According to the report from Office for National Statistics, the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 0.4% in the 12 months to February 2021, down from 0.7% to January 2020. Economists had expected a 0.8% increase. On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.1% in February 2021, compared with a 0.4% rise in February 2020. Economists had expected a 0.5% increase.

The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH) rose by 0.7% in the 12 months to February 2021, down from 0.9% to January.

The largest upward contribution to the CPIH 12-month inflation rate came from transport (0.30 percentage points).

Falling prices for clothing, second-hand cars, and games, toys and hobbies resulted in the largest downward contributions to the change in the CPIH 12-month inflation rate between January and February 2021. These were partially offset by large upward contributions from rising prices for motor fuels, and housing and household services overall.

On a monthly basis, the CPIH rose by 0.1% in February 2021, compared with a larger rise of 0.3% in February 2020.