UK inflation
The three headline measures of consumer price inflation published by the Office for National Statistics, and how prices are changing in each spending category.
Updated Latest data: September 2026 · ONS release 21 October 2026 · Data fetched 28 October 2026, 10:12 GMT
CPI
3.5%
September 2026: up 0.4 points from 3.1%. A year earlier: 3.8%.
Consumer Prices Index, 12-month rate
CPIH
3.6%
September 2026: up 0.3 points from 3.3%. A year earlier: 4.1%.
CPI including owner occupiers' housing costs, 12-month rate
Core CPI
2.8%
September 2026: up 0.2 points from 2.6%. A year earlier: 3.5%.
CPI excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, 12-month rate
12-month rates. CPI from January 1989, CPIH from January 1989, core CPI from January 1989, to September 2026. Sources: ONS series D7G7, L55O, DKO8.
CPI annual rate: last 12 months
| Month | Value |
|---|---|
| September 2026 | 3.5% |
| August 2026 | 3.1% |
| July 2026 | 2.9% |
| June 2026 | 2.6% |
| May 2026 | 2.8% |
| April 2026 | 2.8% |
| March 2026 | 3.3% |
| February 2026 | 3.0% |
| January 2026 | 3.0% |
| December 2025 | 3.4% |
| November 2025 | 3.2% |
| October 2025 | 3.6% |
CPIH annual rate: last 12 months
| Month | Value |
|---|---|
| September 2026 | 3.6% |
| August 2026 | 3.3% |
| July 2026 | 3.1% |
| June 2026 | 2.8% |
| May 2026 | 3.0% |
| April 2026 | 3.0% |
| March 2026 | 3.4% |
| February 2026 | 3.2% |
| January 2026 | 3.2% |
| December 2025 | 3.6% |
| November 2025 | 3.5% |
| October 2025 | 3.8% |
Core CPI annual rate: last 12 months
| Month | Value |
|---|---|
| September 2026 | 2.8% |
| August 2026 | 2.6% |
| July 2026 | 2.6% |
| June 2026 | 2.6% |
| May 2026 | 2.6% |
| April 2026 | 2.5% |
| March 2026 | 3.1% |
| February 2026 | 3.2% |
| January 2026 | 3.1% |
| December 2025 | 3.2% |
| November 2025 | 3.2% |
| October 2025 | 3.4% |
What the measures mean
- CPI
- The Consumer Prices Index, the measure used for the Bank of England's 2% inflation target. It tracks the prices of a basket of around 700 goods and services.
- CPIH
- CPI plus owner occupiers' housing costs (estimated from rents) and council tax. The ONS's lead measure of consumer price inflation.
- Core CPI
- CPI excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, the most volatile items. It gives a clearer view of underlying price pressure.
Inflation by category
CPI annual rate in September 2026 for each of the 12 main spending categories (COICOP divisions).
| Category | Annual rate | Previous month |
|---|---|---|
| Food and non-alcoholic drinks | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 2.5% | 2.7% |
| Clothing and footwear | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | 5.3% | 4.9% |
| Furniture, household equipment and maintenance | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| Health | 3.5% | 3.7% |
| Transport | 6.6% | 4.6% |
| Communication | 5.8% | 5.3% |
| Recreation and culture | 2.3% | 1.6% |
| Education | 5.0% | 5.1% |
| Restaurants and hotels | 3.8% | 4.1% |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 3.1% | 2.9% |