Inflation pause

Inflation rates paused in the year to December as the recent steady slowdown stuck at 5.2% on the Retail Prices Index (RPI), down only slightly from 5.3%; 4.0% on the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), up slightly from 3.9%; and 4.2% on CPI with a housing element (unchanged).

"Core CPIH" (excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco) rose by 5.2%. Alcohol and tobacco prices made an upward contribution.