Analysis: Covid support schemes have distorted official data and experts fear inflation will resume its ascent
Just when everyone was preparing for a stratospheric rise in September’s consumer prices index from August’s 3.2%, the Office for National Statistics said it fell to 3.1%.
Anyone concerned about rising prices could be forgiven for thinking that the momentum building in recent months had slipped a gear and forecasts of inflation running away to 4% or even 5% next spring could joyfully be put in the bin.