LONDON, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 3.5 percent in April year-on-year, marking the highest rate since January 2024, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday.
The sharp increase, which is also higher than March of 2.6 percent, was driven by higher household bills, including energy and water charges.
The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, the energy regulator, raised the price cap in April, leading to an average annual increase of 111 pounds (about 149 U.S. dollars) for dual-fuel households. Water and sewerage bills surged by 26.1 percent, the largest rise since at least February 1988.
Transport costs also contributed to the inflation rise, with airfares increasing by 27.5 percent month-on-month due to the Easter holiday period. Vehicle Excise Duty changes further added to the upward pressure.
Core CPI, which excludes energy, food, alcohol, and tobacco, rose by 3.8 percent in the 12 months to April, up from 3.4 percent in March. Services inflation accelerated to 5.4 percent, compared with 4.7 percent in the previous month.
The jump in inflation has raised concerns about the Bank of England's rate-cut path. At its latest meeting earlier this month, the central bank cut interest rates by 25 points to 4.25 percent, but two members voted against the reduction.
British Chancellor Rachel Reeves has expressed disappointment over the figures, emphasizing the government's commitment to reducing living costs for households. ■
