Inflation has eased back to its lowest level since March last year, but remained higher than expected as food prices continued to rise at a near record pace.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation fell to 8.7% in April, down from 10.1% in March, as last year’s energy price hikes were not repeated.
But it was higher than forecast by economists, who had pencilled in a drop to 8.2% in April.
