The UK inflation rate was 3.6 percent in June 2025, up from 3.4 percent in the previous month, and the fastest rate of inflation since January 2024. Between September 2022 and March 2023, the UK experienced seven months of double-digit inflation, which peaked at 11.1 percent in October 2022. Due to this long period of high inflation, UK consumer prices have increased by over 20 percent in the last three years. As of the most recent month, prices were rising fastest in the communications sector, at 6.1 percent, but were falling in both the furniture and transport sectors, at -0.3 percent and -0.6 percent, respectively.
The Cost of Living Crisis High inflation is one of the main factors behind the ongoing Cost of Living Crisis in the UK, which, despite subsiding somewhat in 2024, is still impacting households going into 2025. In December 2024, for example, 56 percent of UK households reported their cost of living was increasing compared with the previous month, up from 45 percent in July, but far lower than at the height of the crisis in 2022. After global energy prices spiraled that year, the UK's energy price cap increased substantially. The cap, which limits what suppliers can charge consumers, reached 3,549 British pounds per year in October 2022, compared with 1,277 pounds a year earlier. Along with soaring food costs, high-energy bills have hit UK households hard, especially lower income ones that spend more of their earnings on housing costs. As a result of these factors, UK households experienced their biggest fall in living standards in decades in 2022/23. Global inflation crisis causes rapid surge in prices The UK's high inflation, and cost of living crisis in 2022 had its origins in the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the initial waves of the virus, global supply chains struggled to meet the renewed demand for goods and services. Food and energy prices, which were already high, increased further in 2022. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 brought an end to the era of cheap gas flowing to European markets from Russia. The war also disrupted global food markets, as both Russia and Ukraine are major exporters of cereal crops. As a result of these factors, inflation surged across Europe and in other parts of the world, but typically declined in 2023, and approached more usual levels by 2024.

In July 2025, 59 percent of households in Great Britain reported that their cost of living had increased in the previous month, compared with 72 percent in April. Although the share of people reporting a cost of living increase has generally been falling since August 2022, when 91 percent of households reported an increase, the most recent figures indicate that the Cost of Living Crisis is still ongoing for many households in the UK. Crisis ligers even as inflation falls Although various factors have been driving the Cost of Living Crisis in Britain, high inflation has undoubtedly been one of the main factors. After several years of relatively low inflation, the CPI inflation rate shot up from 2021 onwards, hitting a high of 11.1 percent in October 2022. In the months since that peak, inflation has fallen to more usual levels, and was 2.5 percent in December 2024, slightly up from 1.7 percent in September. Since June 2023, wages have also started to grow at a faster rate than inflation, albeit after a long period where average wages were falling relative to overall price increases. Economy continues to be the main issue for voters Ahead of the last UK general election, the economy was consistently selected as the main issue for voters for several months. Although the Conservative Party was seen by voters as the best party for handling the economy before October 2022, this perception collapsed following the market's reaction to Liz Truss' mini-budget. Even after changing their leader from Truss to Rishi Sunak, the Conservatives continued to fall in the polls, and would go onto lose the election decisively. Since the election, the economy remains the most important issue in the UK, although it was only slightly ahead of immigration and health as of January 2025.

In July 2025, the UK inflation rate for goods was 2.7 percent and five percent for services. Prices for goods accelerated significantly, sharply between 2021 and 2022, before falling in 2023. By comparison, prices for services initially grew at a more moderate rate but have also not fallen as quickly. The overall CPI inflation rate for the UK reached a recent high of 11.1 percent in October 2022 and remained in double figures until April 2023, when it fell to 8.7 percent. As of this month, the UK's inflation rate was 3.6 percent, up from 3.4 percent in the previous month. Sectors driving high inflation In late 2024, communication was the sector with the highest inflation rate, with prices increasing by 6.1 percent as of December 2024. During the recent period of high inflation that eased in 2023, food and energy prices were particular high, with housing and energy inflation far higher than in any other sector, peaking at 26.6 percent towards the end of 2022. High food and energy prices since 2021 have been one of the main causes of the cost of living crisis in the UK, especially for low-income households that spend a higher share of their income on these categories. This is likely one of the factors driving increasing food bank usage in the UK, which saw approximately 3.12 million people use a food bank in 2023/24, compared with 1.9 million just before the COVID-19 pandemic. The global inflation crisis The UK has not been alone in suffering rapid price increases since 2021. After the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of economic and geopolitical shocks had a dramatic impact on the global economy. A global supply chain crisis failed to meet rising demand in 2021, leading to the beginning of an Inflation Crisis, which was only exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The war directly influenced the prices of food and energy, as both countries were major exporters of important crops. European imports of hydrocarbons from Russia were also steadily reduced throughout 2022 and 2023, resulting in higher energy prices throughout the year.

After reaching a peak of 10.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2022, the CPI inflation rate in the United Kingdom has fallen considerably, and was 2.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024. In 2025, there is expected to be an uptick in inflation, with prices expected to be increasing by 3.7 percent in the third quarter of 2025, before falling to two percent by the second quarter of 2026. Inflation and the Cost of Living The high inflation experienced by the UK since late 2021 is one of the main factors behind the country's ongoing cost of living crisis. Price surges, in relation to food and energy costs in particular, played havoc with the finances of UK households. At the height of the crisis, around nine out of ten households were experiencing a cost of living increase compared to the previous month. Although inflation has eased since reaching a peak of 11.1 percent in October 2022, and wages are growing in real terms, approximately 59 percent of households were still experiencing rising costs relative to the previous month in March 2025. Economic growth downgraded for 2025 Since 2022, the economy has generally been the main issue for UK voters, seen by 51 percent of people as one of the top three issues facing the country in March 2025. Throughout this time, UK households have struggled through a cost of living crisis, while the wider economy has struggled to achieve consistent growth. Between the first quarter of 2022, the UK economy has alternated between periods of low growth and minor contractions, with the UK even in recession at the end of 2023. While there was a slight uptick in growth in 2024, this momentum appears to have already been lost, with the UK's economic growth forecast for 2025 recently downgraded from two percent to one percent.

Average weekly earnings for the whole economy, for total and regular pay, in real terms (adjusted for consumer price inflation), UK, monthly, seasonally adjusted.

Inflation Rate in the United Kingdom increased to 3.80 percent in July from 3.60 percent in June of 2025. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Inflation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Measures of monthly UK inflation data including CPIH, CPI and RPI. These tables complement the consumer price inflation time series dataset.

The inflation rate in United Kingdom reached a 41-year record high in October 2022. High energy bills, soaring food costs, and various other issues have caused the UK inflation rates to remain in double-digits ever since September last year. This has forced people to look for new ways to deal with the ongoing cost of living crisis, and social media seems to be one of them. Which social media platforms have the most relevant content for consumers to deal with the ongoing situation? According to a survey by We Are Social and Statista Q, around 57 percent of UK TikTok users find helpful content there. Claiming the joint second spot on this list are YouTube and Facebook. Instagram comes on number five on this list, as 41 percent of Instagram users find helpful content there to deal with this crisis.

CPIH is the most comprehensive measure of inflation. It extends CPI to include a measure of the costs associated with owning, maintaining and living in one's own home, known as owner occupiers' housing costs (OOH), along with council tax. This dataset provides CPIH time series (2005 to latest published month), allowing users to customise their own selection, view or download.

In May 2022, 49 percent of people in the United Kingdom advised that they were highly dissatisfied with the government's response to the cost of living crisis. High inflation has caused an economic crisis in the UK, with 87 percent of people reporting an increase in their cost of living as of March 2022.

In May 2022, ** percent of people in the United Kingdom thought that Brexit had made their cost of living higher, compared with **** percent who said it had made it lower. High inflation has caused an ecnomic crisis in the UK, with 87 percent of people reporting an increase in their cost of living as of March 2022.

The Consumer Price Index of the United Kingdom was 138.5 in the second quarter of 2025, indicating that consumer prices have increased by 38.5 percent when compared with the first quarter of 2015. As of June 2025, the inflation rate for the CPI was 3.6 percent, an uptick from March, when prices were rising by 2.6 percent. A long period of elevated inflation between 2021 and 2023 peaked in October 2022 and saw prices increase by over 20 percent in just three years. Uptick in inflation expected in 2025 In late 2024, the UK's main economic forecaster, the Office for Budget Responsibility, predicted that the annual inflation rate for 2025 would average out at around 2.6 percent. In March 2025, however, the OBR revised this figure upward, with annual inflation now expected to be 3.2 percent. This uptick in inflation is predicted to peak in the third quarter of the year at 3.7 percent before falling to two percent by the second quarter of 2026. Although this period of higher inflation is predicted to be far less severe than in 2022, it will no doubt put further pressure on households already struggling with their cost of living. Cost of living woes continue The share of UK households reporting that their cost of living was increasing has been steadily rising since Summer 2024. At that time, less than half of UK households reported rising costs, down from 91 percent two years earlier. As of March 2025, however, 59 percent of households said their costs were rising, the highest figure since 2023. Of these households, 93 percent reported that their food shop was increasing, with three quarters of them reporting higher energy costs. With higher inflation predicted in 2025, the pressure on UK households will likely continue, although a crisis on the scale of 2021-2023 will hopefully be avoided.

In September 2023, Learning and Work was commissioned by the GLA to conduct research into the impact of the rising cost of living on London’s adult education landscape. GLA data shows that in 2023, 17% of Londoners were ‘struggling financially’, and another 30% were ‘just about managing’. Increased inflation also impacted the cost of doing business for London’s skills providers and Further Education (FE) workforce. This report and the summary report are based upon a survey, depth interviews and focus groups with learners, providers, and third sector organisations that provide and campaign for people on low incomes. The fieldwork took place between November 2023 and March 2024. The research provides an account of the impact of the rising cost of living on London’s FE sector.

In July 2025, the Consumer Price Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) inflation rate of the United Kingdom was *** percent, up from *** percent in the previous month. The inflation rate fell noticeably after the COVID-19 pandemic but rose sharply between Spring 2021 and Autumn 2022. After peaking at *** percent in October 2022, CPIH inflation declined throughout 2023 and into 2024, falling to *** percent by September of that year, before increasing again recently. Cost of living problems persist into 2025 Although it is likely that the worst of the recent inflation surge may have passed, the issues caused by it look set to linger into 2025 and beyond. While the share of households experiencing living cost rises has fallen from ** percent in August 2022, to ** percent in July 2024, this share rose towards the end of the year, with more than half of households reporting rising costs in December. Even with lower inflation, overall consumer prices have already increased by around ** percent in the last three years, rising to almost ** percent for food prices, which lower income households typically spend more of their income on. The significant increase in people relying on food banks across the UK, is evidence of the magnitude of this problem, with approximately **** million people using food banks in 2023/24. Other measures of inflation While the CPIH inflation rate displayed here is the preferred index of the UK's Office of National Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is often more prominently featured in the media in general. An older index, the Retail Price Index (RPI) is also still used by the government to calculate certain taxes and rail fares. Other metrics include the core inflation rate, which measures price increases without the volatility of food and energy costs, while price increases in goods and services can also be tracked separately. The inflation rate of individual sectors can also be measured, and as of December 2024, prices were rising fastest in the communications sector, at *** percent, with costs falling in the transport and furniture sectors.

The housing costs inflation rate for low-income households in the United Kingdom was noticeably higher than that of high-income ones between April 2022 and April 2023, during a serious cost of living crisis in the UK. As of March 2025, however, the inflation rate for high and medium-income households was slightly higher than that of low incomes ones.

Uk & Ireland Home Appliances Rental Market size was valued at USD 0.8 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 1.9 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 11.4% from 2026 to 2032.

Uk & Ireland Home Appliances Rental Market Drivers

Flexible Working and Temporary Relocations: Flexible working and temporary relocations are propelling the UK and Ireland home appliances rental market. With 44% of UK working largely remote in 2023, and 15% temporarily moving, the need for furnished, appliance-equipped rentals has increased. The Residential Landlords Association estimates a 28% increase in short-term rentals with appliances between 2021 and 2023, which supports this trend even more.

Increasing Cost of Living Problems: The increasing cost of living problems is driving the UK and Ireland home appliances rental market. With UK inflation peaking at 11.1% in 2022 and appliance prices growing by 8.5%, many customers are looking for renting options to avoid large upfront payments. The Money and Pensions Service, 24% of UK families are now contemplating renting key home equipment.

Expanding Student Population: The expanding student population is boosting the UK and Ireland appliances rental market. In 2023, 562,060 students were accepted into UK institutions, with 70% requiring temporary housing. As more students choose furnished accommodation, there is a greater demand for rentals that include appliances. According to Unipol Student Homes, 35% of students choose rentals that include appliances, up from 22% in 2019. This trend is driven by the need for ease and flexibility in student life.

According to an April 2023 survey conducted by We Are Social and Statista Q, about 68 percent of UK consumers spend less on non-essentials in reaction to the cost of living crisis, whereas 63 percent pay more attention to bargains, good deals, or offers (when shopping). Similarly, more than half of respondents use less gas and electricity in their homes to deal with the situation.

Unlike many other health services, the majority of the UK population has to pay for dental treatment. Dental insurance policies cover treatment provided by both NHS and private dentists. The propensity to purchase dental insurance is greater when people wish to receive treatment from private dentists, as the costs associated with private treatment are much higher. Dental Insurance revenue is anticipated to grow at a compound annual rate of 1.4% over the five years through 2024-25 to £1.1 billion, including estimated growth of 5% in the current year. Regulatory reforms have ramped up the use of reinsurance as a capital risk reduction tool in the industry. The average profit margin has narrowed as a result of intensifying competition and cost pressures associated with the FCA's fair pricing reforms introduced in January 2022. The cost-of-living crisis and spiralling inflation in the two years through 2023-24 hurt demand for dental insurance, as people reined in spending to afford essential goods. However, hefty waiting times for the NHS following the COVID-19 outbreak resulted in many shifting to private dental care, lifting demand for dental coverage and contributing to revenue growth in recent years. In 2024-25, subsiding cost of living pressures and improving economic growth prospects will support demand from individual customers and make businesses more willing to splash out on employee benefits. Dental Insurance revenue is forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of 5.3% over the five years through 2029-30 to reach £1.4 billion. In the coming years, the higher interest rate environment will support investment income, with insurers that typically have high exposure to bonds receiving greater coupon payments, lifting reserves and allowing for more policies to be written. A growing UK workforce and the ageing population will boost demand as dental insurance consumers are more likely to be policyholders through workplace schemes. The average industry profit margin is set to remain constrained due to further competitive pressures and cost increases related to dental service price inflation and increased claims.

Over the five years through 2024-25, industry revenue is expected to contract at a compound annual rate of 3.4%. Catering services’ revenue has faced great turmoil due to staffing shortages, high inflation and the cost-of-living crisis. Inflationary pressures have limited the amount individuals and businesses spend on their events, including catering, significantly weighing on industry performance, especially in 2023-24. Rising business costs due to inflation and wage pressures have created a harsh environment for catering businesses, causing many to consolidate or close down, as passing prices on to consumers with tightening incomes hasn’t been an option. While inflationary pressures have supported revenue growth for some catering companies that pass the price increases onto consumers, others are experiencing reduced income opportunities as consumers and businesses cut back on non-essential spending amid low confidence. However, consumers' growing health and sustainability awareness is resulting in new caterers entering the industry and existing caterers offering premium-priced organic and meat-free catering options, supporting their growth and innovation. Alongside inflationary pressures, hiked wage costs have pushed up operating costs for caterers, constraining profit growth. Catering service providers mostly hire labour on zero- or part-time contracts to mitigate rising labour costs driven by industry-wide labour shortages. In 2024-25, industry revenue is expected to grow by 1.5%, reaching just under £1.4 billion and profit is anticipated to reach 7.5%. Industry revenue is expected to climb at a compound annual rate of 3.2% over the five years through 2029-30 to £1.6 billion. Labour shortages and rising wages remain key points of concern for the industry, with the National Living Wage set to increase in April 2025. However, the Bank of England cutting interest rates and predicting the inflation rate to fall to 2% in the second half of 2025 will boost business and consumer confidence, encouraging spending on catering services in 2025-26 and beyond. As economic conditions improve, rises in disposable income will also drive demand for catering services. A growing number of private equity companies, will likely invest in catering services, through acquiring smaller competitors, due to high growth potential. As health and sustainability awareness grows, companies will expand their product line to capture the growing market.