Some economists are expecting the rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation to have risen in December after falling sharply the previous month. The price of plane tickets and hotels are also expected to have soared amid stronger demand for Christmas travel. If it was collected later in the month, travel prices could have been much higher in line with the school holidays, pushing up the overall rate of inflation. On the other hand, analysts for Barclays said they thought inflation would remain unchanged at 3.2% in December. But experts said they thought inflation was still heading downwards this year.

Source: The Times January 20, 2026 16:52 UTC