UK inflation spike 'unlikely to persist' but could turn sticky

Bank of England rate hike expected as inflation rises

Cristian Angeloni
clock • 2 min read

News that UK CPI had risen to 10.4% in February has shattered hopes for many that the Bank of England may halt rate hikes, analysts said.

The expectation had been that inflation would have continued its slow decline from 10.1% in January to 9.9% in February, but that trajectory was swiftly turned upside down. AJ Bell head of financial analysis Danni Hewson said the recent shortages of vegetables had contributed to the February increase, alongside bars and restaurants trying to lure back customers after a lacklustre Christmas. But these drivers were mostly "unseasonable" and "unpredictable", he added. That is why AXA Investment Managers economist Modupe Adegbembo believes the "sharp reacceleration of inflation is unli...

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