Inflation bites: Fish fingers are among the foods which have gone up in price
UK inflation rose last month on the back of higher prices for food such as cauliflowers, fish fingers and crisps.
More expensive household goods also played a part, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which said consumer prices index inflation increased to 0.7 per cent in January from 0.6 per cent in December.
Economists had predicted 0.5 per cent. Jonathan Athow, at the ONS, said less discounting on items such as bedding and settees made a difference.
Food and non-alcoholic drink prices increased by 0.6 per cent, driven particularly by more expensive cauliflowers and crisps.
And there was volatility in fish prices following the UK’s exit from the EU, with price increases for prawns, frozen fish fingers and fresh salmon.
The largest contribution to the increase in inflation came from furniture and home furnishings, as the sector saw significantly reduced discounting on leather settees and double beds.
The increases were partly offset by the price of clothing and footwear sliding by 4.8 per cent.