Higher air fares contribute to jump in inflation rate

Higher air fares were cited as a contributing factor to a jump in the UK inflation rate to 3.5% in the year to April.

The Office for National Statistics said the primary factor in the rise from 2.6% in March was a "significant increases in household bills" in April.

However, the body’s acting director general Grant Fitzner told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that increases in air fares had also contributed to the higher-than-expected rate, with the Easter holidays falling in April this year and March last year.

The 3.5% rate is the highest level since January last year and is higher than predicted by most economists.

The main factor was a 0.75% increase in housing and household services – particularly gas and electricity bills – followed by a 0.28% increase in transport costs.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "I am disappointed with these figures because I know cost of living pressures are still weighing down on working people.

"We are a long way from the double-digit inflation we saw under the previous administration, but I’m determined that we go further and faster to put more money in people’s pockets.

"That’s why we have increased the minimum wage for millions of working people, frozen fuel duty to protect commuters and struck three trade deals in the past two weeks that will go towards cutting bills."