Consumer price inflation, UK - March 2025 - 2.6% down from 2.8% in February

16th April 2025

The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) rose by 3.4% in the 12 months to March 2025, down from 3.7% in the 12 months to February.

On a monthly basis, CPIH rose by 0.3% in March 2025, compared with a rise of 0.6% in March 2024.

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 2.6% in the 12 months to March 2025, down from 2.8% in the 12 months to February.
On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.3% in March 2025, compared with a rise of 0.6% in March 2024.

The largest downward contributions to the monthly change in both CPIH and CPI annual rates came from recreation and culture, and motor fuels, with a further large downward effect in CPIH from housing and household services; the largest, partially offsetting, upward contribution came from clothing.
Core CPIH (excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco) rose by 4.2% in the 12 months to March 2025, down from 4.4% in the 12 months to February; the CPIH goods annual rate eased from 0.8% to 0.6%, while the CPIH services annual rate slowed from 5.7% to 5.4%.

Core CPI (excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco) rose by 3.4% in the 12 months to March 2025, down slightly from 3.5% in the 12 months to February; the CPI goods annual rate eased from 0.8% to 0.6%, while the CPI services annual rate slowed from 5.0% to 4.7%.

The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) rose by 3.4% in the 12 months to March 2025, down from 3.7% in the 12 months to February (Figure 1).

On a monthly basis, CPIH rose by 0.3% in March 2025, compared with a rise of 0.6% in March 2024.

The owner occupiers' housing (OOH) costs component of CPIH rose by 7.2% in the 12 months to March 2025, down from 7.5% in the 12 months to February. OOH costs rose by 0.4% on the month, compared with a 0.6% increase a year earlier.

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 2.6% in the 12 months to March 2025, down from 2.8% in the 12 months to February.

On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.3% in March 2025, compared with a rise of 0.6% in March 2024.

The main drivers of the annual inflation rate for CPIH and CPI are the same where they are common to both measures. However, the OOH component accounts for approximately 17% of the CPIH and is the main driver for differences between the CPIH and CPI inflation rates. This makes CPIH our most comprehensive measure of inflation.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages
Food and non-alcoholic beverages prices rose by 3.0% in the 12 months to March 2025, down from 3.3% in the 12 months to February. There was a small downward effect from confectionery, where prices fell this year but rose a year ago. This was partially offset by a small upward effect from milk, cheese and eggs, where prices rose this year but fell a year ago.

Read he full ONS report HERE