According to the report from Office for National Statistics, the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) 12-month rate was 1.9% in February 2019, up from 1.8% in January 2019. Economists had expected a 1.8% increase.

The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH) 12-month inflation rate was 1.8% in February 2019, unchanged from January 2019.

Rising prices for food, alcohol and tobacco, and across a range of recreational and cultural goods produced the largest upward contributions to change in the rate between January and February 2019.

The largest, offsetting, downward contribution came from clothing and footwear, with prices rising between January and February 2019 but by less than between the same two months a year ago.