UK consumer price inflation hits 3 per cent in April

Consumer prices in Britain shot up 3 per cent in April compared with a year earlier, propelled by rising prices for home gas, electricity and heating oil, the government said Tuesday.

LONDON: Consumer prices in Britain shot up 3 per cent in April compared with a year earlier, propelled by rising prices for home gas, electricity and heating oil, the government said Tuesday.

The inflation rate, which was 2.5 per cent in March, is now a full point above the government's target.

The retail price index rose to 4.2 per cent, compared with 3.8 per cent in March, the Office for National Statistics said. Retail prices, excluding mortgage interest payments, rose 4.0 per cent, compared with 3.5 per cent in March. Inflation rose to 4.2 per cent in April, up from 3.8 per cent in March.

Earlier, the British Retail Consortium reported that retail sales in April fell 1.5 per cent below the same month last year. Tuesday's report was the second downbeat monthly result, following a 1.6 per cent drop in March.

The consortium said clothing and footwear sales were hardest hit, but it did not release comparative figures.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App
for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App
for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
READ MORE
ADVERTISEMENT

LOGIN & CLAIM

50 TIMESPOINTS

More from our Partners

Loading next story
Business News › News › International › UK consumer price inflation hits 3 per cent in April
Text Size:AAA
Success
This article has been saved

*

+