Lower fuel prices help drive inflation down to 2.6%
Economists had expected inflation to fall slightly.
UK inflation eased to 2.6% in the latest reading, helped by lower fuel prices, according to a BBC Business report published on a monitored public feed.
The figure suggests price pressures have continued to cool, moving slightly below what economists had expected. The result will be welcomed by households and policymakers watching for further signs that the sharp surge in living costs is fading.
The decline was driven in part by cheaper fuel, which reduced overall inflationary pressure in the period covered by the report. The BBC Business summary did not provide further detail on other components of the inflation basket or on how the latest reading compares with earlier months beyond noting the expected fall had been modest.
Inflation remains a key measure for assessing the cost of living, and even small changes can affect expectations for interest rates, wages and consumer spending. A lower reading can ease pressure on family budgets, though many households may still be feeling the effects of past price rises.
Economists had anticipated a slight drop, but the 2.6% outcome indicates inflation cooled a little more than expected. The report does not include any comment from officials or markets, and it does not set out whether the easing is likely to continue in the months ahead.
This article is based on a monitored public feed and attributed to BBC Business, which reported the inflation data and the role of lower fuel prices in pulling the rate down.
Source: BBC Business - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg4xj8j5vjo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
