UK inflation accelerates to 4.4% in July

Price pressures across a number of areas have seen UK CPI annual inflation rise from 4.2% in June to 4.4% in July.

The Office for National Statistics said price increases across the housing & housing services, goods & services' and clothing & footwear sectors were responsible for the increase. The figures follow an unexpected easing in CPI in June, from 4.5% to 4.2%. "There was not one component that drove the increase in CPI annual inflation between June and July," the ONS said. RPI inflation was unchanged at 5%. Particular pressures came from the rising mortgage arrangement fees, increases in housing rent - particularly for social housing - and the higher cost of home furnishings and textiles. ...