UK inflation eases more than expected to 2.8%, led by lower electricity and gas bills – business live

Food inflation also slows sharply, to 3%, led by meat and chocolate, and package holidays drive inflation down further

Fitzner at the ONS said smaller rises in water and sewage bills and vehicle excises duty than last year also helped pull the inflation rate down.

Food prices, particularly for chocolate and meat products, and the price of package holidays drove inflation down further (the latter because of the different timing of Easter compared with last year).

These were only partially offset by a further increase in petrol and diesel prices, and an uptick in the cost of clothing and footwear.

The annual cost of both raw materials and goods leaving factories continued to rise, driven again by higher oil and petrol prices.