Inflation in June eased to its lowest level in more than two and a half years, driven in part by falling clothes prices.
The Office for National Statistics’ consumer price index put inflation at 2.4% in June, down from 2.8% for the previous month.
Food prices dipped by 0.1% compared to May, while the cost of alcoholic drinks and tobacco slid by 0.5%. The ONS said wet weather had hit demand for meat, which posted the biggest decrease, but the cost of fruit and vegetables bucked the trend by rising slightly.
The biggest factor in the low headline rate was the falling price of clothing, down by 4.2% from May’s levels.
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“Inflation has more than halved since September, meaning a little less pressure on family budgets,” said Chloe Smith, the economic secretary to the Treasury.
“This lower inflation should support high-street spending and growth in the economy in the months to come.”