Inflation drops as fuel prices fall

Inflation tumbled in October as a result of a price reduction in fuel, food and housing. Under the Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure it was down to 4.2% from 5.0% in September.

It fell to 4.5% from 5.2% the previous month under the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), which excludes housing costs and is the government’s preferred measure. Similar reasons for the fall in the RPI were given.