Headline inflation was lifted by an 8.5% increase in the price of spirits and tobacco products and a 6.0% rise in the price of food.

Consumer durable prices fell by 1.4%, clothing prices were up 1.9%, household energy prices increased by 1.1% and prices in the category of goods which includes vehicle fuel edged up 0.4%. Service prices climbed 2.8%.

Seasonally-adjusted core inflation, which excludes volatile fuel and food prices, was 3.7%, and inflation adjusted for goods and services used by pensioners was 3.5%. In a month-on-month comparison, consumer prices inched up 0.2% as the price of spirits and tobacco products rose by 1.4% and service prices increased by 0.5%.