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While the overall level of inflation in August remained at 2.2%, there was a wide variation in the rate across everyday goods and services, with prices falling for some items but rising for others.
The biggest movement was in the cost of air travel, with average prices jumping by 11.9% in the year to August, having fallen by 10.4% in the 12 months to July.
Butter and low-fat milk both saw similar swings from negative to positive inflation, with the price of butter up 0.9% in the year to August after falling 3.9% in the year to July, and low-fat milk rising 0.3% in August after dropping 0.4% in July, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Inflation accelerated for a range of everyday items, including the cost of cinema, theatre and concert tickets, which rose 9.2% in the year to August compared with a jump of 4.4% in the 12 months to July; the price of pizza and quiche, up 4.3% in August after a rise of 0.8% in July; chocolate, up 10.0% last month compared with 6.7% in July; women’s clothes (up 3.9% in August, up 2.6% in July); and bread (up 2.2% in August, up 1.1% in July).
The UK inflation rate since 2021 (PA Graphics)PA GraphicsSome items saw prices falling less slowly last month than in July, most notably second-hand cars, the average cost of which dropped by 6.6% in the year to August, having fallen by 8.4% in the 12 months to July.
The price of household furniture was down 1.0% in August, a smaller annual drop than 2.4% in July, and there were similar trends for the average cost of fish (down 3.0% in August after falling 4.2% in July), fruit and vegetable juices (down 0.4% in August, down 1.3% in July) and rice (down 2.3% in August, down 2.7% in July).
By contrast, the rate of inflation eased last month for tea (up 3.5% in the year to August compared with a jump of 8.4% in July), mineral water (up 2.8% in August, up 5.2% in July), ready meals (2.1% August, 4.2% in July), train travel (2.2% August, 3.7% July) and men’s clothes (1.2% August, 2.6% July).
The average price of both petrol and diesel swung from positive to negative inflation, with the cost of petrol dropping by 4.2% in August after rising 0.8% in July, while diesel fell by 2.2% last month after rising in July by 3.6%.
Other items seeing a shift from rising to falling prices include yoghurt, down 3.1% in the 12 months to August after jumping 2.8% in July, children’s shoes, down 1.1% last month after rising 2.9% in July, and crisps, down 1.1% in August after increasing 0.6% in July.
Meanwhile, the price of coffee machines and tea makers fell more steeply in August (down 5.9%) than in July (down 3.0%), as did the cost of toys (a drop of 4.6% in August compared with a fall of 2.0% in July), sauces & herbs (-3.1% in August, -1.6% in July) and pasta & couscous (-3.8% in August, -2.6% in July).
Below is a list of examples of how the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rate has either accelerated or slowed.
Two figures are listed for each item: the average rise in price in the 12 months to July, followed by the average rise in price in the 12 months to August.
– Examples where inflation has accelerated, ranked by the size of the change:
Passenger air travel: Jul down 10.4%, Aug up 11.9%Butter: Jul down 3.9%, Aug up 0.9%Cinemas, theatres & concerts: Jul up 4.4%, Aug up 9.2%Pizza & quiche: Jul up 0.8%, Aug up 4.3%Chocolate: Jul up 6.7%, Aug up 10.0%Cleaning equipment: Jul down 5.6%, Aug down 3.3%Second-hand cars: Jul down 8.4%, Aug down 6.6%Fresh or chilled vegetables other than potatoes: Jul up 4.1%, Aug up 5.4%Women’s clothes: Jul up 2.6%, Aug up 3.9%Bread: Jul up 1.1%, Aug up 2.2%Coffee: Jul up 0.1%, Aug up 1.2%Low-fat milk: Jul down 0.4, Aug up 0.3%Potatoes: Jul up 5.4%, Aug up 6.0%Meat: Jul up 0.7%, Aug up 1.0%
– Examples where inflation has slowed:
Yoghurt: Jul up 2.8%, Aug down 3.1%Diesel: Jul up 3.6%, Aug down 2.2%Petrol: Jul up 0.8%, Aug down 4.2%Tea: Jul up 8.4%, Aug up 3.5%Children’s footwear: Jul up 2.9%, Aug down 1.1%Edible ices & ice cream: Jul up 4.3%, Aug up 1.7%Mineral or spring waters: Jul up 5.2%, Aug up 2.8%Ready-made meals: Jul up 4.2%, Aug up 2.1%Children’s clothes: Jul up 1.3%, Aug down 0.5%Crisps: Jul up 0.6%, Aug down 1.1%Passenger travel by train: Jul up 3.7%, Aug up 2.2%Men’s clothes: Jul up 2.6%, Aug up 1.2%Soft drinks: Jul up 2.4%, Aug up 1.5%Men’s footwear: Jul up 1.4%, Aug up 0.6%
