The annual inflation rate in the UK stood at 2.8% in May 2026, unchanged from the previous month and below market expectations of 3.0%. The reading remained at its lowest level since March last year. Inflation slowed in housing and household services (2.7% vs. 3.0% in April), the softest level in almost two years, as owner-occupiers’ housing costs continued to ease, while food and non-alcoholic beverages decelerated further (2.2% vs. 3.0%), hitting their lowest level since December 2024. Price growth also moderated in clothing and footwear (0.2% vs. 0.7%) and recreation and culture (1.5% vs. 1.7%). This was offset by upward pressure from transport inflation, which accelerated sharply to 6.8%, the highest since December 2022, up from 4.5% in April, driven by higher motor fuel prices, rising air fares, and an upward effect from vehicle excise duty (VED). On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 0.2% in May, below forecasts of a 0.4% gain and easing from a 0.7% increase in April. source: Office for National Statistics

Inflation Rate in the United Kingdom remained unchanged at 2.80 percent in May. Inflation Rate in the United Kingdom averaged 2.84 percent from 1989 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 11.10 percent in October of 2022 and a record low of -0.10 percent in April of 2015. This page provides - United Kingdom Inflation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. United Kingdom Inflation Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2026.

Inflation Rate in the United Kingdom remained unchanged at 2.80 percent in May. Inflation Rate in the United Kingdom is expected to be 3.40 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United Kingdom Inflation Rate is projected to trend around 2.50 percent in 2027 and 2.00 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-20 06:00 AM
Inflation Rate YoY
Apr 2.8% 3.3% 3% 3.0%
2026-06-17 06:00 AM
Inflation Rate YoY
May 2.8% 2.8% 3% 3.1%
2026-07-22 06:00 AM
Inflation Rate YoY
Jun 2.8% 3.4%



Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Core Consumer Prices 138.60 138.20 points May 2026
Core Inflation Rate YoY 2.60 2.50 percent May 2026
Core Producer Prices 144.40 143.20 points May 2026
CPI Clothing and Footwear 120.10 119.80 points May 2026
CPI Education 152.70 152.70 points May 2026
CPI Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages 144.30 144.50 points May 2026
CPI Housing Utilities 149.70 149.80 points May 2026
CPI Recreation and Culture 135.80 135.70 points May 2026
CPI Hotels, Cafes and Restaurants 155.40 154.60 points May 2026
CPI Transportation 146.30 145.80 points May 2026
Energy Inflation 7.40 7.10 percent May 2026
Food Inflation 2.20 3.00 percent May 2026
PPI Output YoY 4.00 4.10 percent May 2026
Rent Inflation 3.40 3.50 percent May 2026
Services Inflation 3.70 3.20 percent May 2026

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Consumer Price Index CPI 142.40 142.10 points May 2026
GDP Deflator 110.00 108.90 points Mar 2026
Inflation Rate YoY 2.80 2.80 percent May 2026
Inflation Rate MoM 0.20 0.70 percent May 2026
PPI Output MoM 0.50 1.50 percent May 2026
Producer Prices 148.60 147.90 points May 2026
Retail Price Index 415.30 414.40 percent May 2026
Retail Price Index MoM 0.20 0.70 percent May 2026
Retail Price Index YoY 3.10 3.00 percent May 2026


United Kingdom Inflation Rate
In United Kingdom, the most important categories in the Consumer Price Index are: Transport (14%), Housing & Utilities (14%), and Recreation & Culture (13%). Food & Non-alcoholic Beverages account for 12%, Restaurants & Hotels for 11%, Miscellaneous Goods & Services for 9%¸ Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Maintenance of the House for 8%, and Clothing & Footwear for 6%. Others include: Alcoholic Drinks, Tobacco & Narcotics (5%), Education (3%), Communication (3%) and Health (2%).
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
2.80 2.80 11.10 -0.10 1989 - 2026 percent Monthly

News Stream
UK Inflation Surprisingly Holds at 2.8%
The annual inflation rate in the UK stood at 2.8% in May 2026, unchanged from the previous month and below market expectations of 3.0%. The reading remained at its lowest level since March last year. Inflation slowed in housing and household services (2.7% vs. 3.0% in April), the softest level in almost two years, as owner-occupiers’ housing costs continued to ease, while food and non-alcoholic beverages decelerated further (2.2% vs. 3.0%), hitting their lowest level since December 2024. Price growth also moderated in clothing and footwear (0.2% vs. 0.7%) and recreation and culture (1.5% vs. 1.7%). This was offset by upward pressure from transport inflation, which accelerated sharply to 6.8%, the highest since December 2022, up from 4.5% in April, driven by higher motor fuel prices, rising air fares, and an upward effect from vehicle excise duty (VED). On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 0.2% in May, below forecasts of a 0.4% gain and easing from a 0.7% increase in April.
2026-06-17
UK Inflation Rate Hits Lowest in a Year
The annual inflation rate in the UK slowed to 2.8% in April 2026 from 3.3% in March, coming in below market expectations of 3.0% and marking the lowest reading since March last year. The moderation was mainly driven by a sharp slowdown in housing and household services inflation (1.4% vs 5.3% in March), following the introduction of an energy price cap by the UK’s energy regulator on April 1. Transport costs also rose at a softer pace (4.5% vs 4.7%), as a downward effect from vehicle excise duty (VED) partly offset surging motor fuel prices, which climbed 23%, the highest annual increase since September 2022. Inflation also eased for food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.0% vs 3.7%), health (2.4% vs 3.1%), and recreation and culture (1.7% vs 2.8%). Meanwhile, prices rebounded for clothing (0.7% vs -0.8%) and furniture and household goods (0.5% vs -0.4%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased by 0.7% in April, matching the pace recorded in the previous period.
2026-05-20
UK Inflation Rate Edges Up in March
The annual inflation rate in the UK rose to 3.3% in March 2026, up from 3% in each of the previous two months and in line with expectations. This marks the highest reading in three months. The increase was driven in part by transport costs, which rose by 4.7%, the fastest pace since December 2022. Motor fuels, in particular, climbed by 4.9%, making the largest upward contribution, largely due to the impact of the war with Iran. The average price of petrol increased by 8.6 pence per litre between February and March 2026 and diesel prices also rose sharply, up by 17.6 pence per litre. Housing and household services costs rose 4.3% (vs 4.2%), driven by a 95.3% surge in domestic heating oil prices, the highest increase since September 2022. Prices also accelerated for food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.7% vs. 3.3%) and services (4.5% vs. 4.3%). On the other hand, clothing prices fell by 0.8%, the steepest decline since March 2021. Compared to February, the CPI increased 0.7%.
2026-04-22