In December 2019, the UK Consumer Price Index including owner-occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) rose by 1.4 per cent from the same month in 2018.  Year-over-year inflation for the UK has been slowing through the last five months. The largest upward contribution came from modest increases in mobile phone and furniture prices while there were notable downward contributions December year-over-year inflation from hotel accommodation and womens' clothing/footwear.  

Year-over-year growth in the Consumer Price Index excluding owner occupiers' housing costs (CPI) was 1.3 per cent. 

UK inflation has been more volatile than inflation in Canada.  In 2017 and 2018, prices in the UK rose substantially faster than those in Canada, but through most of 2018, price growth was similar for the two countries. In 2019, inflation in the UK has slowed from the pace observed in the previous two years.  From August to November, UK inflation has slowed, falling below the pace of price growth observed in Canada.

On an annual average basis, UK inflation including owner-occupied housing (UK-CPIH) was 1.7 per cent while inflation excluding owner-occupied housing costs (UK-CPI) was 1.8 per cent.  Compared with Jan-Nov averages for Canada and Nova Scotia, UK inflation in 2019 was slower than Canada's inflation, but faster than inflation observed for Nova Scotia.

Sources: United Kingdom Office for National Statistics Statistical bulletin, Annual growth - CPI, Annual growth - CPIH

Statistics Canada.  Table  18-10-0004-01   Consumer Price Index, monthly, not seasonally adjusted