the way for more quantitative easing – pumping cash into the economy by acquiring sovereign debt from financial institutions – despite above-target inflation. | |
Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said the May inflation data served as a reminder that weak consumer spending was holding back growth. "The ongoing erosion of spending power from rising prices will continue to act as a brake on economic recovery," he said. | Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said the May inflation data served as a reminder that weak consumer spending was holding back growth. "The ongoing erosion of spending power from rising prices will continue to act as a brake on economic recovery," he said. |
Inflation continues to outpace pay growth, which was just 0.9% excluding bonuses in the three months to April. With bonuses included, it was 1.3%. "Real pay has been falling continually since late 2009, which has been one of the factors causing the economic recovery to have been disappointingly weak," Williamson added. | Inflation continues to outpace pay growth, which was just 0.9% excluding bonuses in the three months to April. With bonuses included, it was 1.3%. "Real pay has been falling continually since late 2009, which has been one of the factors causing the economic recovery to have been disappointingly weak," Williamson added. |
Howard Archer, chief UK economist at IHS Global Insight, said CPI inflation was likely to rise further in the coming months, peaking at just above 3% in the summer. | Howard Archer, chief UK economist at IHS Global Insight, said CPI inflation was likely to rise further in the coming months, peaking at just above 3% in the summer. |
CPIH, the new measure of consumer price inflation which includes owner-occupier costs, rose to 2.5% from 2.2% in April. | CPIH, the new measure of consumer price inflation which includes owner-occupier costs, rose to 2.5% from 2.2% in April. |
A spokesman for the Treasury said: "Inflation is down by almost a half from its peak of 5.2% [in September 2011]. At the same time, to help families with the cost of living, the government has: increased the tax-free personal allowance to £10,000, which will take 2.7 million people out of income tax altogether and save a typical taxpayer over £700; and frozen fuel duty which has kept petrol prices 13p per litre lower than they would otherwise have been." | A spokesman for the Treasury said: "Inflation is down by almost a half from its peak of 5.2% [in September 2011]. At the same time, to help families with the cost of living, the government has: increased the tax-free personal allowance to £10,000, which will take 2.7 million people out of income tax altogether and save a typical taxpayer over £700; and frozen fuel duty which has kept petrol prices 13p per litre lower than they would otherwise have been." |