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| Key inflation measure hits zero | Key inflation measure hits zero |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A key measure of UK inflation has fallen to zero for the first time in 49 years, official figures show. | A key measure of UK inflation has fallen to zero for the first time in 49 years, official figures show. |
| The Retail Prices Index (RPI), which includes housing costs, fell to 0% in February on an annual basis from 0.1% in January. | The Retail Prices Index (RPI), which includes housing costs, fell to 0% in February on an annual basis from 0.1% in January. |
| But another measure of inflation, which excludes mortgage costs, but includes food and energy, showed an unexpected rise for the month. | |
| This pushed the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) up from 3% in January to 3.2%. | |
| Hetal Mehta, senior economic advisor to the Ernst & Young Item Club, said: "It is surprising to see CPI inflation increasing when a sharp fall was widely expected." | |
| Rob Pike from the Office for National Statistics told the BBC that the cost of certain items, especially imported vegetables, toys and fuel, was still rising, pushing the CPI measure higher. | |
| WHAT'S GOING UP Food: Especially fruit, vegetables, mineral water, meatGames, toys, hobbiesPetrol, dieselWine | |
| He also remarked that the cut in VAT from 17.5% to 15% which was introduced in December, was being reversed. | |
| A substantial number of shops which passed on the VAT cut in December seemed to have changed that by February, he added. | |
| "We have seen many prices return to the previous selling price in November, or even gone beyond that. And that is quite widespread." | |
| 'Volatile' | 'Volatile' |
| The Bank of England uses the CPI, the index of consumer prices, to set interest rates. | |
| WHAT'S NOT Mortgage paymentsCoffee, tea, cocoaGas and electricity billsSpiritsPre-recorded DVDs Source: ONS | |
| The increase in CPI has obliged Bank of England head Mervyn King to write to Chancellor Alistair Darling, to explain why inflation is more than one percentage point above the government's own 2% target. | The increase in CPI has obliged Bank of England head Mervyn King to write to Chancellor Alistair Darling, to explain why inflation is more than one percentage point above the government's own 2% target. |
| In his letter, Mr King said that despite the increase in CPI inflation last month, "we believe that the sharp decline in CPI inflation since its peak in September is likely to resume in the coming months", with energy prices tipped to fall further. | In his letter, Mr King said that despite the increase in CPI inflation last month, "we believe that the sharp decline in CPI inflation since its peak in September is likely to resume in the coming months", with energy prices tipped to fall further. |
| "It is likely over the next year CPI inflation will move below target, although the profile of inflation could be volatile," he added. | "It is likely over the next year CPI inflation will move below target, although the profile of inflation could be volatile," he added. |
| The government, meanwhile, uses the broader measure of RPI, the index of retail prices, to set the level of state pensions, welfare benefits and index-linked government bonds. This is set once a year, based on September's inflation figure. | The government, meanwhile, uses the broader measure of RPI, the index of retail prices, to set the level of state pensions, welfare benefits and index-linked government bonds. This is set once a year, based on September's inflation figure. |
| 'Big picture' | 'Big picture' |
| There are concerns that if prices keep falling this could lead to a prolonged period of deflation. | |
| The fall in RPI, as recorded in the latest Office for National Statistics data, stems largely from the fall in mortgage repayments after a series of interest rate cuts. | |
| While analysts had expected the RPI to fall below zero, it was still the weakest reading since 1960. | While analysts had expected the RPI to fall below zero, it was still the weakest reading since 1960. |
| "The big picture remains that deflation is on its way," according to Vicky Redwood of Capital Economics. | "The big picture remains that deflation is on its way," according to Vicky Redwood of Capital Economics. |
| "After all, at zero in February, the RPI measure was as close to deflation as you can get. | "After all, at zero in February, the RPI measure was as close to deflation as you can get. |
| "Falling utility and food price inflation should still push CPI into negative territory before long. | "Falling utility and food price inflation should still push CPI into negative territory before long. |
| "Indeed, we continue to think that the opening up of a large amount of spare capacity in the economy risks a broader and more persistent period of falling prices." | "Indeed, we continue to think that the opening up of a large amount of spare capacity in the economy risks a broader and more persistent period of falling prices." |
| For workers, the latest fall in RPI has implications for wages. | |
| According to John Philpott, chief economist at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development: "For millions of workers, this will be a spring and summer of pay depression, as pay rises give way to widespread pay freezes or pay cuts. | |
| "For the vast majority of workers, accustomed as most of us are to an annual boost to our pay packets, a pay freeze or pay cut will feel like a hardship, especially while the CPI measure of inflation continues to rise." |