Soaring air fares push up inflation
Rising air fares last helped push UK inflation to its highest level for two and a half years in December.
According to the Office for National Statistics, fares were up 49% last month compared with November.
It said the higher cost of travel was one of the main factors that contributed to a 1.6% rise in Consumer Prices Index inflation, up from 1.2% in November.
The other main factor was rising food prices, while petrol prices fell less than in December 2015.
ONS head of inflation Mike Prestwood told the BBC: "This is the highest CPI has been for over two years, though the annual rate remains below the Bank of England’s target and low by historical standards."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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