Consumer prices in Britain rose at the slowest rate in two and a half years, the country’s Office for National Statistics reported on Wednesday.
Inflation was 3.2 percent in the year through March, down from 3.4 percent in February but a touch higher than the 3.1 percent economists expected, a sign that the path to cooler inflation could be bumpy.
Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, was 4.2 percent, down from 4.5 percent the month before.
Economists expect inflation to continue to slow over the next few months, possibly going below the Bank of England’s target of 2 percent, as household energy bills fall.
Britain’s unemployment rate rose more than expected in its latest reading, published this week.
Organizations:
National Statistics, Bank of
Locations:
Britain