Inflation up to 1.9%

THE headline rate of inflation jumped to 1.9% in June, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said today.

The unexpected 0.4% increase on May’s figure was the result of the rising costs of clothing, food and non-alcoholic drinks, and air transport.

The ONS said there was no downward pressure from other areas to offset the increase.

The Retail Prices Index (RPI), which includes housing costs, grew by 2.6%, up from 2.4%.