Clothing top sliding contributor to monthly UK CPI annual rate change

On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.4 per cent in the month compared with a rise of 0.6 per cent in February last year.

The largest downward contribution to the monthly change in CPI annual rate came from clothing. Overall prices for clothing and footwear fell by 0.6 per cent in the 12 months to February 2025 compared with a rise of 1.8 per cent in the 12 months to January. The February figure was the first negative annual rate since October 2021, an ONS release said.

Core CPI (excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco) rose by 3.5 per cent in the 12 months to February 2025—down from 3.7 per cent in the 12 months to January.

The CPI goods annual rate slowed from 1 per cent in January this year to 0.8 per cent in February.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)