Thursday, 17 April 2014

Annual CPI Inflation At 1.6%

CPI inflation increased by 1.6% in the year to March 2014. It was 1.7% in February. Between February and March 2014 the CPI rose by 0.2% compared with 0.3% between the same two months of last year. Downward pressure mainly came from transport, especially motor fuels but also from clothing and furniture and household goods.

Transport prices didn't change much between February and March 2014 compared with the 0.6% increase a year earlier. Petrol prices were unchanged compared with a 2.2% rise last year. Diesel fell by 0.4p/litre compared with a rise of 1.9p/litre last year. Air transport fares grew by less than they did a year ago.

As usual, prices for clothing and footwear increased between February and March but by less than last year. Downward pressure mainly came from women's outer garments. Furniture and household goods prices went up by 0.3% over the month compared to a rise of 0.8% last year.

The main upward contribution came from restaurants and hotels where prices increased by 0.5% compared with 0.2% last year mainly from price increases for overnight stays in hotels. Prices for alcohol, particularly spirits, and tobacco rose this year but fell last year.

CPIH which includes owner occupier housing costs (OOH) grew by 1.5% in the year to March 2014. RPIJ grew by 1.8% from 2% in February. RPI annual inflation was 2.5%.

No comments: