MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
UK inflation 0.3% in January on cheaper petrol and food prices
Chancellor George Osborne tweeted that the low inflation figure was a “milestone for the economy”. 
January's figure is the lowest rate of UK CPI inflation since estimates of the measure began in 1988. The rate of UK Consumer Prices Index inflation fell to 0.3% in January, its lowest level since records began. Cheaper petrol and lower food prices, helped by a supermarket price war, cut the rate from 0.5% in December, Office for National Statistics figures show.
January's figure is the lowest rate of CPI inflation since estimates of the measure began in 1988. The Bank of England said last week that inflation may temporarily turn negative in the spring.
Inflation as measured by the Retail Prices Index fell to 1.1% from 1.6% the previous month, the Office for National Statistics said.
“Falling prices for motor fuels and food were the main contributors to the slowdown in the rate of inflation,” it added.
ONS statistician Phil Gooding said average petrol prices had fallen on the month, as had prices for foodstuffs such as milk and fruit, while games, toys and hobbies had also become cheaper.
He added that a slowdown in the rate of price inflation for alcohol and some recreational goods and services had also contributed to the overall slowdown.
The ONS said that while the cost of food and fuel is lower than a year ago, prices for other items, such as clothing and furniture, are rising.
A lower inflation rate was “excellent news for the consumer's purchasing power”, said Howard Archer, chief UK and European economist for IHS Global Insight.
“With inflation likely to fall further and earnings growth now finally trending upwards, consumers should see appreciable improvement in their purchasing power as 2015 progresses,” he said.
However, he noted that core inflation, which strips out food, energy, alcohol and tobacco prices, rose to 1.4% in January from 1.3% the month before. The rise in core inflation highlights the fact that the UK is far from suffering generalized deflation,“ he said.
Chancellor George Osborne tweeted that the low inflation figure was a ”milestone for the economy“. Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury, said that the figures were ”good news“ for the UK.
The Liberal Democrat MP said: ”These figures... go alongside the UK having the best economic growth in Europe, one of the best economic growth rates in the world, job creation off the back of very hard work by millions of people and businesses around this country, and low inflation, and that is a good mix for the country right now.“
Labor's shadow Treasury minister Cathy Jamieson said: ”Inflation is falling around the world because global oil prices have plummeted.
“But in Britain, wages continue to be sluggish and working people are £1,600 a year worse off under this government. A few months of falling world oil prices won't solve the deep-seated problems in our economy”. (BBC).-
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Read all comments0.3%inflation? In other words one hundredth of the rate in Argenchina! Perhaps those RG genii Pauly or Toby would like to explain that?
Feb 20th, 2015 - 10:14 am 0Worse off? Yes, we are a bit worse off on average by £1600 for working people, but looking at that in the context of an average annual income of £25,000 (334,000 Pesos or $37500) thats not a huge problem which will be made up by wage rises in a couple of years.
1 captain
Feb 20th, 2015 - 12:46 pm 0what do you need to be explained?
argentina's economy is managed by a brainless, useless guy who has never worked in his whole fucking life before this govt took charge.
his records are being one of the managers of aerolineas argentinas which loses 2 million dollars per day.
add to that the group of imbeciles around him (costa, vanoli, etc)
and it is not only inflation but “estanflación”.
now, what the fuck do you not understand?
anyway, it is weird that the uk has cheaper food prices while the number of food banks users has increased 51%.
or that +/- 1 million brits have to receive emergency food supplies.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-27032642
stop reading this shitty newspaper.
@2. Can't disagree with you about
Feb 20th, 2015 - 01:27 pm 0'argentina's economy is managed by a brainless, useless guy who has never worked in his whole fucking life before this govt took charge.
his records are being one of the managers of aerolineas argentinas which loses 2 million dollars per day.
add to that the group of imbeciles around him (costa, vanoli, etc)
and it is not only inflation but “estanflación”.
Of course, the number of food bank users has only increased by 38%.
The explanation is quite simple. There is, unfortunately, a percentage of immigrants to the UK who have a sense of 'entitlement'. They are much like argies. They arrived in the UK expecting to be freely given housing, health care, education, welfare benefits without paying for anything. But Britain already has a percentage of skiving scroungers. They're called the scotch. For example, 50% of the population of Glasgow is on benefits. There's also an education problem as they don't understand W-O-R-K. Another similarity with argies. Humans being what they are, it would be ridiculous to think that skivers and scroungers wouldn't take every advantage to obtain 'freebies'. Look at argieland. All you have to do is vote the way you're told and you can get free food.
You don't know much about humans do you, Pablo? Perhaps if you were one!
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