Inflation remains negative

Inflation edged a little higher but was still in negative territory. In August, the Retail Prices Index fell by 1.3% against a fall of 1.4% the previous month. Higher motoring expenditure, with both car and petrol prices up, were mainly to blame.

Meanwhile, inflation under the Consumer Prices Index, which excludes mortgage interest payments, was down to 1.6% from 1.8%.