London, Jan 21 (AP) Inflation in the United Kingdom rose in December for the first time in five months, pushing further above the Bank of England's target, according to official figures released on Wednesday.
The Office for National Statistics said the consumer prices index rose by an annual rate of 3.4 per cent in December, up from 3.2 per cent the month before. It said increases in taxes on tobacco products and trips abroad over Christmas contributed to the increase.
The increase was slightly lower than anticipated, with most economists predicting a rise to 3.5 per cent. They predicted that December's rise would be a temporary blip on a downward path toward the Bank of England's target rate of 2 per cent.
James Smith, research director at the Resolution Foundation economic think tank, said that “big falls are due in 2026, with inflation finally returning to more normal levels.”
With inflation trending downwards, economists expect the Bank of England to further cut its main interest rate from the current rate of 3.75 per cent.
Britain's Labour government hopes that taming inflation and the associated reduction in borrowing costs will help bolster economic growth.
Elected in a landslide victory just 18 months ago, Labour has since seen its poll ratings tank badly, partly because an uptick in growth — its number one priority in the election — has remained largely elusive.
Treasury chief Rachel Reeves pledged after the release of the inflation data that 2026 would be the “year that Britain turns a corner." (AP) SKS
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