LOC11:40
08:40 GMT
LONDON, April 17 (KUNA) -- Britain's annual inflation rate fell less than expected last month, according to official data Wednesday that could cloud the outlook for interest rate cuts and cause more concerns for the government.
The Consumer Prices Index dropped to 3.2 percent in March, the lowest level since September 2021, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
Markets, however, had expected a rate of 3.1 percent in March.
Inflation rose 3.4 percent in the 12 months to February, the ONS added in a statement.
"Inflation eased slightly in March to its lowest annual rate for two-and-a-half years," ONS chief economist Grant Fitzner said.
"Once again, food prices were the main reason for the fall, with prices rising by less than we saw a year ago.
"Similarly to last month, we saw a partial offset from rising fuel prices," he added in the ONS release.
Finance minister Jeremy Hunt described the latest drop as "welcome news".
But inflation remains well above the Bank of England's two-percent target, as millions of Britons wait to see when it will start cutting interest rates to ease a cost-of-living crisis. (end)
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