Inflation in the UK had a shock rise to 10.4 per cent in February - defying expectations that it would go down again following three months of decline.
The rate is up from the 10.1 per cent that was recorded the previous month in January, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. Analysts had expected inflation to drop to 9.8 per cent after it had started to fall back from its 41-year high of 11.1 per cent in October.
The price of food, as well as alcohol and dining out in pubs and restaurants, were the main drivers behind the surprise rise in February. Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose by 18.2 per cent - the highest rate in 45 years.
