18/05/2010

UK Inflation Soars To 17-Month High

UK inflation reached a 17 month high in April, according to official figures.

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 3.7%, up from 3.4% in

March.

The all items retail prices index (RPI) also rose by 5.3%. The RPI annual inflation rate is now at its highest level since July 1991 (when it stood at 5.5%).

The largest upward contribution to the change in the CPI annual rate between March and April came from clothing and footwear where prices, overall, rose by more than a year ago. By far the largest upward effect came from garments and, in particular, women's clothing.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages where prices, overall, rose between March and April this year but fell a year ago, mainly due to the food component. Within food the upward effects were widespread rather than from one particular item; meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, sugar, jam, syrups, chocolate and confectionery.

Higher duty on alcohol and cigarettes introduced in April's Budget added to inflation.

Howard Archer, chief economist at IHS Global Insight, said: "April's consumer price inflation rate of 3.7% should mark the peak.

"Inflation is expected to start heading down in the near term as temporary upward pressures start to unwind."

(GK/BMcC)

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