UK consumer price inflation rose more-than-expected in January, after easing in the previous month, to its highest level in six months, led by higher petrol prices.
The consumer price index rose 1.8 percent year-on-year following a 1.3 percent increase in December, preliminary data from the Office for National Statistics showed on Wednesday. Economists had forecast 1.6 percent inflation.
The January inflation rate was the highest since July, when prices rose 2.1 percent annually.
Meanwhile, core inflation which excludes energy, food, alcoholic beverages and tobacco, climbed to 1.6 percent in January from 1.4 percent in December. In November, it was 1.7 percent. Economists had forecast core inflation of 1.5 percent.
Inflation based on the CPI including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) climbed to 1.8 percent from 1.4 percent. This rate was also the highest since July.
Housing and household services, transport, clothing and footwear, and restaurants and hotels made upward contributions to inflation, while furniture, household equipment and maintenance; and food and non-alcoholic beverages acted as drags.
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