The inflation rate in the United Kingdom remained stable at 6.7% in September 2023,
holding at August's 18-month low and defying market expectations of a slight decrease to 6.6%.
Softer price increases in food and non-alcoholic beverages (12.1% vs 13.6% in August) and furniture and household goods (3.7% vs 5.1%) were offset by a smaller decline in energy costs (-0.2% vs -3.2%) on the back of a monthly rise in motor fuel costs.
Moreover, the core inflation rate,
which excludes volatile items such as energy and food,
dropped to 6.1%, reaching its lowest point since January but slightly exceeding forecasts of 6%.
Both of these figures have remained significantly above the Bank of England's 2% target,
further emphasizing the mounting inflationary pressures in the country and complicating further the task for policymakers who are expected to keep interest rates unchanged at the upcoming meeting.
On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 0.5% in September, the most substantial increase since May.
source: Office for National Statistics