UK inflation picked up pace in April 2025, with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) rising by 4.1 per cent year-on-year (YoY), up from 3.4 per cent in March, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). On a monthly basis, CPIH increased by 1.2 per cent in April, more than double the 0.5 per cent recorded in the same month last year. The sharper rise was driven primarily by higher prices in housing and household services, transport, and recreation and culture. Clothing and footwear provided a partially offsetting drag. The CPI, which excludes owner occupiers' housing costs, rose by 3.5 per cent in the 12 months to April, up from 2.6 per cent in 12 months to March. The CPI also saw a monthly gain of 1.2 per cent, compared with just 0.3 per cent in April 2024. Core inflation also edged higher. Core CPIH—which strips out volatile components such as energy, food, alcohol and tobacco—rose by 4.5 per cent in the 12 months to April, up from 4.2 per cent in the 12 months to March. Meanwhile, the annual rate for goods under CPIH climbed from 0.6 per cent to 1.7 per cent, while services inflation ticked up from 5.4 per cent to 5.8 per cent. Similarly, Core CPI rose by 3.8 per cent YoY, up from 3.4 per cent the previous month, with goods inflation increasing to 1.7 per cent and services inflation reaching 5.4 per cent. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
