15/11/2005

Petrol prices lead to inflation drop

Consumer price inflation fell for the first time in over a year last month, aided by a drop in petrol prices.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that the Consumer Prices Index inflation fell to 2.3% in October.

Petrol had the largest downward effect on inflation, as prices fell back from record high prices in September.

Average recorded prices of ultra low sulphur petrol fell by 1.3p per litre in October, compared with an increase of 1.8p a year ago.

However, there were also offsetting upward effects within transport from second-hand car prices and airfares, which both fell by less than last year.

Miscellaneous goods and services also had a large downward effect, largely from bank overdraft charges, which increased by less than a year ago.

Another large downward effect came from food, with plentiful supplies of some fresh vegetables causing prices to fall this year.

Housing and household services provided a small upward effect on the CPI, with increases in gas and electricity being largely offset by rental costs, which increased by less than the previous year.

Small upward effects also came from recreation and culture, with the cost of cigarettes rising by 3p on average.

Retail Price Index inflation also dropped in October, due to additional downward influences from housing components excluded from the CPI, especially depreciation costs.

RPIX inflation, which excludes mortgage interest payments, dropped to 2.4% in October from 2.5% in September. The government’s target rate for inflation is 2%.

(KMcA/SP)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

16 August 2005
Travel costs lead to inflation rise
Increasing transport costs have led to a rise in inflation, new figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) have shown. The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation – the government’s target measure – rose to 2.3% in July, the highest rate since the start of the official series in 1997.
18 October 2005
Petrol prices push up UK inflation
UK inflation has risen to 2.5%, driven by the continuing rise in petrol prices, the Office of National Statistics has reported. It is the highest rate of consumer price inflation since the index began in January 1997 and the third month in a row that inflation has risen above the government target of 2%.
14 February 2006
UK inflation steady at target rate
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicate that despite increasing energy costs, Consumer Prices Index (CPI) annual inflation is steady at 1.9% for January, just under the Government's target. The forecast was for inflation to hit 2.1% but the largest upward effect on inflation came from transport.
16 November 2004
Rise in petrol prices drives up inflation rate
Recent rises in energy costs, particularly in petrol prices, have seen the inflation rate top 1.2% for October, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS). Increasing crude oil costs saw prices at the pumps gain an average of around 2p per litre, pushing the CPI inflation rate – the government's target measure – up by 0.
11 December 2001
UK inflation drops to all time low
Inflation in the UK fell sharply last month according to the most recent figures released by the Office for National Statistics. The rate of inflation fell by 0.4 per cent in November taking the annual inflation rate down from 2.3 per cent in October to 1.8 per cent in November.