Clothing emerged as the main driver of inflation and contributed the largest upward impact on the annual CPI and HPPI rates. By contrast, motor fuels exerted the most downward pressure, partially offsetting overall price increases, the ONS said in a press release.
Core inflation (excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco) rose to 3.2 percent in February from 3.1 percent in January, indicating that underlying price pressures remain firm. Within this, goods inflation remained unchanged at 1.6 percent, while services inflation decreased slightly to 4.3 percent from 4.4 percent.
UK inflation remained stable in February 2026, with CPI at 3 percent year-on-year and a monthly increase of 0.4 percent, according to the ONS. Clothing drove inflation, while motor fuels offset the gains. Core inflation rose to 3.2 percent. Producer input prices rose 0.5 percent, while production slowed to 1.7 percent. Import prices increased by 0.3 percent, indicating moderate pressures on external costs.
Category-level data showed a notable rebound in clothing and footwear prices, which rose 0.9 percent year-over-year in February compared with no change in January. On a monthly basis, the segment recorded an increase of 0.6 percent, reversing a decline seen a year earlier.
Meanwhile, producer input prices rose 0.5 percent year-on-year, recovering from a revised 0.4 percent drop in January, while producer prices rose 1.7 percent, albeit at a slower pace than the previous month’s 2.5 percent increase. Monthly trends showed input costs rose 0.8 percent, even as factory prices fell 0.5 percent.
The import price index (IPI) recorded a modest annual increase of 0.3 percent, reflecting relatively subdued imported inflation. Overall, the data suggests that while overall inflation remains stable, specific sectoral pressures, particularly in the textile sector, continue to influence price dynamics across the UK economy.
Fiber2Fashion News Desk (SG)
