Wed, 21 May 2025

Wed, 21 May 2025 Bills push inflation to highest in more than a year

Prices have risen faster than expected - raising questions about how many interest rate cuts there will be this year

* UK inflation rate rose to 3.5% in April, highest in over a year
* Higher than expected, with economists predicting 3.3%
* Water and sewerage prices up by 26.1%, largest rise since records began
* Airfare costs contributed to increased inflation
* Services inflation (prices for things like eating out or getting a haircut) rose 5.4%
* Core inflation also higher than expected, excluding energy and food prices
* Chancellor Rachel Reeves says April's minimum wage rise and fuel duty freeze will help with cost of living pressures
* Shadow chancellor Mel Stride criticizes government's economic management, saying it's pushing up costs for families
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