Official figures show that the annual rate of inflation in Britain surged to a 17-month high of 3.7% in April, as clothing and food costs rose last month at a faster pace compared with a year earlier.
April's rate compared with 12-month inflation of 3.4% in March, the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Analysts had forecast a rise to only 3.5% in April. The Bank of England is charged with keeping the annual inflation rate at around 2%.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices index (CPI) inflation rose by 0.6% from March, also bigger than expected.
Clothing and footwear prices rose by 2.2% between March and April this year, compared with only 0.2% a year ago. The ONS said that upward pressures came also from rises to the cost of food, drinks and tobacco.
