The price of a packet of cigarettes rose hours after the UK Budget was delivered in Parliament, while drinkers will see tax on alcohol go up by 10.1% in August, in line with inflation. According to London media, the only alcohol not to see a rise was draught beer where duty will be frozen. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said this was to help “the great British pub”.
United Kingdom's twelve-month Consumer Prices Index (CPI) reached 10.1% in January against the 10.5% increase recorded in December while missing estimates of a 10.3% print, the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported on Wednesday. The index keeps moving away from its highest level since January 1981 at 11.1% last year.