UK inflation rises to 3.5% in September, driven by fuel prices

Annual consumer price inflation in the UK accelerated in September 2026. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said CPI was 3.5% in the 12 months to September, up from 3.1% a month earlier. The data was published on 21 October 2026.

What the data shows

CPIH, which includes owner occupiers' housing costs, rose to 3.6% from 3.3% in August. In September alone, prices rose by 0.4% month on month in both CPI and CPIH. A year earlier, in September 2025, CPI was virtually unchanged and CPIH rose by 0.1%.

According to the ONS, transport, particularly motor fuels, made the largest upward contribution. Annual inflation in that category (on the CPIH measure) rose from 4.6% in August to 6.6% in September. The ONS notes that motor fuel inflation is the highest since August 2022.

The average price of petrol rose by 8.2 pence per litre between August and September 2026. In the same period a year earlier, the price fell by 0.2 pence per litre.

The rise was partly offset by restaurants and hotels, which made the largest downward contribution.

Core inflation

Core inflation, which excludes energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, also rose. Core CPI was 2.8%, compared with 2.6% in August. Core CPIH rose to 3.1% from 2.9%.

Prices of both services and goods picked up. In CPI, annual services inflation rose from 3.4% to 3.7%, and goods inflation from 2.7% to 3.2%.

Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 1.3% a year, the same as in August.

What it means for people in the UK

Higher fuel prices will be felt mainly by people who drive to work every day and by professional drivers. ONS data also shows that services prices are rising faster than a month earlier. Any direct effects on taxes, benefits or pay depend on decisions that were not set out in the sources we used.