UK inflation rate remains at 2.3pc

UK inflation held steady last month, as rising prices for food and clothing were offset by lower air fares.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said inflation as measured by the Consumer Prices Index remained at 2.3per cent, reports BBC.
The main downward effect on inflation last month came from air fares, which was down to the timing of Easter.
However, the ONS data showed food prices in March were 1.2per cent  higher than last year, the biggest annual rise in three years.
    This year, the cost of air fares fell by nearly 4per cent  in March from the month before. However, last year, when Easter Sunday fell on 27 March, air fares had jumped by more than 20per cent  amid higher demand.
With Easter Sunday falling on 16 April this year, economists are expecting inflation to pick up this month.
As well as air fares, fuel also had a downward impact on inflation, as the prices paid by motorists at the pump fell slightly.
The biggest upward impact on inflation came from food and non-alcoholic drinks, where prices rose by 0.4per cent  in March from the month before, compared with a 0.6per cent  fall a year earlier. Inflation has been accelerating in recent months, partly as a result of the fall in the pound after the Brexit vote, which has raised import prices.
Although the inflation rate remained unchanged from February, it remains above the Bank of England’s target of 2per cent  and is the highest since September 2013.
“Inflation may be steady, but it’s still currently outpacing wages and interest rates, which spells trouble for households and cash savers,” said Laith Khalaf, senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. “The inflationary squeeze that’s coming is going to mean consumers have to spend more at the check-outs and petrol pumps, and that reduces their capacity to fund discretionary spending.”
Earlier on Monday, a survey by the British Retail Consortium and KPMG earlier on Monday suggested consumers were reining back spending in the face of rising food prices.
Total spending on non-food items fell by 0.8per cent  in the January-to-March period, the survey found, which was the weakest three-month performance for nearly six years.
The ONS’s new preferred inflation measure of CPIH, which contains a measure of housing costs, also remained unchanged at 2.3 per cent  in March.
The Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation fell to 3.1per cent  last month, from 3.2per cent  in February. 
ONS deputy national statistician Jonathan Athow said: “Food, drink and clothing prices all rose in March.
“However, this is offset by air fares, which fell slightly but last year rose substantially thanks to the timing of Easter.
“The costs of raw materials and the price of manufactured goods leaving factories were both little changed, as falling fuel prices helped stem further rises.”
Data from the ONS showed the annual rate of producer price inflation fell back slightly in March.
The prices of goods leaving the factory gate were up 3.6per cent  from a year earlier, compared with a rate of 3.7per cent  in February.

UK inflation rate remains at 2.3pc

UK inflation held steady last month, as rising prices for food and clothing were offset by lower air fares. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said inflation as measured by the Consumer Prices Index remained at 2.3per cent, reports BBC. The main downward effect on inflation last month came from air fares, which was down to the timing of Easter. However, the ONS data showed food prices in March were 1.2per cent higher than last year, the biggest annual rise in three years. This year, the cost of air fares fell by nearly 4per cent in March from the month before. However, last year, when Easter Sunday fell on 27 March, air fares had jumped by more than 20per cent amid higher demand. With Easter Sunday falling on 16 April this year, economists are expecting inflation to pick up this month. As well as air fares, fuel also had a downward impact on inflation, as the prices paid by motorists at the pump fell slightly. The biggest upward impact on inflation came from food and non-alcoholic drinks, where prices rose by 0.4per cent in March from the month before, compared with a 0.6per cent fall a year earlier. Inflation has been accelerating in recent months, partly as a result of the fall in the pound after the Brexit vote, which has raised import prices. Although the inflation rate remained unchanged from February, it remains above the Bank of Englands target of 2per cent and is the highest since September 2013. Inflation may be steady, but its still currently outpacing wages and interest rates, which spells trouble for households and cash savers, said Laith Khalaf, senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. The inflationary squeeze thats coming is going to mean consumers have to spend more at the check-outs and petrol pumps, and that reduces their capacity to fund discretionary spending. Earlier on Monday, a survey by the British Retail Consortium and KPMG earlier on Monday suggested consumers were reining back spending in the face of rising food prices. Total spending on non-food items fell by 0.8per cent in the January-to-March period, the survey found, which was the weakest three-month performance for nearly six years. The ONSs new preferred inflation measure of CPIH, which contains a measure of housing costs, also remained unchanged at 2.3 per cent in March. The Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation fell to 3.1per cent last month, from 3.2per cent in February. ONS deputy national statistician Jonathan Athow said: Food, drink and clothing prices all rose in March. However, this is offset by air fares, which fell slightly but last year rose substantially thanks to the timing of Easter. The costs of raw materials and the price of manufactured goods leaving factories were both little changed, as falling fuel prices helped stem further rises. Data from the ONS showed the annual rate of producer price inflation fell back slightly in March. The prices of goods leaving the factory gate were up 3.6per cent from a year earlier, compared with a rate of 3.7per cent in February.