Higher air fares see the cost of living take off

The weekly shop is less of a burden but the wider cost of living rose for the first time in nine months in April, official figures showed today.

Consumer Prices Index inflation rose to 1.8% from 1.6% as a later Easter pushed up air fares and sea fares, while more confident clothes shops pushed through price rises.

But a mild spring, contrasting with bitter cold a year earlier, meant food prices rose just 0.5% on last year, the slowest pace since April 2006.

Inflation remains below the Bank of England’s 2% target. Berenberg’s Rob Wood said: “With wages still weak there are no strong inflationary pressures.”