Higher airfares contribute to 3.4% rise in UK inflation

Higher airfares contributed to a 3.4% rise in UK inflation in the year to December, official figures show.

The steeper than expected increase came as the cost of flying rose by more than a quarter over the festive period.

The previous set of figures the Office for National Statistics released showed that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measure of inflation slowed to 3.2% in the year to November, down from 3.6% in the 12 months to October.

Data released today (Wednesday) by the ONS showed that the largest upward effect in the transport sector came from airfares, which rose by 28.6% in December.

However, airfares rose by 16.2% last year, the third-lowest rise since monthly price collection began in 2001, according to the ONS.

ONS chief economist Grant Fitzner told the BBC: "Airfares [also] contributed to the increase with prices rising more than a year ago, likely because of the timing of return flights over the Christmas and new year period.“

The ONS statement said: “Part of the reason for the lower-than-usual growth in 2024 may have been because the return date for European flights in December 2024 was Christmas Eve and the return date for long-haul flights was New Year’s Eve. 

“In contrast, the return date for European flights in December 2025 was 23 December and the return date for long-haul flights was 30 December.” 

Prices in the transport division rose overall by 4% in the 12 months to December 2025, up from 3.7% in the 12 months to November. 

On a monthly basis, prices rose by 1.3% in December 2025, compared with a rise of 1% a year ago.