Inflation on the way up?

Tuesday 17th April 2007, 12:00AM BST.

CLIMBING UK inflation rates could mean that next week’s Jersey RPI figure will go up.

The UK Office of Statistics has announced that consumer inflation – inflation without property costs – has risen to 3.1% from 2.8%, and that the overall RPI has gone up to 4.8% from 4.6%. The department says increases in prices of food, furniture, recreation and transport are to blame. Jersey’s comparative figures will be announced next week, and it is expected they could go up from the last rates announced in December. At the end of last year Jersey’s RPI was 3.7%, but RPI(X) – inflation without property costs – was at the States’ target of 2.5%. The Statistics Unit are compiling the Jersey inflation figures, which are based on 2,500 prices and up to 600 different items. Their announcement will be made next Wednesday.

Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.