UK inflation climbs on petrol price rise

A surge in petrol costs is likely to have fuelled a small rise in British inflation last month, experts believe.

Official figures due to be released by the UK's Office for National Statistics today will show Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rose to 1.7% in March after staying at 1.6% for three consecutive months.

Recent data suggests the cost of petrol increased by around 2% last month, higher than the rise seen a year ago.

Economist Ross Walker at Royal Bank of Scotland said this would provide the “main upward pressure” on underlying inflation.

Heavier discounting in this year’s sales is also likely to have led to a bigger recovery in the price of clothing and footwear than last year, another analyst said.