Inflation rose unexpectedly last month, defying economic forecasts.
The latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed a rise in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) in February, up to 10.4% from 10.1% in January. Most economists were expecting CPI to fall to 9.9% in February.
It comes after three straight months of declining inflation, which had seen hopes mount that the worst of the crisis was behind us and that the era of double-digit inflation was coming to an end. So what exactly has contributed to the unexpected increase - and should we be worried that the cost crisis is ramping up again?
